The Companion series of 6 books tells the story of young women in their early teens who have been sold by their families to serve as companions for a king or Prince . Each young woman becomes a sexual partner and much more for the royal highness who has chosen her or to whom she has been gifted. Along with other companions, she is given a mentor to prepare her for her role. For several months prior to spending time with a member of the royal family, she is well educated in history, geography, politics, several languages, grooming, and fashion. Her education in fashion is dubious since she is expected to wear sexually provocative clothes that are often sheer and scanty even in weather so cold that her royal partner is dressed for warmth. She is to submit to him at all times, never defending herself or arguing but rather apologizing with eyes down and hands clasped in front of her.
Besides being a sexual partner, she becomes a companion at state dinners, providing stimulating conversation and charm as the king and princes engage in stimulating negotiations to increase the power of the kingdom. She may also dance with or perform musically for these political guests. When the royal highness tires of her, she may "disappear" or be designated as a different kind of companion, one whose duty it is to sexually serve noted guests. Despite the education, food, and clothing this former peasant girl receives, she lives a bleak life and knows from early on that she has no hope of ever changing her situation. Many of these companions find themselves broken in spirit and living a robotic existence, some even choosing death.
HOWEVER, all is not lost, for that which is broken can sometimes be repaired. Even though escape seems impossible, a few of these women find deep within themselves a spirit so strong that it can never be broken. This invincible spirit must rebel despite these women's efforts to keep it in check. The first five books in the series are their stories. Each book chronicles a different companion's journey toward discovering her true self and achieving her true desires as she develops a relationship with the man with whom she eventually finds love and happiness. Along with "her" story we discover "his". He, too, is a victim with societal expectations that weigh him down and threaten to destroy him. Just as he has become her salvation, she becomes his. Their journey is set against a political background of warring kingdoms and national chaos along with an economic background of abject poverty from generation to generation and the illiteracy that perpetuates the cycle.
YET, underlying it all is a sense of HOPE that gives the story POWER and keeps the reader engaged. The vivid descriptions and dialogue create suspense that keeps the story moving and makes it hard to put down.
I recommended it to a friend and called her a few days later to see how she liked it. "I can't talk now," she said. "I'm on the third book of the Companion series, and I can't put it down."
I just discussed the first five books, a narrative of five companions' journeys. Now, we reach book six, The Rebel's Queen. It tells the story of Cora, who, in a previous book, had married the cruel King Jayr. Ironically,Cora had always looked down on the companions, not realizing that she had much in common with them. Her "imprisonment" due to societal expectations--albeit filled with the lavish accoutrements of her royal station--had left her just as trapped and unhappy as they were.
AHH, but then we meet the Rebel, Brom, who is just the opposite of his brother Jayr. As he and Cora interact, she discovers something else she has in common with the companions: an indomitable spirit that will not die. Having been trapped in a patriarchal society, she initially fought on their terms, saying, "I don't need an interpreter. I speak fluent male." Throughout her journey with Brom, she finally discovers the full extent of her armory, one which includes much more than speaking fluent male. It includes her grasping an understanding of what it truly means to speak fluent "self" and to know that her true self is sufficient. She, as did the companions before her, discovers how to give and accept love as she grows closer to Brom and becomes the woman she is meant to be.
The author has a talent for understanding and fixing broken spirits. Having said that, though, I want to add that her stories are not formulaic. Yes, each individual fights the battle of good and evil and wins. YET, each journey is unique, each offering a different type of brokenness, different ways of coping, and different ways of finding their own victories.
I am so happy that book 6 is finally here. I opened my kindle at one minute after midnight on the 27th, knowing it would be there, and finishing it in less than a day. It was that good. I strongly recommend this series. Read the whole thing. You can read a given book as a stand-alone and get the basic story line, but you will miss so much of the overall substance if you do.
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![The Rebel's Queen (The Companion series Book 6) by [Tanya Bird]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51XkD1rNG+L._SY346_.jpg)
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