The Shadow Pavilion

The Shadow Pavilion (2008) Liz Williams (Detective Inspector Chen #4)

Mhara is about to be coronated as Emperor of Heaven, but his changes are making people unhappy.

Mhara went on, “What is the essence of our relationship to the human world?”

“Compassion?” someone ventured after a moment.

“Sanctuary, after the spirit’s travails upon Earth?”

“Love?”

Just as he’d thought, they had forgotten. “More than all those things,” Mhara said, “it is service.”

Especially his mother.

Meanwhile, back on Singapore Three, someone has come to regret summoning a demon, and is seeing to reverse the situation. This does not go well.

“We don’t want her back, little man. You can keep her. If she grows tired and wants to go, let her go. But don’t send her back where she came from. We’ve all had quite enough.”

And Zhu Irzh and the badger get into a spot of trouble.

Above their growls, badger heard a sound, a very small, swiftly muted sound, from the terrace above. He turned his head a fraction, just to see. Above him on the terrace, wearing a black linen shirt and trousers, his wrists bound in front of him and shackles on his bare ankles, stood Zhu Irzh.

I absolutely adore the badger / teakettle, and I love getting to seeing its view of the world.

There were cockroaches, which the badger snapped up with a slight and surprising sensation of guilt: he wasn’t sure that it was professional to snack on the job. Still, one had to keep up one’s strength. And they were certainly tasty.

A small green snake, like molten jade, hissed at the badger without malice as it glided by. The badger murmured a greeting in return.

“This is not for beasts. This is a temple of love.”

“Rather you than me,” said the badger. “Call me if something needs biting.”

“People,” the badger spat, “think I am sweet.”

If only I too could bite those who thought me sweet.

NOTE: This was disconcerting and a little distressing.

we’re a quarter of the way through the twenty-first century now

Characters: Detective Inspector Chen, Inari, badger / teakettle, Seneschal Zhu Irzh, Jhai Bhatya Tserai, Mhara the Celestial Emperor, Kuan Yin, The Dowager Empress, Po Shu, Lord Lady Seijin, The Gatekeeper, Bonerattle, Savitra, Exorcist Lao, Sergeant Ma, Officer Shao, Officer Pa Chin, No Ro Shi, Lara Chowdijharee, Urushi, Aruth, Askenjuri, Prince Agni, Queen Sefira, Pauleng Go, Beni

Cover by Jon Foster

Publisher: Night Shade

Rating: 8/10

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