So much rides on her father’s reputation, and on their explicit propriety in a society where the Commoners despise them for what they have, and the Patrons look down on them for what they are not. And although Jessamy and her sisters are comely, especially beautiful, spoiled Amaya, none of them have a future if they cannot attract a wealthy Patron as a husband, and no Patron will have them unless their father continues to court favor with the elite. In Efea, all power, inheritance and honor runs through the sons daughters are merely property. But his military prowess and unerringly correct behavior (outside of his refusal to put aside Jessamy’s mother and wed a Patron woman) has won him favor from some of Efea’s ruling families.Ī further stigma on the family is that there are no sons, only four daughters. And Jessamy’s father is no scion from a powerful family he was a baker’s son who came to Efea to make his fortune. Patron men may take up with Commoner women as a dalliance, but never make allegiance to them – that would sabotage careers. Her family is atypical due to her parent’s loyalty to each other even with laws that prohibit their getting married. She is a “mule”, a mixed race child, whose Patron father is a celebrated military captain, and whose mother is a dark skinned Commoner of unsurpassed beauty.

Jessamy is caught between different worlds. It’s wonderful how author Kate Elliott has been able to make Jessamy, the heroine of her YA novel, Court of Fives, so unique a literary character, and yet so recognizable in relation to what’s going on in our own intermingled societies. Court of Fives Kate Elliott Little, Brown Books for Young Readers Release Date: AugISBN 978-9-5

Kate elliott court of fives series