Thendara House is the second book in the Renunciate sequence of the Darkover series. Darkover is a very big paracosm with often-conflicting plots and world building. Feminist issues often come up in this series, given that the Darkovan cultures are strongly patriarchal and women--except for the Renunciates--are considered second-class citizens. Renunciates or “Free Amazons” enjoy greater freedom and exemption from the various restrictions and laws that keep Darkovan women second-class and entirely reliant on their male family members. I’m leaving out the Social Darwinism and the eugenic/ablelist stuff because that needs an article all its own.

MAGDA: I, Magda Lorne, will provide you exposition while I wait to turn in my resignation. I am a Terran woman of two worlds, who grew up in Caer Donn--my notions of honor align more closely with the Darkovan culture. I pretended to be a member of the “Free Amazons” in order to move about freely so I could rescue my ex. Needless to say, I got caught. Now I’m going to be joining the Renunciates and my gal pal Jaelle, who has married my slightly misogynistic ex Peter is going to be working at the Terran HQ.

CHOYLANA ARES: Hi! I’m your boss, and you’re not resigning--we’d like to learn more about these Darkovans! Terran Society is Multicultural, while also being very condescending!

In which Jaelle's Marriage Falls Down and Goes Boom on A Wicked Convergence of Circumstance