This entry in the Liaden series takes the reader back in time to when Shan yos'Galen is a child. The difficulties his parents face are due to the fact that, while they love each other, they are of different races (one Terran and one Liaden) and so have different 'local customs' and thus often misunderstandings occur. ( )

Local Custom by Sharon Lee is part of the Liaden universe series. I think that every time I read one of these books I declare this one is my favourite, so I won’t do that again, but this was very satisfactory read. This author knows how to deliver romance and science fiction stories that are realistic and rewarding. In Local Custom the romance is between two intelligent adults who had a past connection, a connection that lead to their having a son. Relationships between two alien cultures, in this case a Terran and a Liaden is usually frowned upon. The cultural differences between these people are huge, with the Liadens living in a complex organized world of clans, honour and duty.

The story grows from the cultural differences that these characters have. It’s not that they don’t communicate, it’s more that each one doesn’t really understand what the other is saying. This isn’t a story of action, instead the reader is constantly rooting on Anne and Er Thom in the hopes that their emotional connection will flower into a lasting relationship. As I have read some Liaden books that was further along in time, I knew the outcome of this romance, but this in no way took away from my enjoyment of the book.

Local Custom was a totally entertaining read filled with well rounded characters and emotional conflicts that rang true. I am loving how I am learning a little bit more about the Lianden universe with every book that I read as the author pretty much always concentrates on relationships and culture. One of my favourite characters in this book was Daav, who it appears, is the main character in the next book as he in turn finds romance. I am looking forward to reading it. ( )

Er Thom yos'Galan is well aware that Liaden law and custom require him to marry the contract wife his clan chooses for him, and produce an heir for his line. Unfortunately, some three years ago, Er Thom fell in love with a Terran woman, Anne Davis, a professor of linguistics on the world called University. He parted from her, giving her a farewell gift, but unfortunately has not forgotten her, as one is supposed to forget pleasure loves. His refusal to marry as instructed risks creating a scandal.

When Er Thom breaks ranks even further, and heads off to University to see Anne one last time, he discovers the makings of an even more dangerous scandal--Anne gave birth to a son from their affair, a son she has named Shan yos'Galan, in honor of his father.

A yos'Galan outside the authority and protection of Clan Korval.

What follows is an epic family conflict--between Anne and Er Thom, about taking Shan to Liad, and between Er Thom and his mother Petrelia, over whether Anne and her child will be accepted. Caught in the middle is Daav yos'Phelium, Delm of Clan Korval, who loves his foster brother, but respects Petrelia's rights as head of her line.

Lurking in the background is a danger they don't suspect, Liaden forces (an early manifestation of the Department of the Interior?) outraged by the research Anne and a Liaden linguist, Professor ter'Bana, have done, showing that the Terran, Liaden, and Yxtrang languages have a common root language. These purists are also, of course, outraged by the idea of Terran-Liaden intermarriage, a view in which they are not alone in Liaden society.

This purists are also, of course, perfectly willing to use Shan as an expendable tool to get what they want.

This is a nice mix of intrigue, romance, and family drama, and a great look at a younger Er Thom and and a younger Daav.

Recommended.

I bought this book. ( )

This entry in the Liaden series takes the reader back in time to when Shan yos'Galan is a child. The difficulties his parents face are due to the fact that, while they love each other, they are of different races (one Terran and one Liaden) and so have different 'local customs' and thus often misunderstandings occur. ( )

Local Custom (Liaden)
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Synopsis
Er Thom is being forced into a contract marriage to produce an heir for his Clan. But before he can do that, he goes to see the Terran woman, Anne Davies, one last time to confess his love and then to leave it all behind him and proceed with duty. However, things don't go quite as planned, as he finds out that Anne has had his child from their last encounter.

My Thoughts
The Liaden books have been as full of romance and clan politics as they have been of action. And it works out great, it really does.

This book is based on the cross cultural miscommunication about what is right and proper for Er Thom and Anne's child, Shan. Er Thom assumes Liaden things about the outcome and makes several blunders in his interpretation of Anne's words and actions. While Anne is forced to make assumptions about Liad without nearly enough knowledge.

What drove me batty, while being awesome, was that the main characters DID communicate with each other. So many stories I've read have been driven by the characters refusing to talk to each other and things going bad because of it. So the MC's talked to each other, but it wasn't enough because their cultures were so different. And they didn't realize those differences until the very end.

Then you've got some political stuff with Anne's work about linguistics and how the Terrans, Liadens and Extrangans? might all have a common ancestor.

Overall, this was just a great addition to my reading of the Liaden Universe. Just enough action, intrigue, romance and politics [family and otherwise] to keep me reading.

Rating: 4 of 5 Stars
Author: Sharon Lee & Steve Miller" ( )