Jane S. Fancher's Rings of Change

Fancher’s writing style is light-hearted and -handed, using humor to overlay but not obscure the (sometimes dark) thoughts and emotions of complex, well-drawn characters. The style reminds me tangentially of Lois McMaster Bujold, but with more profound themes and deeper characters. Fancher’s world building is wonderfully detailed, and she’s taken that staple of fantasy, the magical ley, and used it in an original, nearly science-fictional way.
For those who missed the first three books (Ring of Lightning, Ring of Intrigue, and Ring of Destiny), go now. They’re available at Closed Circle Publishing , a non-DRM ebook publishing “house” run by Fancher, C. J. Cherryh and Lynn Abbey, (including backlist and new fiction by all three authors). http://www.closed-circle.net/WhereIts...
After a fast-moving opening scene illustrating one of the book’s central conflicts, Fancher uses a hilarious wedding play to fully reintroduce her characters from the previous Ring books, and fill in the backstory.
The titular Alizant is an adoptee into the powerful Rhomandi family. He’s uncomfortable with his new family and social status, and fears that his new family's love and approval is conditional. At the same time, he has powers and skills of his own. The outcome of his experimentation may shake the foundations of Rhomatum society. At the same time Rhomatum is being threatened by Mauritum, a neighboring state, in the person of the mysterious priest Ardiin.
The brothers (and their partners) aren’t ignored by any means. Dancer's relationship with middle brother Mikhyel proves as problematic as ever, with quite a bit of character growth in a relatively small amount of time "onstage". Nikki, the youngest brother, has discovered responsibility in a big way. Yet none of this growth leads quite where one would expect. The ending, a cliffhanger without the broken fingernails, leaves many plot threads in question.
My measure of a really good book is that when I'm through with it, I think of the characters as people. Even better, as people I *know*. [Not in a psychotic way, just - they "live" after I've closed the book (or in this case, the file).] This definitely hit the mark.
(Cross posted from my LibraryThing.)

An Exchange of Hostages, Susan R. Matthews

The first book in Susan R. Matthews' [I]Under Jurisdiction[/I] series. Not light reading or for the faint of heart, but really really worth the read. An raw exploration of themes, (some of which are similar to those CJ Cherryh explored in Cyteen/Regenesis, such as institutionalized/governmentally controlled slavery).
In an interstellar government where torture and slavery is institutionalized as a part of the justice system, and racism is rampant, a young doctor is pressed into service as a torturer. To his horror, he discovers that he enjoys the work. Yet he strictly follows the legal boundaries of his mandate, and assiduously protects his slave security, exposing him to political and personal danger.