This actually deserves a higher rating but I don't like reading about Gods who meddle in the lives of mortals. Which is an absurd reason to rate a story down. I know. ( )

This story, which is free online at beneath-ceaseless-skies.com, takes place in the same world as [b:The Nalendar|24901153|The Nalendar|Ann Leckie|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1423580461s/24901153.jpg|44551061], which I've read earlier (see here). As the Nalendar is mentioned in this story here, too, I recommend reading [b:The Nalendar|24901153|The Nalendar|Ann Leckie|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1423580461s/24901153.jpg|44551061] first. But you don't have too, of course.

Again gods play a vital role in the lives of the people. They need the people to gain power and influence, and some are not scrupulous about abusing people to obtain what they (the gods in question) desire. The divine meddling occurs (as in [b:The Nalendar|24901153|The Nalendar|Ann Leckie|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1423580461s/24901153.jpg|44551061]) through animals (a fish, a bird, butterflies, an ant, ...), but also by taking possession of one's body.

It's a story about ritual sacrifice, about being the chosen one, aka "Beloved of the Sun". In this case, of Lord Sun. Many girls of the tribe would like to be the chosen one, but the real chosen one was somehow prevented from experiencing the ritual. She survived, and apparently lost her speech ability, until a certain encounter restored that. Her survival was a rare event, as most die in the process, when being drowned in the river Schael, which has close ties with the Nalendar. So someone else had to be chosen, this time a more foolish, naive girl.

But will this ritual take place after all? Especially when the heat is on again. Heat is also of importance in the harvest of produce. It has been ages since there was a proper rainfall.

Another interesting story by [a:Ann Leckie|3365457|Ann Leckie|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1402526383p2/3365457.jpg], whose Imperial Radch series I've yet to read. I hope to tackle those books asap. ( )