The Golden Key

A World Fantasy Award finalist for Best Novel in 1996, Voya's 1996 SF, Fantasy, and Horror Books of the Year; The Golden Key is a submersive experience. The authors evoke a vibrant Old World feel through language derived from romance languages, and old patriarchal aristocratic social structures, and lightly brushed by magic. This multi-generational story spans nearly 400 years stalking two influential families; the Grijalvas (magical artists) and the do'Verradas (the royalty). The Grijalvas are forced to give up one female member of each generation as mistress to the reigning Duke, and one male member as official artist to the Court. The concept of art as magic here is meticulously executed, integrating principles of science and genetics into the passing on of these magical traits. The complex relationships, and political implications of each generation are fantastic. While it's clearly not a story that follows one heroine on her adventures, it's an interesting study of the way different institutions treat women, and the various ways women cope with it… or don't. While the women aren't exactly the heroes of the story, they do carry engaging, important supporting roles in the story.