Thirst 4 - thoughts? spoilers allowed!

[judes3011]

so!  what did you think?

i was very pleasantly surprised where he took the story. i didn't really like Thirst 3 (i originally read last vampire 1-6...like 10 times...), i personally didn't like sita's personality in Thirst 3 (felt a little bland...and too white american...i know, sounds wierd, but that's how i felt), and wasn't connecting with Matt or Teri, but Thirst 4 more than made up for it!

i thought Pike gave Sita back the spunk and heart, and the story flowed effortlessly. i loved it!

i prefer to read her story in present time, but i heard Pike may have written more Sita stories - about her past. definitely will give those a read too, my only hesitation is that many people have different perspectives about historical events, and i hope Pike keeps in mind to make sure Sita stays worldly....or something like that.

anyway, just my opinion. what's yours?

[Nemi]

The story of Sita, actually of Lucifer still feels unfinished.

We know that ultimately Sita was granted access to heaven, but then we also know she chose to go back to life and fight the Telar and the IIC. At the end of the book, we still don't know if the internet program was successfully destroyed, how John figures into the story (and Paula for that matter - I feel that there is a much bigger story involving the two of them in the future). We also don't know the future in a world where Sita and Matt have each other now.

It didn't read like a conclusion, not the same way that Creatures Of Forever read as a conclusion back in the day.

I loved the book but found it a bit incohesive and over-complicated particularly for a Sita story.

I can only hope that while we will hear about Sita's past we will also end up with a satisfactory conclusion to her story. Whether it's death and happiness or perhaps life and happiness - somehow I imagine a Starlight Crystal type story for her and Matt, one that spans the ages and the universe.

[Marvi]

I prefered the complexity and actually really enjoyed the third book which was pretty exciting.  However, I read the series years ago, so I would have felt that the story needed to be kicked up a notch.  

Definitely felt like there were unanswered questions at the end of Thirst 4.  

I was a bit disappointed in Sita's love life tho.  I always found that part of her interesting and in Thirst 4 I was hoping to hear more about Sita and Yaksha (although we got a taste of it).  I felt bad that in Thirst 3 and 4 Sita was never a primary love for anyone.  In the previous books Sita mainly thought of Rama/Ray, but it seems that once she found out about Umara, Yaksha was her main focus.  Unfortunately, since it looks like Yaksha found another true love, had a baby with her and lived with her for thousands of years, Sita wasn't the centre of his world (she even admits that Yaksha 'made his choice').  I feel bad for Sita.  She deserves long lasting love with someone who is as remarkable as her.  I'm not sure if I see her and Matt getting together- the books already say that Teri is his true love and to be honest I was disappointed when Sita/Teri had sex with him.  I really wanted Sita with Yaksha somehow, but I like Umara and I really just feel pity for the character.

Question- How can Yaksha have a baby and Sita can't? Sita conceived Kalika when she was a vampire (but gave birth when she was human).  Is this confusing anyone else?

[PlKEFAN]

in regards to the question about why Yaksha could have a child and Sita had to become human to have one, I think it may have touched on this at some point in the series but I'm not sure - in any case - a womans body needs to change and adapt to accomodate a child, and as a vampire a female is not able to do that. It would seem Yaksha was able to produce a child because the mother of the child was not a vampire... although she was immortal she started out human and was granted immortality by the white light, it would read to seem she for some reason, while still not aging, was able to produce children. The books indicate that the Telar did concieve children the natural way, and discussed such things as them bearing children, and also them salvaging the immortality they gained only through conception after they lost the connection to the light - whereas vampires don't create children vampires, vampires can only be created through blood exchange... with hybrids of vampire species being the only exception.

[PlKEFAN]

oh and as far as conceiving Kalika when she was still a vampire - I suppose that could be credited to the fact that she conceived the child with a hybrid, Arturo - but she would not have been able to carry that child had she not been transformed into a human.

[Dappy]

Thirst No. 4 was a pleasant surprise for me. The story of Sita has always fascinated me. Though ancient, Sita is still struggling to find meaning in everything. Even a five thousand year old being with experiences one can only imagine has her insecurities. One thing I loved about the series was the development of Sita's character. There were so many sides to her, which I felt was unique to her in comparison to other characters Pike had created. Thirst No. 4 delivered much satisfaction, especially for someone like me who waited more than a decade for it! I especially love the expansion of the love triangle between Sita, Yaksha, and Umara.

 The love triangle between Sita, Yaksha, and Umara is not completely black and white. It is shrouded by many gray areas that overlap each other. Sita has a deep resentment towards Yaksha, having taken from her the comfort of her family, her mortality, and her humanity, which she regains throughout her long life. Sita is a woman characterized by tragedy and struggle. She searches for meaning, often falling short, and fights to defend what she believed to be right, even if it results in a mere Pyrrhic victory. In one sense she represents life's struggle, albeit through the eyes of a vampire.
Umara is on the other side of the spectrum. Older and wiser than our heroine, she carries herself with a silent dignity and confidence, much in the same way Radha is described as having in the first book. Whereas Sita interacts with the world with action, Umara embraces it with scrutiny. It is her fearlessness and confidence that attracts Yaksha to her.
Until her discovery of Umara, Sita believes she is the only being Yaksha could ever love. Before then, she both loved and hated the man. Upon the discovery of her rival, she is forced to question every thing she believed. It's like a slap in the face - you take away my family, my life and now my illusion that I was your one and only. It's a harsh reality.
But then we must remember, Yaksha, being the complex and mysterious character that he is, kills all that he created, save Sita. He loves her too much to hurt her and so disappears from her. As beings cursed with emotion, we look for things to replace what we have lost or cannot have. That is our nature. Yaksha may come off as devoid of emotion, but it is apparent on many occasions how he cares for the woman who got away. For instance, he dies giving her the rest of his life essence. Secondly, his secrets are locked in a vault with the password "I love you, Sita". He is said to have her name on his lips to much to Umara's chagrin, as explained by Matt. Sita would always remain his true love, his motivations for doing what he does.

I am glad that Pike concludes with such an open end. There is so much left unanswered and so much more to explore. I, for one, hopes Sita's story continues. What are your thoughts?

[Marissa]

great review Dappy! I totally agree with everything you said! I too thought that the areas of Sita's character explored in Thirst 4 were really interesting, especially the scales & how it was her own guilt that made the difference in her judgement.

Soooooo hoping for another book in the series! Can't let go of Sita yet, she teaches us all so much through her own learning :)

[Jamie]

I agree. About the question, it doesn't seem very fair to Sita at all. I highly doubt it but this is just a thought; is Yaksha's baby normal because of Umara? I don't see how that could possibly be but maybe...