Book 2 of the Alexandria quartet, which I am beginning to really enjoy.
Balthazar overwrites Justine, correcting a lot of misassumptions made by the narrator of the first book, particularly his view that Justine loves him. She doesn’t; she loves Pursewarden, and the narrator is a decoy for Nessim.
Nessim’s brother Narouz, who is in love with Clea for reasons obscure to her, kills a masked character wearing Justine’s ring at a masked ball near the end, possibly in an attempt to punish her (Justin’s) adultery.
Mountolive is briefly introduced; he and Nessim’s mother, a faded beauty, seem to be in love.
The character of Alexandria is a wonderful blend of Middle Eastern and European culture in the mid 20th century; I am not sure than any such places remain today.
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