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The shadow of the torturer review6/3/2023 ![]() ![]() His act of mercy in helping Thecla commit suicide rather than continue being tortured sees him exiled to the distant city of Thrax and, at the same time, he is gifted with the sword Terminus Est. This is consistent throughout the book as Wolfe rarely dwells on his characters’ motivations. I never quite believed in these emotional ties as Severian is an opaque character due to his own unreliable narration. Unsure of whether he belongs in the guild this fascination leads him into a strange relationship with one of his clients, a woman named Thecla, who is imprisoned due to her sister being Vodalus’ lover. A one-sided bond established after a chance encounter in a graveyard, it is never quite clear why Severian feels such admiration for Vodalus. ![]() The first chapters detail his early years in the guild and his growing loyalty with the revolutionary, Vodalus. ![]()
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