Courtship Rite
{4.5/5} “He was Prime Predictor because the prophesies he had registered in the Archives as a youth had been more accurate than the vision of any other Kaiel. That was how the Kaiel elected their leader. He would be Prime Predictor until he died or retired or was ousted by a man who had proved a clearer vision.”
Courtship Rite by Donald Kingsbury, published in 1982
Hoemei, Gaet, and Joesai have 2 wives and they are courting another. But Aesoe, their clan leader, declares that they must abandon that courtship in favour of another. They must marry Oelita the Clanless One in order to conquer the Valley of Ten Thousand Graves. She doesn’t know they’re coming.
It’s science fiction that has the feel of fantasy, like Dragonflight.
Kingsbury has created an interesting society, where different clans are vying for power. With all of the plotting going on, it has a hint of James Clavell to it.
This is the 2nd book I’ve read by Kingsbury. I previously reviewed Psychohistorical Crisis.