10/10/2022
Otte, author of the Failstate series among other titles, swings big with this science-fantasy epic of resistance, a false utopia, oppressed beliefs, and a touch of royal romance. Everys, a secret “scribbler” of forbidden magic runes, still holds faith in the Singularity, the god of the Siporans, Everys’s people, though she feels “He” has allowed the Siporans “to rot for four hundred years” under the oppressive rule of the Dynasty. Fate upends her life—and the future of her people and the Dynasty itself—when, in the aftermath of an apparent terrorist bombing, Everys is taken into custody by Dynasty troops and then quite unexpectedly wed to the king.
The sprawling story that follows turns on faith, surprise alliances, suppressed histories, secret magic and high tech programs, and affecting “talk of destiny and purpose” as Everys—note the name’s similarity to the biblical Esther—must find a way to save her people while helping King Narius navigate the many dangers facing the Dynasty. As the new queen she must deal with the mystery of the fate of her predecessor, the seemingly transactional nature of her relationship with Narius, plus the politics, intrigue, and assassination attempts facing the royalty of any empire that rules through force, all as she faces serious questions of allegiance to a seemingly defeated god. That fascinating element gives Otte’s narrative power, and the details of Everys’s rune writing—and her people’s enduring faith—prove resonant.
The wealth of themes, characters, crises, and intriguing connections to the story of Esther means that, despite brisk scenecraft, the length is epic, with much to keep track of—the story can feel dense when it covers scheming and geopolitics. Still, Otte has created a compelling protagonist whose relationships with both her god and her husband prove rich and rewarding. Seasoned fans of dystopian adventures, especially with underpinnings of biblical allegory, will find much to savor here.
Takeaway: An unexpected queen must save her people, her empire, and her faith in this dystopian epic.
Great for fans of: Jill Williamson’s Kinsman Chronicles, Karen Hancock’s Legends of the Guardian-King series.
Production grades Cover: A Design and typography: A Illustrations: N/A Editing: B+ Marketing copy: A
2022-10-03
A mage uses her newfound political power to help others when she suddenly finds herself a dynasty’s queen in this fantasy.
Shopkeeper Everys scrapes together a living in her neighborhood of Fair Havens. She can only rely on herself, as all her family is gone save her hapless brother, who’s always short of “blades” (the local currency). She’s also a skilled mage, but those “dark arts” are unlawful in the Xoniel Dynasty. One day, without warning, royal guards round up Everys and other women and take them to the royal palace. Before Everys even knows what’s happening, King Narius singles her out, and the two are bound in marriage. Since the new queen has no official duties, she decides to do some good; rather than spend her hefty annual budget on clothes or furniture, Everys wants it to go to Fair Havens’ mostly poor residents. She continues to defy the way things are traditionally done, such as pushing for peace with a longtime enemy. It’s much easier to do once she realizes how much sway she has; Narius must be married for his reign to be “legitimate,” which Everys could ruin simply by leaving. At the same time, the palace’s “resident rabble rouser” struggles to keep her magic under wraps, but that hardly seems possible when assassins come after the royal family. Meanwhile, Narius, like Everys, didn’t have a choice regarding the marriage, as circumstances separate him from the woman he truly loves. But then he (and many others) can’t help but be mesmerized by the dynasty’s whip-smart and compassionate queen.Otte’s worldbuilding is impeccable. Readers will recognize familiar fantasy elements in these faraway lands, such as feuding kingdoms and astounding feats of magic. But there are just as many guns as swords, along with technology (digital scribers and identity scanners) and aircraft (cloud skimmers). A likable and indelible woman leads the cast; Everys’ benevolence is an unmistakably genuine trait, so it’s not surprising when the queen stops Narius’ public opinion polls from sinking further. Everys’ potent magic comes complete with a superb visual. Some call her a “scribbler,” as she uses her ink-covered fingers (or whatever substance she can write with) to draw runes on various things. This sometimes leaves her with telltale signs of the illegal act she’s committed—stained hands or fingers. Everys’ engaging relationship and probable romance with Narius starts on bad terms; his royal lineage exiled her people, the Siporan, 400 years ago. Elsewhere, supporting characters shine, especially Narius’ handsome brother, Prince Quartus, and royal guard Redtale, an 8-foot Ixactl who sports gray skin and horns. They and others in the dynasty face such tense situations as terrorists setting off bombs in a city and seemingly aggressive acts from a neighboring land called Dalark. The story, which has series potential, also realistically shows the pitfalls of leadership. Everys helps so many, but one of her decisions inadvertently disregards an entire group of people, including someone she’s grown close to. Otte’s prose favors political discourse over action, although there are instances of combat and vigorous displays of Everys’ mage prowess.
A kindhearted and capable hero headlines this engaging magic tale.
