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THE STORM BENEATH THE GLASS
The people of Remalia have enjoyed years of “peaceful relations.” But the kingdom’s neighbor to the south, the Kushaani Empire, has been abducting Remalians for its own slave trade. Remalia’s war council resolves to put a stop to the Kushaani slave raids, meaning Prince Andric will finally get a chance to fight in a real battle. The king, however, is suddenly bedridden with a mysterious illness, effectively putting Andric and Crown Prince Stephir in charge. The brothers quickly learn that Kushaani troops are far from predictable and that an “ancient scourge” may also have invaded the kingdom. With the help of Remalia’s unlikely allies—the Vanassi tribe, capable of manipulating powerful “elan” (life force)—Andric and Stephir hope to emerge victorious and keep everyone in their kingdom safe. Wyatt and Larsen’s lengthy series-starter is teeming with characters and subplots. They’ve developed an engaging world—religious tension is rampant as worshippers of each of the nine deities have conflict with one another (“Sykorians were known to offer patrons indulgences in keeping with their goddess’s hedonistic doctrines”). The authors populate this world with a dynamic, extensive cast, including Quarian, a shrewd leader of scouts; Andric’s friend Barak, who becomes an advisor (so the prince can bring him along to war); and keen intercessor Shiralla. Considering the story’s epic scope, surprisingly little happens; the brothers and the Remalian troops move from place to place with relatively few instances of battle action. The series’ titular prophecy remains largely obscure—the authors are surely saving some answers for sequels. That would certainly explain this novel’s concurrent plot involving Evir, an Inquisitor on an entirely different continent who’s hunting a traitor among his people.
The people of Remalia have enjoyed years of “peaceful relations.” But the kingdom’s neighbor to the south, the Kushaani Empire, has been abducting Remalians for its own slave trade. Remalia’s war council resolves to put a stop to the Kushaani slave raids, meaning Prince Andric will finally get a chance to fight in a real battle. The king, however, is suddenly bedridden with a mysterious illness, effectively putting Andric and Crown Prince Stephir in charge. The brothers quickly learn that Kushaani troops are far from predictable and that an “ancient scourge” may also have invaded the kingdom. With the help of Remalia’s unlikely allies—the Vanassi tribe, capable of manipulating powerful “elan” (life force)—Andric and Stephir hope to emerge victorious and keep everyone in their kingdom safe. Wyatt and Larsen’s lengthy series-starter is teeming with characters and subplots. They’ve developed an engaging world—religious tension is rampant as worshippers of each of the nine deities have conflict with one another (“Sykorians were known to offer patrons indulgences in keeping with their goddess’s hedonistic doctrines”). The authors populate this world with a dynamic, extensive cast, including Quarian, a shrewd leader of scouts; Andric’s friend Barak, who becomes an advisor (so the prince can bring him along to war); and keen intercessor Shiralla. Considering the story’s epic scope, surprisingly little happens; the brothers and the Remalian troops move from place to place with relatively few instances of battle action. The series’ titular prophecy remains largely obscure—the authors are surely saving some answers for sequels. That would certainly explain this novel’s concurrent plot involving Evir, an Inquisitor on an entirely different continent who’s hunting a traitor among his people.
