Review: Great Fantasy with Original Lore
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 05 7, 2013
One thing I really like about the books Trisha Wolfe rights is the mythological feel. When I read and reviewedAstarte's Wrath (Kythan Guardians)last month, I liked the mix of Egyptian and original lore. With Wolfe's new Goddess Wars series, all of the mythology is original, not pulled from other cultures. It feels like it could be, while still remaining fresh and new. The world-building and culture of the setting are intricate and gripping. The dark grittiness and grim environment that our main characters are trapped in reminds me of the arena fromThe Hunger Games (Book 1), yet more primal. In this way, I'm also reminded ofCarnival of Soulsby Melissa Marr (Though I've only read the summary and could be completely wrong here.). The way technology, medicine, and cybernetics woven into the story remind me ofCinder (Lunar Chronicles)by Marissa Meyer. The dark, unforgiving nature of the story makes me want to re-readShadow and Bone (Grisha Trilogy (Shadow and Bone))by Leigh Bardugo, then dive intoSiege and Storm (Grisha Trilogy (Shadow and Bone)), (Which I was planning to do this month anyway, so why not right now?). The essence of the story in some aspects reminds me of all of these, and also none of these. OF SILVER AND BEASTS is like none of these titles, truly an entity of its own. If you like any of the above, however, I think you'll find something to enjoy in the Goddess Wars series, though be forewarned that this is not a YA novel like the others are.Kaliope harbors a secret: Mercury courses through her blood, thanks to an incident with her father when she was younger. Now, a cybernetic clamp disperses the poisonous mercury away from her heart. She can't afford a skin graft to cover it, and tries desperately to keep her secret and hide her shame. When she's overheated or emotional, this task becomes harder, since the mercury can give off a bright silver sheen. Despite this, she's chosen to be leader of the Nactue Guard, destined to protect the Empress. An Otherworlder War is upon the queendom, however, and a neighboring kingdom has fallen, leaving behind a young, vulnerable heir, Prince Caben. Kaliope is assigned to be his protector, and when Cavan and her Empress fall, Kaliope and Prince Caben are taken hostage. Brought below ground to the Cage, they must fight against a blood-thirsty deity for their survival, even if it means fighting against Kaliope's friends...or against one another.One of the most interesting aspects in OF SILVER AND BEASTS is the fact that Cavan is a queendom, not a kingdom. The society is a matriarchal one, which isn't often depicted in fiction. Not all societies have this belief, however, and it intrigues me to see Prince Caben come from a traditional patriarchal society. Kaliope and the Prince have extremely different belief systems that often clash, and both have to work hard to understand where the other is coming from. The inclusion of these differences added an extra element to the story for me. It also helps flesh out both characters, especially Prince Caben, who has so much depth than what we first come across when meeting him.Like with ASTARTE'S WRATH, there's a lot of world-building early on that leads to a slower start, but once the story gets rolling, the action never starts. Wolfe once again gives fantasy fans a great world and an intriguing concept that never feels forced or contrived. At times, description can be graphic and violent, unflinchingly showcasing the brutality of war and blood sports. The ride is a satisfying one, however...until, of course, you reach that final page. Be warned that there is a cliffhanger ending, and OF DARKNESS AND CROWNS isn't scheduled to come out until November. At least November is only a few months away, and not a year like so many series!