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Starred review from July 1, 2024
Wang (The Sword of Kaigen) expertly blends discussions of sexism, xenophobia, and colonialism into an immersive dark-academia fantasy. Sciona Freynan is the first woman to be accepted into the elite ranks of magic-users in the history of Tiran, a gilded techno-utopia in which some humans are protected from icy winters and the Blight that strikes down Indigenous peoples. Eager to prove herself the equal of any man highmage, Sciona throws herself into her research to expand the magical barrier protecting Tiran lands from the dangerous outside world. Alongside her Kwen assistant, Thomil, Sciona pushes the boundaries of Tiran's magical system and uncovers a secret about the nature of the power fueling all of Tiran's technology and must confront what it means for the future of their society. With exquisite worldbuilding and characters, Wang delivers a tour de force of unflinching social criticism wrapped in a classic fantasy setting. VERDICT Vibrant, raw, and deeply emotional, this novel is a manifesto about justice as much as it is a thrilling work of fiction. This self-published title, picked up by a big publisher, will have wide appeal beyond fans of science fiction and fantasy.--Lydia Fletcher
Copyright 2024 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
August 5, 2024
Originally self-published in 2023, Wang’s overly ambitious standalone fantasy (after The Sword of Kaigen) addresses two weighty social problems: a wealthy, advanced culture feeding off a disadvantaged one, and talented women being kept subservient by a male elite. When a desperate tribe tries to outrace the deadly Blight and find safety in the city of Tiran, only a skilled hunter, Thomil, and his young niece, Carra, survive. Ten years later, as an underclass janitor, Thomil is surprised to be named the lab assistant of Sciona, a talented magical scholar and the only woman to have tested into the ranks of Tiran’s ruling and mostly hostile mages. Working together, Thomil and Sciona gradually learn the city’s unholy secret: Tiranese achievements depend on slaughtering the Kwen, Thomil’s people, in a land called the Otherrealm, for magical energy. Wang slows her plot by minutely delineating this world’s scientific magic system and endows her characters with jarring 21st-century adolescent lingo. The bittersweet ending only partially justifies Sciona’s quest to change her society and Thomil’s rage at its selfishness. Impatient sword-and-sorcery fantasy fans will struggle.
September 1, 2024
Dark academia meets magical realism in this gripping tale of ambition and resistance. Sciona, an orphan with an unyielding drive, defies societal norms to become the first female highmage in Tiran. Her journey is fraught with challenges, not the least of which is Thomil, her assigned assistant--a Kwen janitor rather than a trained mage. Together, they unravel the dark secrets that lie beneath their seemingly utopian city, exposing a harrowing divide between the privileged and the oppressed. Sciona's relentless pursuit of excellence juxtaposes sharply with her growing awareness of her own flaws and the systemic injustices around her. Thomil, though initially seen as a simple caretaker, reveals depths of wisdom and a personal history of loss and resilience. Their complex, evolving relationship adds emotional weight to the unfolding drama. Fans of R. F. Kuang's Babel (2022) will find much to admire here, from the intricate magic system to the unflinching exploration of societal issues. This is a powerful, thought-provoking read that challenges readers to consider the true cost of ambition and the strength required to stand up for change.
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