By Larissa Page
Content warning: attempted rape
Torekan has been under the rule of The Order of Alvar for 150 years. The theocracy is ruled by powerful Aitas’, who hold “pure” magic (magic that draws only from one’s self), and who have been systematically eradicating the naturalists (whose magic draws from the earth). The Naidisbo are a family of people whose magic gives them control over the bodies of others, from calming them down to even stopping their hearts. Fear of them caused them to be culled in the last uprising. Believed to all be dead, it is a surprise to the Order and the Rebels alike when a nurse from within the Order reveals herself to be a Naidisbo. Anika is forced to flee with rebels she doesn’t know and embarks on a journey of learning who she is, where she fits, and which side of this war she will be standing on.
This debut novel, the first of a two-part installment, does an excellent job worldbuilding the land of Torekan. There’s a lot at play here: not only are there several different types of magic held within the regions of Torekan, but there are also multiple levels of military/Order positions. Wood does her best to explain each one, and while it can be easy to confuse a Doctor for a Komandante or a Lider, Wood does a good job at having those positions be important to the story without the reader needing to have a full understanding of what they mean to get the full sense of what is happening.
The same is true for the magic that the naturalist rebels hold and where each of the rebels come from within Torekan. Each magic and background is explained, and explained well, but it is not necessary to hold that information with you as the story continues. I personally like this within fantasy novels, because when you read multiple fantasies it can be easy to get new worlds mixed up. I love learning a new world and I like a well-built world, but I also like not needing to rely on my memory of specific aspects of the worlds to enjoy and understand the story.
There is a large cast of characters in this novel, some more front and centre than others. We are not given full backgrounds on each character, but the ones we get are given to us in a creative way. In a few instances within the story a chapter will jump back and give us a quick origin story; these origin stories were well placed and well used. I hope we will get more of them in the second installment—there are other characters I am longing to know more about.
I did find there to be a bit too much travelling up and down the landmass of Torekan. I wished the characters had stayed in one place or not broken up into groups so often, but this is something I’ve noticed is very common in fantasy novels.
Wood does a good job in representing the inequalities and injustices that occur within a confined landmass and with perceived “pure” versus “impure” magic. I am looking forward to reading the second installment and experiencing the conclusion of this story.