2022-04-09
In this debut cross-genre novel, fate connects a princess and a military officer who are worlds and eras apart.
Somewhere in “the mythical Kingdom of Artlars,” a couple millennia “after God created Man,” Crown Princess Selesia and the Royal Guard travel north in search of the Oracle. She hopes to restore peace to the war-torn land that her uncle rules, as he’s seized the throne from her father. But when the usurper’s army storms a fortress city, Selesia must decide whether to flee or stay for the inevitable battle. Meanwhile, in the late 22nd century, Earth slowly recovers from the catastrophic World War III. The Britannic Confederation has relished 10 years of peace, which Insurrectionists all but destroy with a political assassination attempt. Field Marshall James Archean and his soldiers scramble to protect officials and track down the assailants. But the Insurrectionists, it seems, aim their ire at Praetors—people like Archean with “enhanced senses,” whom some don’t consider human. As order slips into chaos, Archean scours for enemies who have infiltrated the Confederation’s ranks and uncovers an alarming secret involving Praetors. In this fantasy/SF series opener, MacSporran masterfully builds tension in a number of scenes, from the thumping drums of Selesia’s uncle’s approaching army to a celebratory ceremony going awry in 2177. He likewise shrouds the epic novel in mystery. There’s no discernible connection between the dual narratives until the end, and delightful surprises crop up throughout (for example, the Praetors’ origin). Unfortunately, a series of dangling modifiers mars the story (“Hidden by shadows, a man’s voice comes from the corner of the room, followed by the creak of wood”). It’s a slight but noticeable blemish on an otherwise well-written narrative. The author, for example, deftly describes a world that blends new and reemerging tech: “His helmet, which would normally resemble a respirator, was instead a hard shell with a hinged polycarbonate visor, granting a less restrictive view and allowing easier communication.” The denouement takes a drastic but not entirely unexpected turn, with myriad unanswered questions left for the sequel.
A worthy, engaging fusion of fantasy and dystopian SF.
