The first book in David Anthony Durham’s acclaimed fantasy series, the Acacia Trilogy—a timeless tale of heroism and betrayal, of treachery and revenge, of primal wrongs and ultimate redemption.
Leodan Akaran, ruler of the Known World, has inherited generations of apparent peace and prosperity, won ages ago by his ancestors. A widower of high intelligence, he presides over an empire called Acacia, after the idyllic island from which he rules. He dotes on his four children and hides from them the dark realities of traffic in drugs and human lives on which their prosperity depends. He hopes that he might change this, but powerful forces stand in his way. And then a deadly assassin sent from a race called the Mein, exiled long ago to an ice-locked stronghold in the frozen north, strikes at Leodan in the heart of Acacia while they unleash surprise attacks across the empire. On his deathbed, Leodan puts into play a plan to allow his children to escape, each to their own destiny. And so his children begin a quest to avenge their father's death and restore the Acacian empire—this time on the basis of universal freedom. Forced to flee to distant corners and separated against their will, the children must navigate a web of hidden allegiances, ancient magic, foreign invaders, and illicit trade that will challenge their very notion of who they are. As they come to understand their true purpose in life, the fate of the world lies in their hands.
Acacia
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From Publishers Weekly
Starred Review. In this sprawling and vividly imagined fantasy, historical novelist Durham (Pride of Carthage) chronicles the downfall and reinvention of the Akaran Dynasty, whose empire, called Acacia, was built on conquest, slaving and drug trade. The Acacian empire, encompassing "The Known World," is hated by its subjugated peoples, especially the Mein, who 22 generations earlier were exiled to the icy northland. Having sent an assassin to kill the Acacian king, Leodan, the rebel chieftain, Hanish Mein, declares war on the empire. As Acacia falls, Leodan's treasonous but conflicted chancellor, Thaddeus Clegg, spirits the king's four children to safety. When the Mein's rule proves even more tyrannical than the old, the former chancellor seeks to reunite the now adult Akaran heirs—the oldest son Aliver (once heir to the throne), the beautiful elder daughter Corinn, their younger sister, Mena, and youngest brother, Dariel—to lead a war to regain the empire. Durham has created a richly detailed alternate reality leavened with a dollop of magic and populated by complicated personalities grappling with issues of freedom and oppression. (June)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
From Booklist
*Starred Review* The outwardly idyllic life of widower Leodan Arkan, ruler of the Known World, and his four children belies the underlying darkness of drug and slave trafficking that supports the kingdom's prosperity. Meanwhile, in the frigid north the long-exiled Mein are planning the war they inaugurate by assassinating Leodan at a public gathering. The tension is palpable as the enemy forces make their move. Rampant intrigue and treachery place the lives of the Arkan children in great danger, and they are spirited away—scattered to the four winds—in hopes of keeping them safe. None of the four knows where the others are, and each has to discover his or her own destiny. But all are determined to avenge their father and restore the Acacian Empire. Durham has created a viable, vital world, his plotting is impeccable, and his characters are diverse in race and multidimensional in personality. A full-bodied history of events leading up to the situation portrayed and a well-conceived mythology are woven into the narrative, giving it even greater substance. Fortunately indeed, this is just the blockbuster beginning of the War with the Mein. Estes, Sally
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
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Most helpful customer reviews
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful
By Zafri M.
TOP 500 REVIEWER
Format:Mass Market Paperback
A for "Acacia" by David Anthony Durham
The pacing of the novel is fantastic. No wasted space, all interesting. Durham makes good use of events happening off-scene for dramatic effect, and he fills in the blanks that he skipped over extremely well.
The world building is where this novel shines. You learn it bit by bit and you always get the feeling there is some other mystery still be to be revealed.
A definite recommendation in the epic fantasy genre. If you have problems with swearing, sex, and violence, get this instead of GRRM's A Game of Thrones (although I would still point out that Martin's novels are some of the best fiction out there).
The pacing of the novel is fantastic. No wasted space, all interesting. Durham makes good use of events happening off-scene for dramatic effect, and he fills in the blanks that he skipped over extremely well.
The world building is where this novel shines. You learn it bit by bit and you always get the feeling there is some other mystery still be to be revealed.
A definite recommendation in the epic fantasy genre. If you have problems with swearing, sex, and violence, get this instead of GRRM's A Game of Thrones (although I would still point out that Martin's novels are some of the best fiction out there).
2 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By dom
Format:Mass Market Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I really liked the world of Acacia and the political structure built by Durham. The Acacian Empire is not benevolent although the people in it a highly likable... good book
1 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By Anthony L.
Format:Mass Market Paperback
I have just finished reading Acacia by David Anthony Durham.
Here are my thoughts--the praise, and the criticisms:
First off, I'm an avid fantasy reader, (Tolkien, Martin, Jordan, Lewis, Sanderson, Durham, Novik, Paolini, Flanagan, Erikson...) so I know what I'm talking about!
So, read on, Like or Dislike, Comment, and Read my other fantasy reviews!
...
1. Aren't the Akarans partly based on the Starks?
My reasoning went thus:
Leodan Akaran--Eddard Stark
Aliver Akaran--Robb Stark
Corinn Akaran--Sansa Stark
Mena Akaran--Arya Stark
Dariel Akaran--Bran\Rickon Stark.
The parallels go further.
*SPOILER*
Eddard Stark and Leodan Akaran are both killed, and their children separate.
Aliver and Robb are both killed.
*SPOILER ENDS*
Corinn and Sansa are both lady-like and both don't really leave civilization.
Mena and Arya are both tom-boyish, good fighters.
So, is it coincidence, or is there a similarity between the Akarans and the Starks?
2. Good World-building.
The land Acacia takes place in is exceptionally well-built by today's standards.
The best fantasy worlds always seem to fit together. Everything makes sense--the allegiances, the past battles, the armies...
Acacia was like this, due in part to DD's career as a historian.
I always say, "Fantasy Should Have Ground in Reality."
UNLIKE Brandon Sanderson's land of Roshar, (Read my review on the subject) The Known World fulfills this rule perfectly.
It feels like a world that could have existed, there isn't a WHOLE LOT of magic in the first book. Just enough to make it believable, and at the same time give you no doubt that it's fantasy you're reading.
History, Imports, Exports, Allegiances, Alliances, Rulers, Armies, Constitutions, Religion...All these were obviously meticulously "researched".
In summary: I'm not saying that other authors DON'T think out there worlds, because they do, but Acacia was an exceptionally interesting and intriguing fantasy world.
3. A Lot of Gratuitous Nudity, Though Not the Type to Offend.
That's right, from the whole of Dariel's crew stripping so that they could SWIM better to the entire Acacian army doffing their clothes to repel monstrous beasts called antoks who were bred to hate colour, there's a lot of written nudity in this book where I feel there didn't need to be ANY at all. (All of these situations are made more awkward for the reader because the Acacians use women as soldiers, as well as men.)
So, the question is WHY?
I thought perhaps Durham, historian that he is, was going for the Greek style of fighting and combat--the Greeks usually fighting devoid of clothing.
So, really, this issue equals half a star off the book. Call me crazy but it gets annoying!
4. The Beginning And The End Is Best.
The rest is--what's the word? Ah--the rest is WEIRD!
What! You're saying, "I thought he liked this book!"
But yes, the middle was...the same but different. The same as other fantasies in the sense that it has many of the same elements, but Durham changes things. Just leetle, leetle things, which make a whole lot of difference:
The color of someone's skin.
The odd, crude element thrown in here and there.
The occasional quirky habit of a character.
Things like that; they make Acacia neither fish nor fowl, to me.
--But let me just state once more that Acacia was a good book that I had a pleasure reading.
Back to the beginning and the end:
The first chapter is brilliant: 5 stars.
The first chapters with Leeka Alain were some of the best fantasy I have ever read.
The beginning chapters, nay, the first book, (Acacia: War with the Mein is divided into 3 `books') was stunning indeed.
The ending was a disappointment, SPOILER Aliver's death was not grand enough SPOILER ENDS, the battle was not nearly as good as it could have been, etc. But it makes up for it with the arrival of the Santoth.
So, in short:
The beginning was riveting. The middle was merely an incentive to get to the end. The ending was done well, but not perfect.
I've spent a long time on this review, and still haven't said all I wanted to say. Perhaps I'll come back when I find the time.
I have written so many conclusions in the above review I doubt I need write another one. But I will:
Acacia: War With the Mein was one of the better fantasies I've had the pleasure of reading. It was action-packed, well-characterized, and thought-through. However it was certainly not without its faults, which include gratuitous nudity, clumsy fight scenes, and a slow moving plot.
So, now that you've read my review on Acacia, read some of my other reviews. Do not forget to leave a like or dislike, and I appreciate your comments greatly.
Here are my thoughts--the praise, and the criticisms:
First off, I'm an avid fantasy reader, (Tolkien, Martin, Jordan, Lewis, Sanderson, Durham, Novik, Paolini, Flanagan, Erikson...) so I know what I'm talking about!
So, read on, Like or Dislike, Comment, and Read my other fantasy reviews!
...
1. Aren't the Akarans partly based on the Starks?
My reasoning went thus:
Leodan Akaran--Eddard Stark
Aliver Akaran--Robb Stark
Corinn Akaran--Sansa Stark
Mena Akaran--Arya Stark
Dariel Akaran--Bran\Rickon Stark.
The parallels go further.
*SPOILER*
Eddard Stark and Leodan Akaran are both killed, and their children separate.
Aliver and Robb are both killed.
*SPOILER ENDS*
Corinn and Sansa are both lady-like and both don't really leave civilization.
Mena and Arya are both tom-boyish, good fighters.
So, is it coincidence, or is there a similarity between the Akarans and the Starks?
2. Good World-building.
The land Acacia takes place in is exceptionally well-built by today's standards.
The best fantasy worlds always seem to fit together. Everything makes sense--the allegiances, the past battles, the armies...
Acacia was like this, due in part to DD's career as a historian.
I always say, "Fantasy Should Have Ground in Reality."
UNLIKE Brandon Sanderson's land of Roshar, (Read my review on the subject) The Known World fulfills this rule perfectly.
It feels like a world that could have existed, there isn't a WHOLE LOT of magic in the first book. Just enough to make it believable, and at the same time give you no doubt that it's fantasy you're reading.
History, Imports, Exports, Allegiances, Alliances, Rulers, Armies, Constitutions, Religion...All these were obviously meticulously "researched".
In summary: I'm not saying that other authors DON'T think out there worlds, because they do, but Acacia was an exceptionally interesting and intriguing fantasy world.
3. A Lot of Gratuitous Nudity, Though Not the Type to Offend.
That's right, from the whole of Dariel's crew stripping so that they could SWIM better to the entire Acacian army doffing their clothes to repel monstrous beasts called antoks who were bred to hate colour, there's a lot of written nudity in this book where I feel there didn't need to be ANY at all. (All of these situations are made more awkward for the reader because the Acacians use women as soldiers, as well as men.)
So, the question is WHY?
I thought perhaps Durham, historian that he is, was going for the Greek style of fighting and combat--the Greeks usually fighting devoid of clothing.
So, really, this issue equals half a star off the book. Call me crazy but it gets annoying!
4. The Beginning And The End Is Best.
The rest is--what's the word? Ah--the rest is WEIRD!
What! You're saying, "I thought he liked this book!"
But yes, the middle was...the same but different. The same as other fantasies in the sense that it has many of the same elements, but Durham changes things. Just leetle, leetle things, which make a whole lot of difference:
The color of someone's skin.
The odd, crude element thrown in here and there.
The occasional quirky habit of a character.
Things like that; they make Acacia neither fish nor fowl, to me.
--But let me just state once more that Acacia was a good book that I had a pleasure reading.
Back to the beginning and the end:
The first chapter is brilliant: 5 stars.
The first chapters with Leeka Alain were some of the best fantasy I have ever read.
The beginning chapters, nay, the first book, (Acacia: War with the Mein is divided into 3 `books') was stunning indeed.
The ending was a disappointment, SPOILER Aliver's death was not grand enough SPOILER ENDS, the battle was not nearly as good as it could have been, etc. But it makes up for it with the arrival of the Santoth.
So, in short:
The beginning was riveting. The middle was merely an incentive to get to the end. The ending was done well, but not perfect.
I've spent a long time on this review, and still haven't said all I wanted to say. Perhaps I'll come back when I find the time.
I have written so many conclusions in the above review I doubt I need write another one. But I will:
Acacia: War With the Mein was one of the better fantasies I've had the pleasure of reading. It was action-packed, well-characterized, and thought-through. However it was certainly not without its faults, which include gratuitous nudity, clumsy fight scenes, and a slow moving plot.
So, now that you've read my review on Acacia, read some of my other reviews. Do not forget to leave a like or dislike, and I appreciate your comments greatly.
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