Southern Fire [Mass Market Paperback]

I'm a 35 year vetern of SciFi/Fantasy, and picked this book up not knowing the author (It was a fetured selection in a book club I belong to and was mailed to me automatically), but was unable to put it down once I started reading. Fast paced, interesting settings and charecters, and a few suprises along the way kept me reading late into the night, unable to wait to learn what happened next! Can't wait for book II in theis new series!

Barbarians, led by magicians, invade the southern islands in the archipelago, and Darish Khenda, leader of the next group of islands up, knows his turn will be next. But what can he do against magic? Magic has been banned from the archipelago for centuries--and defenses against it almost unknown. Only by abandoning his kingdom, pretending to be dead, and seeking some magical help can he hope to prevail. But in the archipelago, any association with magic is ruled to damn the victim as well as the magician. What future can he hope for, even if he is successful.

Author Juliet E. McKenna creates an intriguing universe with an intricate system of divination (not considered magic), inheritance, and warfare. Her story weaves togther the lives of Khenda with Dev, a wizard from the far north, intrigued by tales of magic from the south.

For me, McKenna's habit of over-explaining the characters' thoughts by drawn out, italicized, internal monologue was sadly disruptive. SOUTHERN FIRE has plenty of potential, but I recommend simply skipping all of the italics. I also found that Khenda didn't really make the hard decisions you'd expect of a protagonist--instead, they were made for him, by Shek Kul, by Dev, and especially by Janne. Perhaps this weakness will be addressed as McKenna continues her series, but I found it hard to care too much about Khenda. Despite convincing himself he was making sacrifices, he seemed to me to be looking for ways to cheat his way out of paying the cost.

SOUTHERN FIRE shows a lot of promise. It will be intriguing to see if McKenna can address her weaknesses and propell this series to the levels that the fascinating world-building deserves.

Southern Fire (2003) is the first fantasy novel in the Aldabreshin Compass series. It is set in the southern isles of the Einarinn universe. The local cultures in the Aldabreshin Archipelago do not believe in magic, but do believe in killing those accused of practicing it or even being associated with it. Such contradictory belief systems cause most northern magicians to stay far away from these isles.

The Aldabreshins do believe in omens. Their soothsayers find signs in many events. Their scholars keep detailed records of natural signs and other Indicators associated with particular consequences.

The Aldabreshin domains are ruled by Warlords who lead their warriors in battle and read the omens. The commerce of these domains is controlled by the wives of the Warlords. The politics of the domains are nominally practiced by the Warlords, but with significant counsel and maneuvering by their wives.

The great influence of women within Aldabreshin society provides them with significant power in most domains. They can divorce their husbands and even refuse to have sex with their mates. However, some men are boorish enough to deny such rights to their women.

In this novel, Daish Kheda is the Warlord of his domains. He was elevated to his present estate rather earlier than expected when his father was killed by falling off his observatory tower. Kheda was fully prepared to take over the domain, having been well trained in reading omens, herbal lore and other skills. His body slave is Telouet.

Janne Daish is Kheda's first wife and the mother of his eldest son and heir. She is nine years older than him and was the first woman with whom he had sex. Janne rules the household with wisdom and firmness. Her bodyslave is Birut, the best swordsman in the domain.

Rekka Daish is Kheda's second wife and mother of his second son. She is the trader in the family. Rekka is not a passionate lover, but she gives him good advice. Her bodyslave is Andit.

Sain Daish is Kheda's third wife and is pregnant with her first child. She was raised in a peculiar domain and has many fears. She is guided by Hanyad, an older, well traveled, and fierce bodyslave who adores her.

Daish Sirket is Kheda's eldest son and heir. He does not yet have a bodyslave. Kheda is still looking for the right man to protect his heir. After the bodyslave is found, Kheda and his wives can start looking for Sirket's first wife.

Mesil is Kheda's second son. Dau is his eldest daughter. Efi, Vida, Noi and Mie are his younger daughters. All are well loved by their father and mothers.

In this story, Kheda is awakened out of sound sleep by news of beacon fires throughout the southern shoreline of his domain. The messenger birds brings news of Chazen Domain ships and refugees coming from the south. Kheda also receives an encoded message mentioning magic.

Kheda and Telouet travel south in a fast trireme to learn the cause of this excitement. They find a group of injured Chazen refugees in a cove on their shore. The refugees all speak of fire from the air and savage men killing with clubs and fireharden wooden spears.

Olkai Chazen -- the first wife of the domain -- is lying on the ground with grievous burns on her left hand and left side. The burns look like sticky fire, but there is not the characteristic stench of sulfur or resin. Kheda treats her as best he can and is holding her as she dies.

Later Kheda hears of the invasion from Chazen Saril, the Warlord himself. They take a few triremes back to the Chazen isles and find some invaders. The first group is easily killed since they have no armor or steel weapons. Then they encounter magic that transforms whip lizards into fearsome beasts, driving the men back to their ships and out to sea.

This tale takes Kheda to the Ulla domain to inform other Warlords of his experiences and to plan a counterattack. He convinces Ritsem Caid and Redigal Coron of the dangers, but Ulla Safar refuses to listen and even tries to kill him. Kheda leaves his family and friends to look for an answer to such wizardry.

This story tracks Kheda as he follows the omens to the north and then to the east through the isles, then back to Chazen. He constantly asks for information on wizardry and ways to counter magic. He is partially successful in this quest, but it continues in the next volume: Northern Storm. Read and enjoy!

Recommended for McKenna fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of exotic societies, magical systems, and strong perseverance.

-Arthur W. Jordin

› Go to Amazon.com to see all 3 reviews  4.0 out of 5 stars