It is Monday morning of what promises to be a busy week, not least because World Fantasy Convention 2020 is due to start in just a few days. I’m thrilled to have been given a reading slot to read from Return of the Mantra.
(News Update: Free delivery worldwide on Return of the Mantra from Book Depository.)
There might even be time to give a glimpse of the soon-to-be-released sequel – The Warder. In the meantime, I’m scouring the schedule which is jam-packed with great panels, interviews and readings.
And so, with fantasy books in mind, I’ve been thinking about the role stories can play in keeping us company and transporting us to different places – particularly true now, in a time of uncertainty when many of us are unable to travel far. For the fantasy genre, the scope of travel is limitless, whether it’s the well-loved cities of urban fantasy, dystopian worlds that challenge the status quo, portals into other worlds, space travel, vast oceans, sweeping deserts, or forests with sentient trees.
In my bid to discover new titles and authors, I thought I’d share two recent reads, for which ‘place’ feels central to each.
Deserts are a location featured in many of my favourite reads, and is one of the reasons I was drawn to the title, Empire of Sand by Tasha Suri.
The story follows Mehr, a girl trapped between two cultures. Her father comes from the ruling classes of the empire, but her mother’s people were outcasts – Amrithi nomads who worshipped the spirits of the sand.
Set in the Ambhan Empire, a world inspired by Mughal India, Mehr lives in her father’s palace, forced to keep a secret – she has magic in her blood. When she is caught performing the forbidden rites, her secret is revealed to the Emperors feared mystics.
Mehr’s journey takes us into the unfamiliar, challenging preconceptions with each direction the story takes. There is a unique flavour to the writing that stems from Mehr’s interaction with another central character – the desert. It is a place where demon spirits lurk, where performing the rites shapes the dreams of sleeping gods. The rites give Mehr comfort in a stark world and, for me, they seemed to sway the entire story, which overall felt weirdly like reading a dance.
For full review, click here.
Daughters of Nri by Reni K Amayo, is set in a world that is Nigeria reimagined.
The story follows two sisters, twins, separated at birth. Naala and Sinai live in two different worlds, purposefully kept apart because their existence threatens the power structure. The old gods have departed from earth, but remnants of their existence remain. Each girl must come to terms with their true destiny, as they discover they possess the magic of the gods.
I received this book as a gift, and am very grateful to have been introduced to this author. Reni Amayo was born and raised in London to two Nigerian immigrant parents. She has studied African, specifically Nigerian, cultures, mythology and anthropology, unearthing a rich history, knowledge and expertise which gives huge depth to this fantastical tale.
The landscape in the book is brought alive with vivid descriptions, as we are introduced to people and places with an authentically African feel, like the Namibian palace cook, Meekulu – a particular favourite of mine among the secondary characters. There was something familiar and comforting about scenes with Meekulu in the kitchens, among her shelves of spices and remedies. With a playful glint in her eye and soft cackle on her lips, I can imagine sitting with her by the fire, sharing a meal, listening to her talk about this fantasy version of Africa.
For full review click here.
How about you, any favourites?
Happy Reading!
