The Rundown
With an evil necromancer usurping the magical control of Matara, a war-mongering ruler sets out his ambitions to overthrow the provinces of Prenitia. The citizens of the unprotected town of Rayan are quick to fall, and now warrior and citizen alike must make the dangerous exodus away from certain destruction and toward uncertain sanctuary. Among them is a warrior woman who hides a secret that may alter the fate of all Prenitia.
Prenitia: The Fate of Vultures is a romantic fantasy that pays loving attention to the presentation of its fictional world. With care taken to develop unique language, history and customs, the novel will surely appeal to those who like to explore new worlds. The novel strays from the typical expectations of heroic fantasy to draw its own map. While there are certainly swords and sorcery throughout, action takes a back seat to the development of the character relationships.
Following a stoic and duty bound warrior teamed up with a shy outsider, a bond of friendship and trust is formed, and the journey becomes one of self discovery as much as one of survival. This is where the writing is strongest, and the growth of the characters is as compelling as the revelation of the plot. While the love story is at the core of this tale, it’s certainly not a paint by numbers romance, and there’s no typical pay off for the relationships, so those of you hoping for something steamy will be disappointed.
Though the novel is very relationship-centric, that’s not to say that there isn’t action, and telegraphed rivalries meet satisfying conclusions in well-staged fight scenes. The magic too is present, but serves as a fantasy foundation to the human drama, rather than hogging the stage with its special effects. It is this that differentiates Prenitia: The Fate of Vultures from more typical heroic fantasy, which may be a plus or a minus depending on what you are looking for.
The Recommendation
With a compelling cast of characters, each with believable motivations, the story feels grounded- less like a fairy tale than one might expect given the genre and backdrop. For fans of softer heroic fantasy, with emphasis on the dramatic rather than the fantastic, Prenitia: The Fate of Vultures is a satisfying tale with well drawn characters and fun dialogue. It’s well suited for readers of all ages, and will probably be most at home with a YA audience.
The Rating
3 Stars (out of 5): Pretty good. Sure, there were some issues, but it was still worth the read.
The Pros & Cons
Pros: Characterization, DialogueCons: Slow in Places
