How epic do you like your fantasy? Do you need world-ending battles between gods and demons? Do you love dragons and wizards? Vampires and zombies and shapeshifters? Magic swords and magic stones? How about pirates and kraken? Maybe some political intrigue and betrayal?? Well, buddy, have I got the series for you!
I seriously feel like Stefon when I talk about this series, because these books have everything. Also, it’s told in varying timelines, by various narrators, under the conceit that these chronicles have been assembled after the events taking place, so there are also footnote interjections throughout, mostly snarky. Oh and did I mention that each of the main characters have been reincarnated multiple times, and interacted with each other in various ways through those lives, so everyone is basically multiple someones? And the family trees get…tangly.
All of that might make these books seem daunting. And, I mean, they required more concentration from me than, say, some monster smut. I definitely had to lay them aside while Spring Break was happening. But they’re also very readable! The action is pretty non-stop and the story structure doesn’t allow for lag. There aren’t long-winded exposition dumps or pages of countryside description. Each book is about 500 pages and even though it took me an entire month to work through them, there were off-hand comments and world-building asides and historical references made that make me wish for MORE MORE MORE of this world!
Jenn Lyons has managed to create a complex, compelling and creative universe populated by complex, compelling and creative characters. There are familiar fantasy tropes and subversions that made me gasp and grin. There is some truly excellent work on gender and sexuality and family and class and love and sacrifice. I was excited all the way through, I never reached a point of “get on with it” AND it all made sense! The character motivations worked, the plots tied together nicely, the conclusion was satisfying and left me wanting more at the same time.
This series won’t be for everyone, and there were moments of doubt that I’d make it to the end, that the journey would be worth it. But for me, what a fantastic experience, what an adventure!
