Blending fantasy and science fiction, N. E. Davenport's fast-paced, action-packed debut kicks off a duology of loyalty and rebellion, in which a young Black woman must survive deadly trials in a racist and misogynistic society to become an elite warrior.
It's all about blood.
The blood spilled between the Republic of Mareen and the armies of the Blood Emperor long ago. The blood gifts of Mareen's deadliest enemies. The blood that runs through the elite War Houses of Mareen, the rulers of the Tribunal dedicated to keeping the republic alive.
The blood of the former Legatus, Verne Amari, murdered.
For his granddaughter, Ikenna, the only thing steady in her life was the man who had saved Mareen. The man who had trained her in secret, not just in martial skills, but in harnessing the blood gift that coursed through her.
Who trained her to keep that a secret.
But now there are too many secrets, and with her grandfather assassinated, Ikenna knows two things: that only someone on the Tribunal could have ordered his death, and that only a Praetorian Guard could have carried out that order.
Bent on revenge as much as discovering the truth, Ikenna pledges herself to the Praetorian Trials—a brutal initiation that only a quarter of the aspirants survive. She subjects herself to the racism directed against her half-Khanaian heritage and the misogyny of a society that cherishes progeny over prodigy, all while hiding a power that—if found out—would subject her to execution...or worse. Ikenna is willing to risk it all because she needs to find out who murdered her grandfather...and then she needs to kill them.
Mareen has been at peace for a long time...
Ikenna joining the Praetorians is about to change all that.
Magic and technology converge in the first part of this stunning debut duology, where loyalty to oneself—and one's blood—is more important than anything.
Blending fantasy and science fiction, N. E. Davenport's fast-paced, action-packed debut kicks off a duology of loyalty and rebellion, in which a young Black woman must survive deadly trials in a racist and misogynistic society to become an elite warrior.
It's all about blood.
The blood spilled between the Republic of Mareen and the armies of the Blood Emperor long ago. The blood gifts of Mareen's deadliest enemies. The blood that runs through the elite War Houses of Mareen, the rulers of the Tribunal dedicated to keeping the republic alive.
The blood of the former Legatus, Verne Amari, murdered.
For his granddaughter, Ikenna, the only thing steady in her life was the man who had saved Mareen. The man who had trained her in secret, not just in martial skills, but in harnessing the blood gift that coursed through her.
Who trained her to keep that a secret.
But now there are too many secrets, and with her grandfather assassinated, Ikenna knows two things: that only someone on the Tribunal could have ordered his death, and that only a Praetorian Guard could have carried out that order.
Bent on revenge as much as discovering the truth, Ikenna pledges herself to the Praetorian Trials—a brutal initiation that only a quarter of the aspirants survive. She subjects herself to the racism directed against her half-Khanaian heritage and the misogyny of a society that cherishes progeny over prodigy, all while hiding a power that—if found out—would subject her to execution...or worse. Ikenna is willing to risk it all because she needs to find out who murdered her grandfather...and then she needs to kill them.
Mareen has been at peace for a long time...
Ikenna joining the Praetorians is about to change all that.
Magic and technology converge in the first part of this stunning debut duology, where loyalty to oneself—and one's blood—is more important than anything.
Reviews-
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This debut sci-fi/fantasy blend gives narrator Jeanette Illidge a strong young woman to portray. Ikenna is engaged in a life-or-death trial to qualify for the elite Praetorian Guard. Illidge captures Ikenna's determination to survive, especially as she finds out the truth about her grandfather's death. Illidge also conveys Ikenna's bravado and healthy distrust of authority in a culture that is elitist and unfriendly to women, especially those of mixed race. When Ikenna is feeling betrayed, Illidge allows a touch of vulnerability to show through. When Ikenna is guarding the secret of her forbidden blood magic, Illidge injects the right dose of trepidation in her tone. The fight scenes are well paced, and the story never lags. J.E.M. © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine
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September 1, 2022
Ikenna was raised to be an elite soldier, but it's not easy being a girl, or Black, in the highly stratified society of Mareen. Even worse, Ikenna is pantheon-gifted with a particularly dreaded skill--the ability to control the minds and bodies of others. Ikenna's grandfather, a high-ranking military commander who's her only family, has trained her to be in control of her gift to keep it secret. Once she declares Praetorian, she'll take her place by his side. All their plans are churned to dust when he dies in an apparent tech malfunction. But was it really an accident, and will Ikenna be able to navigate the grueling trials meant to weed out the unworthy from the ranks of the Praetorian hopefuls? With a lot going on and a sprawling cast, Jeanette Illidge's otherwise serviceable narration can feel flat in places, with Mareen-accented voices blurring together. VERDICT Davenport's debut weaves together elements of classic military/academy sci-fi from the likes of Elizabeth Moon and David Weber and infuses it with fantasy, romance, and biting social commentary, providing plenty of cross-genre appeal and proving itself a worthwhile addition to libraries expanding their science fiction audio collections.--Chrystopher Lytal
Copyright 2022 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
