Daughter of the Empire

Daughter of the Empire, by Raymond E. Feist and Janny Wurts

Publisher: Harper Voyager.

Publication date: First published May 19, 1987 - Epub edition 2012.
Category: Political fantasy novel

Setting: Alien Japanese/ Chinese country)

Source: I spotted book two, Servant of the Empire, in my local newsagent and had a read of the blurb. I was intrigued and went looking for the first book.

Under the green tinged sun of an alien world called Kelewan, Mara listens as the gong counts away her life as the daughter of the Acoma, at its end she will be made a servant of Lashima, Goddess of the inner light.

The ceremony is sharply halted by a harsh urgent cry of a man she has known since birth. Keyoke, the Acoma force commander is seen rushing up the stoned pathway towards her, grave news is given quickly prohibiting the now last living heir of the Acoma to undertake the vows that would bind her to the temple.

Mara must now bring her house back from the brink of destruction and does so with advisers Keyoke and Nacoya by her side, she overcomes immediate destruction of Acoma and bends tradition to enlist a strong force of grey warriors (masterless soldiers who had fallen from honour) to her curse. Not yet at full strength and still at risk from enemies, Mara’s learns of a new Cho-ja queen and bargains with the art-like creature and persuades it to move onto her lands with warriors that will ensure Mara’s houses survival. She endures the suit of a lesser enemy’s youngest son to ensure the Acoma name has an heir, and then she manages to dispose of her greatest foe in his own impregnable stronghold by the book’s end.

Daughter of the Empire took my breath away, the depth and twisting turns of the political slash fantasy novel had me enthralled.

Set in a world with many six legged creatures, and a man sized intelligent ant-like race, subservient to the Tsuranuanni Empire and its Lords.

For me it reads like a manga, for I imagine an Asian styled race that will do anything for honour of their house and name.

Mara’s character is to me spellbinding as she turns from frightened girl forced to grow up fast into a ruling lady of an ancient house. Mara is right away under attack from the Acoma’s ancient rivals the Minasawai whom have orchestrated the deaths of her father and brother during the Riftwar.

Despite its age this book is wonderful, and so is it’s sequels. The Empire trilogy will keep you enthralled for many days.

Love The Otaku Bookworm.