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
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.