Betrayal in Winter by Daniel Abraham (Book #2 of The Long Price Quartet)
Introduction
Betrayal in Winter by Daniel Abraham is the second book in the Long Price Quartet. The cities of Khaiem were part of a great Empire having great magic. Their Empire and their magic have receded, so the Empire of Galt plots to overthrow them. The Khai Machi, the leader of the city of Machi, is dying. When he dies his sons must fight each other to the death until one rules as the next Khai Machi. The Khai’s youngest son, Otah was exiled and presumed dead. Otah wants to still be hidden, but history intervenes, and he must try to survive A Betrayal in Winter or die like his father.
Summary
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Recommendation
Betrayal in Winter by Daniel Abraham is a great second book in a series of a different kind of fantasy. The plot is slow, there’s not much action, and characters maneuver through political and business maneuvering. There is an Asian/formal feel through the characters use of poses and their choice of honorifics. Some of the characters from the first novel appear in this novel, but the clear protagonist is Otah. The ending worked well.
Links
This is the link to the Goodreads page of A Betrayal in Winter by Daniel Abraham
In A Shadow in Summer by Daniel Abraham, the poet-magician Heshai must keep control of the magical creature Seedless, or the Summer Cities will fall to the Empire of Galt.
This is the link to my review of Persepolis Rising by James S.A. Corey. (Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck write together as James S. A. Corey in this Science Fiction series called The Expanse.)
Shadow in Summer by
Daniel Abraham is the first book in the Long Price Quartet. Saraykehy is the
capital of the cities of Khaiem. The cities were part of a great Empire possessing
great magic. Their Empire and their magic have receded, so the Empire of Galt
plots to overthrow them. The cotton trade is their greatest asset. Their hopes
rely on the poet (their name for magician) Heshai maintaining control of a magical
creature called an andat and nicknamed Seedless. Liat and Itani are important in
helping Heshai succeed. If Heshai’s magic fails, then the Empire of Galt will
destroy all the cities of Khaiem.
Summary
In the Prolog, Otah is an apprentice
called a black robe, at the teaching compound of the monks at the stone towers
of Machi. The monks search for poets who are rare. They also keep the knowledge
of the people. Otah is conflicted with the brutal conditions at the monastery
and makes a decision for his future. Chapter One starts in the city of
Saraykeht. Amat Kyaanis is the senior overseer of the Galtic House Wilson. She
is a native of Saraykeht but works for the foreign house. House Wilson is
involved with the cotton trade. Her superior is Marchat Wilson. He tells her about
a pregnant woman from the islands who is arriving soon. He calls why they
brought her to their house, the sad trade. Maati is assigned by the monks of
Machi to become the apprentice of Heshai. Heshai is the last remaining poet of
Khaiem. Heshai controls Seedless who helps them with the cotton trade. If
Hashai does not control Seedless, then inexperienced Maati would get the duty
of trying to control Seedless. Amat Kyaan teaches Liat Chokavi the duties of an
overseer. She is young, and she is in love with the lower class laborer, Itani Noyga.
Amat wants Itani to be Marchat’s bodyguard for an important meeting. This
meeting sets the plot into motion. Marchat wants his house to succeed, Seedless
wants to be free, Liat wants to do a good job, and Itani wants to stay anonymous.
None of them gets exactly what they want.
Recommendation
Shadow in Summer by Daniel Abraham is a great first book in a series of a different kind of fantasy. The plot is slow, there’s not much action, and characters maneuver through political and business maneuvering. There is an Asian/formal feel through the characters use of poses and their choice of honorifics. There were many characters, and it took time for the reader to distinguish them apart. Paying close attention to reading the book was rewarding to the reader. The secrets revealed at the end make the second book intriguing. I got this book through the Tor eBook of the month club on July 14, 2018. Tor.com releases a free book to club members almost every month at this website.
Each month’s book
is only available for that month to the members through an e-mail. I enjoyed
The Expanse series and wanted to see what Daniel Abraham would do with a
fantasy novel and I was not disappointed. I plan to read the other three books
of the series within the next year and then read his The Dagger and the Coin series.
Links
This is the link to the
Goodreads page of A Shadow in Summer by Daniel Abraham
This is the link to my review of Persepolis Rising by James S.A. Corey. (Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck write together as James S. A. Corey in this Science Fiction series called The Expanse.)
