Shadow in Summer by Daniel Abraham
Introduction
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
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6586403-a-shadow-in-summer
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.)