Harbringer
Series: The Caein Legacy, #3
Author: AJ Calvin
Genre: Fantasy
Book Description:
The Novanian king has gathered an army in the north with the intent to make war upon the magi. He has exiled all three of his brothers. Andrew and Alexander fled to the Southlands, while Thomas escaped into the hostile northern highlands, the land of Novania’s ancient foe, the insectile Corodan. While Alexander prepares to face Colin’s army in the south, Andrew makes the perilous journey through Novania to seek Thomas’ whereabouts and offer what aid he can.
Traveling at his side is Rynn, a powerful mage with the ability to manipulate and form ice. When they fail to locate Thomas after days of searching, Andrew is forced to seek the aid of the Corodan. He has a long and bloody history with their people, and was responsible for the death of their previous Hive-queen. Uncertain if the Corodan will cooperate, but faced with no other hope of locating his brother, he ventures into the heart of the Corodan lands.
Without Thomas, the brothers have no hope of overthrowing Colin and his tyranny. Without Thomas, Novania will continue to execute innocent citizens simply for bearing the Mark of the Magi. Without Thomas, the kingdom will be lost.
Review:
I complained about the first person perspective being awkwardly done in Guardian and making the main character and narrator feel distant. I don’t know if what changed is that I finally learned how to read this style of first person perspective, but I didn’t have that difficulty at all in Harbringer. It was easy to read, it flowed nicely, and if I still was not as fully immersed in the character’s experience as I can be in some books, I did not feel the distance from Andrew that I did in the previous books.
I do think that this first person perspective differs from many in that it allows the reader a very real breather from the story, similarly to the way a 3rd person perspective usually does. It was close enough to be a fun and immersive read, but not so close that the reader can not get a break now and again.
In general, it was a fast, enjoyable read, and I liked the dynamic between Andrew and the other characters, specifically the mage Rynn. While there is a little bit of romance in this one, it felt natural, and not even romantic. More like a friendship, sprung into being by some natural connections between their personalities, and by the fact that Andrew is – literally – the one person Rynn has been able to touch without hurting in a very, very long time. Even for something like just a hug, or to rub shoulders …. Granted, I should mention there are a few scenes that reference strong sexual desire. But I liked Rynn – and Andrew.
Alex is far away in this book, and Andrew’s relationship to him is more on the sidelines in this story, though we get to see Thomas a lot more. I still don’t feel like I know him though.
The world-building continues to be neat. This time, instead of the mage-lands of the South, one gets a tiny glimpse of the Corodan, who have some very impressive skills. Their relationship to the Hive and the Hive-queen’s influence might be interesting to explore further. I would really like to learn more about it.
I think the story’s greatest flaw is that it begs for more complexity and a deeper look into certain matters – and so far, it does not seem to deliver. There are a few hints where I thought it might be going somewhere: the Corodan ask a favor of Andrew, and I thought there were some hints that the favor might not be what it seems to be … that the situation might be more complicated than the story that Andrew is told. However, those are not followed through on.
Never mind the fact that, given Andrew’s own relationship to the society he comes from, and the laws that claim creatures like him are beasts to be hunted, I would have expected him to think a bit longer and be a little worried. Then again, maybe he wants something so much, he is willing to compromise himself for it, but not so willing to compromise himself for it, that he is able to consider the fact that is what he might be doing.
However, other things did not add up either. When Thomas and the others make their plans for battle, and then tell Andrew what his part in them is to be, Andrew feels very unhappy that they have made their plans – and then tell him what his part is to be, instead of asking him what he wants to do. It makes him feel like he is now a tool to be used, when he used to be the Commander making the plans and deciding his role – and others’ roles as well. And the fact he did not think about or consider this last really bothers me, as Andrew is supposed to be a compassionate person who cares about and feels for others, regardless of their rank or station. So how come he does not consider that he is only now getting a tiny taste of what all the other soldiers experience all the time? However, that thought never seems to enter his mind, and the narrative does not suggest that it is because he is unwilling to entertain it.
But even so, given the things Andrew does think about, I’d expect it to occur to him, and then for him to give it the time of day. That he has done this very same thing he does not like to many, many others, and that it is being done to almost everyone else involved in the rebellion, too. And to think about what that might mean.
This is not the only instance of similar short-sightedness in the writing of certain issues or situations. For example, the possibility of an army mutinying (or being encouraged to mutiny) if it is treated too badly never seems to occur, even when the situation is screaming to high heaven for it ….
I will end on the note that one of the things I really enjoyed was how Andrew gets to spend a lot more time as a dragon. He becomes quite comfortable and natural as a dragon, and finally really discovers his love of flying.
Enthralled By Love 