Synopsis:
A new epic romantic, dystopian fantasy begins in Seek the Traitor’s Son, from #1 New York Times bestselling author Veronica Roth.
Elegy Ahn did not ask for destiny to find her. She is happy with her life as a soldier, defending her small country from the Talusar, a powerful nation who worships a deadly Fever. A fever that blesses half of its victims with mysterious gifts. But then she’s summoned to hear a prophecy-her, and the most ruthless of Talusar generals, Rava Vidar. Brought face to face, they learn that one of them will lead their people to victory over the other…but they don’t know which. And at the center of both of their fates: a man. A man that, Elegy is told, she will fall in love with. In just one day, Elegy’s old life-her job, her purpose, and her future-is over. She and Rava are destined to collide, with the fate of their nations hanging in the balance. And when they do, only one will be left standing. Elegy intends to make sure it’s her.
Review:
The resurgence of my childhood in sci fi, fantasy adult form.
Elegy is the second daughter, the spare to The Sword of Cedrae. She’s happy living her nondescript life, but receives a prophecy that can change the fate of the war between her people and the religious-fevered enemy.
She must assemble the right three people or her people will be infected with the Fever which kills everyone who contracts it. Only half come back to life, possessing special gifts.
Theren is the son of a Talusar exile, forced to swear an oath to Elegy to ensure his survival and loyalty to the Cedrae.
I’m not going to say anything more, but there’s so much packed into here. I would call this sci fi fantasy. It is set in space, but the sci fi is light and mostly relies on mentions of technology, a gap in humanity’s history, and speculation about a secretive first contact.
We also get a time jump (which you may know I normally don’t like), however this was pulled off well, even if it did take some time to reorientate myself.
“Even your oath was a kind of confinement, wasn’t it?”
“I used to think so.” He shakes his head a little. “Now I think what I called ‘freedom’ then would just have been a lack of obligation to other people . . . and that’s not particularly appealing.”
At the heart of this is complicated relationships. There is such a range of internal interactions and the feelings that come with them. It is dark, so guilty emotions like shame and grief.
I love books that pack a punch, to readers and the characters, and a storyline that slowly unfurls the fist – the one that was thrown and the one that was clasped in tense anticipation.
I wish we got more political intrigue, slightly more stakes after the start, and a slower burn, but for the page-length? I am very happy.
This is set up to be a very exciting duology.
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