4 stars – I liked it; it was good
The first book of this trilogy following a daughter, mother, and grandmother. What secrets will be revealed in this coming-of-age tale?
Read: February 12 – February 16, 2024
Genre: Fantasy
Audience: Adult
Book contains: graphic birth, death, blood, injustice, vomit
Purchase a copy from Pulpliterature.com
After discovering her ability to weave magic into song by nearly setting her little brother into an endless sleep, Allaigna Andreg learns more about her family lineage and what brought her to this moment.
I bought this entire trilogy from the author at a book show in Port Coquitlam (I even got them signed!) but I wasn’t sure what to expect. It’s a fantasy series aimed at adult readers, with a coming-of-age storyline told through the perspective of Allaigna, her mother Lauresa, and her grandmother Irdaign.
The structure of this book was a little confusing at first. Each chapter, dictated as a “Verse” starts with Allaigna’s part of the story, told in first person past tense. Then, the chapter contains what is called a “chorus” either from Lauresa or Irdaign. Lauresa’s sections are told in present tense but third person, while Irdaign’s sections are told in first person, also present tense. I have yet to discover why this is, but it might still come in the next two books. Nonetheless, the differences make for an interesting telling of this tale. This book also contains quite a few line drawings of different characters, objects, and scenes.
One thing about this book that definitely wasn’t for me was the graphic scenes of birth. One of the line drawings even depicted one such scene. Beyond that, there was intimate mentions of the female body, and though no graphic sex, it was eluded to, which is less my speed.
Allaigna is quite a hot-headed young girl. She’s the eldest child of a duke, though the line of succession will skip over her to go to her younger brother because of the ways of her father’s lands.
In Allaigna’s early life, we see a lot of her sibling rivalry with her younger brother Allenry, and less so of her relationships with her other younger siblings (three sisters and another brother). Other important relationships in her life include the bond with her nurse and her mother, then with other characters as she goes with her grandfather back to his own kingdom, where he is the High Prince.
I really enjoyed the flow and intricacy of Landels’ writing. There were a few words that are new to my vocabulary, though the content made them easy enough to decipher. From the scenes in which the characters are riding horses or engaging in swordplay, you can really tell the experience Landels has with both subjects (through additional reading, you learn that she is an instructor of both!). These subjects come with ease, and it also shows through the writing how much she loves exploring this fantasy world with her characters.
There were three larger plots and many subplots to follow, but there was also enough action, setting of mysteries and little clues to follow that the pace was quite consistent, engaging, and enjoyable. As a coming-of-age novel, there wasn’t much of a single plot to follow like in the books I normally read. Rather, the story followed the characters as each of them move along their journeys, growing up, and then the book ended when all three reached a place in their lives in which they “start a new chapter”.
The pacing of this book, like most Adult Fantasy I’ve read, was slowed by the detailed description of each scene. It’s definitely not the fast-paced action of the YA Fantasy I usually lose myself in!
I recommend this book to women who enjoy stories put into perspective. Stories of femininity; stories that criticize the patriarchy; stories of how each generation influences the next.
Allaigna’s Song book 1: Overture by JM Landels
Allaigna’s Song book 2: Aria by JM Landels
Allaigna’s Song book 3: Chorale by JM Landels
Tigerpetal Press is a small book press dedicated to publishing local authors and poets.