Genre: High Fantasy, Epic, Sword and Sorcery
Reviewer: Sherry
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About The Book
As the tribes of the U’skar Qi descend upon the Old Myrian Empire, an ancient prophecy will awaken, and the hearts of warriors will be tested in the crucible of conflict.
The Great Exodus has begun. Fleeing the relentless expansion of the Grand Empire of Xura, the U’skarite tribes set sail for the Old Myrian Empire. As the kingdom rallies its forces to defend against an invasion, Ara Zakarian, a loyal knight of the Autumn Queen, finds himself captured by the very tribe he was sent to defeat.
The White-and-Vermilion Wolves, led by the fierce Sagra and the enigmatic Priestess Isra, are not just warriors; they are the last hope for the survival of their people. Bound by duty yet drawn to Isra’s prophetic visions, Ara must choose between his loyalty to the crown and a burgeoning love that could change the course of history.
As the battle rages and the wolves howl for blood, Ara’s fate hangs in the balance. Can he broker peace before the bloodshed escalates, or will he become a pawn in a game far greater than himself?
With the drums of war beating across the lands of Thearus, the songs of their deeds will be sung long after the last sword is drawn.
The Review
“Death walks with those who have mastered the hunt.”—Whispers of White Sapphire
You know you’re in for some epic and dense world building when the book starts out with a Dramatic Personae, Civilizations, Locations and Regions, and Pronunciation List. It’s not a bad thing. It is a necessary and quick history lesson; one you can always return to as reference when needed. And then there’s a preamble, campaigns, and an epilogue. Moreover, it’s epistolary.
Backstory at the outset. It actually makes the reading experience far more enjoyable, much less confusing. Those who are history buffs or RPG aficionados, like author John Malone, will appreciate the attention to detail the most.
“Whispers of White Sapphire” is quite lyrical. It’s prophetic. It’s also tribal in that often-bloodthirsty way of endless wars over slights, banishment, territory, religion, tradition, and people. But it has strict rules of conduct, undying loyalties, and wonderful magic too—all of which is engrossing and not so complicated when you realize it’s a love story at its base. An obligatory driven one. This kind of tale almost always comes down to one thing: do you choose love or duty?
The epistolary bit comes from the male main character, Ara Zakarian. He’s a knight of the realm. In the course of his duties, he writes letters to various royals, acquaintances, and friends. These are an interesting juxtaposition with the third person point-of-view from the other characters who are principally the female main character, exiled Sagra, and the prophetess, Princess Isra. More than anything though, his letters are the perfect literary device both to define him and to summarize the action so far. This is especially helpful when conflict is ever-present and based on ancient insults that somehow live on, embedded in their respective tribes. And on. Unless, of course, Ara and Sagra can breakthrough that burdensome history to create some new, something just.
A quite majestic sword and sorcery saga. 4 stars.
The Reviewer
Sherry Perkins has worked as a licensed practical nurse for more than thirty-five years and has experience in psychiatric/addictions nursing, nursing-care coordination, and risk management. She earned a BS in health sciences from Campbell University and has spoken at public health functions on topics such as addiction prevention and treatment, prevention of teenage opioid deaths, and connecting patients who are resistant to treatment with appropriate services.
A mother of four, Perkins lives with extended family on the Delmarva Peninsula, where she enjoys collecting shells and sea glass; reading and writing mysteries, science fiction, and fantasy; doing organic gardening; and following the Dave Matthews Band around the East Coast
