Jala's Mask

September 1, 2014
Sentimental romance makes friends with lost-race fantasy in a terse, psychologically robust fable of star-crossed lovers. After Jula of the Bardo tribe and Azi, Kayet King of the wealthy Five-and-One Islands, marry against their families’ wishes, political upheavals, encouraged by Azi’s uncle Lord Inas, ensue. Inas’s machinations are interrupted by invading sorcerous ships, which are filled with corpses. Jala receives a grim portent from a sorcerer of Fire Mountain and struggles to avert destiny by merging her two fractured families as Azi battles his fears and becomes a true king. Supernatural horror, court intrigue, and intricate social allegiances breathe life into a familiar coming-of-age story that also includes plenty of forbidden sorcery and pulpy adventure.

October 1, 2014

Azi, second son of the King of the Five-and-One Islands, only ever had plans to be a sailor, but when his father and older brother are killed, he inherits the throne. Although his controlling uncle has already selected a bride for him, Azi decides to take a chance on Jala--a smart, young woman with a strong spirit who has been preparing her entire life for just this opportunity. The inhabitants of the islands obtain much of what they need by raiding the mainland, but when a book that was stolen is given to Jala as a wedding gift, no one is prepared for the repercussions. Ships fueled by sorcery invade the islands, and Jala decides to travel to the mainland in the hopes that returning the sacred artifact will garner peace. VERDICT As a stand-alone coming-of-age fantasy, this novel by the authors of the middle-grade Claws is more likely to appeal to YA readers than adults. Much time is spent on describing the wedding preparations and Jala's journey to the mainland, but the story needs more action to move the plot along. Also needed is further explanation of the strange gods and sorcery, drawn from African and Polynesian folklore, that Jala encounters during her adventures to make the authors' worldbuilding and mythology come alive. [Previewed in Eric Norton's sf/fantasy feature, "A Multiplicity of Realms," LJ 8/14.]--Vicky M. Coffin, Eastern Connecticut State Univ., Willimantic

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