BEAUTIFUL DEMONS

In Huston’s fantasy novel, a man and a woman, decades after their shared childhood trauma, reunite to mete out vengeance in a war-torn world.

Orphen McAvery made a promise to Cthali Worldbreaker when they were kids that he’d always be there when she needed him. Nearly 25 years later, Cthali gets a note to Orphen to meet him for coffee. They each have a thorny history: Golden-eyed Cthai is an exiled princess, and Orphen, as a teenager, belonged to a “gang” that investigated and tried to vanquish the cultish Church of the Seven Deep. The pair’s short time together during their childhoods included traumatic interactions with Amelia Westminster, a woman who abused them both and whom Cthali now wants to track down for purposes of revenge. The pair hop on a train and travel across the Crescent of Pangoi, a supercontinent on a planet that’s devoid of oceans. Complications quickly ensue during their travels; for example, Vandrissa Crone, the princess’ bodyguard, seems more interested in collecting the bounty that she claims is on Orphen’s head. Moreover, this small group, as they cross the nations of Pangoi, begin to see signs of war along the route, including burning and destroyed cities. In a world where magic is prevalent, Orphen and Cthali must wield their skills, such as invisibility and telepathy, to combat powerful foes, including Amelia. In addition, Orphen, Cthali, and Vandrissa end up in a love triangle of sorts, stirring up bad blood and a secret that Cthali has kept hidden from others.

Huston painstakingly develops the planet Endworld and its vast continent. For example, the distinctive nations include Titan, with its heavy military presence, and Oberon, with its desert lands, all in a bizarre milieu that features three prime energies across eight “accepted schools of magic.” The cast alone offers an array of visuals; various eye colors denote a person’s origins, and Vandrissa wears a mask, a gauntlet, and has “leathery, bat-like wings.” The process of how children are born in Pangoi is fascinating; only couples who’ve undergone a particular ritual can bear “true borne” children, while Cthali is one of the “star borne,” as she fell from the sky. The wealth of details that the author gradually reveals helps to illuminate a tale that opens with a bevy of people and places. There are several mysteries, as well, such as why the Church of the Seven Deep continues to thrive, and the significance of the “little ghost girl” who’s long appeared in Orphen’s hallucinations. However, other subplots, such as those involving romantic entanglements, aren’t quite as enthralling. Notwithstanding the ever-changing Pangoi locales, the present-day story doesn’t provide a great deal of narrative energy; instead, the characters tend to discuss and debate things that have already happened. That said, much of what does unfold in the present links unexpectedly to characters’ histories, which further enriches certain relationships. The story also doesn’t answer all the questions it asks, leaving room for a possible sequel.

An often diverting fantasy tale, aided by impressive worldbuilding and a well-honed cast.