DESCENT OF RAVENS

A spiritual island gets overrun by vampires in this YA fantasy debut.

In the city of Tyr on the island of Trosika, Riordan “Rio” Proventus is a novitiate at the temple of Astara, Goddess of Light and Mercy. One day, he and his mentor, Hali Egmund, witness a ship pull into port with its flag upside down and at half-mast. Sailors drag a struggling woman off the ship, a vampire who has killed some of their crew. The sight chills Rio because he knows the island’s history—that Prince Philip Sakata died fighting vampires 800 years ago. After the creature is subdued, Rio and Egmund walk to the Hands of Light Healing Clinic, where they channel Astara’s power to cure others. While Rio works, the Goddess speaks through him, saying, “The emperor has fallen.” He then dreams of war and Prince Philip. He wakes with a raven tattoo on his chest, the mark of Astara, making him a messenger in the coming conflict. Meanwhile, Turi Rand, Rio’s roommate, has an encounter with an older woman. He feeds her, and, in return, she gives him a pouch of bones for protection. Soon, clan Ishima invades Trosika from the mainland. As vampires and mages bring chaos, hope lies in an 800-year-old tomb. Andrews crafts a sleek series opener bolstered by consistent action, a straightforward magic system, and strong LGBTQ+ representation. Rio and Turi are “kinji,” which encompasses gays, lesbians, and those “in between, being neither, or having aspects of both, or shifting back and forth from one gender to another.” Turi learns that kinji are sacred to Mormo, Goddess of Death and the Underworld, whom he fed while she was disguised as an older woman. Later, Rio’s surprising paramour appreciates his “beautiful green-and-brown eyes,” and their lovemaking is tender without being overly explicit. While the scope of the violence done to Astara’s followers is horrendous, the author sharpens it by noting that the Goddess “didn't lift a finger to save all of those people.” The story hints that the sequel will feature a more direct involvement by deities, including Bel, God of War.

A crafty, well-paced LGBTQ+ fantasy series opener.