JAZEI

In Murray’s debut fantasy novel, a race of warriors uses magic to face off against assorted enemies devastating their land.

Kenlin lives in a village of survivors who’ve hidden away for 16 years after hostiles massacred the city of Natzut. While out hunting with friends, Kenlin spots a father and daughter and unexpectedly senses something poised for an attack. He warns the duo, only for the would-be ambushers to assault everyone, including the hunters. Following a brutal fight, Kenlin learns the travelers, both of whom have the same emerald-green eyes as he does, are his uncle Lord Klanjad and cousin Ranja. They’re the last of the Jazei, a lineage Kenlin knew of but didn’t know he belonged to. He’s taken aback when Klanjad claims that Kenlin is a magician like his uncle and his late father. This means the enemy coming after Klanjad will now be targeting Kenlin as well. In part to protect his village, Kenlin leaves with the other Jazeiz, and the three travel to various sites throughout the greater land of Jranajana. Those massacring villains continue to wreak havoc; they include the telekinetic Droál, the “brutish” Unnatilz, and the Misks, who are capable of “Vanishing” (essentially teleportation). Klanjad has spent 16 years battling such foes, so it’s hardly surprising that he and Ranja don’t easily trust others; as Ranja puts it, they live in a “world of suspicions and ambushes.” But if they want to save as many people as they can, or even themselves, the Jazei trio may have to depend on an unlikely ally.

Murray tells an enthralling story of ever-present adversaries who leave death and destruction in their wake. The opening takes place in the past, when Kenlin’s father, Ranton, and Khanjad are frighteningly unprepared for the powerful Droál, who’ve aligned themselves with the hostiles. Worldbuilding forms a solid foundation for the characters; Jranjana is home for Five Species, including humans, Misks, Unnatilz, Faeries, and Dwarves (the Droál are human). The author doesn’t let the grim tone take over completely, making room for lighthearted dialogue and narrative details (Klanjad searches for a “perfect, un-ambush-able campsite”). The characters often steep their conversations in sarcasm; one person notes that a potential death march is better than a “death sit.” All of this comes courtesy of a lengthy, deliberately paced text. While there are exhilarating, magic-infused confrontations aplenty, there are even more scenes depicting the cast in downtime—Kenlin, who’s spent much of his life in the village, knows very little about Jranjanan history and, understandably, bombards Klanjad and Ranja with questions. (“He didn’t know you were the queen, he didn’t recognize my name at all, and so far he hasn’t even shown any understanding of the fact that he’s Jazei,” complains Klanjad to Kenlin’s mother.) The final act involves “Fading” to other Strata (akin to parallel dimensions) and a baffling surreal turn that confuses even Kenlin—but that hardly dampens the reader’s overall enjoyment, or the unforgettable ending.

A spirited world and characters make this dark, epic fantasy well worth the journey.