EVIL IGNORED

In Myers’ debut fantasy novel, a man who’s suffered great losses may be the one destined to save a realm from a malevolent being.

United States Marine Capt. Bishop Michaels loses his entire squad, including his childhood friend James, while fighting the Taliban in Afghanistan. This occurs mere months after a drunk driver killed Bishop’s pregnant fiancée and his 5-year-old son. While the captain drinks away his pain, James’ 23-year-old daughter Nevaeh relies too much on pills. When the two go out to sea to spread James’ ashes, a storm suddenly hits, causing their boat to capsize. Shockingly, they surface in a lake, with no sign of Bishop’s boat; they’re now somehow in the realm of Erimosi, a land of dense woods and “futuristic skyscrapers.” In little time, they meet some of the colorful inhabitants—including Paracletus, who can throw fireballs, and Penelope, who, despite her young appearance, is 140 years old. The natives happily welcomes the visitors, as they’re convinced that Bishop is the “Ekdikos” who’s prophesied to save them from the diabolical King Abaddon. Abaddon thinks the same thing and cooks up schemes to take out Bishop, sending someone to draw him away from his new allies. As far as Bishop is concerned, he’s definitely not the Ekdikos and simply wants to go home, though Nevaeh seems content to stay and help. When another of Abaddon’s plans involves stashing abductees in the Ice Fortress, Bishop, Nevaeh, and friends willingly embark on a rescue mission and brave the Ice Domain and the Dark Pit, along with any evils that reside there.

Myers highlights sympathetic dual protagonists who have suffered a great deal (Bishop also lost his beloved grandmother, and Nevaeh’s mother committed suicide). From the beginning, they fully share the adventure, and their unwavering mutual loyalty is one of the novel’s brightest elements. The prose, however, is scant, and some characters jarringly pop into scenes without even a description. In other instances, narrative particulars are bare-bones; the Rhino Men, or Rhi Men, are simply known for “their size, repulsive looks, and barbaric behavior.” It’s the female characters who resonate the most, with much of the comedy stemming from the bug-sized “Kouklas” Glenda and Daisy (actually humans under a sorceress’s curse), who endlessly bicker in a most entertaining fashion. Intriguingly, though Bishop is the prophesied one, Nevaeh is more in tune with Erimosi. Back in the Earthly realm, she had an uncanny ability to see “Uglies,” tiny beings (which apparently no one else could perceive) with names like Despair or Misery who coax people into doing horrible things. She’s also had dreams of Frikios, leathery-skinned things that exist in Erimosi. In sharp contrast, Bishop makes relatively little impact; he mostly grumbles about going home and is surprisingly ineffective when leading a mission, despite being a Marine captain. Characters rightly mock or chastise him; they occasionally even punch him or kick him in the groin. He nevertheless joins others in saving those in trouble, culminating in a final act that offers a thorough resolution (though there’s enough left open for potential sequels).

An engaging cast of characters elevates this sparsely detailed story of an otherworldly place.