GATES OF THIROS

In Buckley’s debut fantasy novel, a warrior princess fights to forge her own path while a warlord threatens her kingdom.

Princess Waenia Wyvarian is the only child of the King of Thiros and heir to the throne. Taking in the orphan girl after violence shattered his family, King Secarion raised Waenia to “break bones.” She also has a power inside her, one she doesn’t fully understand—this is part of the reason the 13-year-old can take down full-grown knights. When she reaches her 20s, her father wants to marry her off to Prince Malvaris of the neighboring kingdom Alambia to be her king in Thiros. The true purpose behind the marriage is uniting the two kingdoms, whose respective kings are brothers-turned-enemies who haven’t spoken in a decade. When the kingdoms are joined, their united people will then be able to make a stand against the fearsome warlord Luvian Veskar, the so-called God-King who’s been ravaging kingdoms in the west and is headed toward Thiros. Waenia adamantly refuses to wed the unappealing Malvaris, an arrogant and contemptible man not fit for a throne. She’s already drawn to a charming stranger she’s just met, who she soon learns is Alambia’s High Commander, Lord Darrion Rhoane. Is it possible for Waenia and Darrion to defy everyone and simply be together? Or is the engagement with Malvaris the only way to show that these two kingdoms have the strength to fend off Luvian? The warlord may have a particular reason for storming Thiros—he evidently knows about something special that’s hiding inside a cave, which Waenia and some others have kept secret for years.

Buckley’s novel, which kicks off a series, takes its time establishing a dynamic cast. Waenia harbors a mysterious past and is skilled with weapons; she’s slowly forging (with the help of the endearing alchemist Fenndralf) a powerful staff that “drinks the sun” and “burns with it.” Secarion’s devotion as a father shines through, belying his harsh exterior, and Darrion makes for an appealing romantic interest who, with kingdoms gearing up for a battle, plays an integral role throughout. Much of this first installment teems with questions and mysteries regarding such things as the source of Waenia’s power, whatever is in that cave, and Darrion’s hatred of Waenia’s father. (Happily, readers are given quite a few answers.) The narrative, which begins in Thiros, gradually expands outside the kingdom and organically ushers in new places and characters. The action scenes are quick and sharp, though not abundant, and there are hints of magic as well, mostly in the cast’s compellingly complex and interwoven histories. The author’s sublime, minimalist prose style enlivens every scene: “A volley hissed through the air. She yanked the reins too late. Sybella reared, screaming. Waenia’s balance broke—then she was airborne… The stars spun. The ground twisted. She couldn’t move. Couldn’t breathe.” Unsurprisingly, there’s plenty of ground still to cover by the end, which comes in the form of a doozy of a cliffhanger.

An engaging, character-driven tale of romance and clashing swords.