FIRES THAT FORGE

Strange killings change the lives of two determined men in this fantasy series opener.

It is 1648 in the kingdom of Lethanor, and Killian and Helena Morosse have been murdered. Their adult son, the physician Silas, finds them in their bedroom with necks punctured and blood pooled on the floor. Knowing that the deaths of his well-heeled merchant parents will shock the city of Moros, Silas travels immediately to the home of his dear friend Inquisitor Dunewell. Though Dunewell isn’t a brilliant sleuth who might use “mentalism” to solve the case, he is a tenacious investigator and a long-lived, physically impressive “Great Man.” At Killian and Helena’s funeral, most of the kingdom’s high-ranking people pay their respects. But conspicuously absent is Lady Evalynne, a Great Woman of legendary feats. Yet her adviser, the mage Uriel-Ka, assures Silas that Evalynne will find the killer. Meanwhile, Dunewell encounters the lovely Erin of House Theald. The elfin woman whispers an enchantment over the inquisitor that allows her to linger in his mind. She also suggests a vampire may be the culprit he’s after. While investigating the murder case, Dunewell learns of House Morosse’s possibly suspicious business dealings with Lord High Inquisitor Gyllorn. One of the principal suspects in this financial matter—Silas himself—remains in Dunewell’s confidence throughout. Hanson’s tale seeks to infuse high fantasy with elements of a detective novel. The grisly murders are detailed in lines like this one, focusing on Silas: “When he closed his eyes, he could still feel” the blood, “the jelly of it, between his toes.” Hints of a grand war rumble in the background as readers learn of the wider world in which Prince Ralston battles a sorcerer named Daeriv. Also intriguing are the Great Men, like Sir Brutis, who is nearly 200 years old. Overall, Hanson fleshes out the fantasy setting at the expense of the pacing and structure that might create a truly gripping mystery. Multiple instances of a chapter told from both Silas’ and Dunewell’s perspectives are more disorienting than revelatory. But the narrative’s final explanation adds a twist to the two protagonists’ relationship and propels readers toward the next installment.

This loose tangling of fantasy and mystery should entertain fans of both genres.