ARCHITECT

A ragtag fellowship of unlikely allies assembles to try to save the world in this debut fantasy.

The continent of Halja is suffering. Famine is spreading throughout the various nations, creating a crisis unlike any seen since the first two Calamities. Some fear a Third Calamity—the worst one of all—is coming, and the rival nations of Halja must unite in order to stop it. Queen Janere of the jungle land of Mo-Duo believes the secret to their survival rests in an ancient power hidden deep within the Middle: an inhospitable region at the center of Halja filled with deadly beasts. An ancient enemy dwells there, one who needs to be destroyed. She has sent emissaries to her neighbors seeking the finest warriors they can provide to help her in her quest. From remote La Isla comes Felix, captain of the Electus, the largest ship in the island’s pirate fleet. From the frozen northern land of Fortiso comes Jurgen of the viri forti, a race of giant men known for their toughness. Jurgen has been to the Middle before, the only survivor of a company of seasoned warriors. From the magic land of Nuntias comes Scitus, a wizard with a ferret familiar and the ability to use the Gift, though he is skeptical of any alliance between the nations. “Damned fools,” writes Scitus. “Foul pirates, corrupt bishops, savage tribesmen, and barbarians breaking bread and sharing supper. Whoever heard of such lunacy? There is no need for any of this mad talk of venturing into the Middle. Of seeking out a foe solely for the sake of vanquishing it.” Can these allies work together to save Halja, or will their secret agendas—and those of others—prevent them from acting against the threat until it is too late?

In this series opener, Mulder’s worldbuilding is an impressive feat of the imagination, revealing a complex web of geography, culture, religion, and mythology. His high fantasy ambitions are balanced by a sensorial, sword-and-sorcery prose style: Jurgen’s “blood had felt hot from the moment he was told about the mission until well after they had brought the beast down together, his own superbly forged bastard sword finding its way into the animal’s abdomen while it struggled to get away from his brothers on the ground.” But the permissive bloodthirstiness goes a bit too far sometimes. Several of the main characters are introduced speaking fondly of sexual violence, and the author delights in brutal and upsetting imagery throughout the novel. Furthermore, the depiction of some of the constituent peoples of Halja—how they look and speak—gets uncomfortably close to racial stereotypes from readers’ own world. Despite these elements, Mulder’s deft pacing and confident use of familiar fantasy conventions will keep readers invested in the novel. While the work does not approach the heights of Tolkien or George R.R. Martin, fans of the genre will enjoy this quick and dirty offering, which will likely increase in scope with its subsequent volumes.

A bloody, messy fantasy epic that will keep readers enthralled.