CHALMACH CHRONICLES - BOOK ONE

Assorted characters navigate a canal city overflowing with magic in Amundsen’s debut short-story collection.

Chalmach, the capital city of Roq, may be “the world’s wonder”; it’s made up of canals and features three tiers accessible by elevators. In “Once Upon a Story,” Silian is a tour guide who knows the city well, having been practically raised on a gondola. His latest client, a historian, requests to undergo the “trial of the Mother,” which involves visiting a series of shrines. Her reference is a mysterious book that, she implies, holds more knowledge than what Silian’s grandfather has passed down. The five tales included here all unfold in Chalmach, where “alhmeir” (essentially magic) is fairly common. In “Better the Beshrew You Know,” 12-year-old Arani and his little sister Biun stay at an orphanage after the old man caring for them dies. The old man taught them alhmeir, and while the siblings try to downplay what they’ve learned, some dubious people suspect that Arani and Biun are highly skilled. Amundsen’s pithy tales, set against the backdrop of an astonishing city, highlight a cast of relatable characters; a kindly shop owner assists an elderly regular customer in “The Scent,” and introverted librarian Dendrik looks forward to his day off in “Under the Surface.” The book overall is deliberately paced, and alhmeir is often used subtly, from memory-triggering vials to Silian’s “willing” of some alhmeir into his oar (a bit of help to keep him on course). The stories take different routes—they may include a romantic turn, end on an ominous note, or spawn a taut action scene. Brarud’s exemplary artwork boasts full-color (and disappointingly few) depictions of such sights as Dendrik’s impressive personal library and a lower-tiered Chalmach canal beneath a raging waterfall (where, above, sits the next-level tier).

Extraordinary fantasy tales of an otherworldly place, both curious and alluring.