SON OF THE BORDERLANDS

In Sterk’s debut fantasy novel and prospective series starter, a young man may be destined to reunite a fractured empire, if he willingly becomes a warlord.

One night, lowly 8-year-old Agni Kazirian sees the apparition of his ancestor Anton, the “last child of the Dragon God.” Anton believes that the boy will someday reunite the once-powerful Kazia—a former empire that’s now split into the Solantian Empire and the Blevenian Kingdom. Such a reunion will likely entail great bloodshed. Twenty years later, Agni, who sports blue hair and dragon wings and belongs to a dragon tribe, is the Lord Guardian of the East. When he was the high general, he led Solantia to victory in war against Blevenia and the Kingdom of Avicia. He now defends his empire with snares set up throughout the Spires, a part of the Borderlands between Solantia and Blevenia. When Anton finally tells Agni that it’s time for his “rebirth,” Agni champions the rise of Kazia while in a hall of lords; he’s also betrothed to Duchess Sara Ristana. Some deem his rally “traitorous,” and, sure enough, Agni suspects a plot to kill him. So he flees with his colossal bodyguard, Alexander, and the woman he truly loves: Kali of the tiger-people. Their only possible refuge is Tercera, Avicia’s capital, which Agni led in defeat. The trio’s safety, as they make their way to Tercera, is far from assured, especially after they’re forcibly separated—and with more than one duke aiming to take Agni out, they may not be able to find a place to hide.

Sterk excels at worldbuilding, which makes up the bulk of this novel. Quite a lot happens in the 20-year time jump alone, most notably the lengthy Black Moon War, which a much-younger Agni may have helped to ignite. As this series is only just getting started, the story merely touches on certain subjects, particularly those involving the larger world. This includes the Kazian Empire of long ago; Anton, who’s been watching over the Mortal Realms for millennia; and the Scourge, a cataclysmic event that brought the “wrath of the Netherworld” down on the Mortal Realms and toppled Kazia. The gradual introduction also applies to the characters. Agni alternates between warmheartedness (which he shows to meek, 10-year-old sentry Qualo) and savagery, which others, even Sara, endure. However, in this opening installment, he begins to feel regrets, which may afford him an opportunity to evolve as the series continues. The cast is a curious assortment, from Solantia and Blevenia’s dragon tribes who use their wings for gliding, to Kali who, as an Aloi woman, has “tiger-like facial stripes” and a tail. Agni gets the most narrative attention as he strives to make his own choices, and a seemingly chagrined Anton protests: “Foolish boy….You defy not just your destiny but your very blood.” Still, other players get opportunities to shine, including Sara, who makes an unexpected connection and heads in an equally surprising direction. The ending makes it abundantly clear that a sequel is forthcoming.

Engaging characters headline a deliberately paced tale of war-torn, faraway lands.