Title:

The Basilisk Throne

Author:

Greg Keyes

Category:

Science Fiction / Fantasy

Rating:

Date Reviewed:

May 28, 2023
o map? Every epic fantasy novel requires a map of the imaginary landscape in the opening pages! The lack of a map is the only mistake Keyes made in The Basilisk Throne, which is clearly the first book in a series (there is nothing on the cover or on websites stating that The Basilisk Throne is part of series, but the ending clearly indicates that Keyes intends to add further volumes to this tale). Everything else in the book is terrific, Keyes does an excellent job constructing a world with empires and magic and filled with interesting characters embarking on dangerous journeys. Sometimes a palace ballroom is more dangerous than a fleet engagement on the high seas - on the bounding main, you at least know who your enemy is - its that magically powered Drehhu ship over there, the one that spouts flaming weapons that have a greater range than anything your own ship possesses.

On this world, there are three human empires: Ophion, Velesa, and Modjal. For centuries the humans have been subjugated by the cruel Drehhu, enslaved and brutalized. But a shadowy, powerful group called the Cryptarchia has managed to get the three empires to combine their resources, and the tide of war has turned in humanity's favor (though victories are won at a fearful cost of human lives). The Drehhu have been pushed back across the sea, until they are confined to a glittering island of the Basilisk Throne. The Cryptarchia instruct the empires to gather their combined fleets for an all out assault on the Drehhu stronghold.

This book follows the adventures of four main characters; all are embroiled in the Drehhu war in various ways, each has special challenges to face, with dangerous opponents and long odds.

Chrysanthe Nevelon is a brilliant young woman, with an analytical mind and a fearless personality. She is the daughter of Admiral Nevelon, who is leading the fleet of supply ships that will carry arms, food and sundries to the fighting ships. To ensure Admiral Nevelon's loyalty, Chrysanthe is sent to the Ophion emperor's court. Of course, the court is a roiling snake pit of plots and conspiracies. As a "provincial", Chrysanthe knows that she cannot trust anyone; everyone she meets has their own agenda. A wrong step by Chrysanthe could lead to the loss of the emperor's favor, which in turn could mean that the Nevelon lands would be stripped away and awarded to someone else. I thought Keyes did excellent plotting and characterization to describe Chrysanthe's obstacles, and duplicitous aristocrats that she meets at the heart of the Ophion empire.

The second character is Chrysanthe's brother, Crespin. Though he would like to be on a battleship, Crespin has been tapped to sail with his father, Admiral Nevelon, in the supply fleet. Naturally, the shifting fortunes of war result in Crespin seeing far more action than he ever imagined a supply fleet would encounter.

Ammolite is a young woman imprisoned in a vast magical stronghold. She is in the manse of Veulkh, an ageless and powerful sorcerer. Veulkh has no humanity, he uses Ammolite to serve his pleasure, even using spells that change Ammolite's appearance so that she looks like a long-deceased woman named Orra. Otherwise, Veulkh has no use for Ammolite; she wanders the corridors and rooms of the palace, finding laboratories, libraries, bedrooms and all manner of bizarre treasures piled in storerooms, but she never finds an exit from the magical palace. The servants all shun her. Determined to escape, Ammolite tries to study Veulkh's spell books, but he possesses knowledge and skills far beyond her own.

The fourth character is Hound, a wild-child, raised by his "grandmother" in the woods - a carefree spirit, unbothered by civilization and its codes and politics. Hound does as he pleases, and he has unique capabilities that allow him to escape the occasional wrath of the minor nobles who live near the boundaries of his forest. Hound is deadly with a sling or axe, quick in a fight, skilled in all forms of woodcraft. Hound has a pet raven and giant ferocious dog named "Rose" who accompany him on his adventure. One day, a band of travelers come to Grandmother's cave - they have heard of Hound's abilities and wish to hire him as a guide. But treasure means nothing to Hound, why should he agree to guide them? Perhaps Martin and Selene can convince Hound to lead them...

Keyes switches back and forth between these four main story arcs. Despite the huge cast of characters, I never had difficulty remembering who was who. Each story arc is an interesting tale in its own right. The world building is excellent; Keyes has imagined some unique magical abilities, particularly the strixes - woman with gold colored eyes who maybe able to match the magic spells of the Drehhu. The action rarely flags, the pacing is brisk. This is the first book by Keyes that I have read, I am looking forward to the next book in this series.