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Young Lord of Khadora: Book
One of
Forgotten Legacy by Richard S. Tuttle
Commentary:
Good
read, Recommended
Writer Tuttle has a
fine start on a fantasy series based on another world filled with
well developed situations, people, locations and mores. The Young
Lord of Khadora is a fast paced action filled work that reaches out
to grab the reader from the opening scenes when we begin to
understand what this strange and often time dangerous world the land
of the Khadorans is all about. Tuttle's main character is a likeable
young man torn between his duty as military squad leader and his
love for the only parent he has known.
The Young Lord of
Khadora is filled with gritty scenes and gritty dialogue sure to
keep the reader on the edge of the seat. Marak faces not only the
unfairness of having to pretend his mother is not right before him
most of the time, but his commanding officer wants to cause Marak a
problem that will lead to the youngster becoming a slave as is his
mother. The reader is drawn right into the turmoil by Tuttle's
clever use of language. Before long the reader is cheering as Marak
begins to see his life improving a little.
The Young Lord of
Khadora is a must read for those who enjoy 'other world' and
fantastical characters presented in a plausible manner by a skilful
weaver of tales.
Synopsis: (May reveal
much of the plot)
During ages past the
world where Marak lives was overrun by imposing armies engrossed
toward shaping a new home for themselves wherein the indigenous
people become slaves working for the elite few. A few of the genial
native peoples were successful in running away from the ravaging
Khadoran swarm. Most did not succeed in finding safe hiding places.
Marak is not the
usual clan soldier. His mother is a mage slave to the clan lord, as
such Marak is not allowed to even speak to her. His unknown father
is supposed to be dead. The fearsome Chula cat people have been
decimating the clan lord's slave lumbermen as they work to bring in
the quota of timber from the Stari Valley. Situ soldiers are sent to
protect the lumberman. As a warning to those waiting for the logs
Togi alone is left alive to carry back the shredded bodies.
Following the attack
Marak is sent on a fool's errand against the Chula. What sets Marak
apart from the other soldier slaves is his antipathy for Khadoran
civilization. In Khadoran civilization the mages are most always
slaves who mind fields, soldiers are taught to follow orders without
thought of consequence. The workers on the various clan estates are
treated much as are the actual slaves. The young soldier sets out to
effect near impossible changes by using his military deftness,
penetrating militant mind and even a little of his mother's powers.
Marak does not know
how the local population will relate to his innovative thoughts.
However he is determined to begin a reformation of the society into
which he has been born. It is not long before Marak faces the Chula,
the clan to which he belongs, rival clan lords and what seems to be
near impossible odds against success. Along his journey the young
soldier is astounded to learn his father is not dead, and his own
mantle as slave is not one he will always wear.
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