Keaen

© 2004 Dru Pagliassotti
All rights reserved.

Keaen
Till Noever
2004, Edge Science Fiction and Fantasy Publishing
ISBN:1-894063-08-2

Keaen is an enjoyably convoluted political fantasy about dark secrets, forbidden loves, and family loyalties that marks the first novel by author Till Noever.

Armist and Tahlia are the two acknowledged heirs of Hain the Keaen, ruler of the land of Keaen. Armist will eventually become the Keaen himself, while his sister Tahlia, the Flower of Keaen, must enter in a mariage with one of the barons of the land, as required by the Covenant between ruler and people. It should be an ideal destiny, but there’s one problem — contrary to law and morality, Armist and Tahlia have fallen in love with each other.

As the net of political obligations draws tighter around them, brother and sister realize they have only one chance to live freely — by fleeing Keaen entirely, abandoning their royal heritage to build a new life elsewhere. It’s a desperate act, but horror keeps piling upon horror, with one of Armist’s best friends turned traitor and the Keaen all too likely to promise Tahlia to the most powerful but perverse member of the nobility. To make matters even more confusing, Armist is struggling to understand his sporadically occurring ability to slow time — an ability that, if revealed, would free him from his future responsibilities as Keaen but deliver him into the clutches of the magices of the Isle of Skele, from which nobody returns unchanged.

When brother and sister finally escape Castle Keaen, they do so unaware of the dark agendas they are setting into motion — agendas that will eventually reveal their father’s deepest secrets, the magice Pandrak’s smouldering resentments, the weaponmaster Caitlan’s emotional vulnerabilities, the dissident Pacers’ rebellious plans, the Isle of Skele's political games, and even the truth about the monstrous elecs who hunt humans across the wilds of Keaen at night. And meanwhile, across the River Tor, the enemy realm of Tergan watches and waits for its chance to take advantage of Keaen's weaknesses....

Keaen is a well-plotted novel with plenty of combat, twists, turns, setbacks, and revelations to keep the reader intrigued. The characters are strong, sympathetic and multifaceted, and the land has a fantastic edge without using genre cliches such as elves, dwarves, and dragons. Noever thanks Jack Vance in his dedication, and the reader will certainly feel Vance’s fantasy influence here; I was also reminded ever so slightly of the work of other classic fantasists like Tanith Lee and Michael Moorcock.

Keaen is a strong first showing, and I expect to see more from Till Noever.

Recommended age: Teen and up.

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