Tuesday, June 15, 2021

SciFi/Fantasy Book Review: Witches Steeped in Gold by Ciannon Smart

 




Witches Steeped in Gold is a book I've been hearing things about on social media for a while, which is usually a good sign for a debut.  It's a YA Fantasy novel that's the start of a series inspired by Jamaican folklore and while it's not very long, it's certainly very ambitious, telling a story filled with magic, special artifacts, mythical peoples, and more.  It's also the type of story that isn't interested in holding ones' hand, as it introduces concepts, terms and peoples without much explanation, trusting the reader to keep up.

And I can very much see how Witches Steeped in Gold earned that praise, with the story taking a very classical YA beginning and taking it in very different and dark directions.  The story alternates perspectives between a pair of protagonists from historically opposed peoples desperate to change their fates, but afraid of the costs of such actions, and the classical trope would be for the two protags to get over their fears grow into leaders, and combine their skills to make a better outcome.  But Witches Steeped in Gold is a darker more ambitious story than that and goes in a very different direction, one that left me really curious where the series would go from here, even as I thought this first book bit off a bit more than it could chew.  


------------------------------------------------------Plot Summary-----------------------------------------------------
The Obeah and Alumbrar have always been at odds, with the Obeah ruling Aiyca for most of the time under the lineage of the Adair family.  But ten years ago, in a seeming time of peace between the two Orders, the Alumbrar rose up under the command of Judair Cariot, who took the title of Doyenne of Aiyca and killed the last known Adair Empress.  Since then the Obeah have been forced to be subservient, their magic locked away for a period of indenture, after spending their youth in prison camps.  

Jazmyne is the daughter of the Doyenne, but her second-born and thus without magic until the Doyenne passes.  Despite having the title of emissary, Jazmyne hates what her mother has done with her power, creating a magical rite that relies on the sacrifice of Alumbrar youth lives in celebration to power a magical barrier - something that is against the life-loving ways of her people.  And two years ago, that sacrifice took the life of Jazmyne's beloved sister, the Doyenne's own heir, something for which Jazmyne can never forgive.  And so Jazmyne helps the local resistance against her mother, the Nameless, even as she hesitates to go along with their intentions to assassinate the Doyenne to put Jazmyne herself on the throne.  

Iraya is secretly the daughter of the last Adair Empress, birthright to a magical power legendarily belonging only to her bloodline, and a member of the Warrior métier.  But as Iraya is about to leave the camp she has spent the last few years, and is about to gain her magic during the beginning of her indenture, she has no intention of leading her people in an organized rebellion.  After all her best chance of getting what she wants depends upon acting alone - revenge on the Doyenne herself.  

But Iraya's emergence onto the scene changes everything, and makes the Doyenne seemingly more bloodthirsty to Jazmyne's dismay.  And when the Doyenne appoints Iraya to her personal Shield, imprisoned by marks binding her power and an oath binding her service, Jazmyne begins to plot to use Iraya to take down her mother.  But Iraya isn't interested in simply being used as a pawn, and as others begin to realize who she is, they begin to make their own plans for the future of Aiyca and the entire world of Xaymaca.....
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Witches Steeped in Gold takes place in a world that's probably a bit too big for its ambitions.  It features a former empire of three Islands, occupied by peoples from two religious/cultural orders as well as outsiders (referred to as "Secular" people*), with each of the islands featuring their own differences that aren't always fully explored either - this book takes place entirely on Aiyca, with only one major character from a different Island, making references and explanations about those islands fleeting and easy to miss - a problem for someone with my quick reading style.  Then there's the métiers of each Order, which represent their abilities/chosen-paths, and their magics, and then halfway through we're even introduced to some legendary artifacts to boot. Oh and then there are pirates and other neutral foes who might also have plans for the setting.  It's an awful lot in a not too long package (the book is listed at over 500 pages on booksellers, but judging based upon my ereaders, these are small pages with big print).  

*The reference to these individuals as secular is a bit confusing, since it suggests the Alumbrar and Obeah are religious orders rather than ones of cultural heritage.  Obviously religions and heritages can be mixed - as a Jew, I know that full well, given there are plenty of "secular/atheist Jews" out there - but the book doesn't ever explain what percentage of the populace of the Islands belongs to each Order, who the "secular" are and how they exist, making their occasional reference just a bit confusing*

So it's impressive how much of Witches Steeped in Gold actually DOES work, beginning with its two lead characters.  Jazmyne is what seems to be a classical archetype - the privileged daughter of a conquering leader who joins a rebellion made up of other privileged people, and who doesn't understand what oppression her people have done on their former rulers, who will have to step up to lead when she realizes her mother will not stop betraying her people's peaceful ways in her rule.  You expect her to, with more interactions with Iraya and her mother come to realize that a path forwards is to work together, and that they can do so so that they can overthrow her mother without betraying their principles.  But Jazmyne doesn't go that route, too blinded by things going out of control to realize that she might be slowly losing touch with her principles, to realize that not everything she believes is right, and that the ends may not justify the means.  Instead of trying to work together with Iraya, she never conceives of doing anything other than trying to use her.  It makes her a fascinating character as her desperation leads her to dark dark places, to condone some truly awful acts, even as she fights for what she thinks is right, and is a fascinating and very different character arc.  

And then there's Iraya, who again you'd think would be the young woman who has issues trusting others but would emerge into leadership of her people in rebellion after realizing there was no one else...but instead here remains laser focused in revenge over all.  She repeatedly flees from opportunities of leadership, as commented on by the third party character Kirdan, letting others down repeatedly in the process.  And so she takes dangerous dangerous risks repeatedly, even as she smolders at indignation at what is done to others she starts to get close to, and how they start to feel about her, forcing her to make a choice by the novel's end - will she continue with vengeance?  Or will she try to be more, to save the Empire that she once might have rightfully ruled?  

It's a pair of character arcs that work really well, aided by some strong side characters, as well as revelations (particularly about Jazmyne's peaceful and better sister, who let herself die in the rite rather than go down Jazmyne's path) that surprise often - even those revelations come a bit too fast and furious down the end.  The story of course deals with themes of oppression, cycles of revenge, of power and the cost thereof, and the choices of who to trust and let in, and deals with those all fairly well, even if not fully in depth.  The romance subplots are kind of half-baked, and the book's ending makes it quite clear that this is only the first in a series, which in addition to the book trying to do too much is probably the only big weakness hereabout.*

*In a trend I see a lot these days, the book doesn't include much of a guide in the back to the two orders or a glossary and again trusts the reader to figure it all out.  I'm of two minds about this - on one hand, I understand and respect the idea that books from non-white/euro/american backgrounds shouldn't have to provide a glossary of concepts, which kind of other those concepts as being out of the norm.  On the other hand, this book also doesn't do that great a job explaining everything, which doesn't fit with my reading style, so it still could've used more.*  

In short, this is a really interesting start to a series, and I'm very curious where it'll go from here.  Recommended for those looking for something different from Western YA Fantasy.  
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