SciFi/Fantasy Book Review: Where Peace is Lost by Valerie Valdes

Where Peace is Lost is the fourth novel by author Valerie Valdes, who was previously known for her space opera "Chilling Effect" trilogy. That trilogy, which I loved, was an incredibly humorous space opera whose setting cribbed in large part from Mass Effect but also featured a billion other geek references, as it told the story of the reckless but incredibly fun Captain Eva Innocente and the crew of the La Sirena Negra as they get caught in the middle of galactic-level conflicts. It was an incredibly fun trilogy that only got better with each book, so I was super eager to hear about and try Valdes' follow up (and had my library pre-order it).

Where Peace is Lost is however a very different book than Valdes' first trilogy - not only is it stand-alone, but the story is a far more introspective science fantasy novel without the focus on humor. As Valdes' admitted in an interview, the story is very much inspired by the idea of Obi-Wan or another retired Jedi hiding away as the Evil Empire triumphed, and how they would cope in their new home as evil continued to cause damage both elsewhere...and on their new adoptive home. But while the story is very different in tone from Valdes' other works, Where Peace is Lost is still really really good, and well worth your time, as it uses this concept to explore a couple of fascinating characters and some really interesting themes about hiding, denial, grief, and what is and is not a worthy sacrifice.


Plot Summary:  

Five Years ago, Kel Garda came to the planet of Loth as just another refugee from the war the Pale Empire waged across the galaxy. There she hid who she truly was for the sake of those she once swore to protect, hoping never to reveal herself to anyone if she could. And on Loth she found a peaceful planet too mineral-poor to be of much interest to the Pale and a people who lived (while technologically capable) in harmony with nature and the planet. It was a planet filled with the kind of Peace Kel once fought for.

But when a Pale War Machine wakes up and begins a rampage across the planet, Kel fears that peace will soon be shattered. So when two offworlder strangers offer to deactivate the machine for a reasonable price, Kel finds herself - along with a native she has grown close to - coming along with them as guides to help them complete their quest and save the peace. But the journey to the war machine is treacherous and the strangers are clearly more than they seem and it may not be long before Kel's secret comes to the surface once more....but will revealing herself cause more damage to the planet she's come to care for than the War Machine itself?

Where Peace is Lost's official plot summary contains a mild spoiler that is so obviously foreshadowed it's not really worth talking around - Kel is essentially a Jedi in hiding from an Empire who destroyed her people and who would send its most dangerous hunters - the Dirges - whenever it finds traces of any Jedi left in hiding. Kel is extremely conflicted about all this - on one hand, Kel believes that the peace treaty that ended her war requires her to hide and is worth preserving, especially as Kel has gotten attached to the people of Loth and knows what might happen if the Pale decide the world needs their full attention. On the other hand, Kel sees the ignorance that the people of Loth have towards the danger of the Pale (an ignorance that Kel in some ways shares due to her goodheartedness) and when confronted with a Pale War Machine is kind of desperate to ensure that Loth isn't too badly hurt from this seemingly accidental Pale interference. And when Lunna gets involved with the two offworlders' quest to disable the war machine, well Kel is even more desperate to protect them from all the danger that could happen, even as Kel continues to fear her own exposure.

The result is a plot that works really well, especially as we get to know more about the offworlders - the sardonic captain and leader Savvy, who jokes about things while at the same time always being sure of herself, and Savvy's supposed bodyguard Dare, who is built and incredibly strong and capable, even as the truth behind his abilities and where they came from isn't yet clear until it's finally revealed. Kel finds herself attracted to Dare - something she hasn't felt in five years on Loth - and Dare and Savvy's attempts to figure out where Kel is from only make her internal conflict greater and greater. And then there's the fact that even before they get to the Pale War Machine they have to deal with bandits on Loth - people who have rejected even the most simple acts of restitution in favor of dangerous activity - and other more natural disasters...plus the presence of the few Pale soldiers who are on skeleton crew on the Pale's lone base on planet....all of this threatens to blow Kel's cover sky high, and whether any of what they are doing will be worth that is far from clear.

This plot is excellently written and told, and I'm avoiding some spoilers here that might allow me to better speak onto this work's themes. But the characters all here are completely excellent and Kel's and others' internal conflicts all work out to some really strong work on those themes: what should one do with power when the use of that power may result in harm to others? How much should one be afraid to act now when there may be negative consequences in the future? And how can one commit oneself to restitution for one's own misdeeds and failures and will that ever be enough? There's a contrast in that last one between the bandits - who go into banditry rather than paying what is clearly just a very small price of restitution - and Kel and one of our other characters, who are trying their best to act in ways to make up for their sins and failures...even as that can never be enough. And there's even bits here of found family and appreciation for the hidden intelligence of those who seem ignorant - as becomes apparent later in this book, the leaders on Loth are far more intelligent and savvy at dealing with the dangers of the greater galaxy than they seem, so their peaceful harmonious with nature ways do not in any way mean that they are helpless or don't know how to survive.

In short, this is a really good book and I highly recommend it. If there is a sequel - and this book is entirely stand-alone but certainly the galaxy within it is wide enough to encompass further works - I will definitely be back for it.