Jala’s Mask
Mike Grinti and Rachel Grinti
Pyr, Nov 4 2014, $18.00
ISBN 9781616149789
On the Five-and-One Islands, raised
by her Bardo tribe family’s thirst for power, Jala expects to one day become a
queen. When Kayet King Azi
selects her as his mate, Jala believes her destiny has been fulfilled, but to
her surprise her ambitious kin objects to their marriage. Seeing an opportunity to replace his nephew
as the ruler, Azi’s Uncle Lord Inas encourages dissent.
The islander in-fighting ends with the arrival of
a magically powered armada from the mainland; filled with the sorcery-driven
insane seeking revenge against the Bardo tribe for their magical
marauding. Meanwhile the Fire
Mountain sorcerer warns Jala of dire
consequences. The new Queen concludes
that the islanders must put aside their petty squabbles for power or face
fate’s death. However her husband, his
uncle and her family fear leading the counterattack, which, encouraged by her
BFF Marjani, leaves her to fill the void.
This tremendous gender-bending coming of age fantasy enthralls
readers with Jala maturing rather quickly while Azi lags behind his
spouse. The sorcery elements like
reef-built raiding ships and the invasion fleet are remarkably refreshing and
enhance Team Grinti’s exhilarating saga.
Harriet Klausner
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