New Book Alert: The Other Magic (Passage to Dawn Series Book One) by Derrick Smythe; Brilliant Epic Fantasy Subverts of Light Vs. Dark
By Julie Sara Porter
Bookworm Reviews
Spoilers: The common consensus in most epic fantasies is that light equals good and dark equals bad. The heroes are always on the light side using only beneficial white magic (except when defending themselves against their adversaries. Then they kick major ass.). The villains are always on the dark side using black magic against enemies. That's how it used to be.
Recently however, authors and other artists have broken from that trope finding it cliched, simplistic, and even racist. They have taken more subtle approaches giving a more nuanced look at this conflict. Then there are ones like Derek Smythe's first book to his Passage to Dawn series, The Other Magic which have a lot of fun completely subverting the trope and turning it on its head.
In the possibly mythical world of Dorea (there are subtle hints that the setting might be in a post-Apolcalyptic future or alternate universe but nothing is ever outright stated), a prophecy was fulfilled 25 years ago in which a Child of Hope was born to save their world from the demons of darkness. Sound familiar? Not quite. As if the child's name, Magog, wasn't enough of a clue being lifted from the Book of Revelation, that all is not as it seems, his true nature is revealed as he grows and assumes the title of god-king. Magog becomes less of Jesus Christ and more of Jim Jones. He orders his priests, particularly his right hand man, Grobennar, to seek out and locate other magic users so he can drain their powers and devour them whole. Everyone is beholden to Magog and his extremely powerful and corrupt council of priests.
Three other characters emerge to fight their way through this increasingly violent and terrifying world. Aynward, a rebellious prince, is beginning his university studies and learns some interesting things that causes him to question the world around him. Sindri is a former high priestess in exile who is looking to find other magic users. Then there is Kibure, a slave boy who has learned that he has magical abilities. He also learns that he might be a tazamine, a demon.
This is a complete turn around over what we consider light and dark, good and evil and Smythe does this excellently. Magog is power mad and Groebnner is blinded by his fanaticism. He knows that Magog is insane and dangerous, but he is so far gone in his spiritual path and his belief in the prophecies, that he is willing to forego doubt and common sense to follow Magog. He justifies his reasoning in his head and acts as an enabler towards the god-king's obssession, taking pride in the power that his role as chief advisor brings.
The three protagonists are fundamentally flawed and even though they are branded as using demonic or dark magic, they are actually more understandable and relatable than those on the side of light.
Sindri is extremely arrogant and snobbish, and some of her training towards Kibure borders on the sadistic. However, she is also cunning and resourceful in getting out of trouble such as when she sensibly lies about her nationality in front of potentially violent natives of a rival kingdom. She also carries a lot of hurt over her past when she was exiled and her equally magical brother was killed. Her discovery and training of Kibure becomes a ticket towards redemption.
Because of his slave background, Kibure is mistrustful and quick to anger particularly when he unthinkingly uses his magic in fits of rage and desperation. However, he shows a softer side as he grows fond of his new companions. He particularly bonds with a Raven called Rave as he learns to channel his abilities and emotion. Rave acts as a familiar and Kibure's link with the bird emerge as some of the most genuine and heartfelt moments in the book.
Aynward's story provides much of the humor and some of the bitterest truths. The prince is a likeable scoundrel who runs into his fair share of trouble in school usually spying on behalf of others or getting into fights with students. He is also drawn to a pretty face as he demonstrates when he encounters Sindri for the first time. However, his experience plays strongly into the theme of the subversion of light and dark as well as the price that is paid in certain pursuits. During his studies, Aynward and his fellow students pour over legends, stories, and histories that Aynward knows. However, they present another side to the works in which he was previously familiar. He learns that there are many sides to every story and that sometimes truth gets swept under by propoganda and legend.
Everything in this book has a price, allegiances, honors, wisdom, the truth, and above all magic. One of the more intriguing prospects is the physical sacrifices that are made when characters use magic. When Kibure first begins to use his powers, he suffers temporary hearing loss and total color blindness. Groebnner is in possession of a pendent that holds Jaween, a sardonic spirit that seems to take hold of Groebnner's mind leaving possible questions of demonic possession combined with multiple personalities. Many of the magic users speak of intense and painful physical transformations that their bones go through when they use major wide ranging spells (no doubt keeping them from using these spells very often. In fact in his search for tazamines, Groebnner is limited by this very handicap. He has to be physically near a tazamines before he can sense them.) These prices reveal how painful and single minded the pursuit of these goals can be and how they reflect on all characters on all sides.
The Other Magic is a fascinating epic fantasy. It subverts dark and light in a way that casts an enchanting spell on the Reader.
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