Jaykriss and his mother and sister live in a post-apocalyptic world, under the rule of the Dark King and the priests of the Godswood. His father, war-chief Glyndrich, was killed by the draconic Thrax, but Jaykriss is determined to care for his family and grow into a man worthy of Glyndrich’s legacy – and to win the heart of the beautiful, brilliant and fierce Sola. And then, one day, on a hunting trip with his best friend Marda, the boys, taking refuge from a Thrax attack, encounter a remarkable hermit named Zamarcus, who persuades them that nearly everything they knew about their world was wrong. He tells them of a prophecy that implies that Jaykriss will be a heroic leader, destined to defeat the tyranny ofthe Dark King. He also introduces them to mysterious knowledge from the Time Before, knowledge he calls “science”, and shows them wonders – and potential allies – they’d never dreamed of. But the prophecy also predicts an early death for Jaykriss, and he faces formidable foes – can he fulfill his destiny in time?
THE CURSE OF THE THRAX is an engaging start to its series, set in a well-designed world that balances fantasy and science fiction in an intelligent and reasonably believable manner. Jaykriss is good-hearted and bright, still very young but willing to rethink his assumptions on everything from the “benevolence” of his King to his mother’s possible new husband. Marda avoids the brawn-without-brains sidekick stereotype – mostly – while still serving as a useful foil for Jaykriss. Sola proves to be a tough, capable heroine who can fight beside her beloved, who loves her precisely for that strength. All in all, the trio bear watching. Minor characters are full of personality, and the book has enough intriguing plot twists to keep it going at a lively pace throughout.
The book can be somewhat formulaic in places – there is the usual prophesied hero, faithful best friend, wise old mentor, evil ruler and power-hungry priests, preserved relics of science, and of course the standard awe-inspiring names of sacred pre-apocalypse institutions like the Zeedeezee and the Atlanta Transit Authority. However, at very least, it takes these old standards in some interesting directions.
THE CURSE OF THE THRAX is a carefully crafted and well-written addition to the post-apocalyptic genre.
Reviewed by Catherine Langrehr for IndieReader