CITY OF RAIN is the first book in William Lejeune’s Cinqhawk saga. The book follows Lady Summer Fontenay, a mage and assistant to the Master Reader of the Imperial College of Magic, Alcidimus, as she risks her life to deliver a dangerous parchment that could change the fate of the Empire.
The fantasy novel kicks off with an enthralling prologue, where Alcidimus is intrigued by a peculiar request from his oldest friend: decipher a cryptic parchment within a month. However, this seemingly innocent favor leads to a shocking betrayal, setting off a chain of events that will put the lives of many in danger and forever change the course of Summer’s life.
As Summer flees to the city of Torrick, she is framed for her master’s death and is hunted down by those who would stop at nothing to process the knowledge hidden within the parchment. Her journey is fraught with danger, political conspiracies, shifting allies, and deadly magic.
Author William Lejeune takes readers on a magical adventure driven by a well-crafted plot line, mystery, and compelling characters—exploring themes such as betrayal, love, friendship, loyalty, and duty.
The book is written from four main points of view: Summer, the leading protagonist and young mage; Cole, a young scholar and prentice mage; Fenya, Wizarding Guild’s clerk and Summer’s main pursuer; and Arlen, Torrick’s deputy marshal. Summer is a smart, witty, and resourceful young woman. Despite her tender age of seventeen and the huge responsibility on her shoulders, she never backs down. Her unwavering determination, loyalty, courage, and resilience make her character very easy to root for.
Aside from the cast of complex characters, Lejeune does a fantastic job creating an enchanting realm filled with rich history, political dynamics, intricate societies, and hidden dangers. However, it can become a little confusing and overwhelming to follow along with all the political titles, cities, towns, and history of the Empire. Thankfully, there are maps, glossaries, and a breakdown of characters included in the novel that will help readers understand the world’s settings and terminologies a lot better. Take this geographical passage: “The Empire in the east, the Central Lands nestled about the Inner Sea, the valley of the Khandimar in the west—all painted in fine detail […] the great mountain ranges were easy to make out, the lakes and ancient forests too, the cold plains of the north and the mysterious jungles of Kholukkhel and the Esmerijo to the south.”
The book is well-paced, with a good blend of action, mystery, and introspection from all four characters’ points of view. The dialogue reveals the personalities and emotions of characters without too many unnecessary details. Furthermore, there are few grammatical errors, plot holes, or inconsistencies—making for a very promising first installment of a fascinating fantasy series.
William Lejeune’s creativity shines in his fantasy debut novel, CITY OF RAIN, where mages, wizards, and magic entwine with politics, conspiracies, and secrets to deliver a captivating story of power and destruction. A thrilling start to a world filled with more adventures.
~Tomi Alo for IndieReader