Stella Atrium’s THE HEART SCARAB: A Dystopian Science Fiction Novel, the second installment in her Duchy Wars series, is an ambitious and sprawling work of political fantasy, science fiction, and magical realism. Picking up from its predecessor, The Matrix Opal, this sequel expands on its intricate world to offer a much larger and deeper story with both familiar and new characters.
The story focuses on several main threads, from Ariseng retreating back to the old city Oemettancede with her husband to Bybiis recouping from her battles with Ulaya and finding her own path towards understanding more about her beastmaster power. At the same time, Stuben el Cylahi tries to find his place as a police officer in the capital, only to realize that his loyalty is to the displaced Rundi people. Meanwhile, on the sidelines, Ulaya refuses to contend with schemes in the shadows to regain more power from the serpent pouches and have control over the serpents themselves.
As these stories intertwine, readers are once again taken on a journey that blends the personal struggles with a border intrigue of political and magical conflicts. Each storyline builds tension and reveals a multi-layered society that is shaped by ambition, loyalty, and survival. Atrium creatively continues momentum with the world she created in the earlier series. Here, the culture is richly constructed with traditions, hierarchies, and social customs that bring authenticity and uniqueness to the narrative. From the tribal rituals to the capital’s political system to the creatures and magic engulfed in the story, it’s easy for readers to enjoy the adventure and intricate world that Artium delivers.
The characters are another highlight. Bybiis is strong-willed and not hard to root for, even when her choices are frustrating. She burns with an energy that readers will love. Even Ulaya, with her relentless hunger for power and dangerous experiments, unsettles in every scene. Ariseng may not take center stage this book, but her influence runs deep in her community; we see the lengths she goes to help those in need. What makes these characters so intriguing is that everyone carries a story, a scar from the past that shapes who they are and how far they’re willing to go.
The prose can occasionally have awkward phrases and dialogue. For example, take sentence structures like this: “’Aresur el Moorea I am being. Ariseng is my cousin. Are you knowing Ariseng?’ She squints and considers my words. ‘Ipippi is my friend. Is she a cousin?’ I nod with a big grin. ‘A former student is Ipippi. Give her my melinga. From Aresur.'” This can definitely feel confusing and jarring at first. Upon closer look, however, it reflects the unique culture and customs of this world. The good thing is once readers become accustomed to the rhythm and style, the novel becomes easier to read and understand—even if it does require extra time and effort.
Stella Atrium’s THE HEART SCARAB: A Dystopian Science Fiction Novel builds on all the best things from its predecessor: rich worldbuilding, intriguing characters, and great fantasy escapism.
~ Tomi Alo for IndieReader