Argo lives an easy but ordinary, bland life in his village with his father, surrounded by his complacent friends. Ever since the appearance of The Rider, his world knows nothing of painful, bloody, unexpected death. Their lives pass without consequence, without the captivating stories that once made great, memorable heroes. Instead, everyone waits to receive their letter from The Rider, who ultimately guides them into the Hallowed Woods and to the unknown afterlife beyond them. After he receives his letter, Argo, led by the wisdom of the Lady of the Woods, ventures into those unknown forests himself with his loyal dog Wander at his side. Argo means to challenge The Rider before his time is up, taking his fate in his own hands, hoping to leave a great story of his own behind.
As it is often difficult to grapple with these existential questions, Jacob Acebo’s THE RIDER’S BANE opens up a conversation that’s important within the young adult genre: what waits after death? Fiction has always been a vehicle to tackle these unknowns, especially fantasy, where belief systems, magic, and moral quandaries often collide. Like most good fantasy heroes, Argo constantly questions his people’s way of life, challenging the status quo. It’s easy to side with him most of the time—even though his curiosity makes enemies and gets him into trouble—because his pondering, his endless introspection, reveals some of the cracks in the world building. Argo’s quest for purpose in life is universal, his need for adventure understandable, expected, human. Yet, The Rider’s “gift” isn’t painless at all, and “natural” human deaths still occur without being prevented through some magical means except the villagers avoiding situations that would cause them. It’s not wholly explained why his gift was given, but his letters are still doled out unexpectedly, still leave behind grief.
This aside, the book has a few memorable, interesting characters to make up for the thin world building. Argo’s dog Wander is just as courageous as he is—an adorable, curious companion who endures a bittersweet, emotional journey. The Lady of the Woods has a brief, yet impactful presence on the novel and Argo’s quest overall—the interludes at her dream-like, flowery cottage are among the most magical, and her wise words echo in Argo’s actions throughout. Another magical interlude with The Ferryman is especially breathtaking in its fantasy elements and glimpse of intriguing backstory. Argo’s travels through mysterious, often cursed forestland is often meandering as the woods themselves, the pace plodding while trapped in pages of internal dialogue and repetitive philosophical conflict. Metaphors sometimes go on for paragraphs, and while some discussions have philosophical merit, it does come across preachy at times, and Argo’s voice sometimes feels older than he’s meant to be. His confrontation with The Rider himself—his purpose for this adventure—almost arrives too late in the novel, leaving its resolution feeling rushed and almost meaningless.
Jacob Acebo’s debut YA fantasy, THE RIDER’S BANE, has delightfully engaging prose, lively and imaginative characters, and offers a new lens through which to explore the most unknown of humanity’s questions.
~Jessica Thomas for IndieReader