Anna Thayer

This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader.
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WHAT'S THE TRAITOR'S HEIR ABOUT?
When the book opens, Eamon Goodman, the orphaned son of a bookbinder currently a cadet in the final stages of his training as a member of the army of the Master of the River Realm. He doesn't seem to be very good at being a soldier but is committed to passing and taking the oath. Beyond that, his heart doesn't seem to be in it, either—but maybe it's just the best route for some sort of security for him.

He seems to be a decent guy in an army that doesn't have a lot of them—although those traits seem to be highly valued. After taking his oath, and achieving more success than seems deserved he meets someone who claims to be a descendant of the true king, deposed some centuries ago. Eamon agrees to work for this King in the capital.

Eamon isn't the Chosen One—that's (presumably) the King. However, Eamon is a direct descendant of the last King's First Knight—champion and advisor. He's not the Chosen One—he's more like the Chosen Sidekick. Eamon's calling seems to be to aid the King to reclaim the throne and serve him.

He goes to the capital and follows the King's wishes. Until, with the help of a beautiful noblewoman, he gets distracted and serves the Master. Then circumstances lead him back to the King. And then...he ping-pongs between the two until he makes a final choice.

WHAT I DON'T GET...
I've run into this issue before, this isn't me picking on Thayer. The reader is clearly to get invested in this struggle between the King and the Master, we're supposed to want to see the Master defeated and the King to retake the throne. But...

There is no reason to root for the King and his forces here beyond "generations ago his ancestor lost the throne due to the duplicity of his trusted knight. We have no vision of how he'll improve anything for anyone but those supporters of his that have to hide their allegiance or have to live in his secret campground. His being on the throne would allow them to live openly and/or in society. Yes, he seems to be kind, compassionate, and honorable, but...there are a lot of good guys who happen to be related to someone who used to be in power that shouldn't be put back in a position of authority.

There aren't a lot of reasons for the reader to want to see the downfall of The Master. Sure, he treats those sewing dissension in the populace and/or actively working to bring down his government harshly. But...what government doesn't? The methods he uses seem extreme and capricious, but also seem like the kind of thing a government in this setting would do.

Don't get me wrong, it's clear that The Master is evil, he manipulates Eamon throughout—and anyone who gets "behind the curtain" to see how the government is run should have qualms about it. But John and Jane Smith working away in their village outside the city aren't being oppressed. They're not being starved. They're not being exploited. The same is true for Jill or Joe practicing their trades or selling their wares in the cities.

I can tell you why Panem's President Snow should be defeated. I can tell you why the Golds should be replaced by the government that Darrow's revolt made possible. The Sheriff of Nottingham? Oh, absolutely—Robin Hood is in the right. The White Witch and her never-ending (and Christmas-free) Winter need to be overthrown. But I can't tell you how things are going to be better for the River Realm or its people. That's really hard for me to push past.

SO, WHAT DID I THINK ABOUT THE TRAITOR'S HEIR?
Thayer has a thinly disguised allegory here—our protagonist is a good man who has sworn an allegiance to an evil master while being given grace by the rightful king, who appeals to him to freely choose to serve this king. Allegories aren't necessarily supposed to be subtle, but this was just one degree shy of Pilgrim's Progress-level obviousness. Go for allegory if you want, but unless you're Bunyan, do something other than use it like a 2x4 in the hands of "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan.

Eamon didn't struggle between the two who wanted his allegiance. If you think of his allegiance as a number line from -10 to 10, he was wholly devoted to -10 and then swung to the other extreme. Then he'd rush back to -10. He never spent any time at 5, or -5—always the extreme. Show me some wavering. Show him spending some time around 0, teetering in each direction. Give me conflict. All I see is a flake that two antagonists are vying over—for no discernible reason than his status as Chosen Sidekick.

Eamon is a problematic character for me—even without his wavering allegiances. I clearly can't buy into the political struggle. I'm dissatisfied with the world-building (I had a section detailing it, but deleted it because this post was becoming too negative). This book was headed for the DNF pile...and yet.

And yet...

Thayer kept ensnaring me. I couldn't stop reading. I wasn't enjoying anything, didn't think I was reading a decent book—but I had to know what the next page held. And the next. And the next. Sure, I kept checking the page number so I knew how much longer this would go (and kept wishing the number was closer to 541)—but I'd have to see what 253 held. It makes no sense to me—but Thayer got her hooks in me. Her knack for that means I can't go lower than 3 (begrudging) stars

So yeah, this was a compelling, if frustrating, read. Your results may vary. I know at least one friend/sometimes reader of this blog will disagree with me (he is, after all, who recommended the book to me). Others are more than welcome—encouraged, even—to weigh in and tell me what I missed. Give this a shot if the idea appeals to you—the trilogy looks like it'll take a different shape than most. Just that novelty may be enough to intrigue you (it pulls on me).… (más)

I think I have something of a love/hate relationship with Epic Fantasy. On the one hand, I'm a huge Lewis fan- and a lover of the Tolkien movies- but I'm also a Medievalist who has never read the Lord of the Rings, and its accomanying volumes. Some might say that makes me a disgrace to my profession.

For a while I didn't really like fantasy except Lewis, unless it was Historical Fantasy (like historical fiction but not set in a real time or place), or human centred fantasy. I still don't always go in for dragons, goblins, and the such. I wasn't even intersted in this when I first saw, it, but then I saw recommendations from a friendly acquaintance, and that the author is an expert on Tolkien and Lewis, I decided to try it.

As another review has stated- 'The Traitor's Heir' is human-centred fantasy. There are no mythical creatures. It is centred around a fairly ordinary chap- Eamon Goodman, an orphaned young man whose only dream since chidhood was to become an officer in the Gauntlet- and elite military Unit supposed to protect the River Realm and serve its ruler known as The Master.
Eamon is just that- very ordinary, and very human. In the first chapter he makes a mistake and botches a military assingment which jeapordizes his future. The next thing we see, he is in his garden, weeping, despondant at his failure. He's no fantasy superhero, and that is something I found rather endearing and relatable.

To cut a long story short, Eamon's wish is fulfilled with help from some of his oldest friends, and finally he takes his oath on his inaugaration to the Gauntlet. From then on events take a darker turn when Eamon starts having troubling dreams, and unsettling things begin to happen. A strange power seems to exude from the mark of Master, which all the Gauntlet bear on thier hands, a power which at times takes control of him, and drives him do things he does not wish. He also began to he hears a dark voice- the voice of the master- goading and cajoling him, constantly reminding him of his allegience.

Then Eamon is devested when a close friend and his daughter, Aeryn, are arrested, accused of being 'snakes'- enemies of the Master and of the realm- and worse, claiming loyalty to the King- the King who was deposed and killed 500 years before.
To prove himself, Eamon is chosen to join a troop of men to take Aeryn as a prisoner to a far distant part of the realm. Eamon thinks he has found his place, and is starting to earn the respect and love of his men, when his ship is attacked, and many of his comrades slaughtered. Saved only by the intercession of Aeyrn, Eamon is bought before Hughan, a man he knew from childhood and long though to be dead- a man who is called the King, and claims to be the last of the line once deposed.

The King has a startling revelation which explains Eamon's dreams, and offers him and choice- to swear to serve him as his true Master, to undo the wrongs of the pas. Eamon swears willingly, though both know he must return the capital, and serve the King in the midst of the enemies' territory.
From then on, Eamon struggles with his two oaths, his true allegience, and the legacy of his bloodline. There is great darkness, cruelty and evil at the heart of the River Realm- but Eamon loves his men, strives to be a good leader- and craves to please his superiors and excel in his work. Part of his heart is still for the Master- although he believes and knows that the King is the true and rightful Lord.

Its true the book is a bit of a task at nearly 550 pages, it does lag in places, and the setting is a little unclear. Its got the Medieval type elements typical of the genre with swords, knights etc- but many other details, especially relating to army, seemed rather more modern. The characterisation was perhaps not all it should have been (but I don't theink the Master's Hands- the Highest of his officers were meant to be well-rounded, complicated human beings).
Yet persistence paid off. I personally think that Eamon's struggle, central to the story, was was best and strongest aspect of it. He is torn, tempted, fails and is often in two minds. Part of him wants to please his superiors and just get on in the world- but another part is appaling by all that his 'duty' involves, and for a higher calling under the service of the King.
By the end, Eamon wants to be free from both his oath the King and the Master, and just wants to live a peaceful life.

In a way, his experiences are reminiscent of the stuggles that Christians face in thier own lives- and his frailty and helplessness are something we can identify with. Even his bad choices. One such choice involves falling for, and engaging in a sexual relationship with a noblewoman, Alessia Turnholt.
Other readers have flagged this up as an objectionable aspect which caused them to give the novel a lower rating. Its true that some scenes are bordering on a little bit descriptive- but I didn't feel they went as too far, and certainly weren't graphic. By the end, one could even understand what was happening- that both he and Alessia were being used and abused by the Master and his men- and that Eamon should have listened to the warnings of his friends.

Objection has also been raised to the langauge. The 'B' word is used quite a few times, not usually in context, as well as 'wh---' and 'damn'. Personally, this was not something I had a huge issue with. I'm afraid the 'B' word is something British people are inclined to come out with-and the author is British. I think very few of us are controlled enough to say, 'Oh my goodness, you're such a jerk!' all the time. Its just not realistic.
I understand that this might be a off-putting to a lot of Christian Fiction readers, so they might find the book is not for them.

However, I found it a satisfying and, in the end, compulsive read. Eamon fell, yet in the end, found his strength. There was also a wonderful note of hope, through the character of the young soldier Eamon took under his wing, Matatiah. A character who appears to be one of the weakest of the ranks, picked on by the others, but emerges as a wonderful example of unyeilding loyalty, courage, faith and endurance, it spite of his terrible suffering.

Don't know how long I'll be able to put off reading the next installment 'The King's Hand' to continue with Eamon's story (and hopefully more of Matatiah too). Recommended for lovers of more realistic fantasy, with deeper characters and themes.
… (más)

Title: The Traitor’s Heir (The Knight of Eldaran #1)
Author: Anna Thayer
Pages: 544
Year: 2014
Publisher: Kregel
My rating is 4 stars.
Note: I received a complimentary copy for an honest review of this book from www.bookfun.org The opinions shared in this review are solely my responsibility.
The Traitor’s Heir was a good book. It is about a man named Eamon Goodman whose highest ambition is to serve the Master of the River Realm. However, soon after he has sworn his allegiance to the Master, he discovers that not everything is as it seems. A voice enters his mind and goads him to do evil for the Master’s glory. Joining the Gauntlet or army of the River Realm means serving the Master and fulfilling his duty whatever the cost against the Realm’s enemies, but when he is captured by these enemies, he is brought to the true King of the Realm. This King opens Eamon’s eyes to a new way of serving something bigger than him. Eamon agrees and swears a new oath to the King. He is then sent to the Kingdom’s capital to spy for the King, but once inside he is exposed to temptations of power and lust for high born women sworn to the Master. In his struggles, Eamon wonders which master he is going to betray for “a man cannot serve two masters.”
There were things that I liked about the book and things that I didn’t like. What I liked about the book was that it has some Christian elements to the story and it shows what Christians go through in this world for even though they are Christians they are still human. There will always be temptation, so whether we give in or stand our ground is our choice. Eamon represents one such Christian who is struggling to serve the true King and yet the power of temptation is very strong. Without the help of the power of the King’s Grace, Eamon will fall. What I also liked about the book is that it shows a man trying to be an example of light in a world of darkness. I also enjoyed some of the fantasy elements in the book that reminded me of The Lord of The Rings.
What I didn’t like about the book is that it has some language and sexual content. Fortunately, the language didn’t involve the F-word. The sexual content wasn’t totally explicit or graphic, which was good. I do get the reasoning behind this as it shows how people who don’t believe in God or people who have said they believe in God but have walked away from their faith in Him behave in this world. They follow the ways of sin and not that of God.
So I liked the book a lot and I would recommend this book to others.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255. “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”… (más)