Welcome to my stop on the Sky Chariots Saga by Emily Mah blog tour by CBB Book Promotions. I am reviewing the three books in different posts for it. I am starting with Restless Earth, the first book in the series today.
Title : Restless Earth
Author : Emily Mah
Series : The Sky Chariots Saga, Book One
Genre : Fantasy
Source : Free copy from the author for an honest review
Blurb :
For over a thousand years, the Tanoa have relied on their Earth Shamen to bring rich harvests, temper stone tools and weapons, and imbue pottery with strength like metal. Now, though, the bloodline has dwindled to one Shaman, Tuwa, who is trapped high in the mountains, holding bedrock together to prevent a volcanic eruption while the rest of her people flee to safety. The only way to save the village is for her to sacrifice herself and buy them the time they need to evacuate.
But her grandson, Ahote, refuses to abandon her to die. Rather than do as she asks—marry and bear daughters who might inherit her gift—he sets out to find the one person who might be able to save Tuwa’s life.
Kasha is a Tanoa girl in who lives in Solace, a city of the pale-skinned Andalanos. If the Engineers Guild ever discovers her gender or race, they could order her execution—for in violation of the King’s law, Master Engineer Seamus trained Kasha as his apprentice. She is a genius in all things mechanical and earned her master certification when only fourteen years old. Since Seamus’s death, she has been discreetly working his job as the City Engineer.
She knows there is no machine or technology that can save Tuwa. In order to complete this task, Kasha must invent a vehicle unlike anything the world has ever seen, and risk exposure and death in the process.
But her grandson, Ahote, refuses to abandon her to die. Rather than do as she asks—marry and bear daughters who might inherit her gift—he sets out to find the one person who might be able to save Tuwa’s life.
Kasha is a Tanoa girl in who lives in Solace, a city of the pale-skinned Andalanos. If the Engineers Guild ever discovers her gender or race, they could order her execution—for in violation of the King’s law, Master Engineer Seamus trained Kasha as his apprentice. She is a genius in all things mechanical and earned her master certification when only fourteen years old. Since Seamus’s death, she has been discreetly working his job as the City Engineer.
She knows there is no machine or technology that can save Tuwa. In order to complete this task, Kasha must invent a vehicle unlike anything the world has ever seen, and risk exposure and death in the process.
My Musings :
I have read many fantasy genre books and I have found some real gems too. This book is the start of a great series according to me. Read on to know more about my thoughts!
First of all, the story has lots of character in it since it is based on Native American cultures. I am new to them so I had fun reading the fantasy version of their history and the story based on it. Because of it, it had lots of information at the beginning to assimilate before I could properly recognise the various people and their ways. But once sorted, it was easy to follow.
The characters are no less intriguing and interesting. I loved the protagonists, Kasha and Ahote who are from very different backgrounds inspite of being from the same clan. Kasha is one after my own heart with her love for numbers. But she also comes across as someone who seems to take more pride in being among the Andalanos rather than a Tanoa. Let's see how she grows in the sequels. On the other hand, Ahote is too impulsive which is offset with his kindness. He adds the surprising element to this book. I could never know what he will do next. All other characters, their respective mothers, the people they meet including Tuwa herself all form the links which add to the entire tapestry of the story.
This book was too short on one hand and very comprehensive to get to know the characters, background and setting. The setting, as I said earlier is an interesting aspect of the book while the world building is done with flawless beauty. The mixture of real life elements and the fantasy slant to them was well done by the author. It added to me reading the book in a couple of hours. It didn't hurt that the adventurous story was easy to follow because of its steady pace and the flow of action from scene to scene.
The one other thing I have to mention are Riders and their mounts, the Winged. Only the basic has been covered about them and I liked reading about the Winged especially, more than the Riders. I am hoping to know more about them!
So overall I will be following this series closely and I have the sequel to start reading at once! Double YAY for me!!
My one line review : A fantastic start to a new atypical fantasy series with a Native American twist!
My rating : 5/5
My reread factor : 4/5
She is a graduate of the Clarion West Writer's Workshop for Science Fiction and Fantasy and Viable Paradise Writers Workshop, and she often teaches the unit on self-publishing at the Taos Toolbox Writers Workshop.When she is not writing or chasing small children, she manages E.M. Tippetts Book Designs, her company which offers formatting, cover design, and editing services to authors and publishers.
YAY! So glad you loved it!
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