New Edge Sword and Sorcery has some pretty cool stuff going on, and if the magazine wasn’t enough of a reason to check them out, here’s another. Double-Edged Sword and Sorcery contains two tales of Mongol inspired Sword and Sorcery in one book. Start with either story, then flip the book and read the other. Before I go into anything else, I just need to point out how much I love this idea in general. While I read the ebook version, the print copies of this look amazing, with some stunning artwork, both the covers and interior art!
This is the first I’ve read either of these authors, and while the two stories make for an excellent pairing. They are both very different from one another, but carry a feel that makes them fit quite nicely side by side.
Walls of Shira Yulun by Dariel R.A. Quiogue is the tale of Orhan Timur, the Snow Leopard, a warrior in exile whose past is catching up with him. Orhan rides to the city of Shira Yulun to keep his oath and defend its walls. And it is in and around that city that most of the story takes place.
I’ll be honest, I’m a bit of a sucker for a good siege story, and this one hits all the notes. The characters are interesting and well-rounded. Two enemies are seeking vengeance against the Snow Leopard. One a despicable exiled shaman, twisting dark sorceries, intent on devouring Orhan’s soul. The other a bit of a more honorable warrior, with a blood-feud, more interested in a fight to the death than sorcerous assassination from the shadows. There’s hatred, but still respect. After a quick look, Quiogue has more tales of Orhan Timur that I’ll have to look into.
Dark magic and intricate, detailed battle scenes set in the confines of a city under siege, Walls of Shira Yulun was a fast-paced tale that was a blast to read.
Almost as a juxtaposition to the claustrophobic tale of a city surrounded by an enemy army, next we have Waste Flowers by Bryn Hammond. A step away from the more closed in setting presented by Quiogue, Hammond brings the reader a sprawling adventure across the wastelands. Waste Flowers follows the nomad Goatskin and her crew as they lead the caravan they’ve been hired to protect through the Gobi Desert. There, they come up against an army of the undead and other supernatural forces.
This tale truly is sprawling journey. An adventure and an introspective. While there are moments of excitement and daring do, there are also thought provoking conversations about the state of the world in general; politically, economically, technologically, et cetera… just very real conversations among a group of people wandering together, and I think the combination has an interesting way of putting the reader out their beneath the endless expanse of sky.
If you’re looking for some excellent pulpy, sword and sorcery that has its own spin, pick this up. It’s an excellent pairing. I look forward to seeing what the folks of New Edge Sword and Sorcery do next!
You can pre-order your copy here:
Great review, Thomas!