Tuesday, March 27, 2018

The Black Tides of Heaven


The Black Tides ofHeaven, JY Yang, 237 pages


Twin siblings Mokoya and Akeha, children of the Protector, have grown up away from her tyrannical influence, in the Grand Monastery. Mokoya has developed the ability to prophecy the future, and Akeha has always blended into the background, keeping an eye on everything and everyone. But as they grow, they grow apart, and the Rebellion against their mother’s rule grows as well. Is Mokoya merely a pawn under the Protector’s influence? Should Akeha join the Rebellion, or will that put the two twins in opposition?

I feel like this novella suffered from the same affliction as Everfair, trying to span too great a length of time with too low a page count. Thankfully, it’s less glaring in this book, being shorter and only have two major characters. I thought the worldbuilding was good, especially the magic system and how it complemented technological advances – it reminded me of The Legend of Korra in a way. As much as I love traditional swords-and-sorcery fantasy, it’s nice to mix it up with some actual technological development (isn’t it incredible how weaponry hasn’t changed in well over six thousand years in The Lord of the Rings). Generally I liked The Black Tides of Heaven, I just found it slightly unsatisfying.

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