Suvudu Universe

Book lovers always have a problem finding the next for them to read, or rather which book to read next. I am not the fastest reader, so I do not blow through them at a great pace. I am also into the blogosphere so I'm always reading about great books. I am always torn whether I should search a bookstore for something that catches my eye or just grab one of the books I've read about online. It would be an easier decision to do both if I read at a faster pace, but I do not.

The past couple books I have read have sort of been the classic authors of speculative fiction. Reading Heinlein, Vonnegut and Sanderson (Sanderson because of his work on the Wheel of Time series) has lead me to desire something different. They are great works by great writers but I wanted something unknown. So I was perusing a book store somewhat recently and found a new book called Farlander. Okay, this was a couple of years ago and I bought it because I am a book hoarder and only recently got around to reading it.

Farlander is not simply the first novel in the Heart of the World series it is author Col Buchanan's debut novel. It takes the reader to a magnificent fantasy world that isn't medieval but not quite modern. There are rifles, cannons, skyships and blackpowder, but people still fight with swords and bows. However, there is no magic system to speak of.

Farlander takes place in a world run mostly by the evil Holy Empire of Mann which is currently besieging the land of Bar-Khos. It tells the tale of Ash who is a member of a group of assassins called the Rōshun that go around carrying out vendettas against people who murder people where a special seal. The son of the head of the Holy Empire of Mann kills a girl who was wearing a seal, so the Rōshun must take vendetta against him. Along the way, Ash takes in an apprentice named Nico. Through Nico the reader learns all about how the assassins work.

It is a good book that takes place in an interesting world with good characters and an intense plot towards the end. The book was able to surprise me, which I like. I thought it would end one way, but it ended differently. Overall I would recommend the book. The sequel, Stands a Shadow is already out and I have started reading it. I can't wait to see how the story continues in book two.