Book Reviews

Book Blurb

Praesidium is the most prosperous city-state in the world, due not only to its location at the mouth of a great bay but also to its strict laws, stringently enforced. Ordinary criminals become bond-slaves, but the worst punishment—to be suspended in a dreamless frozen state known as Stasis—is doled out by the wizard and reserved for only the most serious of traitors.

Ennek is the youngest son of Praesidium’s strict Chief. Though now a successful portmaster, Ennek grew up without much of a purpose, unable to fulfill his true desires and always skating on the edge of the law. But he is also haunted by the plight of one man, Miner, a prisoner for whom Stasis appears to be a truly horrible fate. If Ennek is to save Miner, he must explore Praesidium’s deepest secrets as well as his own.

NOTE: This book was previously published by Createspace in December 2009.

Book Review

From the moment I read the blurb for this book, I was fascinated with this world of city-states, strict laws that can result in magic-induced stasis for the worst criminals, and a young man who is the ruler’s second son, but does not agree with some of the laws he is supposed to help uphold. As I was reading the story and got to know this world in more detail, it became apparent that most of the similarities are quite superficial. We may have some shared history - Latin was mentioned as a language of the educated and for spells – and the law against sodomy is in full force, but that is pretty much where the similarities end. This world has city states that trade with each other; there was no mention of war. Their technology is at the level of the early eighteenth century of our Earth. But the biggest difference is that magic exists and is used for all kinds of purposes, including medicine.

The story is about Ennek, the second son of the chief who rules Praesidium, the most powerful city-state on Earth, with an iron fist and no empathy. This first part of the trilogy focuses on Ennek’s awakening, coming of age, and the beginning of independent thought replacing his complacency and acceptance of the ways things are. Ennek’s back story only slowly emerges as things are set in motion that will change his life. There have always been hints that he is different as he grew up, but he never put two and two together, so to speak, until he is almost thirty. Once he does see the whole picture, very gradually he begins to develop the courage to think about a way out. But even his final actions are provoked, almost forced on him, and it will be interesting to see how he deals with the new situation in the second part of this trilogy.

 I had trouble understanding Ennek. He is very passive throughout most of the book, and a lot of what he learns over the years gets ignored at first. Ennek is very good at compartmentalizing his feelings, but he does have a clear idea of what is right and wrong. He hates the idea of stasis, comes to understand that slavery is not the answer, and despises the wizard who uses people – including Ennek – to become ever more powerful. Ennek is not impulsive and not easily angered, and that is probably a good thing in his situation. While I can’t understand how it could take anyone that long to see the truth and act on it, I have not grown up in the repressive and cruel environment he has, and I can see how his past has made him the man he is.

If you like fantasy worlds that are different from ours, with laws and a history all their own, if you enjoy watching a young man come into his own – very, very gradually, and if you’re looking for a read that is full of mystery, suspense, emerging emotions, and a sense of an adventure just beginning, then you will probably like this novel. I definitely look forward to the next stage of Ennek’s journey!

 

 

 

 

DISCLAIMER: Books reviewed on this site were usually provided at no cost by the publisher or author. This book has been provided by DSP Publications for the purpose of a review.

Additional Information

Format	ebook and print
Length	Novel, 204 pages/70011 words
Heat Level
Publication Date	17-May-2016
Price	$6.99 ebook, $14.99 paperback, $14.99 bundle
Buy Link	https://www.dsppublications.com/books/stasis-by-kim-fielding-244-b