Fiona McIntosh, Odalisque

Odalisque

Fiona McIntosh

Eos, Mar 2007, $14.95

ISBN: 0060899050

When Joreb, the Zar of Percheron, dies, his son Boaz succeeds him as the ruler. However, he is not fully ready to take over from his late father. Instead, he becomes the center of a power struggle between his mother Herezah, now the Valide, the Vizier Tariq, and the Grand Master of the Eunuchs Salmeo. Few care about Boaz except to manipulate him to gain personal power.

Former foreign slave turned security chief Lazar the Spur worries about his new boss. He distrusts those who insist they want to strengthen the Zar's powerbase, especially Boaz's ambitious, cruel mother, who Lazar is not sure whether she either desires him or sees him as an expendable pawn to increase her power through embellishing that of her offspring. He knows he wants her, but refuses to act on his feelings as Boaz must come first. Also concerned over the new Zar's safety is Ana, the Odalisque purchased at the slave market by Lazar as Boaz's first harem entrant. No one supporting the lad or those using him realize he also has goals and ambitions, but soon all will confront one another in the beginning of a power struggle to rule Percheron. However, none yet realize the ancient cyclical enmity between the gods Lyana and Maliz has been renewed with the latter taking human form and the former sending the Messenger.

The first book in the Percheron saga is a fascinating political fantasy in which a complex and convoluted power struggle embellished by outside Gods makes for a vivid (including some horrific scenes) read. Interestingly, the ambitious protagonists like Boaz's mom are the more fascinating characters, though those like Ana and Lazar are full-dimensional. The two battling Gods add intrigue to the mix, but that also changes the tale from a medieval political power struggle into a fantasy that allows a climax to this tale and also sets up further escapades.

Harriet Klausner