It's not often you come across a new Fantasy that has the combination of a great plot, thoughtful, exciting characters and brilliantly conceived magic, all presented with lucid and stylish prose. Trail of Deceit by Ken Enderby and Greg Rickards is one of these rare and wonderful novels. It is the kind of story that deserves to have its own cult following. I already miss the characters that have come alive in the telling. Five very different individuals form an unlikely partnership to quest for Talaraia, an ancient and sacred relic lost long ago, possessing powers thought to enable communication with the gods.
The novel opens with the death of a man forced into a flooding river by the magical power of a cruel and ruthless enemy. In the stunning prologue we are thrust into the heart of the mystery, witness to a death through the eyes of both the murderer and his victim.
"Every secret kept by this man belonged to the spellcaster now. Those secrets – and tonight's death – were pledges of bloodshed to come, but that death had been deserved. The guilt for what lay ahead would be the victim's."
The chill reality that somewhere in the story someone will die in this heartless way creates instant tension, as we take the journey with the main characters and many interesting minor characters.
We travel with Troran, the experienced yet ethical military leader, the beautiful Lady Virdyn, privileged by wealth and status yet desperate to test her magic in difficult circumstances, Lord Kaiyl, the self-important spellcaster and ruler of a vast but near bankrupt estate, and the Respected Airu, a retired priestess and healer who is keeper of the expedition’s secrets. By finding Talaraia and returning the throne to its rightful owner, each hopes for some form of life-changing reward - personal, financial, religious or magical.
Two items inspire their quest into the wilds. One is a conventional scroll found buried in a Temple library. The other is an ancient artefact called a layered panorama – a box that displays an illusion which transports the viewer into a cityscape where untold wonders await. Sabotage from an elusive opponent dogs the expedition from the outset – threats, theft, arrest, even a deadly poisoning – anything to thwart their endeavours. Even departing the city becomes a struggle.
As the story unfolds, the reader becomes like a spy or confidant, privy to more than any one partner reveals to the other. The tension builds as we wonder when the key elements of the tale will converge. Will the partners ever learn to trust each other? Who amongst these adventurers will be doomed and who will triumph?
Trail of Deceit is set in a superbly detailed alternative world. It is a mystery and a romance, with some delightfully funny moments. Above all, though, it is an adventure for our times, for the expedition leaves behind the West, where a familiar, green ecosystem has been imposed upon the indigenous and antagonistic red flora, and journeys East into lands where alien creatures hold sway. Devotion to the gods and trust in their magic makes our characters feel superior, but as they get nearer their destination their magic is challenged by something dark and alien. In the ensuing crisis the characters must face a test of their self-worth and of what it is they truly value.
The cover of the novel depicts a creature gifted to Troran in the opening chapter, partly reconstructed using magic. At first sight it simply looks evil, but on closer scrutiny it becomes clear that the creature is winking at the reader. This unsettling image was brilliantly conceived by Nick Stathopolous, the award winning Sydney artist, well-known in speculative fiction circles.
The power of this novel is all the greater because of the partnership between the two authors, Ken Enderby and Greg Rickards. Ironically, the prologue described earlier was the last thing ever written by Greg, who passed away suddenly and tragically at the age of forty-nine. This vibrant and resonant story still begged to be told, so Ken continued the work, both as a tribute to his friend and as a channel for the wonders they imagined together. Trail of Deceit is entirely unique and, as such, deserves a special place on any bookshelf.
- Reviewed by Margi Curtis
THE TRAIL OF DECEIT by Ken Enderby and Greg Rickards is a Distant Realms Pty Ltd publication. Distributed by Dennis Jones and Associates, it is available in all good Australian bookstores. Or you can buy it as an e-book from: http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/Trail-of-Deceit/book-1GIjvsm_okOtjDyca4JReQ/page1.html
