In her latest Fantasy novel, Bedford delivers her usual high standard of character development and world building with a tale that feels traditional enough for you to relax into… which is exactly what the author is waiting for you to do.
The Amber Crown is a rich and political fantasy with all the depth I like to find in epic series, yet this novel is a standalone. That’s right. You can read this without having to hold out for the rest of the series, if that’s your thing.
The world building draws on the Baltic region, and readers who are familiar with her books will know that develops characters who rule the pages and your heart. The Amber Crown is no different in that respect.
Unlike other fantasy novels, Bedford doesn’t ask us to decide who killed the king, as that is no secret, but what power; is it magical, or political?
The Blurb.
The king is dead, his queen is missing. On the amber coast, the usurper king is driving Zavonia to the brink of war. A dangerous magical power is rising up in Biela Miasto, and the only people who can set things right are a failed bodyguard, a Landstrider witch, and the in who set off the whole sorry chain of events.
Valdas, Captain of the High Guard, has not only failed in his duty to protect the king, but he’s been accused of the , and he’s on the run. He’s sworn to seek justice, but his king sets him another task from beyond the grave. Valdas doesn’t believe in magic, which is unfortunate as it turns out.
Mirza is the healer-witch of a Landstrider band, valued and feared in equal measure for her witchmark, her scolding tongue, and her ability to walk the spirit world. When she’s given a task by Valdas’ dead king, she believes that the journey she must take is one she can never from.
Lind is the clever in. Yes, someone paid him to kill the king, but who is to blame, the weapon or the power behind it? Lind must face his traumatic past if he’s to have a future.
Can these three discover the real villain, find the queen, and set the rightful king on the throne before the country is overcome?
Bedford effortlessly creates a safe, traditional tone as we follow three main character arcs. Valdas, the Captain. Lind, the assassin, and Mirza, the witch. These stereotype labels do no justice, with each one questioning how they ended up on the path they are on, while seeking to find themselves.
Safe? For the reader, yes. Bedford’s style is reassuringly familiar, giving it a traditional fantasy feel, but that is also an injustice to The Amber Crown. Just as the characters challenge the tropes they are unwittingly given, such as when we explore Valdas’ disbelief of Mirza’s powers. Bedford also pulls away the security blanket of ‘warm and cosy’ Fantasy, often using Valdas and Lind to do so. Yet the chilling realities dealt to Mirza as she deals with the trauma of brutal attacks on her travelling life is perhaps all the more cutting because of the girl’s nature. There are some vicious twists that are so much crueller because of Bedford’s gentle, confident style. It is obvious the author enjoys playing with readers this way!
Want something different? The Amber Crown is well worth your time.
© Shellie Horst SFFWorld 2022
Publisher: DAW
