Synopsis
When Tamsyn, the powerful and dangerous Mistress of Mental Arts, assumes control of the Order, Kyra is forced on the run. She is certain that Tamsyn committed murder in a twisted bid for power, but she has no proof.
Kyra escapes through one of the strange Transport Hubs that are the remnants of Asiana’s long-lost past and finds herself in the unforgiving wilderness of a desert that is home to the Order of Khur, the only Order composed of men. Among them is Rustan, a disillusioned Marksman whose skill with a blade is unmatched. He understands the desperation of Kyra’s quest to prove Tamsyn’s guilt, and as the two grow closer, training daily on the windswept dunes of Khur, both begin to question their commitment to their Orders. But what they don’t yet realize is that the line between justice and vengeance is thin . . . as thin as the blade of a knife.
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Title: Markswoman
Series: Asiana #1
Author: Rati Mehrotra
Release date: January 23, 2018
Cliffhanger: Yes
Rating: 3 stars
“To be evil is to suffer, and there is joy in releasing others from suffering."
When I first spotted this book, I just had to have it. The entire package was calling out to me, telling me that I needed to read it. A group of revered female assassins who use magic daggers to enforce justice and keep the peace? That cover? A debut YA fantasy author to try out? Yes, yes, and more yes. Give me a pen and paper, and I'll sign on the dotted line. I was eager for this book to be a huge hit, but while it wasn't bad by any means, it wasn't what I was hoping it would be. My main issue was that I just could not stay engaged in the story. Throughout the majority of the book, it felt as if it was dragging at a snail's pace, and I had to keep setting it down and picking it back up again.
I think the plot may have suffered from that dreaded first book in a fantasy trilogy syndrome. All of the necessary characters' introductions, intricate world building, and establishing backstories can drain the story of potential action. I felt as if I spent most of the book learning about their culture and waiting for things to kick into a higher gear.
Kyra as the main protagonist was at the top of the list of things that were right. Having a female centric story was appealing enough, but it was an added bonus that she was a likable character that I could root for. In the beginning of the book, she has just earned her place as an official Markswoman after taking out her first mark. We see that she is a young woman who struggles with the morality of what she is doing, and her doubts consume her despite a personal interest in the kill. Kyra is a bit of a rebel in the sense that she is unable to let go of the injustices done on her family in the past. Her heart is firmly set on revenge, even though the Order specifically mandates that all members must release the past in order to give themselves and their futures to their superiors. The hatred and anger she feels towards those who wronged her just cannot be snuffed out. It simmers and burns quietly under the surface, just waiting for the opportunity to appease it.
Kyra started out as a novice in the Order at the age of five, the youngest that had ever been accepted. Since that time, she took classes and trained, working towards earning the katari that she would eventually bond with through life and beyond. The rare kalishium metal that is forged with has telepathic properties that they still don't fully comprehend, and the skill to produce these special daggers is almost extinct. To earn these extremely rare weapons, novices are put through a rigorous coming of age trial with four stages that prove their worth. The concept was really unique, and the idea behind it one that was clearly intelligently thought out.
The themes of good and evil were prevalent, most notably in the kalashik guns formed before the Great War that alter minds, causing horrible death and destruction. Whereas katari blades seek to protect, there is a wrongness to these guns that almost wiped out an entire world. Another was prejudice, aimed towards the one solitary male Order of Khur. These men are belittled and insulted despite their fierceness and skill, and the females are generally taught that they are imposters. This was an interesting gender power reversal, and smartly highlighted the unfairness of discrimination and inequality in society in a fresh way.
Rustan is the second protagonist, one of the males in the Order of Khur. When Kyra flees her home and steps through a portal that has been closed for decades, her preconceptions quickly change about Rustan and the rest of his Order. Training with him is a very humbling experience, and she realizes that her plan to return home to her Order and her comfortable life may be doomed for failure. If she cannot best this man, how will she win the dual against the traitorous new Mahimata?
Both are tormented with their own uncertain futures, and self-doubt plagues them. However, they both showed extraordinary courage and commitment to doing the right thing despite the odds that were against them. Separately they were great, but as a couple, I couldn't really get behind the pairing. Their romantic emotions had absolutely no realistic build to speak of. At one point, we were abruptly told that he was in love with her, with no foundation at all. We were not shown this development at all, making the entire thing two dimensional and disingenuous. I personally enjoy romance in my fantasy books, but this was not executed well in my opinion.
I will say, the last 15-20% of the story finally fully engaged me, and the climax was well written and impressively creative. I wish that I had felt that way about more of the book, and perhaps the following installment would be more successful in consistently holding my interest. There was quite the cliffhanger at the end, so I confess that I'm more than a little curious as to how it will continue. I think this could be a hit for many fantasy lovers, especially if you're looking for something unique with a strong female character in the forefront.
**The Second book in the Asiana series will be released in January 2019.
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