Farlander

Set in an impressively imagined war-ravaged world in which the island of Khos has suffered a decade-long siege, Buchanan's debut focuses on the stories of individuals representing the different sides of war. Ash is a member of the elite Roshun, whose role is to seek vengeance for those who have been murdered. His apprentice, Nico, was raised from living on the streets to the ranks of the Roshun. Kirkus, the indolent heir to the aggressive Mann Empire, is given a thoughtful, well-rounded portrayal even as he murders a priest's daughter who is protected by the Roshun, throwing the world into chaos. The inclusion of gunpowder and airships nod to recent steampunk trends, though many of the standard epic fantasy elements remain. (Jan.)