Blood of an Exile

Naslund’s debut wraps action, a mystery, and the environment into an impressively tight knot of classic fantasy. The ironically nicknamed “Flawless” Silas Bershad was a lord until forced exile turned him into a dragonslayer. But when he doesn’t die as expected—due to a strange ability to heal—Ashlyn, the princess he once loved, and King Hertzog, who exiled him, make a dubious offer: they’ll let him return home in exchange for rescuing Ashlyn’s kidnapped sister, Kira, and assassinating an emperor who plans to slaughter nearly all the remaining dragons. Naslund’s prose in the scenes with Bershad, his faithful companion, Rowan, and his donkey Alfonso is as intentionally rough-hewn as Bershad himself, a distinctive counterpart to Ashlyn’s ornate language as she narrates her own engrossing fight against treason and environmental devastation. Amid the story’s ecological concerns, the landscape presents as many dangers and opportunities for Bershad and his companions as the human characters do. This opener makes a solid start for what readers will hope is an expansive series. Agent: Caitlin Blasdell, Liza Dawson Assoc. (Aug.)