Karda: Adalta, Vol. 1

Elements of science fiction and fantasy blend in this intricately constructed but predictable debut and series launch. Marta Rowan, an undercover agent for a trade consortium, is sent to the planet Adalta to survey its resources. Once there, Marta’s orders change: the Director of Planetary Findings tasks her with infiltrating Adalta’s government to rewrite their laws to allow the trade of illegal technology. She becomes a Mi’hiru as a cover, one of the riders of the Karda, majestic creatures that are half horse, half eagle. As Marta navigates the political minefield of Adaltan government, she fights her growing attraction to Altan, an arrogant aristocrat; fends off advances from the cartoonishly evil politician Readen; and develops a powerful bond with the Karda she rides, who becomes the only one she can trust in this dangerous new world. Though Adalta is complex and culturally specific, the characters within it are familiar archetypes. Scenes of gore and sexual violence will turn off squeamish readers, but there is enough magic in the flight of the Karda to delight high fantasy fans. (BookLife)