The Traitor’s Heir

In Thayer’s debut novel, soldier Eamon Goodman is entangled in a power struggle between the Serpent King of the wayfarers and the Master of the River Realm. Sworn to loyalty to the Master through the Gauntlet, his armed forces, Eamon is presented with an alternative history of his master’s political ascent that forces him to reconsider his fealty when he is captured by the enemy. When he is sent back to Dunthruik, the Master’s city, he returns as a traitorous informant for the Serpent King, rising quickly through the ranks of the Gauntlet. Thayer paints Eamon as a psychologically complex character who doubts the validity of the oaths that he has sworn. Eamon finds comfort in the gratification and immediate glory for his deeds in the Gauntlet. This deeply conflicts with his moral desire to contain the violence inflicted on wayfarers and the faith needed to believe in a King whom he never sees or hears from. The first book in this trilogy offers a thrilling story fraught with uncertainty and betrayal, asking readers to consider the nature of loyalty and to reflect on the difference between thought and action. (June)