I am a HUGE fan of Jacqueline Carey’s Kushiel series. Since having Jenn thrust Kushiel’s Dart into my hands I thought that I would never find a book or series that could surpass it in action and intrigue.

I was wrong.
Morevi, written by Lisa Lee and Tee Morris, surpasses the Kushiel series in both, and it has less pages. Though, that is just the humble opinion of this amateur blogger. I think my hands were glued to the book when I picked it up and I finally pulled myself loose upon reaching chapter 5 because I knew I would be up overnight reading had I not.

Admittedly I’ve been guilty of having this book in my possession, autographed even, and hadn’t cracked the book since Tee Morris signed and stamped it at DragonCon 2007. Since that time I’ve listened to Billibub Baddings and the Case of the Singing Sword and listened to a few of Tee’s Survival Guide to Writing Fantasy podcasts, but the book hadn’t even been unpacked yet.

Now I can’t wait to get into the sequel, even though Jenn swears I’ll be throwing it… I’ll probably owe her another dinner.

Enough blather…

Morevi is an excellent blending of a fantasy world and Henry VIIIth’s England. Rich in the storytelling and ripe with adventure with well researched history and character names. The landscaping of the story is vivid enough it word that it takes no time for the imagination to supply not only the characters but the places with imagery.

And let’s admit it; it’s ripe with ideas for role-playing games and recipes.

Let the novel speak for itself however:

Across a mysterious rift in the space-time continuum exists a world called Naruihm. In this world is a realm called Morevi, a landlocked kingdom ruled by Askana Moldarin, crowned “First Queen” following a swift and bloody rise to the Throne of a Thousand Suns. Yet hidden traitors are already at work to destroy everything that she has won.

Enter Rafe Rafton, privateer captain of the Defiant. Arrogant. Overconfident. Dangerous and cunning enough to pillage the Queen’s own ships and survive. As a man, he is the embodiment of everything she has fought against, and the perfect instrument in a last desperate bid to save her kingdom.

With the sum agreed upon, Rafe and Askana embark on an epic adventure spanning the kingdoms of Naruihm and King Henry VIII’s England. Two souls, drawn together in the battle for a kingdom.

Get it. Read it. Love it. It’s an excellent source for wasting time.

If you’re like me, poor as a church mouse comes to mind, and if that’s the case try catching the Morevi podcast if you can’t afford the novel just yet.

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