Book Review for Susurrus by B. Morris Allen
Susurrus, by B. Morris Allen, is a touching epic that illustrates the harsh realities of life, as well as the beautiful follies of reality, as a sorceress strives to find happiness despite the destruction that follows her.
Iskra was a young girl who was orphaned when her father died from starvation. She was found by Neris, a peddler who had cared for her and unwittingly became a second father to her. As her journey throughout the book continues, she learns about the different types of magic, as well as the tragedies that are associated with them. From bloody promises to ill-conceived gales, in the end all Iskra felt she could do was watch the world continue on without her. But despite that, she manages to continue living, carrying the memories of her precious loved ones with her.
Allen masterfully executes how risky magic can be, and that no matter how tempting it may seem, there’s no room for naiveté. Iskra has tried over and over again to protect her friends, but in the end is only able to save herself, sometimes accidentally, sometimes unwillingly. Initially, she could only continue cursing herself, but eventually she manages to find her way back to the feelings she had way back to when the prospect of magic was still so new to her, and when everything seemed so simple at the time. What captured my heart the most was how Iskra began as a young slate, and was continually shaped by the people around her, the hopes and dreams she had, alongside the bloodshed she caused.
What I also loved about the story was Iskra’s character development, as she deals with the blissful ignorance of youth. Throughout the book, I saw just how much she changed, as she went on meeting friends and lovers. Though she tries to seek out her power for her own happiness, she learns that, in the end, it was the lessons of her loved ones that finally made her content. Though the ending was a bit bittersweet, it was nevertheless appropriate.
Because of this, I give this book a rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars. Iskra’s use of magic at the beginning was, at best, like the Faustian contracts that are so very prevalent in our culture. She achieves a powerful skill, but because she doesn’t know how to use that skill, she can only watch her loved ones die. And yet, even then she still could carve out a place in the world for her to being to. I would, thus, recommend this book for fans of George R.R. Martin and Steven Erikson.
