Shadows

This is a Tienna’s World novel. It has not received a lot of notice, not sure why. The premise of Tienna’s World is that of a lost space colony which has also regressed in terms of knowledge of their origins. None of that is necessary information in “Shadows” however, so we will move right on to the story.

A large part of Tienna’s World is made up of oceans so of course there would be sailors, both honest and dishonest. With this novel I was exploring what that culture might be like, especially for women.

Maru, nickname Minnow, is the daughter of The Silnik of the Southern Seas, Mertin. Silniks are leaders of clans and The Silnik is the head of those clans of the south. Although her upbringing is easier than most, Maru would rather be sailing, unfortunately her father had passed a law in the past at the time of her mother’s death, that women may not become sailors.

As with some others on Tienna’s World, Maru has the gift of foresight, called ‘riding the waves’ by the sailors, and because of her dreams she convinces her uncle, Traru, to take her out of sight of land and teach her the basics of sailing. Traru agrees and brings along his son, Tranin, and two others, who are not aware of the purpose of the trip until they are far from shore. Tranin is angry with his father for placing them all in danger, but goes along with Maru’s training. When her uncle declares her finished, she asks one more request, to be tested by the dolfers. These are dolphin-like creatures whose appearance is considered fortuitous and anyone that can ‘call them’ is considered ‘lucky’ and is allowed to be a silnik, not The Silnik, but an ordinary silnik. It is a chancy thing, as you are set in the water to call them, and you are left in the water until they come, or you drown.

Calling the dolfers is not the only peril Maru faces as there are slaver pirates along the southern coast. Maru avoids one danger only to encounter the next and then perhaps the most dangerous, Mahew, The Shark, an ambitious pirate.

You can buy a copy of Shadows from Amazon. If you do read it, would you be so kind as to rate it and write a review on Amazon? Thanks