The Silk Betrayal

The Arcist Chronicles #1

by Daniel Ausema

A young man travels to the city to study magic, but he finds intrigue and revolution. Pavresh hoped to master the intricacies of arcist magic. Instead, he finds himself entangled in the city's events. While princes scheme against each other for power, revolutionaries plot against them all to overthrow the rigid caste system. Poets try to inspire change with heretical words, while militants plan more forceful action. A woman born to the princely class, rendered untouchable by a disfiguring accident, sees in revolution a path to a better life. All these strands meet at the home of Chaitan, the elderly master magician from whom Pavresh wishes to learn. In such an environment, betrayal is inevitable. When loyalties conflict, how does one decide whom to betray? Daniel Ausema is the author of the steampunk serial 'Spire City'. This is his first novel. It is a fantasy novel with a unique setting: India-flavoured culture, fields of hot springs and geysers, subtle magic, and emerging technology. Within this setting, a host of detailed and varied characters struggle through tumultuous times.

Genres: Fantasy

428 pages, Paperback

Published December 2, 2017

About the author

Daniel Ausema grew up in West Michigan, surrounded by orchards, hay fields, glacial lakes, and stands of oak and maple trees. He earned his BA in English Literature and Spanish in 2000. After working in experiential and alternative education for a while, he moved to Colorado with his family and settled at the foot of the Rocky Mountains. He is now a stay-at-home father. His fiction and poetry have appeared in dozens of publications.

Reviews

[Jens Hieber · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a great read. The world building is exquisite, with lots of small details that all come together to form a unique, robust world. There is history, but not too much to be off-putting. The reader is left satisfyingly asking for more.
Through a variety of characters, the story is able to show different aspects of the world, particularly the city of Romnai. The political and social undercurrents are expertly crafted yet not complicated to follow. I found myself rooting for quite a variety of characters who were often at odds with each other.
The ending resolves the immediate conflict, yet leaves the world and characters open to further stories. Let's hope Ausema is already working on the next one.

[Ing · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the depth this story goes into with creating a unique and intriguing world. The characters are not run-of-the-mill average fantasy characters. For example, the main character can weave emotions and feelings inside other characters minds as they watch dance or hear music or in particular within political meetings. There is a caste system and around this deep political intrigue which captures a group of different characters inside its talons. Of course, there is a group who wish to overthrow the current regime, but again not all is as it seems, nor unfolds in an ordinary manner. The reader is taken through wild country-side and into vastly different but richly portrayed cities and decaying ruin. There are the indigenous peoples, the untouchables, the warrior castes and the silk repairers. So silk is important and I get the impression that there is much more intricacy and intrigue to come in the sequels. But this book is satisfying in itself even though the reader is left knowing much more needs to be accomplished in order to give the common people back their rights. This is a true speculative fiction work set in an epic fantasy style, yet with plenty to chew upon if you enjoy pondering life, then again, if you don't just dive into the epic intrigue. Enjoy!

[E. N. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Engrossing read.

An engrossing read. It did not take long for this to grab onto my attention and keep me wanting to find out what happens next. The fantasy world and its politics are built naturally through the viewpoints of a great cast of characters. I loved seeing the way their actions all wove together toward the resolution, and I look forward to reading the next book.

[Steven Poore · Rating 3 out of 5]

Need to think about this one...

[Tim McConnel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definitely waiting for the next book in this imaginative world.