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The Zanari Inheritance
Kaya Trevorny’s world came to an end in the student welfare office of Abertine University. The colony where she had grown up, her family, was gone, dead under circumstances the authorities seemed keen to hide. To find the truth, Kaya must team up with a mercenary and a rag-tag group of smugglers. And the truth is something which will change her life forever.
370 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 10, 2017
42 people are currently reading
25 people want to read
About the author
Niall Teasdale
73 books292 followersI was born in the vicinity of Hadrian's Wall so perhaps a bit of history rubbed off. Ancient history obviously, and border history, right on the edge of the Empire. I always preferred the Dark Ages anyway; there’s so much more room for imagination when people aren’t writing down every last detail. So my idea of a good fantasy novel involved dirt and leather, not shining plate armour and Hollywood-medieval manners. The same applies to my sci-fi, really; I prefer gritty over shiny.
Oddly, then, one of the first fantasy novels I remember reading was The Dark Is Rising, by Susan Cooper (later made into a terrible juvenile movie). These days we would call Cooper’s series Young Adult Contemporary Fantasy and looking back on it, it influenced me a lot. It has that mix of modern day life, hidden history, and magic which failed to hit popular culture until the early days of Buffy and Anne Rice. Of course, Cooper’s characters spend their time around places I could actually visit in Cornwall, and South East England, and mid-Wales. In fact, when I went to university in Aberystwyth, it was partially because some of Cooper’s books were set a few miles to the north around Tywyn.
I got into writing through roleplaying, however, so my early work was related to the kind of roleplaying game I was interested in. I wrote “high fantasy” when I was playing Dungeons & Dragons. I wrote a lot of superhero fiction when I was playing City of Heroes. I still loved the idea of a modern world with magic in it and I’ve been trying to write a novel based on this for a long time. As with any form of expression, practice is the key and I can look back on all the aborted attempts at books, and the more successful short stories, as steps along the path to the Thaumatology Series.
As of 2015, I have thrown in my lot with writing. After thirty years of being a computer programmer I am making enough money to quit the day job and write full time. Dreams, occasionally, come true. My favourite authors are Terry Pratchett, Susan Cooper, and (recently) Kim Harrison. Kim’s Hollows books were what finally spurred me to publish something, even if the trail to here came by way of Susan, back in school, several decades ago.
Oddly, then, one of the first fantasy novels I remember reading was The Dark Is Rising, by Susan Cooper (later made into a terrible juvenile movie). These days we would call Cooper’s series Young Adult Contemporary Fantasy and looking back on it, it influenced me a lot. It has that mix of modern day life, hidden history, and magic which failed to hit popular culture until the early days of Buffy and Anne Rice. Of course, Cooper’s characters spend their time around places I could actually visit in Cornwall, and South East England, and mid-Wales. In fact, when I went to university in Aberystwyth, it was partially because some of Cooper’s books were set a few miles to the north around Tywyn.
I got into writing through roleplaying, however, so my early work was related to the kind of roleplaying game I was interested in. I wrote “high fantasy” when I was playing Dungeons & Dragons. I wrote a lot of superhero fiction when I was playing City of Heroes. I still loved the idea of a modern world with magic in it and I’ve been trying to write a novel based on this for a long time. As with any form of expression, practice is the key and I can look back on all the aborted attempts at books, and the more successful short stories, as steps along the path to the Thaumatology Series.
As of 2015, I have thrown in my lot with writing. After thirty years of being a computer programmer I am making enough money to quit the day job and write full time. Dreams, occasionally, come true. My favourite authors are Terry Pratchett, Susan Cooper, and (recently) Kim Harrison. Kim’s Hollows books were what finally spurred me to publish something, even if the trail to here came by way of Susan, back in school, several decades ago.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
May 20, 2017
I usually enjoy this author’s books and for most of this book this was also the case. I like the way the story moved along at a decent pace and that the author didn’t fall into the trap of many science fiction writers of trying to explain the science behind every device.
However, there was one thing that irritated.
Warning Spoiler
I didn’t understand how Jay was accepted by Thea and her crew. I didn’t like him from the start and so I might be a bit biased, but why wouldn’t the Zanari be wary of him and use some of their telepathic skills to keep an ‘eye’ on him. These people had stayed hidden for hundreds of years, they killed or altered the memories of anybody that found out about them, Sienna even hates men, but they did nothing.
It was well over half way through the book that they found out he had betrayed them, but by then I was so annoyed that I nearly gave up.
This didn’t seem to bother any of the other reviewers but given the author’s description of the crew of the Oracle of Zanar I found it unbelievable they allowed Jay the opportunity to betray them.
As for the rest of the story I found the preparations to invade Garaka’s place a bit tedious, but the final confrontation and ending to the book were fine.
However, there was one thing that irritated.
Warning Spoiler
I didn’t understand how Jay was accepted by Thea and her crew. I didn’t like him from the start and so I might be a bit biased, but why wouldn’t the Zanari be wary of him and use some of their telepathic skills to keep an ‘eye’ on him. These people had stayed hidden for hundreds of years, they killed or altered the memories of anybody that found out about them, Sienna even hates men, but they did nothing.
It was well over half way through the book that they found out he had betrayed them, but by then I was so annoyed that I nearly gave up.
This didn’t seem to bother any of the other reviewers but given the author’s description of the crew of the Oracle of Zanar I found it unbelievable they allowed Jay the opportunity to betray them.
As for the rest of the story I found the preparations to invade Garaka’s place a bit tedious, but the final confrontation and ending to the book were fine.
March 15, 2017
Mannnn... now you've done it
Anneka is out covorting around, Fox is in between adventures and now I have to wait for the next Kaya's installment. Come on Niall, you're killing me here. Lee and Miller are taking too long, Caffrey and the girls are taking too long, you're taking too long, matter of fact, looks like all the good writers are taking too long or charging too much. This is a 4.5. Great new universe with superb characters and unlimited directions to go. The action is great and the world and character building is seamless with excellent opportunity to expand several story lines and character development. It has a little "jitter" as we go from location to location, but perhaps that is only my perception. It doesn't flow quite as smoothly as say, Anneka or Fox's transitions from scene to scene. I look forward to adventuring with Kaya and Thea.
Anneka is out covorting around, Fox is in between adventures and now I have to wait for the next Kaya's installment. Come on Niall, you're killing me here. Lee and Miller are taking too long, Caffrey and the girls are taking too long, you're taking too long, matter of fact, looks like all the good writers are taking too long or charging too much. This is a 4.5. Great new universe with superb characters and unlimited directions to go. The action is great and the world and character building is seamless with excellent opportunity to expand several story lines and character development. It has a little "jitter" as we go from location to location, but perhaps that is only my perception. It doesn't flow quite as smoothly as say, Anneka or Fox's transitions from scene to scene. I look forward to adventuring with Kaya and Thea.
August 4, 2017
Niall Teasdale has gone back to a theme similar to the Aneka Jansen series and, I for one find this good. Loads of SciFi and fantasy, but the Zanari don't seem to be quite as sexually active as Aneka's crew were.
After a fairly weak start, the story picks up and holds the attention.
Really enjoyed it and am waiting impatiently for the next installment.
After a fairly weak start, the story picks up and holds the attention.
Really enjoyed it and am waiting impatiently for the next installment.
September 12, 2017
Looks a little like Aneka Jansen: the zanari are superior like the Xinthi and Kaya is new to this like Aneka was.
March 17, 2017
Intriguing
This new world seems intresting and I am liking the female crew. It should be intresting to see how the next book whenever it comes out.
This new world seems intresting and I am liking the female crew. It should be intresting to see how the next book whenever it comes out.
March 18, 2017
Awesome!
It's always a pleasure to read another book by Niall Teasdale and this one doesn't disappoint! A great new beginning in the brand new Children of Zanar books.
It's always a pleasure to read another book by Niall Teasdale and this one doesn't disappoint! A great new beginning in the brand new Children of Zanar books.
March 12, 2017
Awesome new series
I was sad when I learned that there would be no book in the steel beneath the skin series, but! Here comes the Zanari inheritance. The series is totally different from what Aneka Jansen books were. With the Zanari book we have multiple point of views from the principal protagonists, and sincerely each of them is endearing, Kaya is adorable, Thea and Jinny are total badasses.
The story begin quite normally and even if there are certain cliches you get addicted right away, it is a good pages turner!
I was sad when I learned that there would be no book in the steel beneath the skin series, but! Here comes the Zanari inheritance. The series is totally different from what Aneka Jansen books were. With the Zanari book we have multiple point of views from the principal protagonists, and sincerely each of them is endearing, Kaya is adorable, Thea and Jinny are total badasses.
The story begin quite normally and even if there are certain cliches you get addicted right away, it is a good pages turner!
March 12, 2017
Excellent start to a new series
A good, moderately complex plot, set against a hard science background, including a sound basis for psionics. The plot has plenty of potential for a large story arc in follow-up volumes
Kick ass female characters, as we all expect from this author, round out the offering.
I enjoyed this immensely, and look forward to the next volume.
A good, moderately complex plot, set against a hard science background, including a sound basis for psionics. The plot has plenty of potential for a large story arc in follow-up volumes
Kick ass female characters, as we all expect from this author, round out the offering.
I enjoyed this immensely, and look forward to the next volume.
February 4, 2018
Great concept, mediocre execution. 3.5 stars
Kaya is a medical student on a far away planet when she hears that the colony she's from is struck by disaster and all inhabitants are dead. Stricken by greef, she seeks the aid of some unusual smugglers to get her off-planet. Now with the aid of her newfound allies she tries and investigate what has happend to her family.
In all,.....well it felt a bit disconnected. I liked the idea of the characters, the story and the setting, but I failed to connect with them. The multi POV structure diffused rather expanded my attention and throughout the story I felt a bit lost. The Info section at the back of the novel helped, but did not entirely alleviate the problem. Throughout the novel you meet some quite interesting people and places, but they all lacked a bit of context into a larger world. Perhaps a Star Wars openings crawl would have helped quite a bit. Overal tough I tink that most of these symptoms are symptoms of a 'first novel in the series' rush towards more complex worldbuilding. Unfortunate but not world shattering.
So I'll probably be reading the next novel. Just to see how this series progresses.
However having said all this, I'll still be reading the next novel in the series.
Kaya is a medical student on a far away planet when she hears that the colony she's from is struck by disaster and all inhabitants are dead. Stricken by greef, she seeks the aid of some unusual smugglers to get her off-planet. Now with the aid of her newfound allies she tries and investigate what has happend to her family.
In all,.....well it felt a bit disconnected. I liked the idea of the characters, the story and the setting, but I failed to connect with them. The multi POV structure diffused rather expanded my attention and throughout the story I felt a bit lost. The Info section at the back of the novel helped, but did not entirely alleviate the problem. Throughout the novel you meet some quite interesting people and places, but they all lacked a bit of context into a larger world. Perhaps a Star Wars openings crawl would have helped quite a bit. Overal tough I tink that most of these symptoms are symptoms of a 'first novel in the series' rush towards more complex worldbuilding. Unfortunate but not world shattering.
So I'll probably be reading the next novel. Just to see how this series progresses.
However having said all this, I'll still be reading the next novel in the series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 25, 2017
Not good
There's something missing in the story. A sense of life or passion to the narrative. Plus there are too many unanswered questions about basic concepts.
I usually enjoy his work. This wasn't going anywhere and it bored me.
There's something missing in the story. A sense of life or passion to the narrative. Plus there are too many unanswered questions about basic concepts.
I usually enjoy his work. This wasn't going anywhere and it bored me.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews