Twelve Kings in Sharakhai

I love Epic Fantasy for many reasons, not least of which is the fact every book is a portal to a whole new world. But when you read as much as this genre as I do, you sure get to visit a lot of them. That is why, when every once in a while I come across a setting that truly stands out, I sit up and take note. And Bradley P. Beaulieu’s Twelve Kings in Sharakhai made me do just that.

Right from the start I was captivated by the magnificent desert city of Sharakhai, where this novel takes place. Surrounded by a literal ocean of dust and sand, this political and cultural trade center attracts all manner of visitors. From merchants to dignitaries, they sail across the dunes in great sand-ships to treat with the city’s kings, twelve show more immortal men who have held power in Sharakhai since time immemorial. However, not all people are happy with their rule, and many remember the injustices wrought upon them by the kings and their ruthless agents.

The novel’s protagonist Çeda is one such individual. When she was eight years old, her mother was a rebel captured and executed by the kings, then hung from Sharakhai’s walls as a warning and example to other detractors. Çeda has sworn vengeance ever since. Now more than a decade has passed, and Çeda is still as determined as ever to take down the twelve kings, with the help of a book of cryptic writings left to her by her mother. Unlocking the book’s puzzles will not be easy though, and there are many questions about her own heritage that must be solved before Çeda can bring the fight to her enemies.

So many thoughts filled my mind when I finished this book, I’m not even sure where to begin. Beaulieu weaves a complex tale of adventure and intrigue, employing devices like flashbacks and bringing in other characters points-of-view to great effect. In many ways, Çeda’s story plays out almost like a mystery plot, following her on a journey to uncover clues about the twelve kings’ weaknesses while also revealing details about her own past and the secrets her mother kept from her. Flashback chapters are generally tricky to pull off, but I was impressed with the way they were done here, inserted at precisely the best moments to emphasize important events in the characters’ lives.

Çeda is also a wonderful main character, one of the best female protagonists I have encountered in years. We open the novel with a scene from the fighting pits, where she is a competitor in the tourney. Right after a phenomenal combat sequence which ends with Çeda serving her opponent his ass on a platter, she then goes on to engage in an intensely passionate tryst with the fighting pit’s owner. If all this was part of Beaulieu’s attempt to capture the reader’s attention right off the bat, well, it certainly worked on me! More importantly though, I got the sense that Çeda is her own woman. She does what she wants but she’s also smart about it, and she is committed to her goals and utterly loyal to those she cares about.

The story also introduces several more major characters, first of which is Emre – Çeda’s childhood friend, partner in crime, and brother of her heart. As Çeda’s mission takes her down one path, Emre’s involvement with the underground resistance takes him down another, leading the two friends to drift apart. But what I love about this story is that nothing about it is black and white, and there’s much more to it than simply good versus evil. The twelve kings may be ruthless and cruel, but the rebels – a group calling themselves the Moonless Host – are far from innocent themselves, employing methods that are just as bloody and destructive. The relationship dynamics between Emre and Çeda become a focal point when the two of them end up on opposite sides, fighting for the same cause while driven by different forces. Throw in a third faction, Ramahd and Meryam of the Qaimiri delegation, and it gets even more difficult to tell friend from foe. As with the best and most realistic stories of fluid loyalties and political intrigue, there is absolutely nothing clear-cut about the situation and the plot will keep you wondering who’s an enemy and who’s an ally every step of the way.

While Beaulieu never stops challenging his characters, the world building in this novel is where his skills really shine. The many distinct cultures that feature in the pages of Twelve Kings in Sharakhai provided a diverse setting, which is further fleshed out by its rich history, religions, and various magic systems. The many sights and sounds of the city are brought to life by the stunningly detailed descriptions of important locales, from the decadent halls of the Tauriyat to the blooming fields of adichara plants in the surrounding desert. The world-building also made up for the slower pacing of the first half of the novel, because there were just so many wonderful things to take in.

All told, the payoff was definitely worth it. A promising start to a new series, Twelve Kings in Sharakhai offers readers a glimpse into Bradley P. Beaulieu’s talent for storytelling as well as his emerging role as a master of world building. With its many different peoples and cultures, Sharakhai’s desert setting was utterly spellbinding. I also found myself enthralled by the plot’s combination of adventure and intrigue, along with the richness and depth of the characters. Books like this keep the epic fantasy genre fresh and diversified, and I am very excited to see what the future holds for The Song of the Shattered Sands sequence. show less

Wow. I was utterly blown away by this fantasy novel. It felt completely unique, wholly realized, and epic in scope. Everything you would want a new fantasy series to be.
Beaulieu writes masterfully! From his amazing prose, to his in depth characterizations and everything in between. He ensured to take the time to allow us to uncover these characters and understand them, ensuring we cared for their plights and desires and motivations.
Ceda is a flawed heroine that carries this story masterfully. Such a strong female lead, which can be so hard to stumble on in the fantasy genre. She is completely realized and written so that her motivations and desires become your own.
I found the story moved at a steady pace that worked very well. It never show more felt rushed like many fantasies, but also didn't drag on like others.
I am so impressed with this debut and this new start, this is definately a fantasy I will recommend and a fantasy series I am eager to continue reading as it comes out! show less

Het krijgt van mij 4 sterren. Ja, er zitten wat dingetjes in die ik niet zo geweldig vind. Maar de plot is interessant genoeg, de wereld zit enorm goed in elkaar en ik mag Ceda wel. Niet genoeg om op te zoeken hoe dat met dat stomme krulletje zit onder de c, maar wel genoeg om heel erg graag te weten hoe het verder gaat.

Dit boek draait om geheimen en hoe die geheimen invloed hebben op ieders leven. Het lijkt wel of niemand gewoon wil vertellen wat er gebeurd is, wat ze voelen of wat ze willen doen. De hele maatschappij is gebaseerd op de geheimen en leugens van de koningen. Ik vraag me af of het daardoor komt dat er werkelijk niemand zegt wat hij of zij denkt.

De oosterse invloeden die doorschemeren in het verhaal vind ik erg interessant show more en maken de wereld nog een stukje intenser. De stad als haven in de woestijn, de verhoudingen tussen stadsbewoners en de stammen, de verhoudingen tussen de 12 koningen en de stammen, dat alles wordt mooi beschreven en geven de wereld diepte. De klingmaagden zijn interessant en ik wil dolgraag meer weten over de 12 koningen. Daar zit nog een hele hoop achter en dat laat de schrijver je goed voelen.

De magie vind ik ook fascinerend. Er lijkt sprake te zijn van verschillende soorten magie en ik ben benieuwd hoe dat zich verder ontwikkelt. Ik denk dat deze serie zeker potentie heeft tot het zijn van een hele goede serie, maar dat heeft wel alles te maken met hoe het nu verder gaat. Want het zou ook zomaar ineens een heel voorspelbaar geheel kunnen vormen en dat zou erg jammer zijn, want er zit genoeg potentie in om het echt verrassend te laten eindigen. show less

I probably won't give a deep summary of any books I review. Ultimately, if you want to know the general concepts, you can read the back of the book at your favorite local retailer, the summary on Goodreads, or the blurb on your favorite book retailer's website. I will note here that the book is about a young woman, Çeda, who lives a complex life: orphan, former gutter-wren, gladiator, lifelong friend, vengeful would-be assassin.

If you take the kink and sex out of Jacqueline Carey's Kushiel's Dart, add some gladiator sport, provide an authentic desertscape, and tamp down the poetic language just tad, you've got Bradley P. Beaulieu's Twelve Kings in Sharakhai.

The book is languid in spilling its secrets, told in third-person prose. The show more sequential flashbacks give us glimpses at where Çeda has been and a more complete understanding of her relationships.

One aspect that I loved about this book--one of many--is that romantic love is not a plot point here. Love is important, present, celebrated. But this is by no means a romance novel. It is a fantasy novel with realistic, never-forced emotional truths.

This novel fits some common fantasy thematic elements, a few common fantasy tropes, uses some signals that an avid fantasy reader will pick up. Some of the secrets that Çeda unearths are guessed early on, but the book doesn't rely on the big reveal as an emotional punch to us--the emotional punch is for Çeda. The language is thoughtful and measured. The plot speed is slow, but I count this a strength. Beaulieu does not rush anything here. We learn about the desert's mythology, Sharakhai's history, the political machinations and subplots, in such a way that we don't realize that we are lacking information until we receive it. In some books, the background is never fleshed out--we are given the inked sketch and assume that is all we'll get. In Twelve Kings in Sharakhai, the color is added over time, creating a complete piece of art.

Twelve Kings in Sharakhai by Bradley P. Beaulieu is piublished by DAW on Septemeber 1, 2015. show less

Review from Tenacious Reader: http://www.tenaciousreader.com/2016/08/26/backlist-burndown-review-twelve-kings-...


4.5/5 stars


This book released last year, and somehow I missed it. What I didn’t miss was how many Best Of lists it made at the end of the year. A clear sign I overlooked something good, and so I had to find a way to fit it in (and this is not a short a book). A perfect Backlist Burndown choice! Turns out I am very glad I chose it this month.

Epic fantasy is what drew me into the Fantasy genre, and its always so wonderful to read the first in a new series. This book is no exception. I was immediately hooked thanks to Çeda, the main protagonist. She is everything I love in a strong female lead character. She is not just show more strong willed and determined, but also a fighter that can kick some serious ass. I know women characters can be strong in many other ways, and I always appreciate that, but I have to confess, I do love it when they can also stand their ground strong in battle, or in this case, the fighting pits.

So right away, I felt like I was going to really enjoy this one just based on how quickly I connected with Çeda. Then came the benefit of the world building. This book doesn’t just stop at having an amazing female lead, it also creates a visually, politically and magically interesting story. It gets solid points in pretty much every category I can think of. With a desert setting, ports are for ships that sail not on water, but on sand. There is sand everywhere! And water is scarce. The story is set in the city of Sharakhai, which is thriving port city and major commerce point in the world. This brings all varieties of people and cultures to the city, giving you glimpses of the wider world.

Structurally, we learn more about the history of the world as well as the characters through flashbacks. This is a case of flashbacks done well. They broaden our understanding of magic, the kings, as well as of Çeda. The land is ruled by 12 Kings, who are both ruthless and immortal. Never a fun combination. Between the kings and their formidable soldiers and warriors, they are pretty much untouchable.

And as for the character Çeda, I felt she stayed compelling through out the book. She has been essentially on her own for years since her mother’s death, living with her friend Emre. She is certainly not infallible, which I appreciate. But is she is tough, a fighter in more than one sense of the word. She also has an air of mystery as she has several secrets, one is that she maintains a secret identity as “The White Wolf” when she competes in the pits and has a formidable record.

The story really kicks off as Çeda breaks the Kings rules to leave the city on a holy night, when being out is forbidden. From here, she is set on a journey to unravel riddles to solve a mystery that may allow her the vengeance she is seeking. I honestly don’t think I had any complaints or criticisms with this book. I was fully engaged and intrigued the entire time and was in a way sad to reach the final page, knowing I will have to wait for the next book before I can return. Highly recommend. (and luckily there is novella releasing soon to tide me over until the sequel to this one is released.) show less

You hear a lot of fantasy novels being described as 'epic', but the opening novel in Bradley Beaulieu's new series deserves that epithet better than most. It isn't just huge - 580 pages in the hardback version - but it features a monumental concept, rich with history, legends and backstory, which is all the more memorable for stepping outside the usual traditions of Western European-inspired fantasy. Beaulieu's Sharakhai is a desert city of mud-brick and stone, a compelling blend of Marrakesh and ancient Baghdad, full of intrigues, secrets and half-truths. For one young woman, seeking vengeance for her mother's murder, these secrets will offer a road out of the fighting pits, and a future more dazzling and more lethal than anything she show more could have dreamed...

For the rest of the review, please see my blog:
https://theidlewoman.net/2017/01/28/twelve-kings-in-sharakhai-bradley-beaulieu/ show less

A rich, complex desert setting. Not the typical European-like fantasy setting. The Twelve Kings have ruled in Sharakhai with an iron fist for many years, having made some compact with the gods that makes them near immortal and very powerful. When Ceda's mother is killed by the Kings, she swears vengeance. Her quest will lead her to become a gladiator, thief and spy. With a few friends, she tries to make a living in Sharakhai while trying to puzzle out why her mother was killed and why her mother thought the Kings could be killed.
This was well written, intricate and complex. It was also a little bit murky and long, it always felt like something important we should know had been left out. Still, this was interesting.