Heart of Defiance by Ryan Kirk

I received a free audio copy from the author with the option of providing an honest review. As the idea of being dishonest is anathema to me, this will in now alter my  opinion.

This is the story of Bai, a young woman who wakes to find her village destroyed and many of the people dead. As one does, she automatically assumes it was one of the local monks, who are tasked with defending the various communities, but some are less than honourable (they would give false reviews). The rest of her people seem to believe that she knows something about the catastrophe, and lock her up for questioning. She manages to escape, going on a voyage of discovery that shows that the truth of the event is far more catastrophic. Here’s my thoughts on the audiobook:

• This reads (sounds?) like a cross between Mulan and Monkey, without the catchy tunes and insane animal gods. While these would certainly add some flavour, they aren’t necessary to add to the story. It’s set in a world similar to medieval China (or thereabouts), which is run by an order of martial monks. These monks wield some serious magical powers too, meaning regular armies have little chance against them
• Bai isn’t just a facsimile of Mulan. She starts as a seamstress, mysteriously taken prisoner by her village after they are attacked by a rogue monk. She is confused, especially as she is questioned very harshly about the events. She escapes, and meets with a monk, Delun. Delun is an honourable monk, and helps Bai discover who she really is, even though there are ramifications for him
• This is no mere “Chosen One” tale – there are some other (maybe better) plotlines going on. It turns out the different monasteries have their own ideas about how things should be done. Some of these factions have plans for taking over, and are using illicit magic to further their cause. Then there’s the traditional ruling class who want rid of the monks, not to mention a rebel village. Never a dull moment around here
• If I had a gripe about this book, it’s pretty sombre. I don’t expect every book to be Kings of the Wyld, but even a little gallows humour can go a long way. While I can appreciate the momentous events, I find it hard to believe that a group of people can go through a big adventure without any moments of joy or even cracking a tasteless joke. Maybe I missed it
• Finally, the audio was solid. The narrator, Andrew Tell (a fine name for a narrator) did a good job, although he won’t be convincing me any time soon he’s a young woman. That being said, he captured the gravitas of the situation, but maybe he also contributed to the serious tone. I would check out his stuff again, as I would with the author.

Verdict

A decent tale, that doesn’t add anything new to the genre, and is a little too serious for my personal taste.I can definitely see it attracting readers of epic fantasy.