Lord of Snow and Shadows
Book One of The Tears of Artamon
By Sarah Ash

       Gavril Andar is a young painter who lives in the seaside resort of Smarna with his artist mother, but his world changes forever when he discovers that he is actually the heir to the chilly and sinister kingdom of Azhkendir. He is the feared Drakhaon, with terrible supernatural powers, just like the father his mother ran from when he was a child. He must take up his new responsibility and his followers are there in Smarna to make sure he does just that—even if they have to kidnap him. Soon the continent of Rossiya is to be plunged into war as Prince Eugene of Tielen is determined to rule over the whole as Emperor…

      This may be a fairly tubby book, but Sarah Ash can certainly fill those pages. It isn’t Tolkein-derived, either, but draws instead upon Russian history and folklore, which makes a wonderful change. Science and magic, politics and warcraft, domesticity and adventure all mix in to make a heady brew that is a real page-turner. I thought, though, that the biggest treat was that this is not a tale of black villains and white heroes, but rather everybody was a shade of grey. Hardly anybody seems to be irredeemably villainous or saintly, which makes for an intelligent and convincing read. The story starts immediately and never stops; lots of dashing between groups of characters and sudden plot twists make for a tale that doesn’t sag in the middle. I will be very keen to read the next installment.