Book Review: The Council of Aythzia (The Athyziad: Part I) by D.H. Hoskins
Advanced reader copy provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
The Council of Athyzia by D.H. Hoskins
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Series: The Athyziad (Part I)
Genre: Fantasy, High Fantasy, Political Fantasy
Pages: 431 pages (Kindle edition)
Publish date: 21st June 2024 (Self-Published)
Cover Art Illustration by: Lucy Giller
Did you read ‘The Council of Elrond’ in Fellowship of the Ring and think, ‘Gosh, I wish this was the entire book?’
D.H. Hoskins replied, ‘Hold my beer,’ and with, I’m sure, no small amount of effort, proceeded to grace us with an exceptional political fantasy debut.
“The Great Alliance could not be dissolved. Not yet. Their primary goal — the Osseomancer’s defeat — had been achieved. But the world was now shattered and needed to be rebuilt. A new age was before them, a new chapter to be written. And they would write it together.”
The Council of Athyzia is a very specific type of book, one that those who have delved deep into the heart of political fantasy will recognise. It is a fantasy of manners of sorts—where typical fantasy pits its characters against malevolent Dark Lords, or sees great wizards wield their magicks in impressive displays of sorcery, or culminates in epic battles of unfathomable scales, The Council of Athyzia posits an interesting question: just precisely what happens when all of that is said and done? While the Osseomancer may be defeated, there is still a ravaged world left behind to rebuild. Enter Snorri and Nauveena, two mages and scholars with a vision for a new world built on a foundation of peace. Their only obstacle is the council they assemble, composed of the various leaders of Jenor, as they work together to decide the rules and values of this new world. Peace is possible, if only they can all agree on how it should be achieved…
I’ll be honest—I am this book’s ideal reader. I adore political fantasy, and none more so than those that lean in to courtly intrigue and slice-of-life approaches to political drama. The magic of Athyzia lies in its character interactions, those layered and complex machinations as the council assembles and begins to form alliances and anticipate each other’s movements. Competing interests drive the engine of this book, pushing our main characters and their allies in creative and cunning directions. What I love the most, however, is the gentle undercurrent of environment and pace. This is not an action-packed page turner, but a subtle, day-by-day story that builds to some heavy-hitting climaxes. In fact, I personally believe this style of writing is but a variation of the much-beloved ‘cozy’ fantasy that has taken the world by storm recently, but without sacrificing the potential stakes of the plot. While different in tone and less dense in style, this book would perfectly suit those who adore The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison or the slow stylings of Tolkien. Classic fantasy is alive and well in Athyzia, and for that I am very grateful. I often found myself craving a rainy day and a hot cup of tea, if only to curl up with this story and drift away in its lofty ideals and hearty debate.
This feeling is bolstered by the novel’s clever and clean prose, which further layered beautifully on top of well-devised worldbuilding. The prose, plot, and world of this book achieve that magic where they distinctly build upon one another, the tone of the novel supporting its plot style and setting in congruent ways. While some may consider this narrative style overwrought in comparison to the contemporary style, I am not counted in their number. I was utterly charmed!
“Nauveena too had returned to her old routines. Once more, she walked with her graying mentor. She carried pen and parchment. She took notes. She could almost forget there had ever been a war at all. However, instead of Snorri’s lessons on incantations, they discussed the council and the council made it impossible to forget such things.”
As an interesting choice by Hoskins (one that draws to mind Helena from Richard Swan’s Empire of the Wolf trilogy), the primary point-of-view in this novel is Nauveena, the assistant to the wise convenor of the council. A studious and a powerful mage in her own right, it is quickly evident that she has much to learn of the ‘art of politics’. Her inexperience and relative naiveté made her a compelling character to follow as she attempts to navigate the unexpected intricacy of the council. While I did find the main character lacking for efficacy at times, I can see her as an imperfect character with room to grow, and so it did not impact my enjoyment whatsoever. Snorri, by contrast, is less so naive as much as he is optimistic and absent-minded. They compliment each other well, and I found their mentor-apprentice relationship very endearing, a relationship that truly forms the heart of the novel.
Another standout character for me was Fallou, a high-ranking official from the pervasive religious sect ‘Magic of Order’. Aggravating, conniving, and seemingly omnipresent in the minds and lives of Nauveena and her allies, Fallou is my favourite kind of villain—efficient, effective, and policy-driven. The main character’s focus on Fallou and his intentions shows magnificent use of presumption as a plot device, as they strive to outwit and outmanoeuvre a man whose sole purpose on the council is seemingly to divide it to achieve what he desires.
“Book are more than their parchment and ink. They are a magic unto themselves. Much can be learned of the time and place in which the text was written. They exist as manuals and artifacts and mirrors of ourselves.”
I would be remiss if I didn’t mention one of the more potent elements of the story—its approach to thematic material. In the great mainstay tradition of classical fantasy, you could be forgiven for importing real life injustices into the framework of societal issues presented in the novel. However, it does not come off trite or insincere. Hoskins worked hard to ensure the story has real-life connotations on the nature of power and those who wield it at the expense of others, weaving it into his plot in ways that feel realistic and pertinent. Racial injustices, depriving indigenous people’s their homelands for the sake of another’s economic prosperity, the overwhelming power of organised religion and its ability to dictate morality—this but a selection of the thematic currents streaming through this novel. The council, as a setting, is a poignant landscape to discuss such topics, as these issues don’t get lost in the figurative or the esoteric, but live at the heart of lively debates and negotiations. They inform the decisions and opinions of the entire cast of characters, and ultimately define the book’s substantive plot.
So, what happens when all is said and done? I absolutely will not tell you because that ending? Damn.
Ultimately, this book is a compelling slice-of-life fantasy full of machinations and intrigue, powered by an endearing main character and a highly political setting. I loved this book and will be on the lookout for book 2!
Lastly, shout-out to Lucy Giller (@littlegemstudio)—this is a gorgeous cover. Kudos!