So many of today’s fantasies are limited to the Dungeons & Dragons romp-in-the-wilderness motif, in which a doughty band of adventurers must take the book/ring/token from the evil wizard/king/troll lord to save the entirety of civilization. It now seems almost rare for an author to explore material beyond the next most awesome magical occurrence.
Jody Lynn Nye’s AN UNEXPECTED APPRENTICE doesn’t really break this mold, because the primary story does concern a mixed-race brave band of adventurers attempting to regain a magical book held by an evil wizard to restore the balance of nature. But there is another element of gender rights and self-discovery that plays out subtly in the background.
Tildi Summerbee is a female halfling who witnesses her entire family slaughtered by airborne thraiks. The community decides she must be married off, and her wishes are not to be considered.
Angry and frustrated, Tildi realizes her life will never go beyond what she knows, thralldom in a hierarchical male society. Having an aptitude for magic sets her apart from other halflings, especially female ones, and so she decides to leave her home and seek a new life in the world beyond.
This is not a decision taken lightly, and Tildi continues to miss her family and community, even while growing into a powerful magician and strong character. The details of this character dynamic are fairly well-drawn, and the quest itself is fun, filled with terrific battles and wondrous sights.
If the series grows, I hope to see more internal exploration of Tildi’s character – a being only half as tall as a human, used to being looked down upon because of her size, gender and general foreignness, but continuing to grow far beyond her unexpected apprentice stage into a powerful, but humble, wizard. If Nye can do that, this might be a series to follow. –Mark Rose
Related posts:
- The Wizard Lord
- The Ninth Talisman
- Dragonfrigate Wizard Halcyon Blithe
- Midshipwizard Halcyon Blithe
- Return to Quag Keep
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where in the philipinews can i buy the book an unexpected apprentice.. thank for your help