Daniel Fox’s DRAGON IN CHAINS is the first book in a projected fantasy trilogy set in an alternate Asia of somewhat indeterminate time, although definitely before the age of guns. This initial book sets the stage by telling multiple stories, all around the same cataclysmic event: open rebellion against the Empire.
The Emperor and his remaining army are on the run from rebels who have chased them from the Hidden City to Taishu, the last remaining — and far outlying — Empire stronghold. There, it seems, the Emperor will be forced to make a last stand. He encounters a young woman — a fishergirl of whom he becomes instantly enamored — and another young couple, Jiao and Yu Shan — the former a fierce fighter, the latter somewhat more than a jade miner.
Jade — all jade, even the dust — belongs to the Empero, who actually eats some of this jade, which imparts almost-superheroic powers. Most individuals do not know of this attribute, but Yu Shan has been eating jade all his life. It’s a crime of treason, but the Emperor warms to him anyway.
There are more characters and stories: the tale of the woman and her daughters who try to leave a city ravaged by war; the tale of Li Ton, the ship pirate who was once a highly-respected army general. Fox seems to be giving us the background of all these tales, and will surely further incorporate them in subsequent books. This method tends to give us a fragmented overall novel, with lots of loose ends deliberately left untied. Indeed, CHAINS ends with quite the climactic cliffhanger, leaving everything unresolved, and almost all characters in greater danger than before.
With that said, Fox’s writing style has a delicately paced, almost ethereal style that delights in lush description and visual details. This tends to make his scenes of brutality even more intense. Dialogue is passable, and the machinations of the generals, the Emperor, his fishergirl concubine and the dowager Empress are all on display, and are sure to become even more convoluted in the following installments. If you appreciate an Asian flavor in your fantasy, this might be a good initial book to try. —Mark Rose
Related posts:
- His Majesty’s Dragon
- The Ice Dragon
- Stealing the Dragon
- Dragon of the Mangroves
- The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
