When I read the synopsis and then began reading the book itself, I was reminded of the kinds of stories that N.K. Jemisin is known for. That made me a little skeptical as to whether or not I would enjoy the book, since the two N.K. Jemisin books I’ve read were a bit boring to me. I don’t know how Victoria Strauss did it, but, with the exception of a couple slow points, her writing, story craft, and world building kept me engaged throughout the book. Also, towards the beginning of the book there were some details that led me to make a few predictions for how the story would turn out. However, every single one of them was wrong. Perhaps my research paper addled brain missed some signs and foreshadowing, but I can’t even remember the last time a book wasn’t at least a little predictable. Despite the unpredictability, the plot still made perfect sense. There was never anything that was confusing or made me turn back a page to reread and see if I missed something.

I recommend this book to everyone who loves Fantasy, especially if you happen to be a fan of N.K. Jemisin, or if you enjoyed her stories but found the telling to be lackluster. Though it didn’t bother me, I feel obligated to mention that The Burning Land does contain a rape scene. It’s towards the end of the book and, though it’s necessary to the story and not too graphic, may be an issue for some readers. In that case, I would still give the book a chance, since there’s enough “warning” before the scene, and it only takes up about a paragraph, so it’s easily skippable. Normally, I’d recommend otherwise, but this book is truly great and shouldn’t be missed. ( )

This is the start of a fantasy series. It's a good setup, and it stands on its own well enough, with satisfying resolutions to some important threads.

The kingdom of Arsace has restored its king in exile to the throne, after decades of harsh rule by godless tyrants. They're free once again to worship their beloved god Arata, and publicly celebrate their religious ceremonies. But just a few years have passed, and there's still much rebuilding to do, and one of the outstanding issues concerns renegade Aratists imprisoned by the Caryaxists, who escaped and fled into the Burning Lands--the harsh desert region where Arata is believed to be sleeping. Gyalo Amdo Samehen, a devout priest, a Shaper, and trusted aid to one of the most senior of the Brethren, the reincarnated children of the First Messenger of Arata, is appointed to lead an expedition into the Burning Lands to rescue and bring home any survivors of those exiles. Neither he nor those who send them have any clue what he's going to encounter.

Meanwhile, in Refuge, deep in the Burning Lands, the descendants of those lost Aratists are a healthy, successful colony of over three hundred people, secure in the knowledge that they are the Risen Arata's chosen people, the only people left in the world, destined to repopulate the world when the Next Messenger comes to summon them forth. Axane, a young woman who is the daughter of Refuge's leader, is a Dreamer, a fact she has kept carefully hidden. Dreamers in Refuge, at the age of 35, must retreat to the House of Dreams, confined to a life of sleeping and Dreaming, creating the veil that keeps Refuge hidden and safe from the demons they believe are the only other life in the world. Because Axane has kept her ability secret, her Dreaming is untrained and unconstrained--and she sees the outside world in her Dreams, and has seen enough of the outside world to know that Arsace and the rest of the kingdoms of Galea are still there, inhabited by human beings, and that part at least of her people's beliefs are simply wrong.

Axane and Gyalo are both headed for revelations that will shake their beliefs to their core, and disrupt their societies. And as they each try to serve their people and their faiths, they find their faith even in the leaders they've trusted all their lives crushed and broken.

Strauss builds a world and a religion that make sense together, and treats the inhabitants of that world--traditional Aratists, the divergent Aratists of Refuge, and the occasional atheists, as intelligent, thinking people who have reasons for what they believe or don't believe. They also, for good or for ill, have reasons for their actions.

This is a very solid fantasy novel. Recommended.

I received a free electronic galley of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. ( )

Here, we enter a fantasy world that's clearly inspired by the real-life situation involving Tibet and China. The Âratists have recently come back into control over their land, after the fall of the previous regime. (Which was one that was fueled by a populist revolution, set up communal methods of doing agriculture and industry, was strongly atheist, but quickly became authoritarian and oppressive.)

Brother Gyalo is a devout Âratist monk. He is also a Shaper - a wielder of magic. Shapers are both revered and feared. They are required to become monks (although Gyalo embraced his lot in life enthusiastically) and their magic is tightly controlled through mandatory use of an addictive drug.

Now, Gyalo has been chosen to become leader of an expedition. A rumor has persisted that a splinter group of Âratists survived the purges of the revolution by fleeing across the harsh desert known as The Burning Lands. If they survived, the Brethren (reincarnated leaders of the Church) believe they should be contacted and brought back into the fold - and, if necessary, purged of heresy.

Meanwhile, a disaffected young woman, Axane, who holds a secret talent of her own, lives in the hidden cave dwellings of Refuge. Alone among her people, she knows that there is something more to the world than her small community.

When this true believer and this secret heretic meet, a chain of events will be thrown into motion that may shake the foundations of both their worlds.

At first, I felt rather skeptical of the whole Tibet/China parallel that the author draws, here. I also found some of the characters and events to fall too neatly into familiar fantasy tropes. I still wish it had been a more fully original fantasy world. But as the story developed (this is quite a long book) I was won over. It transcends mere magical battles and becomes a very interesting discussion about religion. What will belief lead a person to? What sacrifice, what actions? When fear of change, fear of the 'other' is added to the mix, what then? When political expediency meets individual power and ego - what then?

Strauss keeps her world's 'truths' nicely ambiguous throughout this volume, which allows the reader to consider different characters' viewpoints well. We don't know who is 'right' about their god - or if anyone at all is correct.

This book is first in a duology. It ends at a nice stopping-point, but I look forward to seeing where Strauss takes the story in the next volume.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Open Road Media to introducing me to Victoria Strauss' writing through this book. As always, my opinions are solely my own. ( )

http://yoyogodreviews.blogspot.com/2006/12/burning-land-by-victoria-strauss.html ( )