Silk Road fantasy is something special. It’s moving beyond the English-speaking world’s preoccupation with Anglo-Saxon mythological derivatives to show a broader spectrum of what is possible on this planet or one like it. That is why Blackdog by K.V. Johansen is such a treat, as it is a world steeped in lore ever as deep as that created by Tolkien with a world still roamed by gods, demons, devils and beings of unknown power. Blackdog differs though in that it is the tale of a god incarnate who must deal with the realities and frailties of being human.
That is not to say this is a coming-of-age story where the goddess Attalissa learns more about her powers as she ages into them. Rather Attalissa, and everyone else in the story including demi-gods, demons, and humans alike must deal with the consequences of Attalissa’s own centuries old decision to be incarnated and the effects of the elder gods’ war against the demons. The titular Blackdog is one such soldier in this battle, whose duty is to protect Attalissa at all costs for centuries ago she bound him to her.
The talk of gods and demons gives this story an epic feel, and truly there are some severe consequences should Attalissa fall to the mad-demon in pursuit of her, but the battles waged throughout this book are small and personal. A town is besieged, another razed, and throughout it all the characters question their own decisions wondering if it will ever be worth it. Though Attalissa is a god, she is but a child and has not fully-realized her potential, which is why she needs the Blackdog. It is he who protects her to the best of his human and superhuman abilities, but even he cannot protected from a battle that must be fought.
K.V. Johansen’s rendering of the world of Blackdog brings to mind images of Central Asia from the deserts of Turkmenistan to the steppes of Mongolia and the mountains in-between of Kazakhstan. Languages and cultures are as varied, as are the gods and the mythologies to go with them. Travel is done by camel trains, the grasslands harbor tribes of raiders, and the gods of the mountains shake the earth with their displeasure. Johansen in a short time conveys so much history and a wealth of more stories to be told about the world that you may find yourself wishing to get the chance to explore beyond the realm of Attalissa. Just the mention of the city-state Marakand, which is reminiscent of Samarkand (now in Uzbekistan) one of the main city-states dotted along the Silk Road, gives the reader flights of fancy to imagine what else Johansen has in-store for this world.
Blackdog gives you a taste of what else is out there with the demi-god, wizard or demon (you’re never quite sure which) characters of Moth and Mikki. Ancient forces and lovers they come to Attalissa’s aid because they sense something is wrong in the world, and they’re not necessarily going to set it right nor are they necessarily capable of doing so, but they provide a link to the past that helps illustrate the depths to which Johansen has thought this world through. Then there are the mentions of the Lady in Marakand which are intriguing as ever, and come June 2014 we’ll finally get to learn more about as Johansen is releasing two new books set in the same world though neither is a direct sequel to Blackdog.
If you’re tired of farm boys saving the world from big, menacing empires or worlds full of elves and dwarves mocking each other’s looks then Blackdog is the fantasy novel you need to read. It’s a tense story of a community’s and a god’s world turned upside-down as history comes to the fore. And now is no better time to read K.V. Johansen’s first book before the next two are released in June 2014.
The Leopard: Marakand #1 releases June 10th from Pyr.
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Review by: Gregory Pellechi
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This is the second strong review I’ve read of this book in as many days. Me thinks it may be a sign! And it never hurts to have a cool Raymond Swanland book cover.
Yeah, those Swanland covers are really amazing. I have wanted to read The Leopard before the due date, but another reviewer has it. All I hear is praise as well.