We like to think of history as being discreet events, but really it’s a continuum that affects the present in subtle and complex ways. For example, after the liberation of France, some of the people were labeled collaborators and punished as such. Yet as they were given amnesty, these collaborators and their accusers had to live side by side. For them, the past indelibly marked them. In Empire of Exiles by Erin M. Evans, a coup in recent history still affects the Empire. Those involved in the coup still live and work alongside those who weren’t. While all maybe forgiven, all is not forgotten. The chief assassin used by the Usurper was never found and maybe living amongst the citizens of the empire. An incomprehensible murder/suicide brings up questions about the past, questions that may resurrect the coup. Empire of Exiles by Erin M. Evans answers those questions and shows the past is quite dead and buried.
Disclaimer: The publisher provided a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Any and all opinions that follow are mine alone.
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TL;DR
Empire of Exiles by Erin M. Evans begins with a murder that takes the main characters into the lingering effects of a failed coup in the recent past. Secrets are uncovered that were best left hidden, and the very balance of the empire may once again be at stake. Highly recommended.
From the Publisher
Magic, mystery, and revolution collide in this fantasy epic where an unlikely team of mages, scribes, and archivists must band together to unearth a conspiracy that might topple their empire.
“What makes this book special, even by Erin’s lofty goalposts, is the world she weaves around the characters. Detailed and mysterious, a place to explore and relish. Empire of Exiles is highly recommended!” – R.A. Salvatore, author or “The Legend of Drizzt” and the DemonWars novels
“The beginning of a truly epic tale. Deft worldbuilding and wonderful verbal fencing that is a delight to read. In these pages, you are in the hands of a master.” – Ed Greenwood, creator of the Forgotten Realms and internationally bestselling author
Twenty-seven years ago, a Duke with a grudge led a ruthless coup against the empire of Semilla, killing thousands. He failed. The Duke was executed, a terrifyingly powerful sorcerer was imprisoned, and an unwilling princess disappeared.
The empire moved on.
Now, when Quill, an apprentice scribe, arrives in the capital city, he believes he’s on a simple errand for another pompous noble: fetch ancient artifacts from the magical Imperial Archives. He’s always found his apprenticeship to a lawman to be dull work. But these aren’t just any artifacts — these are the instruments of revolution, the banners under which the Duke lead his coup.
Just as the artifacts are unearthed, the city is shaken by a brutal murder that seems to have been caused by a weapon not seen since the days of rebellion. With Quill being the main witness to the murder, and no one in power believing his story, he must join the Archivists — a young mage, a seasoned archivist, and a disillusioned detective — to solve the truth of the attack. And what they uncover will be the key to saving the empire – or destroying it again.
Review: Empire of Exiles by Erin M. Evans
Quill, an apprentice attorney/scribe, stands with his master and a friend in the Imperial Archives. It’s a place that he’s dreamed of visiting based on rumors of treasures inside. The archive houses artifacts from the various peoples as they fled their lands to the country of Semilla. Changelings warred with the human, Alojan, and Orozhandi peoples, forcing them to retreat behind a magical construction of a giant wall. Quill hopes to be given a tour so that he can see some artifacts for himself. While he waits, his master argues with the head archivist about the removal of some artifact. The treasures that Quill’s master wants happened to belong to a duke, who led an unsuccessful rebellion against the empire. All the paperwork is in order; so, as the artifacts are retrieved, Quill’s master and friend head back to their residence while Quill is given a tour of the archives. When Quill returns from the archives, he finds that his host is dead; his master and an important Orozhandi are injured; and he watches his friend commit suicide. Thus begins Erin M. Evans’ Empire of Exiles. Quill enlists the help of a senior archivist, Amadea, and an Orozhandi ink adept, Yinii. As they begin to investigate the death, assaults, and suicide, the group finds more and more connections to the failed coup of years previous. Secrets, once thought buried, begin to rise again. Secrets that could shift the balance of imperial power.
Empire of Exiles is a third person point of view novel with four main POV characters. Quill, Amadea, Yinii, and Richa, the imperial equivalent of a police officer. The book is divided into parts with each part featuring a conversation between the failed rebel leader and his brother. The pacing of the book is excellent; it pulls you along towards the solution of the mystery with ease. The interludes were an extra added spice to an already tasty novel. (Ugh. Tasty?) The main mystery is one that kept me guessing throughout. There are smaller mysteries that are easier solved, but guessing the answers didn’t affect my reading experience. Bucking the current trend of fantasy bricks, Empire of Exiles built a beautiful world in under 400 pages. (My ARC was 378, to be exact.)
Quill
I could write at least a paragraph on each of the main characters – Quill, Yinii, or Amadea – because they were all well written. I’m choosing to focus on Quill because, for whatever reason, his journey is on my mind. At the beginning of the novel, Quill seemed a bit unfocused. He was starstruck standing in the Archive. I found him naive and a little immature. Maybe he was sheltered from the harsher realities of life. But when his friend died in front of his eyes, Quill changed. He focused on the task of trying to understand his friend’s actions. As his investigation deepens and his continued interactions with the Archive, he finds purpose in his life. By the end of the book, he feels a bit more somber and grown up.
What struck me most is his empathy toward his friend. Even though he thought his friend was a murderer, Quill still wanted to see him laid to rest according to the practice of their Order, the Paremi. For a while, Quill didn’t deny his friend did it. I found that so interesting that he was still loyal in those moments. How does one reconcile the love, the joy, the good times spent with someone who ends up being a murderer? Quill doesn’t know, but he wants to mourn his friend. Many would disavow the person or pretend that he was innocent despite all the evidence. Cognitive dissonance would almost be required in order to cope. But Quill accepts; for a brief time, he holds two contradictory images of his friend – the good times and the murder – in his head. He CHOOSES to make sure his friend gets the correct burial rites. This type of complexity makes characters and people interesting. It’s a very mindful attitude that Quill’s taken. I’m not sure I would be as enlightened.
Magic System
Evans’ magic system is very interesting. Her magical users are attuned to certain materials: ink, bronze, glass, bone, etc. They are able to manipulate this material, and they know everything there is to know about it. Yinii is attuned to ink; so, as she uses her magic, she knows what the ink has written. But Evans chose to balance her magical advantages with cycle for each magic user, where at certain intervals, they may ‘spiral,’ or lose control of themselves and seek to merge with their materials. If left unchecked, this will result in the death of the magician, at the least. In some cases, the spiral might result in the destruction of property, people, animals, etc. While interacting with their material, the magicians act like addicts. They want more and more; they’re chasing the high of being one with their affinity.
This system is both enticing and terrifying. I can see how the users would get lost in the ecstasy of the spiral. But, at the same time, the cost of the spiral is a loss of self. The cyclic nature, addictive qualities, and mortal danger of this magic system are fascinating. I’m looking forward to Evans exploring and expanding on this in the future. She’s set the bare bones rules of how it works; now, I want to see the variations her imagination can produce. This is a system that will not disappoint fantasy lovers.
Non-Human Races
Lots of non-Human characters exist in Empire of Exiles, and I loved that. Fantasy – and science fiction, for that matter – isn’t limited to human only species. Evans gives us three additional species that we know of: the Alojan, human from the waist up, octopus from the waist down; the Orozhandi, think Tieflings from Dungeons and Dragons; and the Changelings, which we still don’t know too much about. Readers will see humans, Alojans, and Orozhandi living together peacefully. They have affinities, traditions, and social structures all their own. They aren’t humans in masks. Readers get to see the Orozhandi culture and way of life more than that of Alojan and Changelings. I look forward to learning more about the other two as well.
While the Alojan and Orozhandi are portrayed as well-rounded races, the Changelings are portrayed as an evil race. This is always a sticky situation for a writer. Based on how Evans handled the Alojan and Orozhandi, I’m willing to give her the benefit of the doubt that there’s more going on than we know in this opening book. After all, we don’t get a Changeling’s point of view. Instead, we’re subjected to the stories and myths that come in the aftermath of a war, and we’re getting the losing side’s view only. We have no idea why or how the war started. Based on the way information in presented, I wonder if the characters in-world know the reasons behind the changeling war.
The Archive
Of all of Evans creations, I like the Archives the best. It is described as a repository for the artifacts of the empire. The cultural things refugees brought with them are stored in the archives, and there is plenty of stuff that hasn’t been cataloged. But the Archive sounds like so much more than a warehouse. It has places for the magicians to work and live with their affinities. It’s got paintings representing every culture that Semilla prior to the raising of the salt wall. It sounds like a museum with a strong support staff. I have to imagine that it’s wonderful place to explore, for those who are privileged to do so. It’s also a testament to how people try to hold onto their roots, to their culture, and to their identity. The artifacts from the past connect a society as it moves, changes, and grows.
For those displaced from their home, maintaining that connection becomes more difficult. Having a place that preserves culture and history shows that Evans put thought into how her society is constructed. The Semillan Empire could have dictated conversion to their culture, which just puts other cultural appreciation underground. Instead, they embraced a multi-cultural society, and they respected the needs of others to appreciate their homelands.
Conclusion
Erin M. Evans created a wonderful world in Empire of Exiles. This small – by epic fantasy standards – book is epic in scope. It contains all that I love about good fantasy: politics, magic, and fascinating characters. Quill, Yinii, and Amadea are characters worth following. Empire of Exiles answers some questions from the past but poses more about the future of the Empire. Highly recommended.
Empire of Exiles by Erin M. Evans is available from Orbit Books on November 8th, 2022.
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