Review: The assays of Ata
Author: KIS
Genre: Fantasy
Publisher: KIS
This reader impression was written and sent to LitNet on the writer's own initiative.
South African-born, first-time publisher KIS not only received a glowing review from Kirkus Reviews for her fantasy novel, The assays of Ata, but was also awarded the coveted Kirkus Star.
Though I generally don’t read fantasy, I was convinced to pick up The assays of Ata, a (mostly unknown) debut indie novel by a South African author, because of its glowing Kirkus Starred review. In this epic fantasy, the author creates a vivid tale of love and loss with royal intrigue, inhuman invasions and brutal battlescapes – all set against the backdrop of the Áitarbith continent, a world reminiscent of ours in a late medieval / early Renaissance context. The main character is Ata, an illegitimate member of the Pandial royal family, who has taken up the position of spy in the palace of their greatest rivals – the Cinnaean rulers. In the midst of her mission, a large-scale conquest by mythological, beastly creatures takes place, sending Ata on a breakneck escape journey across the continent with two of the Cinnaean princes in tow. What follows is her experiences and efforts to oppose the invading forces as well as navigate a potential alliance between her kingdom and that of Cinnae. She also develops various new personal relationships in the process, thereby growing as a person.
This novel, the first in a trilogy, sets the stage for an exciting and thrillingly heroic tale of love and loss, family relationships and the consequences of war – both glorious and not. It is impressive how complex characterisations and deep philosophical concepts are elaborated on within the compelling plot of Ata’s tale, coupled with the fact that multiple points of view are utilised in narrating it and balancing the reader’s experience of the diverse characters and their motivations.
The world building is solid and highly believable, with many geographic, cultural and religious aspects described with a light touch; and Ata’s character, though highly efficient and generally reliable (especially for such a young person), is somewhat flawed and therefore all the more relatable. She displays many of the competences of someone who has been raised in said world and its incumbent circumstances, yet also manifests the mental and emotional vulnerabilities of a girl still discovering parts of herself in the midst of a catastrophic crisis in her world.
The flow of the plot is highly compelling and resulted in many a late night readathon, because I had to find out “what happens next”, and long after I put it down, the characters and their words stayed with me, with a few powerful short quotes making an indelible impression as well. This is definitely a must-read for anyone who enjoys intelligent, rousing fantasy writing with emotional validity and depth.
An excellent read with a strong and independent female lead – highly recommended!
