Every fantasy needs a little history, something to root the events of the tale. This can take the form of legends and rumor along with proven written history. Lucy Tempest’s Thief of Cahraman uses both proven and unproven history to keep the story moving.
To avoid spoilers, I’m going to be a little more general when reviewing this book. Of course, as I’ll mention later here, the history plays a big part in the overall story and unfolds as we explore Cahraman. You’ll enjoy more if you read the book, but regardless, I’d like to mention what I can.
Myths of Folkshore
We open in Ericura during a festival for the Horned God. Fairies and such are blamed for disappearances, but there’s no real magic in Aubenaire. Life goes on and the people are content with where they are. All but sweet Bonnie.
We learn through her about a much larger world, one with forbidden oceans and uncharted lands. One of her many books details this strange world, an area of similar name supposed to be their homeland. Bonnie believes the myths are true, that their humble island was separated from various mainlands by fairy folk. The reasoning isn’t entirely clear, but then again most myths have many mysteries.
None of this can be proved, but Bonnie still desires to travel across uncharted waters to lands that may not exist.
Mystery of Cahraman
Adelaide learns quickly that Bonnie’s fantasy is reality when she’s transported to Cahraman, a kingdom within an arid wasteland. Now would be a great time to spoil but I really shouldn’t. Especially since the history evolves as you read the trilogy. See, we don’t get an all-inclusive info dump in the middle of the book. In regards to Cahraman, and even Adelaide, the history slowly unravels to reveal the rise and fall of dynasties, the escape of unlawful lovers, and general shaping of a world divided.
Here’s what I will say: the weaving of history in the Thief of Cahraman truly inspired me to do the same. Letting the backstory of a world unfold and dictate some of the events of the present day is so genius. Normally such things remain hidden, part of a writer’s mentality while writing. But here, every element plays an integral part in a wonderful story.
Opening Your Perspective
Similar to Eragon, the history in Thief of Cahraman is a journey of comfort to discomfort. Adelaide settles into a world she knows. It doesn’t necessarily like her or fit what she wants for the future, but she’s still willing to try. When she’s thrown into Cahraman, she learns truths that were never on her radar. It challenges what she imagined and what she’s plotting for her future.
All fiction should open one’s perspective. How we see others, the way we handle sitautions. There’s always an opportunity to learn from someone else, and there’s always more to gain to establish your position. So goes the history in Thief of Cahraman, opening the eyes of the characters to something they didn’t quite realize was fact.