Book Review: The Tidelings of Dras Sayve by C.B. Lansdell
Genre(s): Science Fiction
Book Synopsis:
Maverick diplomat Emis Rindar travels to the northernmost clan in the Dras Channel, seeking the assistance of an old friend. After a lifetime of adventures across Knyadrea, a large moon, his next planned endeavour will be unlike anything he has attempted.
Isolated and enigmatic, the knyads of Dras Sayve keep even their neighbours at a distance, and few welcome the unorthodox ideas Emis brings from abroad. But all his breakthroughs happen here, and the Sayvians are the most technologically progressive knyads on the moon. Can Emis convince them that he will make a worthy mentor to one of their more curious juveniles?
This story is set 30 years before the events of Far Removed
Review:
Far Removed was one of my favorite reads last year, so when I heard about the prequel novella, I knew I needed to check it out. I absolutely love the worldbuilding that was done in the novel, but it definitely left me with some questions about how certain aspects of knyad biology worked.
Some of those questions were answered in The Tidelings of Dras Sayve. While some of it is still a mystery, I loved learning a few more details about this ocean-born species that begins life fully aquatic, but emerge from the sea after a few months fully prepared to begin a life solely on land. The alien biology in this story—and the related series—is absolutely fascinating.
This was also a nice change of pace from Far Removed, which gets pretty dark at times. The Tidelings of Dras Sayve is a happier story from a more innocent time in Oklas’ life, and I enjoyed reading about what set him on the path featured in Far Removed. While I liked both of the main characters in the series, Oklas was my favorite, and after what he endures, getting this glimpse of his past was refreshing. He’s so carefree, curious, and bubbly that I want to see him happy—and the author gave us that here.
While I think this can be read as a standalone and a bit of an introduction to the wider series, I do think it helped to have read Far Removed first. Knowing some of the terms associated with the knyads and their world ahead of time was a big help.
Overall, I enjoyed this early look into Oklas’ life and how it shaped some of the decisions he makes in as an adult. And it was so nice to see him at a happier point in his life.
Author website: cblansdell.com
Amazon link: The Tidelings of Dras Sayve
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