Jeffrey Overstreet

The Auralia Thread — (2007-2011) Publisher: When thieves find an abandoned child lying in a monster’s footprint, they have no idea that their wilderness discovery will change the course of history. Cloaked in mystery, Auralia grows up among criminals outside the walls of House Abascar, where vicious beastmen lurk in shadow. There, she discovers an unsettling — and forbidden — talent for crafting colors that enchant all who behold them, including Abascar’s hard-hearted king, an exiled wizard, and a prince who keeps dangerous secrets. Auralia’s gift opens doors from the palace to the dungeons, setting the stage for violent and miraculous change in the great houses of the Expanse. Auralia’s Colors weaves literary fantasy together with poetic prose, a suspenseful plot, adrenaline-rush action, and unpredictable characters sure to enthrall ambitious imaginations.

Auralia's Colors

Jeffrey Overstreet’s Auralia’s Colors is a bright, colorful fantasy debut. Painting with a unique palette, Overstreet tells the story — both heartening and tragic — of a young girl with a special mission of change.

Auralia is an orphan found by a group of Gatherers, laborers who are indentured to the local Noble family, House Abascar. Living in this rough community she has a chance to grow up untainted by some of the attitudes prevalent in the Householder community that lives in direct contact with House Abascar.

House Abascar is in something of a tragic situation due to events that occurred before the novel begins. The previous Queen and her power-hungry nobles took the right to wear colored clothing away from the people, reserving that and most other luxuries solely for the royal family and a few select others. Overstreet skillfully uses imagery of color and luxury to demonstrate repression.

Overstreet has a strong vision of his world, and fills it with many interesting characters who serve well to lead the narrative along. I also appreciated his ability to bring this novel to a satisfactory close while giving the sense of a larger story that continues beyond the last page. Fairly gentle for a fantasy novel, Auralia’s Colors is replete with moral lessons but doesn’t allow them to become intrusive. Overall, this is a great read. —John Hulet

Cyndere's Midnight

Jeffrey Overstreet's previous novel, Auralia's Colors, took us to a sublimely well-imagined land and introduced a cast of imaginative characters. In Cyndere's Midnight, the story begins where Auralia’s Colors left off. Overstreet adds a few more characters and moves the plot several huge steps forward.

Cal-Raven continues to grow in his magic as a stoneshaper and as a leader of fallen House Abascar. The remnants of his people are living with him in abject poverty as they attempt to survive the continued predations of the Beastmen of House Cent Regnus. It is a very bleak picture, but not hopeless.

From House Bel Amica, a young princess, Cyndere, and her husband, Duneroi, make plans to redeem the fallen Beastmen of Cent Regnus as well as lead a mission to help any of the survivors living amongst the ruins of House Abascar. Cyndere and Duneroi are truly motivated by the best of intentions, yet tragedy follows them every step of the way.

Other highly interesting characters include a selfish young knight, a scheming evil religious seer, and most importantly, a Beastman who has been touched at his heart by the magic of what Auralia created. This Beastman, Jordam, is extremely well-written, and some of the best parts of Cyndere’s Midnight come when Overstreet shows how Jordam is affected by Auralia’s work. His character is really stretched by the differing forces that are tugging at him. It's not only well done, but it also shows that there can be nobility even among those considered savage.

None of the characters are simple place holders, but are allowed to regress or change based on events that occur. Changes are effected not just by an act of will, but by a combination of many factors including external violence. The mood of Cyndere's Midnight is somehow hopeful despite exceedingly dark, harsh conditions. Bad things happen, good people are harmed, but nothing seems to be wasted effort, but a concerted vision that leads the reader to question and think.

Cyndere's Midnight is an excellent book. Overstreet doesn't rush the story; he adds the elements of excitement and violent action but without tainting the feeling of gently flowing events. As the sequel to Auralia's Colors, Cyndere's Midnight is a worthwhile step forward. —John Hulet