The Pariah by Anthony Ryan

Anthony Ryan's books have been a bit of a hit and miss, with me. I wrapped up his first trilogy - after having been really impressed by The Blood Song, the rest of the books in that trilogy was a bitter pill to swallow, a disappointment. And then I kept away from his Draconis Memoria books. His Raven's Blade duology seemed interesting but I haven't gotten around to read them as yet. And this year, Anthony has released a brand new series with this opener - The Pariah, book one in the Covenant of Steel series that traces the dramatic rise and fall of Alwyn Scribe, outlaw, scribe, soldier, legend. 

This book is a marked departure, in terms of Ryan's style and writing as well, which was a welcome change for me. Written in a sublime prose, that never grows tiresome, the worldbuilding of The Pariah is subtle, effective and organically grows on you as you read. It's in fact, so well done that I didn't realize that Ryan has built up an entirely new world, which despite its familiar rooting in the medieval culture of knights and possibly the middle-ages, still felt fresh. Especially the Covenant, the faith, the class-divides between the Noble born or the lower classes and the conflicts that govern the political power-play. 

Narrated from a single POV ( that immensely helps with the pacing of the story as well!) , this is the story of Alwyn, a quick-witted young boy who grows up as an outlaw in the forests of Shavine Marches. But by a cruel twist of fate, he ends up working for one of the celebrated 'Saints' in the King's army - as a soldier and scribe, fighting his battles against the 'Pretender' who wants to usurp the Throne. Alwyn is a quick study, has the keenest eyes among the tribe of outlaws and is favoured by Decklin, the self-styled Outlaw 'King' and is a survivor. When betrayed by one of their own, Alwyn is the only one who survives and is sent to the 'Mines' - where he plots for four long years for his escape and makes good friends, with this lady anointed as a 'Saint', who becomes his mentor in a way. Alwyn is consumed by the need for revenge but he is also shrewd and mature beyond his years to realize, that all good things in life come with patience. His eventual signing up for the King's Army with Lady Evadine, whom everyone thinks is the blessed sword of their God (Seraphile's Grace) and how his life goals are overturned, first by War and then other surprising reveals in the last quarter of the novel, forms the rest of the narrative. 

Anthony writes coming-of-age novels very well. This is definitely not YA territory, given the grim nature of bloodshed and war speckled throughout the narrative. But we sympathize with Alwyn, the youngster who rolls well with the punches that life deals him. He is clever, resourceful and knows when to keep his head down. He is what you would call, a cold blooded realist and while this may not completely endear him to all readers, I completely bought into his motivations that drives him on in life. The dark bleak situations that he survives toughens him up and we know, that he is destined for greatness or infamy, as he himself as the unbiased narrator of this whole story, has established. 

Anthony also writes up a few strong women characters, all of whom influence Alwyn's life changing decisions, time and again. Starting with Toria, the young girl whose fighting spirits and the will to survive is ferocious., whom he befriends on the way to the Mines inside the cage. He meets up with the Lady Sihlda, in the pits whose astute outlook on life and devoutness teaches him a great deal. Her uncanny ability to peek into Alwyn's soul is shakes him up as well. And then there is Lady Evadine whose faith in the God's will, is quite frankly, astounding and who becomes his commander, sharing an interesting relationship with him. 

This is more a low-fantasy with very less bits of magic in the story, but I think, possibly Anthony might just be holding out for the rest of the series to show us that hand. Because throughout the story as well, there are enough and more hints thrown about Alwyn's legacy in this war-torn world and that's what also kept me reading, to figure out his rise to fame (and fall!)

It's a brutal fast paced story, with deft world building, well crafted characters and lot of intrigue, suspense underlined by signature Anthony Ryan- bone crunching action sequences that peppering the whole narrative. I would go on to wager that this is one of his best novels yet. A brand new series by one of the genre's masters in action today, The Pariah, Book One in the Covenant of Steel is not to be missed, if you call yourself an epic fantasy lover.