A Familiar Fantasy: Alara's Call

Alara's Call is a fantasy novel whose cover I've included at the top of this post. I must say that I didn't think when I first saw this cover that it was the best one possible, because to my eye it does not suggest the story is set in a fantasy world. It appears, rather, to be a cover of some form of historical romance.

However, the world of Alara's Call does have romance elements and parts of the story resonate with the historical past. So the cover isn't as out of genre as it appears at first glance. (Though please note, there really ARE fantasy elements to this story--more on that in a bit.)

By saying the story resonates with the historical past, I mean a lot of story elements have a very familiar ring to them. You will hear characters talk of trade agreements; there's a mention of a clearly Trinitarian religion with some kind of church structure; you will find written scriptures, familiar prayers, professors of theology, recognizable kings (but not where Alara comes from), kingdoms, republics, and diplomats--and even far more mundane items like coffee and tea. Hundreds (if not thousands) of correspondences with the world we live in. I only named a few.

In addition, Alara's Call does not feature any fantasy races like elves, dwarves, or trolls. In the story, Alara has visions that come from the Deity, but the tale does not feature story magic. A fair amount of physical combat occurs in the tale, but the most common weapon is the very familiar sword from the past of our world, followed by the use of bows and arrows. Nothing strangely fantastical is described in terms of technology.

There's also no mention of historical items like gunpowder or combat rockets or anything obviously beyond the Medieval in terms of weapons of war. But subtle indications of medicine developed far beyond the Middle Ages do exist--the story does not indicate, for example, that women dying during childbirth is common, or that children passing away at a young age is a normal thing throughout this world.

The fact that women are not dying off of childbirth and are not chained to producing a large number of offspring just to ensure some of them survive (which has been a characteristic of certain periods of history--less of the Middle Ages than is commonly believed, but still a feature of those times to a degree), means that whether a society treats its women as full equals or not is simply a matter of choice. The bad guys, naturally, oppress and isolate women. While the good guys do not.

Alara's own father comes off as a heel, making a trade deal that involves Alara being sent to a hostile woman-oppressing kingdom for reasons that have differing implications for each of the major parties involved. Her response to this situation is the primary source of conflict in the story, followed by her love interest in the man who supports her during this difficult time and follows her on her journey. Though it's noteworthy that the hostile foreign kingdom does not believe in Alara's faith either and are oppressive of her religion.

However, since the Trinitarian faith in Alara's Call takes a decidedly fantasy twist in that the savior in this alternate Earth was a woman, the oppression of women and the suppression of Alara's faith are not disconnected issues. But it is not true that men as a whole group are bashed in this story--not at all. Numerous men, not just Alara's love interest, are shown to be decent and helpful and good, though it is true the baddies are essentially male.

I find the most interesting speculative element in the story that of a Trinity more canted towards the female. Perhaps a society like that would have had a different Garden of Eden and a different fall and a different curse than our world had, giving the separation of genders an entirely different framework than we have in our reality. Likewise, if the savior had been a woman, it would be only natural to expect more women ministers than men, as is the case in this novel (Alara herself is a cleric in the story).

Names of places and people (and basic geography) are also unlike those of our world, giving this novel a fantasy feel. But so many things are ordinary that in some ways this story does feel historical--almost like Zorro or some other story with a great deal of swordplay from the historical past. The use of familiar situations and objects allowed Kristin to give this story a great deal of very rich description that's easy to grasp, from objects of ordinary life like fabrics, metals, books, and many other things, to complex political and social situations.

This world is rich, warm, and friendly in its familiarity, but it is not really Medieval or a match to any period in Earth's history. The subtly but fundamentally different nature of religion above all else really does make this story a true fantasy, a world essentially unlike the world we inhabit, even if familiar.

It's an interesting twist of a story world, with a likable protagonist. Who is in fact interested in the literal liberation of oppressed women. A story world I found interesting and a tale which many of you who view this post would enjoy reading.

The back cover copy reads:

"Tales are often told of heroes who fulfill ancient prophecies. Alara’s Call is the tale of a woman who gives new ones.

Alara sees visions of other’s futures, but never her own.
A young clergywoman with a fiery passion for her Telshan faith, she has been assigned to a mission abroad but longs to lead a congregation in her homeland. Her father, the prime
minister, jeopardizes her dream and her safety when he coerces her into what he calls a diplomatic mission.

But it’s a ruse.

The trip is meant to end with her marriage to the crown prince of a foreign nation, where members of Alara’s faith are persecuted and women oppressed. All for a trade agreement her father is desperate to enact.

But her mentor intervenes and takes Alara to Dorrel, the suitor she left behind. They believe they are safe, but foreign soldiers are under orders to bring Alara to the king’s
palace…by any means necessary."

The story will be released September 19, Paperback: $16.99, eBook: $4.99 (Pre-order Price of $2.99) via Love2ReadLove2Write Publishing, LLC. Genre: Inspirational Fantasy, 430 pages, ISBN: 978-1-943788-19-4, Full title: Alara’s Call: The Prophet’s Chronicle, Book One by Kristen Stieffel.

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