Welcome friend! I love returning to the world of Children of Nexus. Since I read the first book in 2020, I knew this was a series and an author I would always want more of. With Prelude Cycle, I got a glimpse of the main characters of the series some seasons before it begins in Between Starfalls. Taunos, Takiyah, Kaemada and Ra’ael grew up together. Their paths have influenced one another’s. Take a look at what the stories in this collection are about:
S. Kaeth | Goodreads
This novella is arranged as a series of seasons with one short story vignette from each of the four main point of views. These stories are set approximately three years before Between Starfalls begins.
Taunos attempts to get into the library of Far Dahutad.
Takiyah balances her love of learning with the judgements of her community.
Kaemada struggles mind to mind.
Ra’ael faces challenges on her path to becoming a priestess.
If you’re looking to dip your toe in the Children of the Nexus universe and get to know the characters briefly, this is the book for you!
Prelude Cycle – Review
SK creates an immersive world and though Taunos’ story was about his efforts to get into the library of Far Dahutad to learn what he can about the enemy of his people, it was the streets and the food that got my mouth watering. I love how easily he makes friends and how intuitive he is when it comes to combat. I had learned of his journey in the series and it was exciting to see its starting points. This story leads well into the standalone book, Beneath the Gods’ Tree where Taunos has already assumed the guard role.
Takiyah has always been a favorite of mine. She loves to tinker and once she has an inkling of a solution to a problem, she goes for it. Their teacher, Galod, has always been encouraging to her and I love how he offers wisdom but leaves her to her efforts to discover things by herself. The second story in Prelude Cycle has Takiyah experimenting with metal blades that the enemy have left behind. The Rinaryns, the people Takiyah lives with, fight with stone knives. These have always been inferior to the Darks technology but traditions forbid forging weapons by using metal in the ground. Takiyah challenges this by reusing what she has found from the fights and this story is about her convincing the people to take up these superior arms.
Kaemada is a psion with telepathic powers. While wintering with Ra’ael and her son, Eian, she has a gut feeling that something is not right and Takiyah needs their help. She convinces Ra’ael to move their shelter and go in search of Takiyah, who is wintering with her parents. They find Takiyah but they also find an old man who thinks he is her parents. He is a psion who has scumbled to the feared condition of Every-Mind. He has lost himself and jumps from one person’s mind to another, taking on their persona and mannerisms. As the only other psion in the group, only Kaemada can protect the others. I love her kindness and compassion and how she handles the situation, keeping in mind the drastic weather conditions outside and the safety of her loved ones.
The last story in this selection is that of Ra’ael. She has always wanted to be priestess and it is now time for her to ask the other priests to take a chance on her. She is challenged by Teros, the head priest of Torkae, who time and time again has shown himself to be prejudiced against her friends. She comes prepared with the arguments for why she should be allowed to serve her people as a priestess and Teros, after insults and his dismissive attitude, gives her a test. He tells her to bring harmony between two friends in the community who have been arguing for a long time. Ra’ael approaches the situation with care, bringing them food, and wanting to listen to their story rather than scolding them or offering advice like others before her. They eventually open up to her and she succeeds in the task she was given. However, that may not be enough for Teros to award her the priestess status. I love Ra’ael’s fierceness.
I love these characters so much! This book was a perfect way to spend time with them and get to know them a little more.
Check out Children of the Nexus on Goodreads and if you want to read a gush session of book 1, read my review of Between Starfalls.
Grateful to SK for making this novella available for download to her newsletter subscribers.
Be First to Comment