"Scarlet Odyssey" Is The Afro-Punk Inspired Fantasy Epic with Science Fictional Notions You Have Been Waiting For!

When Marlon James jokingly termed the first book of his "Dark Star Trilogy", Black Leopard, Red Wolf, the "African Game of Thrones", little did he know that he could seriously share that title with C.T. Rwizi and his wonderful epic fantasy Scarlet Odyssey. Although no, stop! Let's not start the review of this brilliant debut with a comparison and create false hopes or expectations - there are no graphic scenes of sex and violence and not every man dies here; but there are plenty of intrigues, misfits on a mission and powerful magic games. Scarlet Odyssey is first and foremost an epic fantasy which borrows its cultural, folkloric and mythological elements from Africa. It is furthermore in both the description of administrative intrigues of a society and more importantly in the magic system that it demonstrates and excels in complexity, the latter probably being the most remarkable factor in this fascinating work.

We principally follow Mussalodi/Salo's story here who is an expert in doing everything but what is expected of him; as the first son of a chief he needs to prove his manhood and become a warrior in a bull fight, but he dishonors himself by running away, becoming a coward, the laughing stock of his people. In a society where profession is so deeply gendered that it is unthinkable for men to do anything other than fighting and destroying, and magic and reading is strictly confined to women, he does not only show great interest and skill in these forbidden arts, he also secretly develops a device that can enhance his powers as a mystic. He's a so-called "prisoner of magic". After his Kraal is very cruelly attacked by an outstandingly powerful enchantress his queen allows him to become a mystic - not out of support, you see, but out of strategy. He will be going on a mission to the capital Yonte Saire, the Jungle City, where he is to collect more information about the attack. So begins young Salo's adventure and it is truly a remarkable one.
In a universe with such rigid boundaries Salo is of course not the only misfit; he soon teams up with Ilapara, a former mercenary who has difficulty finding a job to her heart's desire because she is a woman and Tuk who... well what Tuk is, you better find out for yourself! It is crucial in a fantasy novel featuring a protagonist on a journey that they have good companions and that there is a certain harmony between travelers. The relationship and dynamics between these fellows should be one of the main pillars holding a story together. Rwizi understands this very well and creates a solid pillar with this fun trio whose interactions I thoroughly enjoyed. They somehow complete each other, the grumpy soldier with a heart of gold, the young magician with great powers that need to unfold and the wonderful clown.

Coming back to universe-building... this universe where technology, mystic, folklore and magic unite in a very intriguing fashion. And speaking about technology and magic, it is vital to highlight Rwizi's highly complex, elaborate and well-thought-out magic system. It is Scarlet Odyssey's particularity and its essence that its magic system is based on a sort of interplay between cosmic, natural and technological elements. Let's take, for instance, "mirrorcraft" where the moon's essence is transferred into talismans which can be code-programmed almost like little computers. In the tradition of other fantasy authors with solid and consistent magic systems like Vance or Sanderson, spells have mathematical fundaments here and each mystic needs to work out their own axiom to find their place in the world of magic. So entangled are science and magic that it would not be wrong to claim Rwizi's universe is almost science fictional in its nature. Just take the enchantress who attacked Salo's village, she is so powerful that she can actually bend space and time... Talk about any sufficiently advanced technology being indistinguishable from magic!

For anyone who thinks an Afro-punk inspired fantasy novel with science fictional notions is up their alley, go ahead, grab this book! The good news is that this will be a trilogy and word is on the street that the second book Requiem Moon is on its way - the bad news is that we have to wait until March... Enough time for a reread!