Here’s my book review of Peterson’s The Land Beyond the Waste. It’s her debut novel – high fantasy full of political intrigue, magic, human-elf conflict, and, of course, dragons.
These aren’t your ordinary flying, fire-breathing dragons that do as they’re told. These dragons are telepathic magic users with wills of their own who only pitch in when they feel like it and become as much of the story as the sister and brother at the heart of the story.
It starts quickly as we join Rydara and her brother Aander attempting to meet with the Alterran queen in the midst of war. They seek assistance for their people, the Norrani, minor players in the war-torn world. They are rebuffed, and things rapidly go downhill.
Everyone loves Aander, the heir. That’s not true for his sister Rydara. She’s the illegitimate daughter compelled to speak the truth. No one likes the truth. She’s also a “Knower” – not like Tyrion Lannister, who “drinks and knows things,” – more of a magic lie detector and directional compass combined. Her magic strengthens throughout the novel, but will it be enough to save the humans?
Both Rydara and Aander are sympathetic characters, although I felt far more interested in the strong sister fighting to save her brother, her country, and the entire human race. Evil High Wizards are on the move, and things are looking bad for humanity.
Thrown out by the Alterrans, Rydara and Aander see their only hope in the elves who live across a cursed land known as the Waste.
It unfolds as a Hero’s Journey with political undertones and culminates in a poignant twist that left me choked up.
Peterson creates realistic characters that you believe in and gives enough depth to a couple of the bad guys that I felt sorry for them, not enough to forgive them for their evil intent and actions, but enough to see their inner conflicts.
It’s a fascinating world that, in some ways, reminded me of Harry Potter – not everyone has magic, and not everyone who has magic powers has the same strengths. It’s very well written and a great read.
On the Feral Scale, this is a 9 for Story and N/A for Science – hey, it’s fantasy. I particularly appreciate that when Peterson’s dragons fly, it’s realistic – large creatures flapping enormous wings kick up a lot of dust. I loved the air-to-air (dragon vs. dragon) combat scenes.
As I was reading Land Beyond the Waste, I saw that Peterson’s next book in the series, The Ellyrian Code, is now available. I bought it and think it’s going to be even better (I’m only 50 pages in.)
If Peterson can write like this so early in her career, I want to wish her a long and prolific one.
Buy it. Read it. Fantasy fans are going to love it. You can find Peterson’s website here or follow her Insta page here.