An evil goddess wages war on an unsuspecting land in this epic fantasy that argues for the great power of love.
Fortress of Wind, the third novel of Christian Cura’s on-going epic fantasy series, jumps into the action right away. With evil goddess Malsumi back in power, worshipped by shadow mages and loyal followers like Salvatore and Matilde, both of whom believe following the powerful goddess will save their families, she sets her sights on taking over all of Perimar.
Fighting against Malsumi are two girlfriends—the non-magic Liseli and the winter mage Tama—who used to be friends with Salvatore, and Princess Una, a young autumn mage who volunteers to join the fight against the evil goddess without hesitation, leaving the comfort of her palace along with her cousin Princess Aisling to do so. As the citizens of Perimar flee for refuge in areas not yet under attack, separate storylines play out.
On one hand, Tama is possessed by Malsumi and used as a weapon against her own side, and Liseli and Giulia mount a rescue mission before she loses herself completely to the dark goddess.
Princess Una, on the other side of the defense, faces shortened training and sees a vision of a stranger killing her mother, Queen Saraid, and she is determined to do everything she can to prevent that prophesy from coming true.
Within Malsumi’s ranks, Salvatore tries to maintain his moral boundaries, believing in the future she sold him, but cracks form in his resolve as more death and destruction follow in her wake as he realizes Malsumi’s evil is all-encompassing.
This aspect of Malsumi makes her a great villain. She goes far beyond the typical evil fantasy antagonist. She poisons the land, the fruit, and even the water of her newly overtaken cities so that anyone who doesn’t follow her suffers and dies, causing those displaced to wonder if they should even try to take back their cities for fear they’ll be uninhabitable forever. She infiltrates Tama’s mind, using her body as a tool of violence against her will. She’s a terrifying, powerful villain that poses quite an intimidating obstacle for the protagonists.
Her followers, too, aside from Salvatore, have no issues with cruelty, capturing children and striking fear in all who they come across. Luckily, though, Tama and Liseli learn that Malsumi’s been defeated before by her sister, the goddess Tira. Liseli and Tama find a reference to how to defeat her, a cryptic phrase about clay and light, though they don’t quite understand it yet. It makes for a great series, one that promises to reveal more and build upon the world as they fight against Malsumi.
The worldbuilding is expansive, adding unique tidbits that make the epic fantasy feel more fleshed out. Some of the protagonists, for example, have a different spirit that guides them, lending advice and suggestions throughout their battles against Malsumi. One is a wolf, one is a dove, while another is a raven. The goddess Tira, too, makes appearances periodically to urge the main characters along, making it more believable that they’d pray to her and dedicate their lives to her. The mage system, coordinating with the seasons, is also a unique and fun way to approach magic. Autumn mages, for example, have different classes in which students can study, including a building class who can use their power to make buildings and structures out of trees.
The relationship between Liseli and Tama gives a sweet note to a relatively dark plotline. Their dedication to keeping each other safe leads them to confront greater and greater evil without hesitation. It’s also, in a great twist that adds complexity to the plot, the reason Malsumi is back in power. To save Liseli from death in the previous book and under the instruction of the shadow mages, Tama kills a specific number of creatures to bring the dark goddess back to power. It makes the story more complex and less straightforward, adding depth to their relationship as Tama struggles with the guilt of what she has done to save the woman she loves. Their love does cause them to act immaturely at times, which sometimes is a little over the top, causing the story to read younger occasionally like when they sneak off in the middle of a war to have sex. But their love is a driving force for the fight against Malsumi and adds a much-needed breath of light to a darkly toned novel.
With an ending that promises more story to come, Fortress of Wind is a great continuation of the epic fantasy following Malsumi and those who dare to face her. With more and more detailed worldbuilding, converging storylines, and the mounting fight against a powerful evil goddess, this fantasy would be an excellent choice for those looking to get invested in a unique and comprehensive world with a genuinely terrifying villain.
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