Changa's Safari by Milton Davis

You've heard of Sword & Soul, of course. What? You haven't yet? You will. It's a dynamic, adventure-packed genre of African-based fantasy that is growing in popularity. Place Conan in the Congo and you'll start to get the picture. But I say that as a Euro-American reader to other Euro-Americans who, like me (at least until a few years ago), are unfamiliar with the genre.

Really, Sword & Soul stands on its own. The genre description was coined by Charles Saunders, author of Imaro (introduced in the 70s) and Dossouye novels. According to Milton Davis, sword and soul is "action-adventure fantasy based on ancient and medieval African culture, mythology, and traditions." It differs from European based fantasy in that it combines the vibrant myths and kingdoms of Africa with the Griot tradition of story telling.

One of the new voices in this tradition is Milton Davis, founder of MVmedia and author of a number of fantasy novels, including Meji Books I and II, and Changa's Safari, an epic tale of sorcery, friendship, betrayal, and ultimate triumph. Here's the blurb from Changa's Safari.

In the 15th century on the African continent the young prince Changa Diop flees his homeland of Kongo, vowing to seek revenge for the death of his father and free his family and people from the foul sorcerer Usenge. He survives slavery and the fighting pits of Mogadishu, eventually becoming a merchant adventurer whose extraordinary skills and determination make him a legend. From the Swahili merchant cities of Mombasa and Sofala to the magnificent Middle Kingdom, Changa and his crew experience adventures beyond the imagination. Despite his reputation, Changa will not rest until he has fulfilled his promise to his people. The anchors are lifted and the sails are dropped. Let the safari begin!

Now, in the interest of full disclosure, I was privileged to edit Changa's Safari, Volume I and just finished editing Volume II - which is the second book of a planned trilogy. And I have to say I hope I get the job for Volume III. If not, I'll just have to buy it! I found myself getting caught up in the story and forgetting to proof every now and then. Milton does a fantastic job of submerging the reader into a swashbuckling tale of 15th century African adventure. His stories - and the genre - come highly recommended.

• Find out more about Milton's books at Goodreads.
• And check out Shauna Roberts' interview with author Milton Davis.
• You can also read my previous post about Milton's books Meji I & II.

Castle of Endless Woe Reviewed

The Castle of Endless Woe

by Ty Johnston

This is a solid novelette set in the same world as the author's epic fantasy trilogies known collectively as The Ursian Chronicles. The setting of this story is vivid and the pacing is steady, and like a novel it takes awhile to warm to the plot. But by a third of the way in I was hooked.

Johnston is a deliberate writer, choosing words and images with care. His characters are soundly developed with just enough ambiguity to keep you guessing as to their drives and motives.

As for the suspense, it definitely simmers but doesn't quite boil over, in my opinion, and ultimately the mystery surrounding the Castle of Endless Woe isn't fully explained. Not all loose ends need to be tied up, but I was expecting a bit more revelation as to the evil residing in the haunted manor. However, if you enjoy storylines with an episodic feel to them, this long short story will provide some engaging entertainment while leaving you wanting more.

(Note: I downloaded a free promotional version of this story. It's now 99 cents at Amazon, which is not a bad deal for an afternoon of reading pleasure.)