The Simoqin Prophecies has many of the typical ingredients of a coming of age story. It is set in a fantasy realm, though without maps of any kind, and is about a trio of powerful and magical young people who must confront a dark power that is a threat to their world. This main trio consists of the cynical, arrogant half ravian Kirin, a spellbinder named Maya, and a noble but unassuming prince named Asvin. Both Kirin and Asvin are equally front and center in this tale, and both could carry the role of the "hero", and the author does this deliberately.
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The story begins when the spellbinders of the realm begin to notice that magic is rising in the world and magical creatures are being sighted in increasing numbers - especially a type of creature known as a raksha. These signs and portents herald the return of the raksha Danh-Gem, whose return has been foretold in prophecy. Another prophecy concerns the hero who can challenge Danh-Gem - and this hero could be either Asvin or Kirin, from the way the book is written. When Asvin is sent to study magic with a famous spellbinder, Kirin and Maya go with him, unaware that a struggle to bring back Danh-Gem is already underway, led by a faction called the Brotherhood of Renewal.
Members of this Brotherhood will cross paths with our main trio and their friends over the course of the novel as the trio and their friends go on a series of journeys and quests. Kirin is forced to separate from Maya and Asvin when he believes that his presence will bring danger to them, and instead he infiltrates the Brotherhood undercover, while Asvin goes on a number of adventures in the typical heroic quest mold, to retrieve magical items. What will they do when Danh-Gem returns at the end of the book?
The beauty of The Simoqin Prophecies is not necessarily in the plot - although the plot is very engaging - but in the fact that The Simoqin Prophecies is essentially a very clever spoof of the fantasy genre.
Best part of story, including ending:
I loved the smooth, breezy prose, the cleverly chosen and wittily written sly references to other works, the complex character development, how unpredictable the plot was, and the way the novel walked the line between parody and serious fantasy.
Best scene in story:
When Kirin decides to be the Dark Lord - it was a moment of serious character development for him and I was blindsided by it. I did not expect it.
Opinion about the main character:
There are two "heroes" in this book, but if Kirin is taken as the main hero, I'd say I didn't like his arrogance.
