Impeccably crafted, thoroughly entertaining; a sweeping cross-genre adventure brimming with daring escapades, bravery, and intrigue.
Set against the backdrop of a meticulously crafted South Pacific-inspired world, Dunker’s 6-part cross-genre series is characterized by thrilling adventures, intricate political intrigue, and acts of unparalleled bravery. In the series starter, “A Gift of the Stars,” Red, a street-savvy orphan from the harsh streets of Kerek City, finds himself beaten and rescued by two strangers from the West Islands. Thrust into a perilous journey across diverse lands, Red grapples with trust, survival, and the shocking revelations about the world beyond his city and his own mysterious past. In “Manumina,” the second installment, Zren Janin, once known as Red, joins forces with allies including Softfoot Ngahuru and diplomat Miyamoto Suki on a dangerous journey filled with bandits, political tensions, and betrayal. Tasked with protecting Suki across treacherous lands, Zren confronts his past and searches for his identity and family against a backdrop of political intrigue and mythology.
In the third volume, “War and Wrens,” Zren Janin seeks help from Ngahuru to protect Manumina from war. Ngahuru arrives with her team, aiming to dethrone a corrupt king and safeguard Zren’s community. In “Exile,” the fourth installment in the series, Zren Janin faces a post-war world of tested loyalties and uncertain survival. Amidst betrayal and chaos, he searches for loved ones and grapples with questions of identity and the future. In the fifth installment, “The Wrens Fly Away,” disillusioned by broken promises, the Wrens forge their own path after the war. With a lifetime of self-reliance behind them, they keep their plans secret as they scatter across the world. Through their journeys and correspondence, the truth behind their decisions and the cost of their dreams unfold.
The sixth and final installment, “What Zren Didn’t Know” expands the narrative universe of the series by providing additional insights and perspectives. Through bonus stories, alternate viewpoints, and accounts of the survivors, readers gain a deeper understanding of the events preceding and surrounding Zren’s journey.
Dunker takes the reader on the transformative journey of her protagonist, Zren, from the harsh streets of Lowertown to a world filled with political intrigue, mythology, and exhilarating adventures. Through Zren’s journey, readers are immersed in a vast fictional world where physical and cultural distinctions shape characters’ identities and interactions. Each installment follows Zren and the ensemble cast as they navigate through a world filled with danger, betrayal, and political intrigue. Within this volatile environment, no one is immune to the perils that lurk at every turn, where promises are easily broken, and the price of justice is steep. Heart-pounding escapades keep the tension high while the cunning maneuvers of spies and saboteurs add to the intrigue.
Dunker’s characterization is excellent; her leisurely paced narrative deftly delves into the complexities of various characters’ decisions and the cost of their dreams, highlighting the universal human desire for autonomy and the pursuit of a better future despite the challenges that lie ahead. Through their trials and tribulations, the characters grapple with questions of trust, survival, and identity, seeking to uncover the truth about themselves and the world around them. Zren’s struggles with the limitations imposed by his past mistreatment and illiteracy, in particular, are portrayed with conviction.
Another notable aspect of the series is the presence of strong female characters, from Willow to Kern, Rell, Song,Tiju, to Siba, all of them play pivotal roles in shaping the narrative while offering depth and complexity to the story. Moreover, the exploration of different political views adds an additional layer of intrigue, providing readers with thought-provoking insights into the complexities of governance and power dynamics. Dunker also touches on subjects of self-discovery, identity, racial discrimination, hate, and slavery. With its intriguing worldbuilding, diverse cultures and belief systems, and endearing cast, the series makes for an immersive reading experience.
Readers drawn to stories of survival and triumph in the face of overwhelming challenges shall look this one up.
The Tales of Zren Janin: Boxed Set, Book 1-6
M. L. Dunker
Pub date August 9, 2023
ASIN B0CFB58281
Price $4.99 (USD) Kindle edition, $0.00 Kindle Unlimited
A Gift of the Stars (The Tales of Zren Janin #1)
Manumina: Book 2 of The Tales of Zren Janin
War and Wrens: Book 3 of The Tales of Zren Janin
Exile: A New Beginning: Book 4 of The Tales of Zren Janin
The Wrens Fly Away: Book 5 of The Tales of Zren Janin
What Zren Didn’t Know: Book 6 of The Tales of Zren Janin
