James Rollins’ The Starless Crown is the first volume in a new series by the well known author. Like many epic fantasies, it focuses on a group of adventurers making a quest to deal with an imminent problem. The ways the reader beats these characters, however, show the talents Rollins possesses.
There are four major characters mentioned on the back of the book, each of which are characterized well enough. Each one has a certain amount of buildup, with a little chapter detailing about their life while building up the setting and plot steadily. It is a good format that starts by introducing the reader to the first figure, described on the back of the book as “A daughter, guided and cursed by prophecy.” This is Nyx.
Nyx is a blind girl who doesn’t stay blind and suffers an attempted rape. This is all early in the book and illustrates a number of weaknesses it might have for readers. While a woman being among the protagonist’s is a nice touch of course, the cliché of a rape attempt, particularly something that will be traumatic to read, it’s likely not to be appreciated by many readers. The fact that it has little long-term effect on her psychologically, as well as the fact it has no real necessity to the storytelling when she was already undergoing other forms of bullying and abuse, will make this little section extremely uncomfortable for many readers and leave them further wondering why it is there.
The removal of her functional blindness, an interesting trait for the lead, is a strange decision further. While it has some slight justification within the plot, overall it takes a character with an interesting limitation and difference and makes them more like others. In light of the unusual backstory that is revealed for Nyx, this seems unwise. Further, the fact she is part of a group for much of the story means that many of the arguments that could be made about difficulties facing a blind protagonist go out the window.
In spite of these flaws, The Starless Crown has some interesting world-building, an entertaining set of challenges, and a number of enjoyable characters. The giant bat creatures are a fascinating choice for a setting where there is functionally no night, and the way that they incorporate into the plot are fascinating.
The Starless Crown is an interesting volume by James Rollins, and introduces the reader to a setting and characters that seem likely to grip them through the series. There are numerous odd or troubling decisions within the first portion of the book, and other moments that might raise an eyebrow or two, yet if a reader can handle them they are likely to find much to enjoy.
(Tor, 2022)
