Book Review(s): Ana and Din Mysteries
The Ana and Din Mysteries, currently three books starting with The Tainted Cup is a fantasy detective series that managed to tell both interesting detective stories and provide an interesting world in which they happen.
I am typically a bit of a sucker for good world building. I love back stories, lore and little hidden details. The world of Ana and Din provides plenty. Without spoiling much the empire in which they live is in both fueled by and threatened by sea dwelling Titans which emerge from the sea each year and lay a path of destruction.
It's not yet clear where these Titans come from (other than 'the sea') or what they want other than in the "it's bigger than us" kind of way that suggests the people of the empire might just be in the way. The Titans themselves, other than bringing destruction, offer all manner of biological concoctions to be created from their blood. These concoctions are used in everything from buildings to altering humans.
Within this world are Ana and Din. Din is a recently appointed assistant to the eccentric Ana. There's a hint of a Sherlock Holmes and Watson partnership to set the tone but enough unique dynamics for it to stand apart. Together they're tasked with solving crimes within the kingdom. In particular their adventures tend to focus on the death of important people within the empire. Deaths that blend the simple act of murder with deeper conspiracy, twists and turns.
Within the books there's the world building and the immediate crime at hand. In between there's also an exploration of the politics and realities of living in this world. Titan blood is scarce, land away from the sea is prized. The kingdom needs its people to survive but wherever there's scarcity there's greed.
Seeing those dynamics play out in amongst the backdrop of an annual threat of destruction gives the whole world a tension that builds and shrinks the world. It adds a depth to the reality of day to day life for those we meet in the story but the constant threat keeps the world laser focused in time and space. Presumably across the world they inhabit there could be other lands, other cities and civilizations, but the ongoing threat keeps you locked into the world that's right in front of you.
While very different to something like A Song of Fire and Ice I think it is an approachable fantasy book in much the same way. There's fantasy here, interesting world building and the magics of the Titan's blood but the Ana and Din Mysteries is fundamentally a story about people. People killing each other, trying to best one another and trying to make the best of the hand they've been dealt. If you're not a typical fantasy reader or have avoided all the complexities that can come with the genre, I would still recommend giving it a read.
Right now there are three books in the series. Interconnected but stand alone in their own right. We're learning more about the world as the two adventure together and I very much look forward to the next one.