Mother of Rebellion by B.K. Boes

Told through the eyes of five characters, Mother of Rebellion tells the story of a several nations at odds with each other. Imrah, a mother forced to give up her son but determined to save the children of others, Anakai, a boy forced to train as a warrior but can't forget his mother's training, Moloch, a nobleman with a complicated family life and the ear of a prince, Jabin, a boy who sees visions of death, and Kaela, a girl raised to impart wisdom to a foreign tribe----all of these characters are flawed and yet compelling. I could hardly put this book down.

The world building was fantastic, but the strength of the story was in its characters. Telling a story from five different perspectives is a risk, but it succeeded in showing us different parts of this world without requiring us to flounder through chapters of background lore. The children in particular fascinated me as they were faced with difficult moral choices that would have been impossible for many adults in any world. They navigated those moments with selflessness (sometimes) and wisdom (sometimes) and always with the struggle that comes to all who face difficult choices. And they learned from their mistakes. These were by no means flat characters. Imrah was the most consistent character, yet we see her growing increasingly courageous throughout the story.

Some books stick with you for a long time. This is one of them. And while the author has found more success with her No Tomorrow series, I eagerly await her return to this world. I am curious to see what role will be played by Sustainer (the deity) or if religion will remain a mere backdrop to the story. I am also impatient to see how Moloch grows, if he will continue to become like his father or be transformed into a new man. Regardless, I definitely want to see what comes next in this beautiful and fantastic tale.

You can discover more about B.K. Boes and her books here.