The Sorcerer of the Wildeeps by Kai Ashante Wilson Book Review

 The Sorcerer of the Wildeeps 

By Kai Ashante Wilson [American Author]

Published Year: 2015

Page Count: 132 pages 

Medium Used: Kindle PW 

Genre : Science Fiction, Fantasy, Action, Horror, LGBT, 2025-read.

Rating: 2/5 

Verdict: not very impressed. Just okay read. 

This is the debut novel of Kai Ashante Wilson but it feels masterfully crafted. It doesn't read like the work of an amateur. There are places where in my habit of fast reading, I missed to understand what she was implying. And at those times, I had to read the text again for better continuity of the story. I felt some pieces of the puzzle are left open ended. I felt that the sorcerer's full magical powers were not displayed. Instead a lot of time was lost in fighting off infiltrators or insurgents from outside .. this didn't allow for the fuller, healthy development of the character of Demane,the sorcerer. We know next to nothing about the main characters. The character development should have been better. The world development too.

A sorcerer, Demane, sets out with a caravan and they are traveling by road .. on horsebacks and on feet. The route they have to tread upon is fraught with many perils. They have started off a team of twenty five men but their numbers dwindle as they encounter insurgents that fight them to take over their resources. Enroute they learn there is a lion like creature which is killing travelers and hauling off pieces of their bodies. Demane and the captain of the caravan when they reach the place, called the wildeeps, lose two more of their brothers to this lion creature. They voyage through multiple worlds/universes and find/stumble upon the lion's lair. Demane uses his God given power to transform and defeats the lion. He spends some time - having a sensual relationship with the captain - before turning back to their world. Later on - I am not clear on this - the captain dies fighting a female lion, the consort of the male lion Demane has killed. And so what does this do to Demane? Why does he call this wildeeps his home and can't leave it? Answers to these questions are left open ended and I didn't like that they are not explained. 

It was a quick read because the book is only a novella. The author is okay at writing and succeeded in nauseating me with all the horrible blood and gore. I would say to read this yourself and if u have gained better understanding than me of the contents of the book and the story, do write so in the comments!