C.L. Lauder - The Quelling - REVIEW
Regardless of genre preference, few book lovers can deny the satisfaction of discovering a title that combines vivid imagination with a striking level of drama; That enlightening feeling of an untold world coming to life from out of the page and into the minds of readers, whilst also applying an equal level of feeling and substance. No matter where or how the story takes form, the merging of creativity and emotion will always be a winning recipe and guarantees a novel that won’t be forgotten in a hurry.
The Book Network is honoured to announce that C.L.Lauder has written such a book. Before settling down with her family in Hong Kong, Lauder moved from South Africa to London and completed an MA in creative writing. Those writing skills have in turn been perfectly honed in her sci-fi fantasy story, The Quelling, which combines the finest traits of dystopian fantasy and fuses them with an otherworldly setting to engineer something that’s truly distinct. Furthermore, this novel takes audiences on an emotional journey where characters take centre stage, resolutions don’t come cheap, and only the unexpected can be expected.
The Quelling is set in the world of Aurora Saura, a place with more than a few similarities to our Planet Earth, but also some notable differences. The population have lived a prosperous existence for generations, but all is turned upside down upon the arrival of the Rhemans, enigmatic beings who inhabit the bodies of other life forms in order to propagate their own survival. Whilst their ability to heal the indigenous population warrants a mutual alliance between Rhemans and the native Aurora Surans, the more fanatical amongst the Rheman ranks threaten to throw this world of balance into a cruel dictatorship where nobody is safe.
One such victim of this new and twisted regime is a 19-year-old Kyjta, who like so many others has been stained by a mysterious silver liquid. This means that she is prone to be snatched by the nightmarish ghoragalls who prowl the skies in search of the Stained, and flown off to a faraway land to face the most terrifying fate of all: The Quelling. However, her desire to escape this preordained demise is compromised by the abduction of a small girl placed in her custody. Having met an honourable Rheman by the name of Kranik, who is driven by loyalty and kindness, Kyjta and her unlikely new ally embark on a perilous quest, where courage and conviction hold the key to success, and failure may lie in trusting the wrong people.
C.L.Lauder weaves a narrative consisting of three-dimensional characters, a dazzling world, and a story that keeps readers guessing at every turn of the page. The realm of Aurora Saura is a wondrous and gritty place, whereby every occupant possesses their own pivotal backstory, and every testimony is vital in order to create the bigger whole. Whilst the book is set from the perspective of only two characters, it often feels more like a dystopian fantasy on an epic scale, containing an array of horrific monsters, eclectic communities, and a nefarious hierarchy of shady political figureheads, none of whom are quite what they appear on the surface.
The further The Quelling progresses, the more we learn about these intriguing forces. Particularly disturbing are the Tarrohar, squid-like creatures who latch onto the backs of their victims and control their thoughts and movements, as well the mischievous but also deadly Ravvids, scavengers of the desert plains who are motivated solely by greed. Most notable of course is, the main villain of the piece, Helacth, a radical Rheman who holds all parties in a stranglehold with his ghoragall creations and the Quelling process that they enforce. These and more make the world of Aurora Saura an assuredly hostile place which amply puts across the toughness and adversity that the Auroran population face in their daily lives.
It’s within the hearts and minds of these characters where the essence of this novel can truly be found. On taking the journey with Kyjta and Kranik, readers are introduced to a complex family lineage which has been shattered and remoulded by a series of tragic events. Throughout The Quelling’s chapters, these fully fleshed-out subjects will slowly reveal their own stories and a sizable amount of intrigue alongside them. With plenty of twists abound as a result, and each three-dimensional character having a substantial contribution to the progression of the story, it’s no wonder that for all of its fantastical leanings, Aurora Saura feels like a very real place. As with all good fiction, no matter how otherworldly it might seem on the surface, it’s the raw humanity which makes it so relatable.
Ultimately, it's having all of these moving parts put together in one well-oiled machine that makes The Quelling such a breathtaking and boundless experience. In this mighty piece of work, C.L.Lauder proves herself to be a grand storyteller and expert analyst of courage and endurance. As real-life humanity exists with increasing hardship each passing year, it’s always reassuring to have a book on the shelf that embodies the merits of perseverance and bravery. As fantasy and sci-fi have always been a stronghold for these themes, The Quelling also serves as a great reminder that amazing books continue to be written in these genres.
You can order your own copy of The Quelling and learn more about C.L.Lauder at her website.
