By the Horn of the South - Sue Davies - Review
Sue Davies is a former broadcast journalist who worked for News and Current Affairs at the BBC, and this experience would prove valuable for her current career as a writer. During one particular expedition to Tunisia, Sue stood on a hillside and looked over the Bay of Tunis. It was there that the still visible remains of the Carthage harbour could be seen, a place that would have bustled with activity more than two thousand years ago. And this moment of inspiration gave rise to a stunning work of literature which combines fiction with historical fact in a gripping and eclectic manner.
By the Horn of the South is the first volume of the Delphis series, and is a nautical adventure brimming with drama and mystery. Set during the end of the Sixth Century BCE, it brings fully to life the activities and lifestyles of a group of intrepid explorers, as they set out on a perilous voyage to unravel the deeper mysteries of their world and reap untold rewards along the way. Based as it is on a real-life expedition as described in ancient Greek manuscripts, the story also depicts the first recorded contact between Europe and West Africa and adds a compelling level of humanity to what is otherwise an enigmatic point in history.
Lord Hanno is a merchant prince who has gone missing, and it’s down to the somewhat pompous and ill-of-health Head of the Board of Trade, Lord Aspan, to get to the bottom of his disappearance. In doing so he summons the dishevelled crew of the Delphis to his office, so they can recap their voyage from Carthage, Europe, all the way to the uncharted lands of West Africa. Heading this expedition is Dubb, a charismatic explorer with a drive to discover, and to map out the stars above. However, his unlikely alliance with Lord Hanno, who appears only interested in tales of hidden treasure, may prove troublesome. And so Lord Apsan soon realises that what should be a straightforward open-and-shut investigation, proves ever more complex with each passing chapter.
Through weaving the narrative of this perilous voyage across the sea, Sue Davies dives deep into the society, culture and faith of the characters occupying this world. She also paints to life the sights, sounds and sensations they experience during their time on the Delphis, a mighty rowing ship of great reputation. As it is clear that the writer of this book has applied the proper care, research and passion to this project, readers are given a fully immersive experience where no expense is spared on detail. Lands, oceans and civilizations are portrayed with all the realism and nuance of the modern world, making this a historical piece done the right way. The unfolding reveal of undiscovered lands across this novel is therefore as exciting and enthralling as any story grounded in science fiction or fantasy.
Particularly interesting are the deep explorations of belief, and how faith can drive the decision-making of a singular person or their community. Most notably bizarre and often unsavoury are the priests accompanying Dubb and his crew on their voyage, whose influence on the outcome of the expedition is based on the multiple sacrifices of animals. The book expertly explores a divide between schools of thought, one of which is based on the gruelling application of scientific study, the other steeped in an often misrepresentative sense of spiritualism. These two ideals are shown to collide in numerous ways, with spirituality often being an incentive to find answers in science, but also being wielded by immoral figureheads in power to justify their own self-serving pursuits. By the Horn of the South truly represents the transition between one practice and another and does so in a wholly three-dimensional fashion.
However, the beating heart of this book is the characters and their respective complexities. Straightforward it would be to have a clear line between heroes and villains, but Sue Davies puts a great deal more care and consideration into her subjects than this. As each passage of this book is set through the eyes of one particular person, readers get the unfiltered journey into the flaws, troubles and passions of the book’s occupants and how their own personal voyages are riddled with choices both good and bad. As the state of the crew of the Delphis grows increasingly fragile, the three-dimensional mindset of each character grows ever more profound, leading to shocking, tragic and intense outcomes that make this book as much a delve into the human psyche as it is into history. It’s this balance which keeps it a gripping read from start to finish.
By the Horn of the South is a wonderfully crafted piece of historical fiction that considers good storytelling as important as bringing history to life. Sue Davies amply demonstrates her skills as a writer, researcher and storyteller, but most importantly her ability to craft characters that audiences can truly care about. Whether you’re looking to learn about a somewhat obscured point in history or whether you’re seeking a tale of adventure with real meat on the bones, this is a book not to be missed and one which deserves a great deal of attention through the coming months. Good news then is that the prequel in the Delphis novels, By the Pillars of Herakles is on the horizon.
You can order your copy of By the Horn of the South from Amazon here.
