Review: A Haunt For Jackals by J.L. Odom

Blurb:

After capturing a jinn-devil and fleeing to the desert, Azetla has exchanged the threat of execution for the weight of high treason. Thousands of men are now under his command-for the Emperor's brother must have both a scapegoat and a symbol to stand behind his quiet coup.

But Azetla has different plans. He means to bring his masters a war which will spread throughout the southern desert, and beyond. As Azetla gathers troops and tribes and victories, his reluctant alliance with the Sahr devil becomes an indispensable one. Few can resist the influence of her words, which reach every tongue and every tribe.

The rebellious nobility of Maurow will get more than they ever bargained for.

The Emperor's brother, James, will become a far more ruthless man than he ever wanted to be.

And the whole southern desert will be tempted by the chance to cast off the yoke of the Empire

They need only submit to the command of a jackal and the voice of a jinn.

Review:

Azetla the Jackal, commander of the Black Wren Battalion in all but name and rank.  Azetla is a hated Mashevi.  Only his hard-earned abilities keep his head from being taken by those he would command and serve. 

“…tactics and the maneuvers of open warfare—all that bled into it, all that bled out of it.”

Tzal the Sahr Devil, most would rather see the cursed devil dead and be glad of it.  Her drive and abilities are the only thing that keeps her alive.  

“She provoked the Gods against whom she could never prevail, Gods who would never listen.  She kept doing it, even though she knew it was useless.”

“…trap, ambush, information, silence, deception, and skirmish.”

Azetla’s needs are transparent, but Tzal?  Both must constantly prove their value and navigate an uneasy and questionable alliance between themselves for continued survival.  The only thing Azetla knows for certain is that Tzal has an agenda known only to her.  Trust is a scarce commodity.

The Black Wren Battalion provides a solid cast of supporting characters.  Officers and enlisted full of resentment, hatred, and, for some, grudging respect.  For the men under Azetla’s command, the cognitive dissonance generated by finding respect and faith in a dirty jackal is leveraged by Odom to great effect. 

Never mind that James, the Emperor’s brother, and the cadre of nobles maneuvering him into open rebellion see Azetla as a scapegoat and expendable in the end.

The character work in Haunt hits my sweet spot for a tale.  I was delighted to find myself in Azetla’s head space again and even more delighted for the opportunity to dive into Tzal’s character in much more detail.  

Odom does a fantastic job of sharing the character’s thoughts, motivations and feelings while at the same time keeping many cards close to the vest leaving the reader guessing in the best possible ways.

Without spoiling, I found the mechanism used for revealing Tzal’s backstory appealing.  The pieces are well placed and allow the reader to build their understanding and appreciation of the character in rhythm with the story. The timing rolls with and significantly contributes to the building narrative.  It also allows the reader to be let in on secrets the rest of the cast of characters can only guess at.

‘A Haunt For’ Jackals takes place in a rough and gritty desert setting at the far reaches of the empire.  Haunt is brought to life with a rich tapestry of tribes, multiple languages & dialects, and religious beliefs all tinted with a respectful middle eastern flair.  Cultural variations and clashes of beliefs play an inherent role in the rivalries and politics our main characters must maneuver. 

Told in a third person omniscient point of view, the reader is privileged to experience the thoughts, motivations, and inner struggles of Azetla and Tzal in depth, and as needed you get to ride along with some of the strong supporting cast.  Omniscient is a misnomer.  The characters do keep secrets to themselves that are gradually revealed as the tale progresses.  I found some interesting levels of satisfaction in those “I knew it!” and “Damn, I didn’t see that coming.”, moments.

I find that J.L. has exceptional talent writing prose with rhythm, timely changes of pace, and a fluidity that makes the act of reading a delight.  From introspection to heart pounding action, the highs and lows are navigated with poise and excellent timing.

Character dialogue feels natural, descriptive stylings contribute to an immersive experience all done in a voice that is uniquely Odom’s.  

A Haunt moves at a much faster pace than By Blood.  At some point the emperor is going to notice that an open rebellion is brewing.  Our characters race against time to prepare for that moment and the emperor’s response.  How to prepare and what actions to take are not necessarily something everyone with skin the game agrees upon. Everyone is attempting to put their pieces into play for their own goals with their own ideal outcome.  One character must attempt to herd these cats into a place that sets up their own long-term goals.  The consequences of failure will be terminal.  

This is a lovingly crafted world influenced by Odom’s experience as an Arabic linguist and education in International Affairs with an emphasis on Conflict Management. The politics, tribal rivalries, scenery, character builds all check the believability box. 

Power plays abound.  The tribes, nobles, military and our two main characters all push and pull, providing tension and unforeseen twists as the story progresses.   

I enjoyed book one and highly recommend it especially because book two storms out of the blocks   from the foundation that was laid in book one.  In book two, J.L. took my enjoyment up to another level.  The pacing and urgency are stepped up.  The tension and stress of ‘success vs. failure’ is keenly felt.  Large- and small-scale action sequences are executed in satisfying detail including strategy, tactics and the raw elements of battle.  

With book two of the Land Of Exile series J.L. Odom has leveled up as an author and teller of tales.  I look forward to reading her future works.  Already having a deft and lyrical touch it is going to be very satisfying watching her take even higher levels of command of the craft.  I am here for the ride.