Kynship

At its heart, Kynship is an allegory of contact. It tells the story of the Kyn, a race of small elfish beings, and their destructive encounter with the race of Humans after their two worlds literally collide. This novel is meant to retell the historical contact between Native Americans and Europeans, and in particular the Cherokee Trail of Tears. Yet it is also a fantasy, filled with magic and unique beings and creatures in a world only marginally like our own. The protagonist, Tarsa, is a warrior who must come of age and learn to control her spiritual powers in a time as trying for her people as the colonial era was for the Native Americans. Kynship explores numerous themes common to Native American literature, making them essential parts of the world and plot. Much of the book explores the effects of contact and colonization; the various ways collision with the world of Humans has impacted the Kyn. The Kyn are portrayed not as victims but as active agents fighting a battle difficult to win. Their land is the center of their life, and Justice portrays this interdependence masterfully. Throughout the book the land is tied to every aspect of life, as the source of identity, spirituality, and community. Justice also shows the Kyn relying on stories as a source of power and wisdom, a common Native American theme. Stories connect the Kyn to their history and remind them of mistakes made in the past. Kynship itself is presented as a story, and a few times the narrative halts to allow the inclusion of a historical tale. This tactic informs the text and helps reinforce the importance of storytelling and history without ever becoming intrusive. This deceptively thin novel is a well-done and valuable addition to the world of Native American literature. It portrays the values of traditional culture and the many effects of European contact without ever letting those lessons get in the way of the plot, teaching through examples and metaphors rather than lectures. The characters are complex and sympathetic, and the story is compelling even without knowledge of its cultural ties. This is a novel that should appeal equally to lovers of fantasy and to those interested in Native American culture, no matter their level of experience with the subject. For a book with so many characters and themes, Kynship is a smooth and quick read, and doesn't rely on dense language or scholarly terminology. It is an intelligent but very accessible fantasy. Above all Kynship is a statement of agency, and a powerful story about a strong people struggling to maintain their ways of life and come to terms with a swiftly changing world.

Daniel Heath Justice has produced an exciting addition to the fantasy genre in "The Way of Thorn and Thunder" trilogy. See Wyrwood (Way of Thorn & Thunder)The Way of Thorn and Thunder (Dreyd)Kynship: The Way of Thorn and Thunder, Book One I have just finished all three books and highly recommend them. Justice has created a detailed portrayal of a highly original fantasy world. His characters are compelling and their motivations are realistic. They respond in varied ways to the destruction of their world and their actions and sentiments are often deeply moving. These books are filled with exciting adventure as well as intriguing romance; Justice keeps the reader guessing until the very last moments of the final book. The trilogy offers its readers even more than just a thrilling story. Like the very best science fiction and fantasy, his story reflects on both historical and current political, cultural, and even environmental concerns. His trilogy is an important addition, not simply for its creative and fresh story, but also for its commentary.

I just finished teaching Kynship in a 21st-Century Native literatures course. The text is a powerful allegory that reads and teaches well. I can't wait to read book two!

Kynship is a little gem of a novel that deserves far more attention than it's received. The first epic fantasy novel from an indigenous worldview, Kynship is simply a lot of fun! The main characters are interesting, the dialogue is crisp, and the action scenes are very cinematic. I'm eagerly anticipating book two!

Kynship was an introduction for me in to the genre of fantasy - and quite an introduction it was! Well written and unbelievably creative, I found myself staying up later than intended to find out what fate beheld the characters that became to feel like "Kyn". Daniel Justice masterfully juggles a number of different themes that are sure to appeal to a wide audience. Not only am I now waiting with bated breath for the second installment in the trilogy, but am exploring other works of fantasy fiction.