The Lies We Tell Ourselves by LK Kitney
I would like to thank Francesca from Luna Press Publishing for an advance copy of this novella in exchange for a fair and honest review
Publisher - Luna Press Publishing
Published - 7/2
Price - £8.99 paperback £3.19 Kindle eBook
In a world still bearing the scars from an ancient magical conflict, those who wield magic - or are changed by it - are condemned as abominations, their lives forfeit.
Raised at sea under the tyrannical rule of his father, there is nothing the young Captain Fiaer Dradorn won't do for the knowledge of a lost treasure that drove his father's obsession. Even start a war.
Betrayed to the mercy - and consequences - of catastrophic, uncontrolled, magic, Fiaer is left with nothing but the belief in his own monstrosity and the overwhelming desire for revenge.
As his plans take form, he realises that true monstrosity is less what someone is, and more who they chose to be. A choice he must make before others make it for him.
What drives the villain? Unsurprisingly when actors talk they say they’re the heroes of their own story but deep down they must know some of what they do isn’t exactly on the side of the angels. What pushed them on the path they embraced? Will that change how we feel about them? In LK Kitney’s ambitious dark fantasy novella The Lies We Tell Ourselves we get to be a witness to the events that made a Captain’s reputation and start to see him in a slightly different light but at the same time he is still not a pure hero.
The Captain of the Golden Harvest is feared justly for a reputation as someone ruthless and dangerous. An old woman crosses over to the ship to meet Fiear Dradorn a man known to be as dangerous as his Captain. She has agreed for this night to cross paths and see his memories and start to uncover how he and his mysterious powers came to light.
I really appreciated the ambition Kit ey has with this story to tell what feels like a Grimdark fable of what sounds like a ruthless pirate captain in a console felt unique fantasy world. We meet Fiear as a young man in his twenties just taking over and getting out of his strict father’s shadow with his own loyal crew. They are on a mission for one of the great powers and on board is a mysterious concept known as a priest. a powerful Mage who can do amazing and terrible things which will spell dangers for the young Captain and his crew.
The idea of a fantasy world where priests are not usual and the people think the idea of them speaking for a God is itself strikingly unusual. Kitney continues to play with us as the story develops giving us familiar elements of fantasy stories and then subverting us. Fiear appears initially a good man just doing a dangerous job and then we see him as a pawn of the Priest and then the conflict is how can young man take on a powerful magician who as we find can bend anyone to their will.
This Is a tale where it’s very much one step forward two back for our ship and crew. Nothing goes to plan and they all go through the wringer in multiple ways. The success is we get to understand Fiear carries the pain of his past and being a survivor of a land that no longer exists. The urge to do better and the scorn of his father drives him but not always wisely. Halfway through we get into more magical territory that sets up an interesting conflict as those touched by magic are viewed as abominations that should be destroyed but Fiear may have some uses for those with that ability.
The storytelling approach is unusual we as we witness things through the old woman’s search of Fiear’s memories means we get a tale told in second person. And thanks to the initial set up that works neatly as the question is who is Fiear - rogue or unlucky? The learning curve is steep and you have to pay attention to spot how this world and its myriad countries and beliefs work together which may be confusing to some as there is no character explaining to the reader how it all works which in the final act gets a little hard to untangle but it then does click together in a fresh way that made the journey intriguing.
The Lies We Tell Ourselves is a story worth taking on its own terms. Using familiar elements of fantasy in different ways to tell a compelling and unpredictable story that keeps readers on their toes. But as with any hard journey that can make it a rewarding travelling experience. Well worth a look.
