After what seemed like eons, I've finally read the 24th chapter of Path of the Sun by Violette Malan and in the process ended reading the book.
Well, I generally liked it although the ending was a bit of a disappointment, at least for me.
As this is the first Dhulyn and Parno novel I've read, I'm zero as to how their previous adventures had prospered and ended. From hints within the book, the previous adventures of the duo and their friends Gun and Mar were more engaging, I believe. It would seem to me that by the time Parno and Dhulyn appear in the Path of the Sun novel they've already achieved Steven Seagal-ish qualities in that they're in their ultimate forms -- Dhulyn already a tad more experienced with her Vision and Parno with his Pod sense along with their extra-human fighting skills as Mercenary Brothers. That is what's evident for me.
The book is a detective case, in truth. Charged with protecting their employer, Parno and Dhulyn, are however unable to ultimately to do their jobs and have to seek out the killer of their employer to exact some form of "revenge". Using skills learned from their years of training and field experience as Mercenaries, the duo (who have the penchant to call themselves affectionately as "my heart" and "my soul" while exchanging playful yet punishing blows) enter the mysterious Path of the Sun and emerge in a mirrorworld not unlike their own and thereby track the killer who, eventually as always, gets caught after a bit (yes, only a bit) of a scuffle.
There's no heavy undertones in this book, just plain straight, cop-work set in a medieval setting. Of course, the killer's motives are politically-charged -- someone feels that he should be sitting on the throne but his claim has been effectively nulled with the birth of a rightful heir. The mastermind hatches a plan that'll bring the throne to his hands and recruits the killer. Killer kills the wrong people -- Mercenary Brothers --and the Mercenary Brothers love their own -- so enter the dynamic duo of Dhulyn and Parno to solve a string of murders and in the process right the wrong in the succession.
And while the ending is unavoidable -- the mastermind will get lynched, the wronged prince gets the throne, Dhulyn and Parno live happily ever after as far as their Mercenary lives allow -- Malan doesn't tell us that. She ends the novel at Chapter 24 with Dhulyn and Parno still stuck in the mysterious labyrinthine Path of the Sun but we, the readers, know that because they have the blood of Steven Seagal, they'll move on to their next adventure in probably a couple of years or so.
A sure different way to end it, with a try at wry humor but personally, I would have preferred it if Dhulyn and Parno eventually reunited with Mar and Gun and the prince gets crowned and gets the girl who loves horses. I'm sucker for such endings that spell it out for me so I was a bit surprised when the book ended so suddenly.
But that's more of an idiosyncrasy than a real flaw in the work. The ending, despite not suiting my taste, does not deter the fact that Path of the Sun is a exceptionally-written tight piece of fiction. Despite its brevity, it tells a lot and as I've mentioned before, I wouldn't mind getting my hands on the earlier adventures of Parno and Dhulyn if they become available locally. It's also quite refreshing for me as instead of your usual magic-laden novels, the magic stuff in the novel is subtle, at many times uses dreams as its medium. We don't see lightning being summoned or fire blasts appearing out of calloused hands. Instead the magic is innate -- it's in the characters themselves.
Path of the Sun was a good read. A bit slow-paced yet engaging and definitely sustained my interest throughout.
Final Rating: 4 / 5 - If you get the chance, read it as it's worth it!
