Book Review: Tribute Trail

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

Tribute Trail     Amazon US TPB Amazon Canada TPB
Terri Beckett , Chris Power
Class/Genre:   Science Fiction
Speculation, Jun 1999, $11.50, 256 pp.

In the Kingdom of Khasson, seemingly everyone including King Teiron admires Prince Kherin, the Chosen of the Goddess. However, Kherin has one enemy, his best friend and cousin Prince Alzon, heir to the throne. Alzon drugs Kherin and his hired Tylossian traders take him to Tylos. In their home country, the Tylossians include Kherin as tribute to the Shi'R'Laen Sun Stallion Caier.

While Kherin is betrayed, Rythian Lyre'son of the Shi'R'Laen loves his hearth-family, but worries about the direction Caier has taken the tribe. He challenges Caier, kills him, and becomes the new Sun Stallion. The Tylossian gift of four slaves including Kherin are freed and made part of Rhythian's hearth-family. Still, Rhythian has to contend with Caier supporters, the loss of his hearth as due the Sun Stallion, and the fear that everyone seems to have towards Kherin who is the first male this tribe has ever seen have the connection to the Goddess. Kherin needs to recover his health, but forget vengeance and follow the path the Goddess has laid out for him.

TRIBUTE TRAIL is an interesting speculative fiction that fans of other worlds will fully relish. The story line is filled with action and the moralities of the different societies feel genuine as if the three nations (Tylos, Shi'R'Laen, and Khasson) exist. Though the good vs. evil appears to simplistic, Terri Beckett and Chris Power provides the audience with a powerful, entertaining tale that will be fully enjoyed.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner