The first book in the series, Twelve Kings in Sharakhai, was lingo-heavy, which probably wouldn't be an issue for someone who lived for years in a desert. However, for those of us who grew up in rural or suburban America and don't know a kufi from a niqab, it could be a bit obtuse at times. I found that I made my way through by just sort of accepting words as being something I didn't know or sifting out some meaning based on the context around the words. As I've said before, after the first book, this became less pronounced, although I don't know to what degree it was based on a change in the vocabulary used and how much was merely that I had grown accustomed to it. Book Four of the series, Beneath the Twisted Trees, features a eight-page Glossary at the back, which is nice and prevents readers from having to either look up terms online or do as I did and just sort of plow along and hope for the best. This Glossary also doubles as a dramatis personæ, including entries for characters and brief descriptions of who they are, which can be convenient if you find yourself unfamiliar with a certain character.
The story follows Çeda as she continues her quest to kill the twelve kings of Sharakhai. She has grown quite a bit since her days as the White Wolf of Sharakhai and has become much more than she was, although even she isn't sure what that makes her. She has a deep connection with the asirim, the monstrously transformed ancient members of the "Thirteen Tribe" - her tribe - allowing her to bond more closely than anyone outside of the Kings, themselves. However, her goal for the asirim is not to gain control of them, but to free them from their slavery to the Kings. Çeda even has the attention and love of the goddess, Nalamae, a fact known to the other gods and something they will try to use to their advantage as they seek to kill Nalamae.
In order to accomplish her goals, Çeda will have to become more than a warrior. She will have to become a leader, a commander, a strategist and, to some degree, a diplomat, because there is a war brewing and to finish the Kings off and protect Sharakhai from invading forces, it will take the combined strength of the thirteen tribes of the desert.
Beneath the Twisted Trees also follows other characters from the earlier books, in a similar fashion, with interleaved chapters following different characters' progression. Brama and Rumayesh interrupt their exploration of the desert to take part in the upcoming war, in exchange for a prize highly valued by ehrekhs. Davud and Anila, two mages from earlier in the series, are back, with Davud seeking protection for himself and Anila from King Sukru, whom they ran afoul of earlier. Davud hopes to gain the protection of The Enclave, a secretive group of powerful mages with whom the Kings of Sharakhai have a sort of mutual agreement of non-involvement. However, getting in touch with them is not an easy task - and King Sukru isn't done with Anila, just yet. King Sukru has already taught Anila a great amount, making her a fairly competent necromancer, but he aims to build her skills much further, to force her to handle a matter for him, that is life and death... but not necessarily in that order...
Ramahd is still on the run from - and at odds with - Meryam, the Queen of Qaimir. He still hopes to expose her for her crimes, but she is a powerful blood mage, which means they have to stay on the move, lest she use some of his blood to find him and, although Meryam might look old and frail, she is a powerful adversary and is also quite quick-witted, especially when cornered.
And then there's Emre. Little Emre has grown up quite a bit in his time with the Moonless Host and has become a bit of a diplomat, himself, acting as the level-headed representative of the Moonless Host and attempting to unite all of the tribes of the desert. He still suffers from a bit of naivete, however, which will cause some tension between him and Hamid, since Hamid recognizes that naivete and feels that Emre should be quicker to action.
Those following the story know that we enter book four with only nine Kings to be seen. Before the end of Beneath The Twisted Trees, another King will be taken out, two more will find their truths revealed and one will have his magical ability stripped from him, only to reveal that his most amazing talent might have been in making do without using his talent.
So, yeah. I guess I sort of started this review off with my conclusion, to prevent spoilers, for the uninitiated. Recommended? Yes, and very highly so. Beneath The Twisted Trees is a great continuation of this brilliant series by Bradley P. Beaulieu. Go out and pick up a copy to read on the beach or to curl up with on a rainy day. Personally, I like to play desert ambiance in the background while I read, but hey - you do you.
