The Waking Land Is the Year’s Most Hopeful Fantasy

The Waking Land is, at its root, a hopeful coming-of-age story with a tinge of mystery. Lady Elanna Valtai, El, is taken hostage at the age of five by the new King of Eren, Antoine Eyrlai, while at a dinner with her father, the Duke of Caeris, and her mother. The King sends the Duke into exile and vows to keep El as a political prisoner indefinitely to ensure compliance with his rule.
El barely recalls her early childhood, beyond a few memories of a magical connection with plants—magic she has tried to bury and forget. Now 19, with dreams of becoming a botanist, El finds herself framed in the death of the king who upended her life. Forced to flee, she quickly finds herself swept up the political machinations of a father she barely knows, and must confront the true depths of her innate powers.

Callie Bates’s debut is easy to fall into, especially if you’re burned out on dark and bloody fantasy—part of a recent wave of books like Naomi Novik’s Uprooted and Katharine Arden’s The Bear and the Nightingale, which remind us the genre can be uplifting without being simplistic. It a light-hearted read with a fast-paced plot you’ll fly right through, with mystery elements that come into play as you try to discover the true culprit behind the king’s murder figure out who is on El’s side. The story is told solely from El’s perspective, so we’re right there with her as she navigates a web of magic and political intrigue. And more—El is still a young woman trying to figure out who she is , what what she believes, and what is most important to her, making it even harder for her to know whom she can trust.
El is what I’ll call a hopeful protagonist, and her optimism is infectious. I found myself rooting for her in so many ways. It is hard enough entering adulthood as an average nobody; add to that the political maneuvering of king-making coupled with the weight of a magical ancestry not seen in generations, and a fair bit of self-doubt, missteps, and misgivings are to be expected. But Bates succeeds in giving us a character we can connect with and relate to. El is tenacious and confident, willing to speak her mind and fight for what’s right, and do right by those she loves.

El’s relationships with the supporting cast only add to the book’s addictive positivity. Her love interest Jahan; her closest friend Victoire; and a new friendship with Rhia Knoll, a representative from the mountain clans; and many more—all these friendships strengthen El’s character, building her into someone who truly want to follow on her quest. Having lived a very sheltered life as a political prisoner at court, her friendships were few and far between, many tainted with suspicion. El kept herself closed off to protect herself. Watching her blossom—even while on the run and coming into her own magical abilities—is as compelling as following the unfolding chess game of kings and succession.
In fact, much of the political upheaval is secondary to El’s growth as a person and a leader. Her relationships are crucial as she finds her role to play in a sprouting rebellion, yes, but they also teach her how to be the person she is meant to be, and to harness the resolve rooted deep within. Like the plants she feels such sympathy with, she draws strength and inspiration from around her—and by the end, she’s fully bloomed, and it’s such a joy to watch.
The Waking Land is available June 27.