Jeru is a member of the wolf clan caught in the tragedies of his past. Despite the efforts of his fellow clansmen, he drifts through life, subsisting and refusing to do anything that might lead to fulfillment or happiness. The rovers, on the other hand, suffer no such lack of motivation. A race of enormous barbarians from the north, they have grown tired of the meager existence their cold, barren lands provide and have set their eyes upon that of the clans’ to the south. They tear through the clans’ villages, raping and murdering everyone in their path. As his people deal with he possibility of exile, news of the capture of his deceased wife’s only living relative reaches Jeru. Now, he will be forced to decide between accepting his past and moving on or retreating into the mountains with no guarantee of survival. The Purple Morrow is the first installment in what will be a series of fantasy novels entitled Rise of the Papilion.
I enjoyed the depth of the characters of this novel and the richness of their surroundings. The work Ms Forde has done building this world is gracefully done, drawing the reader into it without overloading on details. The magic usage, too, is subtly executed and never overshadows the true point of the story, Jeru's journey toward self-forgiveness. I did feel that the description of the different clans would have been better placed closer to the beginning of the story, but this is a minor point since my brief confusion was addressed before it interfered with my interest in the story. Overall, The Purple Morrow is a strong start to the series, and I look forward to finding out where the papilion is headed.
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