Andalon Legacy, the most recent book in T.B. Phillips’ Andalon Saga series, begins a generation after the Brother’s War. Robert Thorinson, his towering twin brothers Krist and Franque, and their single mother Eusari reside on a farm that is cut off from society and their past. On the verge of adulthood, Robert stands up for his buddy Tara in a fight in the playground, which sets off a chain of events that scatters the two across the continent and forces them to confront their origins and fates.
The Children of Andalon series’ first novel, Andalon Legacy, takes place 16 years after The Brother’s War, a struggle that almost tore the continent apart. While having a close relationship to Dreams of Andalon, Andalon Legacy can be read as a standalone series.
The fantastical setting created by Phillips is centuries after the collapse of our contemporary civilisation. And in it, he has created a setting that is brimming with some of the most thrilling aspects of fantasy, pitting vikings, mythical creatures, and magic against guns, steam engines, and physics. Phillips skillfully assembles his universe using the fragments of human history and the collective imagination.
Phillips has crafted his own Period of Troubles in Andalon Legacy, complete with historical deceptions, false relatives, and betrayals. Each character has their own perspective on what happened during the Brother’s War, which can be confusing to follow but is a welcome reflection of reality.
The adolescents also reflect reality. As expected of Arthurian archetypes, they radiate warmth and thoughtfulness. Each character is ready to make a difference in the world. Tara fights against the Pescari ways, Franque and Krist sail the wide seas, and Robert enters the world of politics. Even though Franque, Krist, Robert, and Tara are still young adults full of naive optimism, the novel gradually strips away their arrogance. These are expertly paced by Phillips, who leads them to rewarding climaxes.
They may live in a hostile and icy planet. But it’s clear that the characters have warm blood. Krist or Franque have the right to curse or declare their love for one another at any time. It is evident that Phillips is dedicated to creating characters free of toxic masculinity. With its quick pacing, rich world-building, and hypnotic action, Andalon Legacy draws you in, but what keeps you there is the characters’ struggle against heritage and destiny. Any fan of fantasy will adore having this in their library.
About The Book
Andalon barely remembers the Brother’s War, but one woman does…
Hiding a dark past, one woman sheltered four children from the world. Keeping promises to the dead, she knew one day truths must be told. That time has come, and she must dust off her thirst for revenge or watch evil men claim Andalon’s legacy.
Here is the first volume of T.B. Phillips’ action-packed series Children of Andalon. This modern fantasy combines magic with emotion while delivering political intrigue and adventure.
Andalon Legacy
Revolution once pitted pirates and outlaws against an oppressive crown. That fateful clash nearly destroyed the continent but also protected it from another, far more advanced, society that farmed its supernatural powers.
Now three brothers, raised on the frontier and far away from their true origins, seek adventure. The mysterious and magical Dreamers have arrived, seeking to take one of them away without explanation. As the lies of their family are exposed, the boys begin to understand the extent of their own potential. Each is meant for greatness, despite having been blinded to their destiny.
Elsewhere, a young girl must also journey. Deeply controlled by the tradition of her people, an internal struggle ensues that threatens her existence and all she loves. Discovering the power of a goddess along the way, she must reconnect to a father long dead if not entirely forgotten. Will she choose to blaze her own path or give in to tradition?
Andalon Legacy is part of the overarching Andalon® Saga, a tale set in a world many centuries after the destruction of our own. It questions human nature, mankind’s frequent mistakes, and also our potential. It weighs our love and compassion while also balancing vengeance.
The Review
Andalon Legacy
This is a fantasy novel that delivers on several fronts. The characters, all of them, are well developed, and the magic carpet ride of a plot takes us to totally unexpected twisty locales then there's the writing. On that note, there's no slack in even the worst of sentences anywhere in this magisterial novel. I look forward to reading the sequel. With Andalon Legacy T.B. Phillips has shown himself to be a master of the fantasy genre.