In a world where centuries of war, lies, and godly wrath have caused the destiny of kingdoms to change, the eyes of one woman are the key to altering the destinies of kingdoms. It is not just a magic, mythical story but one of courage, love and destiny, and the rest of the world of old Tavia, where each shadow in the moonlight speaks of treachery and each heart holds a secret The Eyes of Myrl by Jeanne Ward. In the middle of it is the Princess Jestaen D’Myrl, a woman whose chief distinction is her wonderful gift, the eyes which do not only see but also heal, redeem, and unite. It is her gaze that could fill a gap made by blood and hatred, provided that she could manage to survive the forces that are bent on shattering her into pieces.
Myrl, Konal, and Krigkarl, the kingdoms have long been warlike. Both kings envy the other because each ruler thinks that his gods are on his side. On the east, King Zarek D’Myrl of Myrl holds fast to his shrinking throne and his craze after purity of blood. In the north, King Nilas of Konal has ceaseless wars to increase his land. In between are the Krigkarl barbarians under the merciless warlord Brondolf Torson with his changeling priests with their terrifying magic, able to change both bodies and souls. And Jestaen is born into this world of fire and fury, an illegal niece who must never be seen by her uncle, and her very birth a secret which could cost her uncle a thousand deaths.
Jestaen has her life broken when Brondolf raiders attack her village. She is taken captive, deprived of all she knows and taken into a nightmare world where sadism and covetousness become the order of the day. But still, she is strong even in captivity. The sorrow of her losses and the glow of something bigger are echoed in her green eyes, which are impressive, radiant, and unnatural.
Within those eyes, there is an ancient power that has been passed down through the blood of Tav, who is the Goddess of Tavia. Jestaen herself is not yet aware of her gift, but her pity and her boldness have roused a magic which is stronger than any healing salve; it heals wounds closed in with war.
Her journey crosses with Prince Rork of Konal, an expert created by blood and war. Whenever Rork rescues Jestaen out of the grasp of Brondolf, he suspects her to be a spy, the bait of his foes to kill him. But behind her terror and her weakness, he is peeking into a silent power that is shaking the barriers he has curbed around his heart. The weapon of trust turns out to be the ruin of Jestaen in a world where he is innocent. The magic to heal the dying brother of Rork in the presence of the army of Konal makes the world take wonder, and also get terrified when she uses her gift to heal the brother of Rork. Is she a saint, or a sorceress? A savior, or a threat?
This is a conflict between religion and fear, which is the core of The Eyes of Myrl. Jestaen is a curse as well as a blessing, a curse which reveals how easily the human spirit and the will of a God can be unbalanced. Ward uses her to address an age-old question: Can compassion overcome conquest? In all personal decisions, Jestaen is tested on the determination to elevate herself above vengeance and achieve a higher cause. As she is viewed by kings and warlords as a chess piece, she starts to realize that she is not going to serve anyone as a king or a warlord, but rather to bring a broken world that has lost the meaning of being whole together again.
It is in the confusion that the relationship between Rork and Jestaen develops into a forbidden relationship between two bitter rivals, which defies centuries of animosity. Their love does not emerge through a happy-end fairytale, but it is created through the challenges, sacrifice, and rebellion.
The Eyes of Myrl is a fascinating book, not only in terms of a love story, but also in terms of world-building and colorful characters. The world of Tavia is a masterpiece as created by Jeanne Ward, stretching all the way to the chilly heights of the Serpentine Mountains, where the dragon’s nest, and down to the holy Lake of Voices, where the voice of the dead fuses with the voice of the living. The changeling priests of Krigkarl, the warrior tribes of Konal, the glittering courts of Myrl all clash in an entanglement of alliances and betrayals, which resembles the confusions of our own world. Each scene is filled with tension, each page is filled with history.
The course of the story goes beyond a survival struggle as Jestaen starts to become awakened to the world. She is taught by visions of the Goddess Tav that her eyes were not just the signs of her origin but the channels of God’s will. She is able to feel the suffering of other people, heal using her hands, and see the truth behind deception. But such power comes at a cost. The more she employs her gift, the less her strength and the nearer she approaches being lost in it. Her fate requires some sacrifice, and Jestaen has to choose whether her life is worth the salvation of nations.
The most interesting aspect about Jestaen is that she is not some perfect heroine. She doubts, fears, and falters.
