Dylan Madeley’s The Fate of Lenn is a fantasy novel centered around the idea of colonialism and its inherent evils.
The story focuses on Duke Lenn Wancyek, a quiet, thoughtful man who governs the western province of the kingdom of Wancyrik. But it also concerns itself more broadly with the fate of Wancyrik itself, a kingdom that is growing more unstable by the day due to the encroaching imperial force of Kensrik, ruled by the tyrannical King Jonnecht.
As the threat of Kensrik grows more pronounced, Lenn becomes acquainted with Zinnia, the daughter of the Kensrikan governor of the occupied territory that was formerly Wancyrikian territory. Despite her high status, she is involved in an independence movement, believing that her father, though benevolent, is just as culpable in colonialism as wicked Jonnecht. Together, Lenn and Zinnia become personally entangled, attempting to keep Kensrik at bay.
Madeley writes in the acknowledgments that The Fate of Lenn was inspired by a course he took on post-colonialism, and it shows. There is some trenchant commentary reflecting on the nature of occupying governments: Zinnia regards the gentle rule of her father and the violent rule of a tyrant as “two faces of the same creature,” while cautioning against running back into the welcoming arms of Wancyrik: “we don’t want to trade one occupier for another.”
Some may be put off by the abundance of exposition utilized as the author builds the story’s world. It takes a while to fully acclimate. There are also a plethora of proper nouns to keep track of, which can be challenging.
But once on the story’s wavelength, readers will find this a thoughtful and ultimately quite powerful look at what it takes to survive occupation.
Also available as an ebook.