The First Betrayal

The Chronicles of Josan #1

by Patricia Bray

Sometimes the magic inside us isn't meant to be discovered. . . .

Orphan, exile, priest, Josan has been posted to a lighthouse on the farthest edge of the kingdom. As a member of the collegium, he once dreamed of making a real contribution to the Learned Brethren, but those dreams died after a mysterious fever shattered him, body and mind. At least that’s the story he’s been told to explain a past he can’t remember. But that past has returned . . . with a vengeance.

When Lady Ysobel Flordelis is shipwrecked on Josan’s island, this sets in motion an explosive destiny. The Seddonian trade liaison is traveling to Ikaria on official business, but her secret purpose is to revive the revolution brutally crushed years before. Neither Ysobel nor Josan can foresee the significance of their brief meeting. But as Ysobel navigates the elaborate court intrigues in Ikaria, Josan will be forced to leave his island exile and embark on a treacherous journey to unlock the secrets that bind his past—an act that could lead him to glory . . . or doom.

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Science Fiction Fantasy

342 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 2006

About the author

Patricia Bray is the author of a dozen novels, including Devlin’s Luck, which won the 2003 Compton Crook Award for the best first novel in the field of science fiction or fantasy. A multi-genre author whose career spans both epic fantasy and Regency romance, her books have been translated into Russian, German, Portuguese and Hebrew. Patricia Bray has also spent time on the editorial side of the business, as the co-editor of After Hours: Tales from the Ur-Bar (DAW, March 2011), The Modern Fae’s Guide to Surviving Humanity (DAW, March 2012), and Clockwork Universe: Steampunk vs Aliens (ZNB, June 2014).

Patricia lives in a New England college town, where she combines her writing with a full-time career as a Systems Analyst, ensuring that she is never more than a few feet away from a keyboard.

Reviews

[Christine · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't find it particularly gripping but interesting.

[Aelvana · Rating 2 out of 5]

Josan has been working as a lighthouse keeper ever since a fever nearly destroyed him. At first, the solitude was a welcome chance to recover. But when an assassin tries to kill him, he wonders if his posting was more than that and sets off to find the answers.

Ysobel is the new trade ambassador to Ikaria, but her purpose is twofold: make lots of profit and feed the dim fires of rebellion that had flared once six years ago and been brutally crushed. Her task isn't easy, for the severe retribution from the original rebellion has left most of the city unwilling to risk crossing the empress. But she is determined to succeed.

Of the two, Josan's story grabbed me more, though Ysobel provides a lot of the historical and political background for the hotbed Josan eventually trips over. Josan's intelligence is tempered by a simple soul. He can't understand why strange things keep cropping up in his mind and body, things unsuited for the monk he knows he is. The answers, of course, are enough to make him question whether the truth is always the best thing.

On the other hand, Ysobel's intelligence is matched (or surpassed) by her ruthlessness. She has her own standards, but not much soul. It was frustrating that she didn't just abandon the clear folly of trying to incite rebellion and go about her ultimate goals a different way.

Other minor things bothered me: Josan's twice mistaking the way men look at him as wanting to sleep with him (the Brethren take a vow of chastity, which conflicts with Josan's brief observations of homosexual relations---either you took a vow of chastity or you didn't. The implications weren't clear enough to determine if the Brethren under vows are sleeping together, but why even bring it up? Surely there was some other way he could interpret their glances). Torture was relied on as an infallible way of getting correct information out of people (a common mindset, but it's working on the assumption that people in pain will tell the truth instead of anything they can think of that might stop the pain). The setting was weak; the city in particular lacked detail that might give it character or a sense of place.

Overall it wasn't a bad read but I find myself not terribly interested in the sequel. The pace was good, the intrigue and mysteries worked well together, but the characters never really engaged me except for Josan himself. I rate this book Neutral.

[Kerry]

This was the December read for [FantasyFavorites]. It seemed to be an interesting premise; the monk Josan is a lowly lighthouse keeper who is recovering from a debilitating illness five years earlier. Lady Ysobel is a trade delegate back in the Empire five years after a failed rebellion with a mandate to stir up further trouble. Unsurprisingly, both these characters and the rebellion turn out to be linked together.

Frankly, I found the book boring. I liked Josan as a monk and lighthouse keeper, but as soon as he started having strange spells and being hunted by unknown asassins he was, amazingly, less interesting. And Ysobel was a selfish upstart who seemed lacking in redeeming qualities. I guessed the "big secret" early on - gosh, how amazing so many different things all happened five years ago and I wonder if they're related? - and by chapter 15 I really didn't care any more and gave up.

However, having said all that, other members of the group loved the book and are intending to read the rest of the trilogy, so don't necessarily trust my judgement.

The First Betrayal
Patricia Bray
The Chronicles of Josan, Book 1
DNF

[David Fortier · Rating 3 out of 5]

The exposition in this book was fantastic in that the passage of time seemed real. Many books fail to make the passage of time interesting, let alone believable. Both Josan and Ysobel's internal thoughts were well written, especially Ysobel and all her planning, plotting, ans scheming. Her machinations knew no bounds.

I would have like to have been shown a little more at the ending. What happened to some of the secondary characters was done in summary, but I think it would have been a bigger impact had some of the scenes been played out. Although, showing them may not have been consistent with the rest of the book, and the events occurred after the climax, so some readers may have felt the denouement would have dragged out.

Overall, a very enjoyable read.

[Lawrence Boyle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not reviewing it yet

I am getting tired of reviewing every single book I read. I READ MANY. I purchased the next in the series

[Robert · Rating 3 out of 5]

This series is well-written, and an interesting adventure stemming from a unique set of circumstances that the magic of this realm allows to exist. While there is quite a bit of action in this series, the writer does not dwell on it, instead emphasizing the political and personal intrigues of the characters involved. I can't call this a page-turner, as it doesn't embrace that level of excitement or engagement, but it is well done. The best part of this series is that it doesn't follow the usual formula of fantasy novels, so you really have no idea how things will play out until the end. The series is comprised of three books:
- The First Betrayal
- The Sea Change
- The Final Sacrifice

[Rhane · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good read

I always love a good tale of redemption and survival. The characters are well conceived and realized. The story is large enough for a trilogy.

[Holly Badour · Rating 3 out of 5]

Took along time for me to get in this book. It was a slow move book and I probably won't read the second book into the chronicles.

[lynne fireheart · Rating 3 out of 5]

Updated Nov 2010:
reread in May 2010... am mildly curious about how the tale will play out: finally looked up the author and see there are two more books in this series, and have added to my to0-long to-read list, we'll see if I ever get there, LoL!

---
It doesn't say "Book One of the Chronicles of Josan" until the end where they give a teaser for Book 2, but this is so obviously a set-up for a series. A series I will certainly consider following. The priest Josan, stationed in the boonies as a lighthouse keeper, has an attempt made on his life, forcing him to flee: in his search for answers, he finds out he may not be the person he thinks he is...

[Meredith Galman · Rating 2 out of 5]

An interesting and original premise, betrayed by sloppy execution. It's hard to get worked up about overthrowing an empress who doesn't particularly need overthrowing, but the compromise reached by Josan/Lucius is not only unsatisfying and undramatic, it also fails to achieve his goal of keeping people from being killed. I expected to see more of a synthesis and accommodation between the two personalities. As for Lady Ysobel, her actions are inconsistent and distasteful: I don't sympathize with people who want to start wars just for commercial advantage.

[Linda · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's been a while since I read a book that simultaneously bored and interested me. I was interested by the plot and blurb on the back. I started reading and it was like wading through hip-deep snow. So much work for so little gained. There were just enough interesting points and tidbits to keep me going through to the end.

[Nowie · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's not a bad introduction to a new world. But it just doesn't feel like a full story and is more like a setup for a series. If this were the first 20 chapters in a full epic, I could handle that and would probably finish the story. But, as is, I'm not sure that I'll seek the next one.

[T J · Rating 3 out of 5]

Josan is an exile from the learned breather, when a man shows up at his lighthouse post, set off a chain of events that Josan can not explain. This a mystery with death and enlightenment with a twist. Now on to the next book, The Sea Change and what it might reveal.

[Elizabeth]

TBR

[Chip · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick, light read – decent but not exceptional.

[Vee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read book 1 and book 2. Patricia Bray's trilogy was mildly interesting but not interesting enough for me to purchase book 3.

[Mom · Rating 4 out of 5]

slow at start but good

[Chant · Rating 3 out of 5]

Uneven pacing, but pleasantly surprised. Well handled reveal.

[David · Rating 2 out of 5]

To much uncertainty about the lead make character

[Frank · Rating 2 out of 5]

Start was interesting but i found the story less interesting later on. Not really believable with the split personality etc.

[Jim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good, but I liked the Devlin trilogy of hers better.