Review: Crop Burner by Gavin Black

Author Gavin Black plunges readers into a rich new fantasy world with Crop Burner: The Tale Of Fearn & The Deamhon, a stirring coming-of-age adventure.

Born into the world as something to be feared, Fearn is faced with a childhood filled with grief. However, as his nascent powers grow, more hands and minds seek to guide him, including those of a mysterious and widely feared Crop Burner. Fearn’s destiny lies far beyond his fiery origins, and as he learns to harness the energy of Dainua, he finds his place in a broken world not made for him.

Although there are hints of style and theme from countless masters – Chaucer, C.S. Lewis, Terry Brooks, and Neil Gaiman to start – there is also a unique flair in the storytelling of this confident novel. Told with the air of an ancient parable, full of epic stories, willing souls, and unlikely heroes, of devastating loss and long-sought revenge, Black has tapped into a rich new vein of a sacred old root, exploring themes of fatherhood, brotherhood, prejudice, and perseverance.

There are also aspects that reflect traditional – or perhaps universal – belief systems in this fantasy world: “When things die, their energy returns to Dainua, helping give new life to something else.” The ideas such as “sul” – a linguistic stand-in for “soul” that is a unifying network of energy and connection, like the Force – are recognizable, but combined in unique ways. Despite the classic nature of such elements, this work still feels wholly original.

The meta aspect of telling tales being considered an ancient art, a power, and a gift, is threaded neatly through this story, and Black doesn’t disappoint when it comes to spinning enrapturing yarns for characters to share. This clever vehicle for exposition feels effortless in immersing readers. The other moments of narrative language tend to be more straightforward, but there are plentiful flourishes of description, giving the prose an easy, vivid grace, with a careful handful of deeply drawn characters.

Dair is an especially stunning character – embittered, inspiring, complex, and dynamic. The mental and physical changes that Fearn undergoes make him a fascinating character as well; he is figuring out his destiny at the same rate as the reader. There is always literary value in an uncertain hero, specifically one enmeshed in such internal and external conflict, and Black deftly handles each character’s complex narrative arc.

There are occasional slips of idiomatic phrases or anachronistic language that can be jarring, but these moments are few and far between. In rare passages, the narration seems unpolished, particularly when the author is describing the thoughts and feelings in a character’s head, such as the scene where a young boy who works for Fearn’s dad sees the protagonist desiccate a rabbit. The dialogue, when not in storytelling form, is sometimes stilted and declaratory, slipping in and out of colloquial rhythms and styles.

These small slips in the narrative are forgiven amidst the sprawling and creative realm Black has crafted. As a whole, Crop Burner is a wild and immersive ride through a world that clearly deserves more exploration.