Review: The Saga of the True: One by M.L. Frey

An eternally changing castle, a noble race with an immortal legacy, and sinister forces of genocidal destruction make The Saga of the True: One by M.L. Frey an inspired work of fantasy.

Five centuries ago, humanity cycled through yet another horrific collapse and were nearly eradicated by the forces of the undead arising to obliterate the living. However, it may be the last time such a rebirth is necessary, as an age-old prophecy could finally be fulfilled when the last immortal member of an alien race called the True defeats his banished brethren and returns the planet to an era of lasting peace.

The attack by undying and undead enemies on the last bastion of mortals would result in the latter’s overwhelming defeat, even with the powerful technology of Amalphia behind them, were it not for Nalon, the destined hero from another world, currently residing in the UP of Michigan. When the rotted finally pierce the veil, the ultimate battle will arrive, and Nalon can feel the necrotic essence beginning to spread across the world.

The Network of humanity are preparing for the doomsday conflict within their labyrinthine Castle, under the wisdom of a Seneschal who has already watched the world fall once before. The human resistance and the empowered among them will need to join with Nalon and his incomparable abilities to have any chance of success, though complications of the heart and loyalties to the past threaten the critical alliance. After centuries of anticipation, Nalon worries that he will fail to defeat like so many of his buried brethren, unless he has a queen by his side.

Amidst a stunning clash of destiny, reluctant heroes, and a cursed cycle of rebirth and destruction, this sprawling novel is ambitious, visionary, and unlike anything else in the genre. The world-building is distinctive and the expansive weaving of fantasy threads is uniquely elegant; Nalon’s ability to non-abstractly communicate with the earth and natural elements is an original aspect of the story that shapes the magical paradigm immediately. The lore of this land is deep and memorable, from the song of Vallirva and the lurking lichs to the doomed legacy of Bogrun and the nebulous nature of essence.

The storytelling is unhurried and immersive, and the relationship dynamics are not lazy archetypes, but are instead grounded in complex and emotional bonds, some of which have been evolving for hundreds of years. Frey has crafted a story where the past can directly impact the present in unexpected ways, while form-shifting powers make connections and attractions even more fascinating between different figures.

On the technical side, there are some pacing issues and loopholes in the premise that keen-eyed readers may note, but these slips are forgivable within such an impressive storyline. The superficial editing is generally free of errors, though some of the exposition is repetitive, and the narration could be trimmed to leave more to the reader’s imagination.

Aside from these very minor issues, Frey’s groundbreaking new series delivers tense magical drama in a brilliant rendering of our familiar world.