Review: The Matriarch Messiah by Maxine Trencavel

Destinies are questioned and family secrets are finally revealed in The Matriarch Messiah by Maxime Trencavel, a spectacular second installment of the Mystery of the Matriarchs saga.

Still stunned by the knowledge that they are the rebirthed souls of an ancient matriarch and her husband, unlikely hero Peter Gollinger, and his battle-tested partner Zara Khatum, have welcomed a new member into their relationship – the voice of God in Zara’s head. Driven by an ancient force to find the mysterious cavern of blue light, Zara is compelled to fulfill the mission of her lineage, but her success depends on Peter’s devotion, his father’s hidden legacy, and staying ahead of the sinister global powers who want to control her knowledge for themselves.

Their relationship may have been prophesied for more than 5,000 years, but the voice of Xwedê isn’t the only new addition to their star-crossed love. Rachel Capsali, a passionate researcher and zealous romantic foil, is ultimately chasing the same dream as Zara and her ancestors, but even divinely touched hearts are fragile things in the tangle of a love triangle.

The beating heart of this book and the thematic basis of the entire series is that a return to female empowerment and a divestment from hate-filled legacies are crucial for our collective survival. Unapologetically highlighting the true power of women as the bringers and protectors of life, and elevating them to bearers of a divine message, Trencavel delivers a stunning blow to patriarchal norms across a broad array of cultures and literary traditions.

The most intriguing aspect of the series is the extrapolation of the ancient civilization that built Gobekli Tepe – a discussion that is currently challenging anthropological, archaeological, and evolutionary understandings worldwide. This academic point of contention reflects the very same themes of the story; if the foundation of everything that we believe is wrong, isn’t it our responsibility to set things right by exposing the truth? Excavating that question through this sprawling drama, the writing artfully challenges everything from radical political norms and social inequality to Western imperialism, capitalism, xenophobia, and repressive religious dogma.

The key characters’ ethnic backgrounds represent multiple overlaps of historic strife, which is a potential minefield of controversy for the author, and could come off as insensitive in the hands of a less subtle writer. Given the ongoing brutality of the Israel/Palestinian conflict, pitting Zara and Rachel as opposing points of the novel’s core love triangle could strike a chord of discomfort in some readers, but Trencaval is undeniably elegant and even-handed in her depiction of philosophical and moral conflict.

Within the wildly original fantasy/sci-fi premise and historical/political issues, there is a poignant timeliness to the prose; Trencavel’s writing is both clear and eccentric, making the reading experience an engaging pleasure for logophiles and lay readers alike. Unexpected vocabulary choices, visceral turns of phrase, and the ability to summon stark and compelling landscapes in readers’ minds give the prose an electric and almost sacred quality, unburdened by frivolous detail or narrative filler. One of the few weak points in the writing is the dialogue, however, which is frequently used as a vessel for exposition. The plot is thick with backstory, subtle allusions, and foreshadowing, but the exchanges between characters – notably Peter and Zara – can feel unnatural and overly purposeful, rather than reflecting the intimate communication of lovers.

Fortunately, this issue is minor in the grand scheme of the novel, which offers a searing and empowering critique of the patriarchal social order and “humanity’s unchanging dark nature” through a dramatically original work of science fiction.