Review: The Citadel by Frank Dravis

Power-hungry corporations, priestly pirates, extraterrestrial warriors, benevolent guardians, and the ghosts of ancient aliens collide in The Citadel by Frank Dravis, the explosive third installment of his Dianis, A World in Turmoil series. A female-led epic that brilliantly blends classic and contemporary sci-fi themes, this adventure of cosmic protectors and priceless planetary bounty is a meticulously written marvel.

Disguised as a simple Dianis trader, Achelous has been captured and is now being shipped to the heart of the Nak Drakas Empire, where he faces a potentially gruesome fate for his supposed crimes, but one of his clever captors suspects that he holds much greater value to the Empire’s cause. Meanwhile, Achelous’ IDB team discovers a mysterious shrine to the legendary Loch Norim beneath Mt. Mars on the freshly reclassified planet of Dianis, as well as evidence that some of the galaxy’s legendary human progenitors may still be alive, perhaps even living or working among them.

Marisa, partner to Achelous and mother of their child, knows the truth of Dianis’ covert emissaries from the stars, and through the scrying power of a voyant, has learned that she alone will be able to save her extrasolar lover. Following the momentum of destiny, Marisa must infiltrate the titular Citadel, but one of her allies holds an eons-old secret that could turn the tide of this growing galactic conflict, and save her planet from being ravaged by greed.

The level of detail and backstory is intense, the characters are sharply developed, and the novel’s stakes are both unique and existential. As galactic attention has focused on the seemingly backwater planet of Dianis, an exceptional human drama has unfolded, with enough recognizable foibles and failings of religion, colonialism, and imperialism to call this book allegorical. The lines of hero and villain are also creatively pushed across the prose, with archetypal “good guys” like the Federation blatantly bending the rules of morality and law to achieve their ultimate resource-driven goals.

Over the course of this series, Achelous’ role as an agent of an advanced galactic federation has become harder and harder to hide, and in this thrilling new chapter, all the well-planted seeds of suspicion finally come to light, driving the plot forward into an action-packed rescue thriller. Conceptually, the confounding ideas of the sixthsense, mindwipes, scrying, and telepathy expand the cerebral boundaries of this sci-fi saga, allowing it to move smoothly around genre expectations and narrative pitfalls, never forcing readers to suspend their disbelief without sufficient explanation. With significant decision-making power placed in matriarchal hands, and a refreshing flip on the damsel in distress archetype, this series is especially timely for contemporary readers.

On a technical note, this book is once again drenched in world-building that boasts extensive colloquial language, social hierarchies, and religious divisions, which can be a challenge for readers unused to such expansive exposition, but it does make for an immersive reading experience, and it is well worth the effort. The clear flow of dialogue, narration, and plot progression is evidence of strong editing, moving the story along with polished prose and linguistic dexterity.

Easily stirring the imagination with ancient aliens, futuristic federations, and a dash of romantic heroism, Dravis has built an unforgettable saga of humanity among the stars.