Interviews, Wins, & Other Media

For a debut novel, Codex Sohrakia is outstanding. The prose is poetic, at times reminiscent of an Epic — ‘Paradise Lost’ comes to mind, which I can only assume was a point of inspiration for Taylor. But more so than the writing, for me, what really shines through is Taylor’s seamless ability to build not just a world, but a universe, a mythology — a creation story. And the scope clearly did not overwhelm her, as the detail in the mortal world and its inhabitants and environments, married with the obscurity and mystery surrounding the home of the Seraphon, makes for a compelling and feasible setting. Taylor expertly weaves the information she wants you to know with just as many questions to keep you invested and always wanting more, but also sparking reasonable doubt within the reader as the story unfolds and more of the world is open to them. The world feels real, tangible yet obscure all at once. Both reasonable and inexplicable.

Thematically, the concept of good and evil is constantly explored through the actions of Saham and the sizable cast of characters. However, what I found to be most compelling, was the exploration of redemption and punishment.

As Saham embarks on his quest for redemption — a quest he bestows upon himself, may I stress — we are witness to some incredibly disturbing acts. Arguably evil acts. But are these acts “evil” when being done in the name of good? Of God? It is harrowing to read Saham’s constant justifications for what he does — justifications that are not an attempt to convince the reader, but to convince himself. And then the question is asked: who is punishing who? Has Saham fallen so low because of his own guilt? Because he believes himself to require punishment? It’s a profound concept, that one has been indoctrinated to deeply believe in sin, that their punishment is not a divine act of God, or of anyone else for that matter. That it is self-inflicted, self-perpetuating.

And that, for me, was what made this novel outstanding.

The novel is not scary, however there is an undeniable horror throughout due to the many violent and cruel acts committed against the “other”, and the misunderstood. It can be a harrowing read at various points, and a few instances may evoke a strong emotional response, but Taylor is never obscene or gratuitous with the darker scenes. If you enjoy immense world-building, questions of morality, mythology, and strange-yet-endearing creatures of darkness, this story is very much for you.

Codex Sohrakia: The Gifted Dark is available to purchase from Amazon.

      —Tori Borne