Krzysztof Jagiełło is an artist making his debut on the Polish literary scene. His book Piast Mściciel is an interesting proposition for readers who like history and more. The plot, set in the times of the early Piasts, can be a real treat for anyone who prefers the historical fantasy genre.
Cruelty becomes a stimulus
We meet Brother Lothar (aka Scibor) in the order where Father Albrecht is the prior. The protagonist tries to tell the tragic story of Piast Kołodziej (aka the Avenger). The family settlement of Piast and Ścibora – Brójnice – is attacked by a cruel prince. Young heroes, friends from an early age and learning gear together, have to face a completely new reality – no home, no loved ones, no prospects. The invader who destroyed the Polan tribe remains anonymous at first, but the joint actions of Piast and Ścibor open the way to the truth. However, before they start trying to take revenge, they must bury their loved ones with dignity.
More briskly in the group
The actions against Popiel are not only the inhabitants of the now defunct village, but also Bjorn and his daughter Samboja. Danish hunters have the knowledge necessary to unravel the mystery of the recent attack. Piast and Ścibor learn that it was Izbygniew, a lord from the Kozienice family, who led the invaders to the center of the settlement of Brójnice. The population, unexpected by the attack, showed no resistance, however. In the meantime, other heroes also play a large role, such as Popiel, Dargorad and his son Gorazo (survivors from the settlement of Brójnice), Bieruń (a bandit who led a gang of bad guys) and Grzymisław (the prince of Kozienice). The fates of the heroes intertwine. The reader follows the realities of Slavic mythology with them.
A bloody story about the past
Paganism and references to ancient beliefs in the book are few. However, a mysterious witch from Małomir appears, an extremely beautiful (but apparently not young) blonde who saves the life of one of the heroes. The warriors also meet Czabor, a healer known in these lands, who decides to help them. The plot is largely characterized by a historical atmosphere, which allows the reader to understand the world of the ancient times of the nineteenth-century Slavic region. Historical battles, throwing into dungeons, heroes’ victories and defeats, chases, deception – all these elements fill the story of Piast and Ścibor. Piast the Avengerhas the character of a flashback, Scibor tells the story of his youth and rehabilitates himself in reference to past events. The fact that the whole story is embedded in the Polish cultural circle makes the book a history lesson in the privacy of the home kingdom for a local reader.
Yes and no
The theme of revenge is nothing new in pop culture, so the reader can freely predict the course of the story. The plot, introduced in an interesting way at the beginning, loses its attractiveness in the middle of the book. The determination of the heroes does not weaken, but there is no fast-paced action and surprising solutions. The ending is easy to predict, but for some reason the reader does not give up reading, but experiences new adventures together with the heroes. The language of the Avenger Hub is quite modern, non-archaic. The content is therefore very accessible to any reader and does not require additional historical knowledge. The novel is the first part of the series. The audience intrigued by the story will surely wait impatiently for the next volumes.
