***Spoiler Alert***
The first in the series is the novel Demon Drums followed by Storm Caller and finally Sorcerous Sea.
A wary former woman warrior seeks peace on a remote island runs afoul with a village sorcerous. The actions of a clever island teenage girl helps the warrior escape the village sorcerous and in doing so unleashed a series of events far more dangerous than all three could have imagined.
The book takes place in an imaginary island chain reminiscent of Polynesia. The main protagonist is a war wary warrior woman of the Shark Clan named Iuti. She is a hardened warrior and has ancient clan bonds to sharks which she can enlist for aid.
Her clever teenage companion is Tarawe who’s hidden powers and in experience come to light through the course of the novel.
Their antagonist is the opportunistic village sorcerous Pahulu who is particularly dangers and a cunning foe. Pahulu enlists aid from Teronin soldiers, evil magical drummers, and foul sea creatures. Her vile acts include torture and enslavement of dolphins! Pahulu is of middling power but she enough knowledge to co-opt others powers and bind it to her will.
As Iuti and Tarawe flee Pahulu across the sea towards distant islands an old friend and love interest of Iuti a shape changer of the sea named Ma’eva arrives to help their escape. Ma’eva departs and then returns through out the story.
Tarawe small talents for wind and sea magic unleash a storm to help them escape Pahulu and their minions.
The pair make land fall and are ensnare by magical drum beats of a tribe of evil drummers who make drumheads from the skins of their victims. Iuti and Tarawe met fellow captives. The old warrior Kunan who has been hobbled and force feed to make a larger drumhead by the demon drummers. And the warrior Risak who is tattooed by the drummers and magically forced to mate with their woman.
Eventually Kunan sacrifices himself to help Iuti, Tarawe and Risak escape with the demon drummers drumming trying to lure them back. After encounters with Teronin soldiers and the aid of Ma’eva and his bird friend they make their way to a port city. The group conceal their identity to avoid capture. Tarawe storm grows in power and each death it deals weakens her. They find help for her from a elderly magical healer Ho’ola. Along the way they met two prostitutes a male and female referred to as Milimilis who’s clever antics, thievery and morale aid the group.
After some time they take command of ship in the harbor and convince the crew to aid them in putting an end to Pahulu and the magical storms that is threatening the entire region. They voyage back to the remote island fight monster and Teronin soldiers. Iuti slays her clans Shark god who was aiding Pahulu. Iuti defeats the demon drummers and frees Kunan spirit. In a battle of magical duals Tarawe with the help of Ho’ola defeat Pahulu. This ends the great storm. Risak, Ma’eva, their allies and the Milimilis defeat the remaining Teronin soldiers. Pahulu is now in villagers custody and powerless.
Finally the group parts ways with the Milimilis going off to heal Risak. Ho’ola returns to her city. Iuti, Tarawe and Ma’eva head off to uncharted isles.
The story is a journey to defeat evil and to come to terms which the consequences of the characters past actions. It is a tale of heroic deeds and self sacrifice. Demon Drums beats with wonder and mystery.
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