Sometimes a hero must burn all she holds dear.
Unrest brews in the city-state of Uitenbach, but its magi continue their work, even though the world outside the hallowed grounds of their academy seems to be tearing itself to pieces.
Newly divorced and still smarting from her philandering ex-husband’s rejection, Maga Liese ten Haven doesn’t want to draw attention to herself. When the mysterious Atroyan tribesman Malagai reveals to Liese that she is the heir to a forbidden magical legacy, she is thrust into a conspiracy that may foment a civil war. If she fails, her magic will consume her.
But what if the only way to right the wrongs her people have done to the Atroyan nation is to sacrifice everything?
About the author:
Nerine Dorman is a South African author and editor of science fiction and fantasy. Her novel Sing down the Stars won Gold for the Sanlam Prize for Youth Literature in 2019 and The Percy Fitzpatrick Award for Children's and Youth Literature in 2021. Her YA fantasy novella, Dragon Forged, was a finalist in the Sanlam Prize for Youth Literature in 2017, and she is the curator of the South African Horrorfest Bloody Parchment event and short story competition. Her short story “On the Other Side of the Sea” (Omenana, 2017) was shortlisted for a 2018 Nommo award. Her novella The Firebird won a Nommo for “Best Novella” in 2019. In addition, she is a founding member of the SFF authors’ co-operative Skolion and is an active member of the Africa Speculative Fiction Society.
The Company of Birds | Nerine Dorman
ISBNs
Paperback: 978-1-0672459-1-7
Ebook: 978-1-0672459-2-4
The fantasy genre is often characterised by templates, taking tried-and-tested blueprints and seeing how authors can create something unique within the familiar. Assassin guilds. Schools for witchcraft. Forbidden magic. Half the fun of fantasy is seeing how the familiar tropes are subverted and toyed with.
And yet, few authors really break the mould and do something truly surprising.
But when you’re speaking about an author like Nerine Dorman, a veteran in the fantasy and speculative fiction field, it shouldn't come as a surprise that The Company of Birds does just that: something new.
Dorman turns the tables and welcomes the reader into the unravelling life of Liese ten Haven, a university lecturer whose career has reached the glass ceiling and instead of being driven by new love, is still reeling from divorce. Simply put, this isn’t standard escapist fair. This is a study of what it means to be a woman in a society that is bent on breaking you down. And how that experience affects a person’s ability to react to the wrongs committed against others.
As a character-driven work, the depths of mythology and Dorman’s masterful worldbuilding are largely only hinted at. But instead of leaving you wanting, it leaves you eager for what comes next, eager to uncover more of the world. Because it’s the slow build-up and slow pace that makes The Company of Birds so intriguing and infuriating all at once.
“It’s not easy. Especially when everyone just expects me to move on.” Liese ten Haven’s words are the perfect defence for Dorman’s refusal to turn the novel into a paint-by-numbers swashbuckling romp. Because the pace is a result of the fact that Maga is written not as a study of a classical hero, but a study of what it means to be human. She is petty at times. She is flawed. And she may just remind the reader of themselves at their weakest one too many times. And it’s that mirroring of flawed humanity that makes it so rewarding when she grows and changes and embraces her magic.
I may have received a review copy of The Company of Birds, but once you reach the last page, you'll understand why I'm counting the days till the sequel hits the shelves.
Some books enchant you from the first page. Others pull you in gradually, weaving a spell with their depth and complexity. The Company of Birds by Nerine Dorman does both. A richly layered fantasy, this novel is an immersive and rewarding read for those who love intricate world-building and phenomenal character growth.
One of the novel’s most striking features is its setting. The city-state of Uitenbach and its surrounding regions are heavily influenced by Afrikaans and South African culture. Readers unfamiliar with this language may need a moment to adjust to the pronunciation of names and places, but this only adds to the novel’s authenticity and immersive quality. Dorman’s prose is evocative, painting vivid images of a world that feels both fantastical and deeply real.
While the novel draws inspiration from elements of South African landscapes and societal dynamics, Dorman emphasizes in her Q&A that the story remains firmly within the realm of fantasy rather than a direct reflection of real-world history.
At the heart of the story is Maga Liese ten Haven, a scholar and mage recovering from the betrayal of a philandering ex-husband. Liese is the kind of protagonist who grows on you—not because she’s perfect, but because she’s deeply flawed and wholly human. When she discovers she is heir to a forbidden magical legacy, she is thrust into a web of conspiracies that could ignite a civil war. Her journey is one of self-discovery, painful choices, and ultimately, transformation.
Liese’s growth is nothing short of phenomenal. She starts as a woman determined to keep her head down and avoid trouble, but circumstances force her to rise above her own pain and comfort. Her evolution—from a disillusioned scholar to someone willing to risk everything to right the wrongs of her people—is one of the novel’s strongest aspects. Dorman does not hand her an easy path; every lesson comes with a price, and every victory is hard-won.
The magic system in The Company of Birds is intricate and well-thought-out, entwined with the novel’s political and social themes. The conflict between the magi of Uitenbach and the Atroyan tribes speaks to larger historical injustices, making the novel feel deeply layered. While it reflects on power dynamics and societal struggles, it remains a work of fantasy rather than an allegory for real-world events. The way Dorman balances personal stakes with broader socio-political struggles is masterful.
For readers who appreciate character-driven fantasy with rich world-building, The Company of Birds is a must-read. It’s a book that demands your attention and rewards it tenfold with its depth, beauty, and emotional resonance. Liese ten Haven’s journey is one that will stay with you, as will Dorman’s breathtaking prose.
This is spectacular fantasy! The type of fantasy that leaves you with a clear picture in your head of this detailed and spellbinding world. Uitenbach is not just a pretty backdrop for this story. It is its own character. And makes the story all the more vibrant. The politics and magic system can be see throughout the story and you can see how it has shaped the created world.
I liked the characters because they felt real. It did take me a while to warm up to our main character Liese, which I don’t think is a bad thing. She is shy and quiet and just likes to keep to herself. Us introverts take a while to warm up to and it is the same with Liese. All the characters are believable because they aren’t all nice likeable characters. You can’t like everyone in the real world and even the people you like can be annoying sometimes. These characters are just the same. They all have their little things that make them a bit unlikeable, except for Malagai, who is amazing (I’ll die on this hill).
This is the story of an introverted book girl who is forced to leave her comfy bookish safe place and be a hero, kinda. And I have never related to a character more. I honestly didn’t expect to love this book as much as I did, but it is worth your time to read it.
5 sparrow tornados attacking your cheating ex out of 5.
The Company of Birds is a stunning example of why reading is inherently political. In today’s landscape, where most conflate fantasy with escapism and not much else, Dorman effortlessly comments on the ordinary person’s ability to bury their head in the sand, not out of malice, but a sense of self-preservation.
Maga Liese ten Haven is not your typical main character- she is not young and untested, but rather someone who has already walked through life and tasted its bitter waters. As a result, she is content with just simply existing as she is, at least until circumstances force her to act.
“I didn’t like to think about goings-on outside of my tightly furled world, but too much of that was intruding of late for me to ignore it.” Quotes such as these lead one to draw parallels between the complex, conflict-ridden world we live in today and the unrest setting the backdrop of Uitenbach, and the mindset of the ordinary, everyday person.
Where most fantasies today are fast-paced, showing us the world-building and magic systems as the plot unravels, The Company of Birds favours a more gradual exploration of the intricacies and depth of the Maga’s world. It is also character-driven, with Liese’s growth coming out of self-discovery and pain.
A must read for those in need of a richly layered and authentic world to lose themselves in while still taking in real-life connotations.
Thank you to Mirari Press for providing me with a free copy of The Company of Birds in exchange for an honest review.
‘The Company of Birds’ is an interesting novel that incorporates aspects of magic, secrets, betrayal, mystery, academic settings, and some birdie references 🪶
The overall plot was quite interesting and was riddled with plot twists that kept the story both interesting and moderately paced. The author did, however, spend quite of lot of time setting the scene – the true “action” only started about 100 pages in – which dragged the beginning of the book a bit in terms of pacing and action. Other than that, however, the plot really carried this book.
The characters had some strong personalities and were very strategically placed throughout the book in order to best develop the story. Liese especially was very headstrong and determined to the point where I sometimes had to question her actions throughout the book. Malagai was similarly just as determined – his introduction to Liese is especially telling in this regard.
The plot alone really has a lot of potential to take this book very far, I found the characters to be secondary in this regard. I understand that Liese’s divorce plays a big role when considering who Liese is as a character, I just wish it was incorporated in a different way.
I received this book from Mirari Press in exchange for an honest review.