Drift

Drift by M. K. Hutchins

Drift blends elements from different mythologies along with originality to tell a compelling story. Tenjat narrates the story that begins with his journey from their home island with his mother and sister Eflet. They need to avoid the hazards of the water, which principally consist of the naga. Alas, the naga get their mother, but they make it to a new island where they grow cassava. Tenjat dreams of having enough stores to support his sister for three years. Then he will go take to the test to become a handler (the military/police force). After three years of training he can become a full handler, and allow his sister to live in the kin home.

The islands they live on are lands on a floating turtle. The fertility depends on the ability of turtle to feed appropriate. The island also includes a true where the handlers live. It has roots and branches that serve as travel and communication means. The naga attack the roots under the island and need to regularly be fought off. In society, being married is a sign of poverty. "Hubs" are men that get married and farm the land. They are seen as greatly inferior to the handlers and artisans. 

Tenjat takes the handler test. He discovers that all they need to do is be able to see imps to pass. He passes. He is then assigned Avi as a trainer. Avi is the loan female handler. (We later discover that she is the secret daughter of the chief handler and chief woman.) Tenjat goes through a number of the typical challenges of training and boarding school. He manages to silence the bully and defend others. He make friends with the week kid. We also start to see him develop feelings for his trainer (even though he denies it.)

Eventually the big challenge arrives. There is an impending naga attack. There is also a giant island that is approaching. They must accelerate their training. They must also find their treasures that will help them. (We later learn that the treasures were things that were buried with them when they died in an upper world. The special abilities depend on what these artifacts are. Tenjat's sister had extra special abilities because of how she was buried.) 

They have a special plan to fight the bad guys. It involves getting a special treasure to negotiate with the naga. It turns out they are "lost souls" that want to be given another chance. Tenjat promises to be a "hub" and birth many children that the naga can be the souls of. After a few turns and conflicts, they succeed and Tenjat and Avi get married and become farmers. The island is at peace and no longer needs the many handlers.

The world of the novel is very foreign, but also very accessible. Part is based on Mayan mythology. Other parts explore different concepts of society. Parenthood was seen as something only the poor did because they needed somebody to care for them. After peace was made, less could be devoted to military, and families and parents were seen as more valuable. The novel also explores the interplay of different world. The death from one is the birth of another. Those that were stillbirthed on one world may become great leaders on the other. There is value in following the "standard path" in society, but of also reaching out and doing things that are different.