Tadhya: Exordium is a dark fantasy graphic novel, written by Quinn Howard (known for his Youtube channel Quinn's Ideas where he discusses speculative fiction) and illustrated by Matthew Weldon, with coloring by Jean-Francois Beaulieu. Mike Miller and Caanan White also illustrated two alternate covers. It was released in December 2021.
The official synopsis:
"Tadhya is the story of a young girl born into a noble family...but also into the hands of a manipulative coven. With darkness as their cover, the witches conjured their dark works and brought forth Tadhya - but will Tadhya be theirs to bend to their will? Or have they unknowingly, through their own hubris, unleashed something upon the world which will finally fracture the delicate balance they have tried desperately for centuries to maintain?"
The novel is intended to be the first installment in a trilogy.
A trailer and preview of the book can be viewed here
and here, respectively. A longer, official trailer can be viewed here.
Tropes found in Tadhya: Exordium include:
- Ban on Magic: The ruler of Myrath, King Gwydion, has made witchcraft punishable by death.
- Bilingual Bonus: "Exordium" comes from Latin and means 'the beginning' or 'introduction'.
- Constructed World: The story takes place in a fictional world and is primarily set in a kingdom called Myrath.
- Dark Fantasy: Howard has described the book as "horror fantasy". He also cited the works of H. P. Lovecraft as one of the inspirations for the story.
- Deal with the Devil: Lord Steffron made a deal with a witch coven that in exchange for power and success, he would give them his eldest daughter. When they come to collect, he initially tries to send them away but reluctantly hands over his daughter when they threaten to take away everything he has gained. To his surprise, his daughter is returned to him pregnant and gives birth to Tadhya nine months later, though at the cost of her life.
- Death by Childbirth: Tadhya's mother died giving birth to her, leaving her to be raised by her grandfather Steffron.
- Fantasy Counterpart Religion: The author describes the Divinity as being partly based upon medieval Christianity, such as having a single male deity known as the Father and preaching against 'pagan' religions, though it lacks a Holy Trinity or Christ-figure. The official trailer also mentions the religion believes in a Satanic figure referred to as "the devil" and depicts a priest wearing robes with a cross-like symbol.
- Fantasy Kitchen Sink: Howard stated he drew inspiration from Celtic, Nordic and African mythology to create the world Tadhya is set in. The witches are also said to worship Hecate, who in real-world mythology is the Greek goddess of magic (among other things).
- Mystical Pregnancy: The coven of witches had a hand in Tadhya's conception; her mother returned home pregnant after the witches performed a ritual on her.
- Protagonist Title: Tadhya is the central protagonist from whom the book takes its title.
