The Dark Horse - Marcus Sedgwick

The Dark Horse was not the book I was expecting, though I'm not entirely sure what that would have been. A short novel, typical of Sedgwick, The Dark Horse maintains an unsettling and tense atmosphere throughout.

The Dark Horse follows the Storn, a coastal northern tribe, in their struggle to weather the harsh conditions and prepare themselves for the arrival of the titular Dark Horse, a terrifying, relentless warrior tribe. The story revolves around a single family, with the young boy Sig and his adopted sister Mouse, found in a wolves lair while the Storn were on a hunt. Sig loves his family, would do anything for them, but there is far more to Mouse than it seems.

I was completely absorbed by the relationship between Sig and Mouse. Love, trust, respect, fear...Sig battles an array of emotions when dealing with his sister and the events that transpire following the arrival of the Dark Horse. Drama, tension and excitement I was prepared for. What I was not expecting was the dark and entirely creepy nature of the book. I was honestly not expecting anyone to survive the events it contained, and was continually surprised by its twists and turns. Knowing who to trust is not immediately obvious, as events unfold slowly and danger lurks in unexpected places. As always, I was utterly gripped by Sedgwick's storytelling. Highly recommended!

Infernal Devices: Clockwork Angel - Cassandra Clare

The Infernal Devices is a trilogy of prequels to the bestselling Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare. While the Mortal Instruments series is set in modern day New York, the Infernal Devices is firmly set in Victorian England.

Although a prequel, Clockwork Angel was my first foray into Clare's world of Shadowhunters and Downworlders, demons and warlocks. The titular Clockwork Angel is a necklace that belongs to Tessa, a young orphaned American girl who travels to England in search of her missing older brother Nate. However, when she arrives at Southampton, instead of her brother she finds the Dark Sisters, who take her prisoner, subjecting her to experiments and preparing her for marriage to the "Magister". Tessa soon discovers she is a shape-changer, able to take the shape of any person whose belongings she can touch.

Tessa is rescued from captivity by Will Herondale, a handsome and arrogant Shadowhunter, who introduces her to the Institute, his "family" and the world of demon-hunting. The Institute members utilise Tessa's unusual skill to find Nate and find the Magister and reveal his sinister plot. Of course there must be a sinister plot!

Clockwork Angel is a world of supernatural beings, magic and mystery, but had such intriguing characters that I was completely hooked within a matter of pages. Tessa herself is a mystery, her nature as a shape-changer - is she a demon or some other kind of creature? Will Herondale is reckless and self-destructive, drinking, gambling and womanising, while demonstrating unnatural skill as a demon hunter and moments of barely hidden tenderness to his loved ones. Will's best friend and fighting partner Jem is an even more interesting character, with a mysterious illness and dark secret.

Clare's Victorian London is dark and gloomy, with sinister organisations, dark magics and flesh-covered automatons. With seedy drinking establishments and glamorous parties, dark alleys and gothic buildings, I can well believe this London may have existed. With the pre-requisite revelations, betrayals and romantic triangles, Clockwork Angel is a gripping and enjoyable story, with a very intriguing ending! The next two books in the series, Clockwork Prince and Princess will be released at the end of 2011 and 2012, and I for one am very excited to read them.

The Vintner's Luck - Elizabeth Knox

"You fainted and I caught you. It was the first time I'd supported a human. You had such heavy bones. I put myself between you and gravity. Impossible."

This book had completely passed me by. I had never even heard of the author, and it was not until a friend returned from a year of travelling in South America, that a copy was placed in my hands, with the most heartfelt of recommendations. The cover of my copy (right) did not exactly inspire me, but once I read the first page, I was well and truly engrossed.

The Vintner's Luck is a tale of the divine. But it is also the most human tale I could possible imagine reading. Opening in a French vineyard in 1808, our story follows Sobran, a young man poised on the precipe of manhood, heartbroken at being refused permission to marry the woman he loved. Taking solace in the vineyard with freshly bottled wine, the young Sobran meets a creature who will change his life forever. This particular vintner's "luck" is an angel, one whom agrees to meet Sobran on the same day each year, throughout the man's lifetime. And thus begins the most electrifying, and heartbreaking of relationships.

I could not leave my bed yesterday until I had finished this wonderful novel. That often happens to me when I get gripped by a tale, especially one with such neat, short sections, where it is impossible not to move on to the next! Today I found myself flicking through the book again, savouring some of the more beautiful passages, reminding myself of events and characters that moved me. Xas is so beautifully described, curious about and becoming lost in a world he does not truly understand, and emotions he could not possibly expect. Sobran is so painfully human, capable of overwhelming emotion, and of making all too credible mistakes. And do not let us forget the women in this story, the passionate and possible insane Celeste, and the intelligent and courageous Aurora.

Writing this review, I have found it a struggle to put into words how I feel about this story, so I shall turn to one of my favourite bloggers, Memory, who puts it perfectly..." the book crashed into me...one of those stories that sneaks up on you. You're reading along, utterly convinced that the novel is beautiful without being moving, when suddenly you realize that it's now part of your life. It's in you, and it's going to be with you forever." Through Memory's review I have now discovered that there is a sequel, or rather a continuation of one character's story, and I shall certainly be hunting it down. And Knox it seems has several other novels available, though it is hard to imagine anything that could be more beautiful than this glorious tale.

The friendship between Xas and Sobran is incredibly moving. Though much of the tale describes the divine; referring throughout to God, Lucifer, heaven and hell, it is truly grounded in humanity. Following Sobran's mortal life, we get a glimpse of how it may appear to an immortal, while following the struggle of this one man, in his relationships, with his family, and with the ever-present vineyard itself. For do not forget, this is a tale of that wonderful delight...wine, which permeates even the annual meetings between the man and the angel.

Elizabeth Knox's writing is a joy to read. Simple, but elegant, her descriptions invoke images of the divine, while continually grounding them with all that is human. You can almost taste the wine, feel the gentle midsummer evening sun of your skin, smell the freshly crushed grapes, hear the flutter of feathered wings. There are so many passages I would like to quote, many of which could spoil events that occur, so I will leave you with these few...

"Sobran fell against a warm, firm pillow of muscle. He lay braced by a wing, pure sinew and bone under a cushion of feathers, complicated and accommodating against his side, hip, legs, the pinions split around his ankle. The angel was breathing steadily, and smelled of snow. Sobran's terror was so great that he was calm, a serenity like that a missionary priest had reported having felt when he found himself briefly in the jaws of a lion. There was an interval of warm silence; then Sobran saw that the moon was higher and felt that his pulse and the angel's were walking apace."

"I've learned too much abuout unhappiness. I have it now, a permanent condition, like deafness. When I go out and watch the creamy surf pour into the cove Ican't hear it - I'm not here to hear - or something is crushing the sense out of me all the time. I love you [...], but I'm not coming near you until I stop wanting to burn away this pain with pain."

"I hate the connective tissue in a story. I think of the time I've spend silent or speaking secretively and it seems impossible to me to describe even a short journey, for every step depends on other earlier steps and my whys and wherefores are as infinitesminal as atoms in the scent trails we leave in the air - negligible, not evidence, but there."

"He was exhausted, but love was never finished, it had its rights, it had the right of prophecy."

p.s. this title has now been made into a film.

Other blog reviews:
Stella Matutina
A Striped Armchair
Just Add Books

(have you reviewed this book?)

Excalibur - Bernard Cornwell

Read for: Arthurian Challenge; A Tournament of Reading

The final chapter of Bernard Cornwell's Warlord Chronicles, and what an ending! Continuing the themes of love, loyalty and betrayal, Excalibur begins with the aftermath of Lancelot's rebellion and the devastating effect on Arthur and Guinevere's marriage.

Without giving too much away, this chapter of the famous legend sees Arthur's greatest victory while many of his promises come back to haunt him. Whilst the tale is narrated by Derfel, we know what fate awaits him, yet how he comes to that point is revealed. Much is left unsaid, as of most great stories, but the true joys of this series are the characters. Cornwell is not afraid to reveal everything about them, including their darker sides, which makes for gripping reading.

This series has rapidly made its way to being one of my favourites. The characters, plot and description of everyday life make this fabulous reading. I can not recommend it enough, and am already pondering which Cornwell novels to read next!

The Warlord Chronicles:
1. The Winter King
2. Enemy of God
3. Excalibur

Enemy of God - Bernard Cornwell

Read for: Arthurian Challenge; A Tournament of Reading

The second book in Cornwell's renowned Warlord Chronicles is possibly even better than the first! Starting off where The Winter King left off, Enemy of God begins with the aftermath of Arthur's victory. The book also focuses on Derfel's romance with the Princess Ceinwyn, and on the burgeoning relationship between Lancelot and Guinevere.

With some truly heartbreaking scenes, and some dark and disturbing descriptions of battle, Enemy of God is an exciting and engrossing read. Although heavily weighted towards politics and warfare, magic still has its place in this series. The powerful Merlin and his damaged and angry priestess Nimue search for the ancient Treasures of Britain which, when united, will bring forth the old gods of Briton, to overthrow the Saxon incursion and the ever-growing number of Christians.

Fact, fiction and legend mingle together so beautifully in this series from the incredibly talented Cornwell, bringing a large array of characters brilliantly to life.

The Winter King - Bernard Cornwell

Read for: Arthurian Challenge; A Tournament of Reading

I wanted to include both the original cover (left) and the new cover of the copy I own (right) for this review, as I really like them both.

Certain bloggers (who shall remain nameless) have been telling me to read Bernard Cornwell's Warlord Chronicles for longer than I can say. Well, I can finally say that I have made a start and finished the first book, The Winter King. And oh boy am I glad I bought all three the same day!

The Winter King is the tale of Britain after the death of Uther Pendragon. This Britain is less a tale of magic and myth, and more one of war and politics. The throne of Dunmonia is reserved for Uther's infant grandchild, Mordred, with several of the senior warlords pledging an oath to protect the child and his kingdom until he comes of age. Arthur, Uther's bastard son, and the most loved warlord in Dumnonia and beyond, makes the pledge and so begins the long struggle to govern and protect the kingdom without a king.

The trilogy tells Arthur's tale, through the eyes of his follower, friend and fellow warrior, Derfel Cadarn. The Winter King introduces us to the elderly Derfel, a monk living in a monastery in Wales, who spends his days chronicling the years of Arthur for his young Queen, Igraine. It is this tale that we get swept up into, brutal and unforgiving. Derfel was a young orphaned boy, adopted by the Druid Merlin, and raised in his home on Ynys Wydryn. Derfel witnesses betrayal of the child king's guardian and his attempted murder, and escapes with the king and some of the survivors. From that moment on, Derfel is plunged into a world of warriors, honour and lies. He becomes close friends with Arthur, who's ultimate aim is to unite the British Kingdoms against the Saxon (Sais) invadors. But peril and intrigue follow them at every turn.

I doubt very much that The Winter King could have been better written. I was hooked from page one and would have been mortified to find myself at the end, had I not already got books two and three in my possession. This is by far my favourite of the Arthurian fiction I have read so far, and I was so excited to read the next book, Enemy of God that I have not been able to write this review until finishing the series! To describe more of the events in this series would likely cause confusion and I imagine would put anyone off reading such a complex tale. So you'll have to find out for yourself...

Other familiar characters making an appearance in this series, include Nimue, Morgan, Lancelot, and Guinevere. Rather than a complete retelling of the Arthurian legends, this is more a reworking, with some of the older legends intermingled with newer ones, focussing more on the power struggles in the aftermath of the Roman exodus from Britain, and on the conflict between the old pagan religion and the new christian one. Sometimes hard to stomach, this book was always gripping and exciting. Thoroughly recommended for anyone interested in Dark Age and Arthurian fiction.

Here Lies Arthur - Philip Reeve

Read for: Arthurian Challenge; A Tournament of Reading

Picked up purely off the back of Nymeth’s review and because I’m having a bit of an Arthurian (and other mediaeval/middle ages/historical literature!) year, Philip Reeve’s Here Lies Arthur did not disappoint.

This tale of the legendary Arthur shies away from glossy cliché, portraying him as a brutish and not particularly intelligent warlord, who travels around the country with his thuggish band of fighters, ravaging villages, seizing gold and land, and generally taking whatever he wants.

The tale is told by Gwyna, a slave and one of the victims of such attacks, who flees in terror from her burning village and escapes by diving into a frozen stream. She is rescued by a mysterious man, who turns out to be none other than Myrddin, Arthur’s bard, who soon factors her into his mischievous plans. Myrddin explains that what others see as magic, are simply tricks and stories weaved from half truths, into something far grander, the stuff of legends. He uses Gwyna to help him weave the tale of the lady in the lake, passing the sword Caliburn (Excalibur!) to Arthur, who himself falls for the trick. Myrddin is then forced to hide Gwyna in plain sight, dressing and passing her off as a boy, Gwyn, who spends several years working for the bard and learning to live as a boy. She finds the life far better than that she had known, and becomes accustomed to male ways, until she is forced to experience the reality of war firsthand. Soon though, she becomes too old for Myrddin to hide her as such, and she is forced to rediscover her womanly ways, in a life she finds boring in contrast.

To say much else would begin to give away some of the fabulously creative ways that Reeve has incorporated the other characters from Arthurian myth. Most notably Guinevere, who is recognisable as Gwenhwyfar, a middle-aged widow, but whose fall from grace is not entirely the tale you will remember.

Although aimed at children and young adults, Here Lies Arthur is incredibly realistic and astute, dealing with the horrors that children of the age would indeed have experienced. Reeve treats his young readers with maturity and respect, and in return creates something I found to be a joy to read. It is work like this that can inspire so many young people to read, especially in this age of videogames and television. This maturity also makes the novel a fantastic read for adults and I found myself completely absorbed in Gwyna’s tale.

Although primarily an excellent spin on the Arthurian legend, the subplots of gender identity and the lines between what makes a story legend or truth, make this tale that bit more unique. But it is Reeve’s writing and storytelling that make this particular tale something special. Highly recommended.

Other blog reviews:
Things mean a lot

The Bride's Farewell - Meg Rosoff

Set in the 1850s, this is the story of Pell Ridley, who decides to run away on the morning of her wedding day. Fleeing the life she dreads, Pell leaves to start anew, heading for Salisbury Fair to find work, taking her horse Jack and her little brother, Bean. However, things do not go to plan and Pell finds herself alone and desperate after suffering a terrible loss.

This is perhaps not what one would expect from Meg Rosoff. Although filled with her trademark writing style and sensitive handling of coming-of-age issues, The Bride's Farewell is a historical romance, compared by many reviewers to the works of Thomas Hardy. Pell is struggling against the future expected of her, as an older child, wife and eventually, mother.

Rosoff has certainly made a name for herself in reinventing each story she writes, with a new setting (in this case a new time period) and new characters. This particular novel is very focused on the heroine Pell and her particular struggles, and certainly does not pull any punches. Pell is subject to terrible treatment and neglect, and at one point, a particularly vicious attack. The latter half of the book delves into a somewhat atypical romance with Pell and her unnamed companion beginning a very modern relationship and living situation.

The Bride's Farewell is about courage and independance, about not accepting your lot in life, but striving to overcome adversity and facing your challenges head on. Rosoff's writing is as graceful as ever. Although dark and at times quite hopeless, Pell is such a tough character and continues onwards, showing admirable determination and strength. Perhaps my only complaint is the speed with which the story comes to its conclusion, with all loose ends tied up in a matter of pages.

Certainly not everyone's cup of tea, and perhaps not as beautiful as her other work, but a good example of Rosoff's writing. I would recommend it to any fan.

Other blog reviews:
Fluttering Butterflies
Things mean a lot
The Written World

A Tournament of Reading

Yes yes, one more challenge she says! But how could I resist one based in mediaeval literature and history. Megan of Medieval Bookworm is hosting A Tournament of Reading, challenging participants to read more medieaval literature in 2010. Challenge genres include history, medieval literature and historical fiction. Medieval, for simplicity of definition, will be from 500-1500, and literature from all over the world is welcome, not just Western Europe. There are 3 levels:

• Peasant - Read 3 medieval books of any kind.
• Lord - Read 6 medieval books, at least one of each kind.
• King - Read 9 medieval books, at least two of each kind.

Participants are not required to make a list or stick to one, but post one if you can. For help, Meghan will be posting some recommendations. You can sign up using Mr Linky on Meghan's challenge post, and enjoy some medieval literature! For now, I am signing up as a peasant, with aspirations of becoming a lord (or rather a lady!), and I will post some titles once I've had a think. Fare thee well good readers!

My Swordhand is Singing - Marcus Sedgewick

Read for: YA Challenge

I remember reading that one particular blogger was very disappointed by this book as the cover suggested to them that it contained a story about samurai. Although perhaps not disappointed, I too thought this book was about samurai until I read Rhinoa's review . However I was undeterred and read it regardless, as I have long enjoyed Sedgewick's elegant style of writing.

My Swordhand Is Singing is an imaginative spin on the vampire/zombie myth based on Eastern European folklore and legend. Set in the forests of seventeeth century Romania, the story revolves around two nomadic woodcutters, the young Peter and his troubled father Tomas. After settling somewhat outside a small village, Peter begins to make a life for himself, only to discover something sinister at work. The dead are rising and Peter finds himself, his father and his beloved Agnes in grave (groan) danger, but some secrets may be much closer to home.

I really enjoyed this story and the legends behind it. Sedgewick is masterful at suspense, unnerving the reader at every turn. This is far from the over the top horror I have seen of late, with Sedgewick invoking the same amount of menace and chill, with the mimimal amount of prose. Having said that, I did find it hard to really care much about the characters. Perhaps Sedgewick was too minimalistic and left some of his characters undeveloped, and thus did not win over this particular reader. Don't get me wrong, I would heartily recommend this story to any fan of horror, suspense or vampire literature, but perhaps the most lasting impression for me was a desire to know more about the legends that inspired this story, rather than the story itself.

An enjoyable read, though perhaps not one that will stick in the mind for long.

Other blog reviews:
Rhinoa's Ramblings

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The Clan of the Cave Bear - Jean M. Auel

Rating: 2 1/2
Read for: TBR Challenge 2008

The Clan of the Cave Bear is the first in the Earth's Children series, which Auel began back in 1980 and is still writing today. Read for my TBR Challenge.

With a prehistoric setting when Neanderthal and Cro-Magnon man shared the earth, the titular "Clan" are a group of Neanderthal who are searching for a new home after theirs was destroyed by a terrible earthquake. On their journey, the medicine woman, Iza, discovers an orphaned Cro-Magnon girl and cares for her until the girl inadvertantly leads them to a perfectly situated cave. The leader of the Clan is persuaded to let Iza adopt the girl, Ayla, and slowly she is accepted by most of the Clan members.

The story follows Ayla as she is raised by Iza and Creb, the Clan's powerful holy man, as she struggles to assimilate into the Ways of the Clan. However, Ayla is not Clan, and is drawn to many things most of the Clan shy away from, such as open water, and often behaves most unlike a Clan woman, such as learning to hunt. Although seem as good luck by most of the Clan, Ayla makes an enemy of their future leader, Broud, and her transition from child to woman, and woman to medicine woman is fraught with angst and pain.

Although I have been looking forward to reading this series for some time, I was somewhat disheartened that within the first 3 or 4 chapters, I was very ready to give up. I was simply finding it boring and struggled to keep interested in the characters. Auel has done a staggering amount of research and her descriptions of the Neanderthal and Cro-Magnon people and their way of life is genuinely astounding, which combined with her creative imagination has led to some really interesting storytelling. However, the drawback was that Auel's descriptive prose was overly long and far too detailed for my enjoyment, often with several pages describing a simple activity. I did persevere with all 587 pages, and found that by the end I had quite enjoyed the experience, after a while (half the book!) becoming quite absorbed in this prehistoric world. The end is left quite open, as usual with such an extended series (five books and counting) and though I do wonder where Auel will take some of her characters, I do not feel particularly inclined to read further. Reviews of the follow ups are varied, and although her work is generally praised, the titles seem to get longer and longer and I truly think my patience would be tried!

So I'm going to call it a day. I'm glad I've finally read this book (I now know what the hype is about!) and will no longer be drawn to this section in bookshops! It has been quite refreshing reading outside the usual realms of fantasy that I find myself in, but I am a little disappointed that the book has not triggered any interest in prehistoric man or the Ice Age, as I had hoped.

The Clan of the Cave Bear most definitely lives up to its "magnificent epic" acclaim, but is a bit too epic for me!

Other blog reviews:
Michelle at In the Louvre
Jeane at Dog Ear Diary

Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell - Susanna Clarke

Rating: 5

Set in 19th Century Britain, during the Napoleonic Wars, Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell are rival magicians, with very different ideas concerning the role magic should play in modern society. With a fantastic array of characters, notably Norrell's intriguing servant Childermass, and the delicious villain, the gentleman with the thistle-down hair. Clarke's desriptions of characters and the magical events they find themselves involved in are delightful...ships built of rain, darkness sweeping over cobbled streets, talking statues.. This novel is a truly original creation, with a foot firmly placed in historical fact, an interesting take on prominant figures such as the Duke of Wellington, and is a beautiful homage to Dickens. Within the first few pages, I knew this would rapidly become one of my favourite books! The size of the book had put me off reading it for some time, but it really is necessary for the sheer number of characters and the kind of character development the author wanted to achieve. Jonathan Strange is intelligent, witty, poignant and at times, bitterly sad. Oh, and Clarke uses the most fabulously long footnotes, which I always love! My only gripe is wanting to know more about the Raven King!

I am quite interested to see how the book is going to be adapted into a film (the talking statues and moving darkness could be quite eerie!).

Other blog reviews
Rhinoa's Ramblings
3M at One More Chapter
Dewey at The Hidden Side of a Leaf