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Shale is in trouble - the creature-filled darkness known as the Roil is expanding, consuming the land, swallowing cities whole. Where once there were 12 metropolises, now only 4 remain.
It's up to a drug addict, an old man and a woman bent on revenge to try to save their city - and the world.
File Fantasy [ End Of The World | The Darkness Approaches | Addiction | On The Edge ]
e-book 9780857661852
It's up to a drug addict, an old man and a woman bent on revenge to try to save their city - and the world.
File Fantasy [ End Of The World | The Darkness Approaches | Addiction | On The Edge ]
e-book 9780857661852
416 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2011
4 people are currently reading
619 people want to read
About the author
Trent Jamieson
49 books212 followersTrent Jamieson is a science fiction and fantasy writer.
Trent works as a teacher, a bookseller, and a writer, and has taught at Clarion South.
Trent works as a teacher, a bookseller, and a writer, and has taught at Clarion South.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
September 4, 2011
Today's weather was different because of the heavy rain last couple of weeks. It was hot and I need something to enjoy in a hot day and I thought reading science fiction or something related to desert might help me fulfill my day. Unfortunately, I end up eating in the nearby fast food while cursing myself because of my great disappointment. Hey, the weather changed again and it rain so heavy and I have to walk in the flood. My afternoon sucks and I can't sleep because of what happened.
If you read the blurbs or the synopsis of the book online or in the book itself, you find it very interesting and in fact the cover is very attracting, and reminds me of a dystopia novel.Attention, this book is not a dystopia novel this happened after the world collide and society is trying to rebuild again the peace while racist, kidding, I mean monsters that was called Roil is trying to destroy the peace again.
Wait, I'm not sure of the meaning of dystopia so I look for the definition online and saw Wiki's definition and it follows;
Now I know, the book really is a dystopia novel and it happens that the Roil is getting stronger and wider in range. Every living and every city is getting weaker and every second the chaos is getting brutal. Now, only few survived and the survivor must fight with their own might to save the remaining evidence of life in the world. Technology is getting better and getting weirder, they used to kill the monsters that produce a toxic that will transform life into Roil. Some kind of zombies in contemporary novel, living deforms and blood turns to ashes.
I don't like to talk much about the characters, characters of the book are very sensitive to discuss. I guess, he made this thing special. By the way, I have an issue with the protagonist. Could you please explain to me how he became drug addict and what was the whole point of making him a drug addict? Does it show that you are a drug addict too or was that the effect of the environment in the story? I remembered James Frey's worst book, sorry for attaching not-related stuff.
Words were very technologically advanced and my dictionary doesn't contain any of them. I don't know how I understand some of the part, maybe because I use the root word and so on to decode things. This is not a hard book to read, somehow, not enjoyable for me. I don't like to push this book to other readers but I suggest science fiction, steampunk and fantasy lovers should read this.
The author also won different awards from Australia and I must confess that I was so intrigued. I also read few reviews and snippets from the book and I'm happy they enjoyed the book immensely and included praises that interests me and give me the chance to read it. In the end, I end up dying with the other characters by choking because of too much chicken with special fat sauce.
I also manage to find the similarity of the book from the other published book of Angry Robot. They have too many characters and some were legally out of this world and some spoiled because of too much attention. Lastly, chapters of the book have different perspectives (again) and the good news is this is better compare to other Angry Robot's books I read but the story, I think I have to stop this freaking review. Whoever died in the end, god bless and see you to heaven.
Thanks to NetGalley and to Angry Robot who keep accepting my request and never read and accept my freaking reviews, or maybe they get irritated when they read them.
Review posted on Old-Fashioned Reader .
Rating: Roil by Trent Jamieson, 2 Sweets
Challenges:
Book #241 for 2011
If you read the blurbs or the synopsis of the book online or in the book itself, you find it very interesting and in fact the cover is very attracting, and reminds me of a dystopia novel.
Wait, I'm not sure of the meaning of dystopia so I look for the definition online and saw Wiki's definition and it follows;
A dystopia is the idea of a society in a repressive and controlled state, often under the guise of being utopian. Ideas and works about dystopian societies often explore the concept of humans abusing technology and humans individually and collectively coping, or not being able to properly cope with technology that has progressed far more rapidly than humanity's spiritual evolution. Dystopian societies are often imagined as police states, with unlimited power over the citizens.
Now I know, the book really is a dystopia novel and it happens that the Roil is getting stronger and wider in range. Every living and every city is getting weaker and every second the chaos is getting brutal. Now, only few survived and the survivor must fight with their own might to save the remaining evidence of life in the world. Technology is getting better and getting weirder, they used to kill the monsters that produce a toxic that will transform life into Roil. Some kind of zombies in contemporary novel, living deforms and blood turns to ashes.
I don't like to talk much about the characters, characters of the book are very sensitive to discuss. I guess, he made this thing special. By the way, I have an issue with the protagonist. Could you please explain to me how he became drug addict and what was the whole point of making him a drug addict? Does it show that you are a drug addict too or was that the effect of the environment in the story? I remembered James Frey's worst book, sorry for attaching not-related stuff.
Words were very technologically advanced and my dictionary doesn't contain any of them. I don't know how I understand some of the part, maybe because I use the root word and so on to decode things. This is not a hard book to read, somehow, not enjoyable for me. I don't like to push this book to other readers but I suggest science fiction, steampunk and fantasy lovers should read this.
The author also won different awards from Australia and I must confess that I was so intrigued. I also read few reviews and snippets from the book and I'm happy they enjoyed the book immensely and included praises that interests me and give me the chance to read it. In the end, I end up dying with the other characters by choking because of too much chicken with special fat sauce.
I also manage to find the similarity of the book from the other published book of Angry Robot. They have too many characters and some were legally out of this world and some spoiled because of too much attention. Lastly, chapters of the book have different perspectives (again) and the good news is this is better compare to other Angry Robot's books I read but the story, I think I have to stop this freaking review. Whoever died in the end, god bless and see you to heaven.
Hey, I want one of this! Cool, I can't wait to own one if ever the nearby toy store sell that kind of stuff. Steampunk is trending and I'm getting excited to novels related to that genre. Don't forget to include that gadget to the next book of yours. I suggest more steampunk gadgets!
Thanks to NetGalley and to Angry Robot who keep accepting my request and never read and accept my freaking reviews, or maybe they get irritated when they read them.
Review posted on Old-Fashioned Reader .
Rating: Roil by Trent Jamieson, 2 Sweets
Challenges:
Book #241 for 2011
September 6, 2011
The land of Shale is in trouble. The Roil, a wave of darkness filled with unnatural monsters, is sweeping across the continent, engulfing everything it encounters. Out of twelve cities, only four remain standing. Humanity is fighting back in every way it can, but internal divisions between political factions increase the chaos, and more and more it seems like the end is nigh. It’s up to a drug-addicted boy, a young woman out for revenge for the death of her parents, and a man who may be thousands of years old, to try and stop the inevitable....
I’m often intrigued by the books Angry Robot puts out, because they frequently seem to straddle two or more genres. They’re hard to classify, and that alone often makes them interesting. Roil is another great example of this, as it combines elements of fantasy, science fiction, steampunk and horror, all wrapped in what, based on the blurb, looks like a pulse-raising apocalyptic adventure story. I had high hopes for this one, but even though Roil has some positive aspects, I came away mostly disappointed.
In a sign of things to come, the novel starts off with two scenes of high drama: in the city of Mirleess, David Milde watches political opponents cut his father’s throat, then has to go into hiding underground while suffering horrible drug withdrawals. Meanwhile in the city of Tate, which has somehow survived inside the Roil, Margaret Penn learns that her famous parents have successfully field-tested I-bombs, a possible method to stop the Roil, just as the city’s defenses finally begin to succumb to the relentless unnatural onslaught. She flees, trying to make her way through the chaos of the Roil to safety....
Most of the early parts of Roil consist of these high stakes, high drama scenes, but because the reader doesn’t really have any background yet about the people or the world’s history, it often feels like empty drama. It all sounds tremendously important but just doesn’t have much impact. The first few chapters of this novel feel like watching one of those movie trailers that cram all the big explosions, mysterious characters and dramatic bits of dialogue of a two hour movie into a couple of minutes. It’s impressive, but it lacks the context that would give it real meaning. Roil would have been served very well by setting up the situation and the characters a bit before throwing them all into the deep end of the pool, so the reader would have some empathy and understanding. I actually stopped reading at one point to make sure this wasn’t book two of a series. (As far as I know it isn’t, but if ever a book could benefit from a prequel, this is it.)
Strangely enough, there actually is some exposition early on, in the form of excerpts from fictional history books that analyze, from a future perspective, the events we’re currently witnessing. However, these aren’t always helpful because the information tends to be vague and often focuses on the macro level, not on the characters we’re dealing with in the story. The very first excerpt, heading Chapter One, talks about political factions such as Engineers and Confluents, which doesn’t make much sense when you first read it. I’m not crazy about info-dumps as it is, but the ones in Roil are doubly annoying because they often don’t help much and sometimes actually create more confusion.
Still, there are also many positives in those early chapters, if you’re willing to go with the flow. Especially the early scenes set in Tate, the final bastion of humanity in the Roil, are sometimes breathtaking. The descriptions of the city’s defenses are simply awe-inspiring, and Trent Jamieson really manages to paint the picture so the reader can envision the situation perfectly. Margaret’s journey through the Roil is at times hair-raising. If only we’d had a handful of chapters before the start of the novel to set everything up, those scenes would have had so much more impact. (By the way, if you want a taste of Roil, Angry Robot has some sample chapters available here. Check out Chapter 2 for Tate’s city defenses, which I thought were some of the best parts of the novel.)
The experience of reading Roil is doubly frustrating because there’s actually a lot of really inventive world-building going on. You just have to work your way through a large chunk of the book to get to the point where you can really appreciate it. The Engine of the World, the Old Men, the Cuttlefolk, the Aerokin, the Vastkind... all these things are mentioned briefly here and there, but they only begin to form a coherent picture as you read further into the novel. Roil is a book set in a period when everything is falling apart, but it focuses heavily on the “falling apart” bit and doesn’t really describe what it is we’re seeing the dissolution of until later. Roil is a great book to reread, because a second look will allow you to catch some details of the novel’s spectacular setting that are mostly meaningless the first time around. However, I’m afraid many readers won’t even make it through one reading without getting too frustrated to continue, also because the pacing is uneven and the story at times seems directionless. That’s a shame, because despite all its shortcomings, there are some wonderful aspects to this novel.
Roil’s main strength is its inventive worldbuilding, but this is often overshadowed by its tendency towards the over-dramatic and its unsuccessful start that fails to build empathy for the characters and understanding of the novel’s setting. I tried very hard to like this book, but even after two readings, it just didn’t work for me.
(This review appeared on www.tor.com on 8/30/2011 and on www.fantasyliterature.com on 9/6/2011.)
I’m often intrigued by the books Angry Robot puts out, because they frequently seem to straddle two or more genres. They’re hard to classify, and that alone often makes them interesting. Roil is another great example of this, as it combines elements of fantasy, science fiction, steampunk and horror, all wrapped in what, based on the blurb, looks like a pulse-raising apocalyptic adventure story. I had high hopes for this one, but even though Roil has some positive aspects, I came away mostly disappointed.
In a sign of things to come, the novel starts off with two scenes of high drama: in the city of Mirleess, David Milde watches political opponents cut his father’s throat, then has to go into hiding underground while suffering horrible drug withdrawals. Meanwhile in the city of Tate, which has somehow survived inside the Roil, Margaret Penn learns that her famous parents have successfully field-tested I-bombs, a possible method to stop the Roil, just as the city’s defenses finally begin to succumb to the relentless unnatural onslaught. She flees, trying to make her way through the chaos of the Roil to safety....
Most of the early parts of Roil consist of these high stakes, high drama scenes, but because the reader doesn’t really have any background yet about the people or the world’s history, it often feels like empty drama. It all sounds tremendously important but just doesn’t have much impact. The first few chapters of this novel feel like watching one of those movie trailers that cram all the big explosions, mysterious characters and dramatic bits of dialogue of a two hour movie into a couple of minutes. It’s impressive, but it lacks the context that would give it real meaning. Roil would have been served very well by setting up the situation and the characters a bit before throwing them all into the deep end of the pool, so the reader would have some empathy and understanding. I actually stopped reading at one point to make sure this wasn’t book two of a series. (As far as I know it isn’t, but if ever a book could benefit from a prequel, this is it.)
Strangely enough, there actually is some exposition early on, in the form of excerpts from fictional history books that analyze, from a future perspective, the events we’re currently witnessing. However, these aren’t always helpful because the information tends to be vague and often focuses on the macro level, not on the characters we’re dealing with in the story. The very first excerpt, heading Chapter One, talks about political factions such as Engineers and Confluents, which doesn’t make much sense when you first read it. I’m not crazy about info-dumps as it is, but the ones in Roil are doubly annoying because they often don’t help much and sometimes actually create more confusion.
Still, there are also many positives in those early chapters, if you’re willing to go with the flow. Especially the early scenes set in Tate, the final bastion of humanity in the Roil, are sometimes breathtaking. The descriptions of the city’s defenses are simply awe-inspiring, and Trent Jamieson really manages to paint the picture so the reader can envision the situation perfectly. Margaret’s journey through the Roil is at times hair-raising. If only we’d had a handful of chapters before the start of the novel to set everything up, those scenes would have had so much more impact. (By the way, if you want a taste of Roil, Angry Robot has some sample chapters available here. Check out Chapter 2 for Tate’s city defenses, which I thought were some of the best parts of the novel.)
The experience of reading Roil is doubly frustrating because there’s actually a lot of really inventive world-building going on. You just have to work your way through a large chunk of the book to get to the point where you can really appreciate it. The Engine of the World, the Old Men, the Cuttlefolk, the Aerokin, the Vastkind... all these things are mentioned briefly here and there, but they only begin to form a coherent picture as you read further into the novel. Roil is a book set in a period when everything is falling apart, but it focuses heavily on the “falling apart” bit and doesn’t really describe what it is we’re seeing the dissolution of until later. Roil is a great book to reread, because a second look will allow you to catch some details of the novel’s spectacular setting that are mostly meaningless the first time around. However, I’m afraid many readers won’t even make it through one reading without getting too frustrated to continue, also because the pacing is uneven and the story at times seems directionless. That’s a shame, because despite all its shortcomings, there are some wonderful aspects to this novel.
Roil’s main strength is its inventive worldbuilding, but this is often overshadowed by its tendency towards the over-dramatic and its unsuccessful start that fails to build empathy for the characters and understanding of the novel’s setting. I tried very hard to like this book, but even after two readings, it just didn’t work for me.
(This review appeared on www.tor.com on 8/30/2011 and on www.fantasyliterature.com on 9/6/2011.)
May 2, 2017
3.5
The world, Shale, is a world with two moons and a dozen of independent city-states. Now almost all of those marvellous cities are disappearing under the onslaught of a strange spore-bearing storm that transforms everything it comes in contact with.
A lot of people have died behind the Obsidian Curtain, in the Roil, but it seems something even worse is happening now. The Roil seems sentient, smarter and faster. It is as if someone or something is directing it. The only thing that hurts it or anything that comes from it is the cold, but even that can't seem to last for long.
Each chapter starts with what seems to be an extract from a history book, a diary or personal notes of prominent men of the time this story takes place; then it shows what really happened during those years when the Roil tried to swallow the world with its new tricks.
The story follows three characters and occasionally two or three more.
Cadell, one of the cursed eight four-thousand-year-old Old Men, who is released from his imprisonment by the father of another protagonist, a young addict David. Cadell seems to be the only one capable of dealing with the Roil since the only thing that has any chance to beat it is the Engine of the World, a 'mythical Engine of the North – the ancient saviour and scour of the world.' Cadell was one of its creators and he and the rest of them were punished for creating it.
At first I thought I might not like David. An addict as a true hero? He threw up so many times in the beginning I was wondering if he was going to vomit through the whole story. Fortunately, David turns out to be a very likeable protagonist.
The third, who joined them much later in the book, is Margaret Penn. She is the only survivor from Tate, a city in the Roil everyone thought was lost decades ago. Tate fought and managed to live in the Roil itself. We get to see its fall. It would be harder to read about Tate's valiant attempt to fight that last fight if I knew how special the city was.
Cadell, David and Margaret aren't the only ones whose point of view we see, though. The Mayor of Mirrlees is one of those people who wishes to save humanity by sacrificing a huge portion of it. The first victims of that particular fight fell in a political war. David's father was one of those who were assassinated. Then you have Medicine Paul, the Mayor's opposition.
There is another strange thing about the story. The author had this perfect villain in Mr Tope and didn't use him as much as he could.
The whole plot of Roil could be summarized in a couple of sentences: they flee from their enemies and then try to decide what to do about the Roil itself. So there is a lot of travelling to and from places (airships, a train, on foot) and running. As I said, this book seems to set the stage for the second one.
The greatest strength of the book lies in the world the author has created. The machines and weaponry they use, means of transport, the Roil with its Witmoths that transform everything, various monsters from the Roil and the changes the characters see in them, the strange savage and bloodthirsty people of the Cuttlefolk, the Vergers and so on, are enough to make this story worth reading (the annoying parts too).
Even with all the bits and pieces that annoyed me (one of them being 'Now she was frantic. Her and the Roslyn Dawn both.' - that one really bugged me), this is still a great book. I wish I knew more about the Old Men and that the author used Mr Tope's character more.
And that ending? It takes the prize as the most abrupt, cut off-in-the middle-of-a-sentence type of an ending ever.
'How does one go about saving the world?'Roil is the first part of a duology The Nightbound Land and as such it mostly sets up the stage for the second book. I am going to rate it by how much it succeeds in doing that. Credit where credit's due sort of a thing.
The world, Shale, is a world with two moons and a dozen of independent city-states. Now almost all of those marvellous cities are disappearing under the onslaught of a strange spore-bearing storm that transforms everything it comes in contact with.
A lot of people have died behind the Obsidian Curtain, in the Roil, but it seems something even worse is happening now. The Roil seems sentient, smarter and faster. It is as if someone or something is directing it. The only thing that hurts it or anything that comes from it is the cold, but even that can't seem to last for long.
Each chapter starts with what seems to be an extract from a history book, a diary or personal notes of prominent men of the time this story takes place; then it shows what really happened during those years when the Roil tried to swallow the world with its new tricks.
The story follows three characters and occasionally two or three more.
Cadell, one of the cursed eight four-thousand-year-old Old Men, who is released from his imprisonment by the father of another protagonist, a young addict David. Cadell seems to be the only one capable of dealing with the Roil since the only thing that has any chance to beat it is the Engine of the World, a 'mythical Engine of the North – the ancient saviour and scour of the world.' Cadell was one of its creators and he and the rest of them were punished for creating it.
At first I thought I might not like David. An addict as a true hero? He threw up so many times in the beginning I was wondering if he was going to vomit through the whole story. Fortunately, David turns out to be a very likeable protagonist.
The third, who joined them much later in the book, is Margaret Penn. She is the only survivor from Tate, a city in the Roil everyone thought was lost decades ago. Tate fought and managed to live in the Roil itself. We get to see its fall. It would be harder to read about Tate's valiant attempt to fight that last fight if I knew how special the city was.
Cadell, David and Margaret aren't the only ones whose point of view we see, though. The Mayor of Mirrlees is one of those people who wishes to save humanity by sacrificing a huge portion of it. The first victims of that particular fight fell in a political war. David's father was one of those who were assassinated. Then you have Medicine Paul, the Mayor's opposition.
There is another strange thing about the story. The author had this perfect villain in Mr Tope and didn't use him as much as he could.
The whole plot of Roil could be summarized in a couple of sentences: they flee from their enemies and then try to decide what to do about the Roil itself. So there is a lot of travelling to and from places (airships, a train, on foot) and running. As I said, this book seems to set the stage for the second one.
The greatest strength of the book lies in the world the author has created. The machines and weaponry they use, means of transport, the Roil with its Witmoths that transform everything, various monsters from the Roil and the changes the characters see in them, the strange savage and bloodthirsty people of the Cuttlefolk, the Vergers and so on, are enough to make this story worth reading (the annoying parts too).
Even with all the bits and pieces that annoyed me (one of them being 'Now she was frantic. Her and the Roslyn Dawn both.' - that one really bugged me), this is still a great book. I wish I knew more about the Old Men and that the author used Mr Tope's character more.
And that ending? It takes the prize as the most abrupt, cut off-in-the middle-of-a-sentence type of an ending ever.
October 8, 2011
http://www.rantingdragon.com/roil-the...
Roil is the impressive first installment in The Nightbound Land duology by Trent Jamieson, up-and-coming Australian author of the urban fantasy trilogy Death Works. Jamieson’s newest novel showcases a powerful imaginative streak, creating a darkly fascinating world and successfully combining elements of science fiction, fantasy, steampunk and horror.
Roil is an apocalyptic tale set in a world called Shale, which lies on the brink of destruction by a seemingly unstoppable force known as the Roil. The Roil manifests as a malignant heat and creature-filled darkness, spreading across the land and engulfing everything in its path. Of the twelve great metropolises that once stood, all but four have been consumed. As if that wasn’t bad enough, the Roil is not only expanding at an unprecedented rate, it also seems to be changing, taking on an intelligence of its own. Humanity prepares to make its final stand. However, the last chance of salvation may well lie with a drug-addicted youth, a vengeful young woman and a mysterious 4000 year old man as they seek a mysterious machine from a bygone era, The Engine of the World.
No time for half measures or polite introductions
Our initial introduction to the strange and perilous world of Shale is far from gentle. Roil begins with our protagonist, David,witnessing the brutal murder of his father by political adversaries before he, himself, is forced to flee for his life. The reader is thrown into the thick of the action and from then on the story progresses at a lightning fast place. Cities fall and lives are destroyed in the blink of an eye.
Personally, I found this helped create a sense of urgency and confusion which really complimented the overall tone of the novel and the events depicted throughout. Like the reader, the characters are “thrown into the deep end” with little time to collect their thoughts. Nevertheless, most of the negative reviews I’ve seen cite this “ungentle introduction” as one of the aspects they disliked about the novel. Undeniably, this will appeal to some readers more than others, as will certain other aspects of the narrative.
For instance, each chapter of Roil begins with an excerpt from “future texts” regarding Shale. These excerpts relate at least tangentially to the events depicted within the chapter, despite (quite cleverly) not giving too much of the story away. This may be a little confusing or jarring to some readers. Personally, I was a little uncertain at first, although I found I grew accustomed to these passages relatively quickly and came to enjoy the foreshadowing.
A plethora of interesting viewpoint characters
Multiple events unfold at once throughout Roil and, as a result, there are a number of simultaneous narratives and frequent shifts between various points of view. Initially, I felt a little detached from the characters as the viewpoint would change before I could get a good grasp on their personalities. However, as the novel progressed I grew to relate to these imperfect individuals and found characterization to be one of the novel’s strongest points.
Jamieson’s characters manage to remain relatable and believable even as their lives undergo complete upheaval and their world falls to pieces around them. The protagonists all retain shades of moral ambiguity and even their most “noble” actions are frequently driven by selfish or morally suspect motivations. David has nowhere else to go and would rather spend his remaining life spaced out on the drug Carnival than have any responsibility; Margaret is driven by an insatiable desire for revenge; and Cadell’s motivations, like almost everything else about the Old Man, are shrouded in mystery. Furthermore, even the most ruthless antagonists, such as Stade, are not wholly evil, and truly believe they are doing what’s best for humanity given the circumstances.
A fascinating world of imagination and horror
For me, one of the outstanding aspects of Roil was the setting. Jamieson is undeniably imaginative and the creations with which he populates his world are refreshingly unpredictable and decidedly bizarre.
In many way the civilizations depicted are technologically advanced, although much of this advancement seems to be tailored specifically to holding off the Roil. One gets the impression that when faced with imminent destruction, development related to all but the most immediate concerns is stalled and some aspects of society may even regress. Therefore, although we have advanced ice weapons and cold suits, most other aspects of the world are less advanced and embody what could be considered elements of steampunk.
Many other fascinating concepts are introduced throughout Roil, including countless weird creatures and strange technologies. The mythology of the Old Men in particular was quite intriguing. Little is known about the Old Men, although the remnants of their once great civilization lie scattered across Shale. In addition, they have strange powers and are as cold as ice to the touch, the very antithesis of the Roil’s heat. Despite the presence of so many intriguing creations, description remains relatively sparse throughout Roil as Jamieson invites the reader to use their own imagination. While this keeps up the pace and adds to the authenticity of the setting and characterization (the characters, after all, have grown up knowing what an aerokin looks like), it will probably suit some readers better than others.
The horror elements throughout Roil are deliciously creepy and insidious. Jamieson doesn’t resort to graphic violence or severed limbs, instead creating a creepy ambiance that unnerved me in a way that excessive gore never could. Some of the scariest moments are those in which he hints at untold horrors yet once again leaves the rest up to the reader’s imagination. Much terror lies in the unknown, after all.
The plot ends at a logical resting point, although many plot lines are left unresolved and there is still much to discover about Jamieson’s world. If you’re anything like me, you will be hankering for the next installment straight after you finish, so less patient readers may want to wait until the conclusion is closer to publication before starting this weird and wonderful duology.
Why should you read this book?
Overall, despite the fact that Roil has some minor flaws, they did not detract from my enjoyment of the novel. Those who like their fantasy complete with weird technologies, creepy monsters, and interesting characters need look no further. Roil is a fun, absorbing, and action packed read that isn’t to be missed.
Roil is the impressive first installment in The Nightbound Land duology by Trent Jamieson, up-and-coming Australian author of the urban fantasy trilogy Death Works. Jamieson’s newest novel showcases a powerful imaginative streak, creating a darkly fascinating world and successfully combining elements of science fiction, fantasy, steampunk and horror.
Roil is an apocalyptic tale set in a world called Shale, which lies on the brink of destruction by a seemingly unstoppable force known as the Roil. The Roil manifests as a malignant heat and creature-filled darkness, spreading across the land and engulfing everything in its path. Of the twelve great metropolises that once stood, all but four have been consumed. As if that wasn’t bad enough, the Roil is not only expanding at an unprecedented rate, it also seems to be changing, taking on an intelligence of its own. Humanity prepares to make its final stand. However, the last chance of salvation may well lie with a drug-addicted youth, a vengeful young woman and a mysterious 4000 year old man as they seek a mysterious machine from a bygone era, The Engine of the World.
No time for half measures or polite introductions
Our initial introduction to the strange and perilous world of Shale is far from gentle. Roil begins with our protagonist, David,witnessing the brutal murder of his father by political adversaries before he, himself, is forced to flee for his life. The reader is thrown into the thick of the action and from then on the story progresses at a lightning fast place. Cities fall and lives are destroyed in the blink of an eye.
Personally, I found this helped create a sense of urgency and confusion which really complimented the overall tone of the novel and the events depicted throughout. Like the reader, the characters are “thrown into the deep end” with little time to collect their thoughts. Nevertheless, most of the negative reviews I’ve seen cite this “ungentle introduction” as one of the aspects they disliked about the novel. Undeniably, this will appeal to some readers more than others, as will certain other aspects of the narrative.
For instance, each chapter of Roil begins with an excerpt from “future texts” regarding Shale. These excerpts relate at least tangentially to the events depicted within the chapter, despite (quite cleverly) not giving too much of the story away. This may be a little confusing or jarring to some readers. Personally, I was a little uncertain at first, although I found I grew accustomed to these passages relatively quickly and came to enjoy the foreshadowing.
A plethora of interesting viewpoint characters
Multiple events unfold at once throughout Roil and, as a result, there are a number of simultaneous narratives and frequent shifts between various points of view. Initially, I felt a little detached from the characters as the viewpoint would change before I could get a good grasp on their personalities. However, as the novel progressed I grew to relate to these imperfect individuals and found characterization to be one of the novel’s strongest points.
Jamieson’s characters manage to remain relatable and believable even as their lives undergo complete upheaval and their world falls to pieces around them. The protagonists all retain shades of moral ambiguity and even their most “noble” actions are frequently driven by selfish or morally suspect motivations. David has nowhere else to go and would rather spend his remaining life spaced out on the drug Carnival than have any responsibility; Margaret is driven by an insatiable desire for revenge; and Cadell’s motivations, like almost everything else about the Old Man, are shrouded in mystery. Furthermore, even the most ruthless antagonists, such as Stade, are not wholly evil, and truly believe they are doing what’s best for humanity given the circumstances.
A fascinating world of imagination and horror
For me, one of the outstanding aspects of Roil was the setting. Jamieson is undeniably imaginative and the creations with which he populates his world are refreshingly unpredictable and decidedly bizarre.
In many way the civilizations depicted are technologically advanced, although much of this advancement seems to be tailored specifically to holding off the Roil. One gets the impression that when faced with imminent destruction, development related to all but the most immediate concerns is stalled and some aspects of society may even regress. Therefore, although we have advanced ice weapons and cold suits, most other aspects of the world are less advanced and embody what could be considered elements of steampunk.
Many other fascinating concepts are introduced throughout Roil, including countless weird creatures and strange technologies. The mythology of the Old Men in particular was quite intriguing. Little is known about the Old Men, although the remnants of their once great civilization lie scattered across Shale. In addition, they have strange powers and are as cold as ice to the touch, the very antithesis of the Roil’s heat. Despite the presence of so many intriguing creations, description remains relatively sparse throughout Roil as Jamieson invites the reader to use their own imagination. While this keeps up the pace and adds to the authenticity of the setting and characterization (the characters, after all, have grown up knowing what an aerokin looks like), it will probably suit some readers better than others.
The horror elements throughout Roil are deliciously creepy and insidious. Jamieson doesn’t resort to graphic violence or severed limbs, instead creating a creepy ambiance that unnerved me in a way that excessive gore never could. Some of the scariest moments are those in which he hints at untold horrors yet once again leaves the rest up to the reader’s imagination. Much terror lies in the unknown, after all.
The plot ends at a logical resting point, although many plot lines are left unresolved and there is still much to discover about Jamieson’s world. If you’re anything like me, you will be hankering for the next installment straight after you finish, so less patient readers may want to wait until the conclusion is closer to publication before starting this weird and wonderful duology.
Why should you read this book?
Overall, despite the fact that Roil has some minor flaws, they did not detract from my enjoyment of the novel. Those who like their fantasy complete with weird technologies, creepy monsters, and interesting characters need look no further. Roil is a fun, absorbing, and action packed read that isn’t to be missed.
December 7, 2014
4.5 Stars
Roil by Trent Jamieson is a superb science fiction and steampunk novel that comes close to perfect marks from me.
This book is made special by the world cheap by Jamieson. It is a character in itself. The world is slowly being overtaken and swallowed whole by the Roil. The Roil is itself an entity but it also contains many horrific denizens. Monstrous Wolves, flying leaves, and smokey moths are just a few to mention.
The characters are just fine, I only wish that we would have been given more backstory on the Old Men. The plot is straight forward and action filled. Jamieson gives us a sampling of steampunk machinery and weaponry. The coolest thing about this story is in the coolant weaponry that is used to fight back the Roil and the creatures within.
This book has all my liking. It is science fiction and a bit post apocalyptic. There are cool machines and people too. Plus I love that it is part of a duology which is rare these days where series go on and on and on.
Highly recommended....
Roil by Trent Jamieson is a superb science fiction and steampunk novel that comes close to perfect marks from me.
This book is made special by the world cheap by Jamieson. It is a character in itself. The world is slowly being overtaken and swallowed whole by the Roil. The Roil is itself an entity but it also contains many horrific denizens. Monstrous Wolves, flying leaves, and smokey moths are just a few to mention.
The characters are just fine, I only wish that we would have been given more backstory on the Old Men. The plot is straight forward and action filled. Jamieson gives us a sampling of steampunk machinery and weaponry. The coolest thing about this story is in the coolant weaponry that is used to fight back the Roil and the creatures within.
This book has all my liking. It is science fiction and a bit post apocalyptic. There are cool machines and people too. Plus I love that it is part of a duology which is rare these days where series go on and on and on.
Highly recommended....
June 14, 2011
http://staffersmusings.blogspot.com/2...
Is steampunk the new vampire urban fantasy? I feel like there's been a huge outbreak of steampunk this year. I guess it makes sense as a natural out growth of the huge boom in urban fantasy. For the most part steampunk tends to be more familiar to people than second world fantasy or space opera with no connection to the "real world". It is traditionally set in a Victorian or Old West environment with historical elements that make sense to mainstream readers and doesn't require vast amounts of information to understand. I would point out that Roil by Trent Jamieson isn't that kind of steampunk.
One of the real up and coming publishers Angry Robot Books, has definitely seen an uptick in steampunk novels. Unfortunately, I hadn't found a title of their's that really called to me until I saw Roil. Billed as steampunk in a second world fantasy setting, it reminded me of The Last Page, Anthony Huso's debut steampunk novel from Tor. Ever since I read Huso's debut, I have been looking for something similar that captured his talent for world building but exceeded his uneven storystelling. Roil did just that.
In Shale, the Roil is spreading. A black cloud of heat and madness has crept through the land, absorbing city after city. Where the Roil goes, life ends. Once there were 12 metropolises, now only 4 remain. Only the cold can stop the Roil and it's getting hotter. A young drug addict, an orphaned girl seeking vengeance, and an Old Man are all that stand between total darkness and the annihilation of humanity. Armed with cold suits, ice rifles, and the mysticism of Old Men the three begin a journey north to the Engine of the World - the only force capable of beating back the inexhaustible Roil.
If it seems curious that I capitalized Old Men thus far, it should. In Jamieson's world the Old Men are something akin to the Apostles of Christ if the Apostles had an insatiable hunger (use your imagination) and the ability to conjure ice at will. In this bad analogy the Engine of the World would be Christ. Throughout the novel who, and why, the Old Men are is of utmost interest. It is clear from early on that the Old Men are a bastion against the Roil. Where the Roil is hot as the sun, the Old Men are cold as hell.
One of the most frustrating things with steampunk for me is the lack of fantasy. Not in a genre sense, but in the sense of imagination. I always find myself asking the question, if I wanted to read about Victorian England why am I reading a steampunk re-imagining of it? Jamieson has totally sloughed off this genre standard in creating an entire second world fantasy. The Roil, the four metropolises, ice cannons, Engines of the World, and other epic sounding steampunk elements compose a beautifully dark, wholly imagined world that bears no resemblance to our own.
Jamieson populates his worlds as much with "villains" as with heroes. I put quotes around villains because to be frank, I'm not sure Roil has a villain. It's clear Jamieson wants his reader to hate Stade, the leader of the city of Mirrlees. He begins the novel by murdering his rivals in the street and doesn't get much friendlier from there. The truth is, he's trying to do right by his people. He sees the Roil as an inevitability and he wants to protect as many of his citizens as he can (everyone else can kiss his ass). Even the Roil itself, which is about as evil as it gets on the surface, is more a force of nature than a malevolent force.
Of course given that, it should be no surprise that Jamieson's heroes aren't particularly heroic. David, a young man of privilege is addicted to a drug called Carnival (heroinesque). He is often more concerned about scoring than he is about staying alive. His companion, an Old Man named John Cadell, isn't all roses either. In fact, he killed David's uncle a few years back. He's feels bad about it though. The list goes on and on. If a novel's strength is judged on its characters, then Roil is She-Hulk. Not the Incredible Hulk mind you (there isn't an iconic character in the bunch), but Jamieson has created a smorgasbord of captivating characters that bring everything to life.
That said, Roil is not without some fault. For all his exceptional world building and lush characterizations, Jamieson's narrative is decidedly standard to anyone who's read a surfeit of fantasy novels. Yet so are many of the paragons of the genre. Moreso than any genre, speculative fiction excels foremost through characters and setting. A strong, original narrative is all well and good, but without fantasy a novel will fall flat. On the strength of his setting and characters alone, I believe Jamieson has begun something that has the potential to be a standard bearer for Angry Robot and the steampunk subgenre.
And don't forget, Roil is the first in The Nightbound Land series - I'm sure Jamieson has a few twists and turns in store. So get back to work Trent, I'm ready for the sequel.
Sidenote: It's a real pain to write a review where one of the characters (Roil) is the same as the title of the novel (Roil). Just saying...
Release Information: Roil is due for a U.S. release on August 30, 2011 in Mass Market Paperback and Kindle.
Is steampunk the new vampire urban fantasy? I feel like there's been a huge outbreak of steampunk this year. I guess it makes sense as a natural out growth of the huge boom in urban fantasy. For the most part steampunk tends to be more familiar to people than second world fantasy or space opera with no connection to the "real world". It is traditionally set in a Victorian or Old West environment with historical elements that make sense to mainstream readers and doesn't require vast amounts of information to understand. I would point out that Roil by Trent Jamieson isn't that kind of steampunk.
One of the real up and coming publishers Angry Robot Books, has definitely seen an uptick in steampunk novels. Unfortunately, I hadn't found a title of their's that really called to me until I saw Roil. Billed as steampunk in a second world fantasy setting, it reminded me of The Last Page, Anthony Huso's debut steampunk novel from Tor. Ever since I read Huso's debut, I have been looking for something similar that captured his talent for world building but exceeded his uneven storystelling. Roil did just that.
In Shale, the Roil is spreading. A black cloud of heat and madness has crept through the land, absorbing city after city. Where the Roil goes, life ends. Once there were 12 metropolises, now only 4 remain. Only the cold can stop the Roil and it's getting hotter. A young drug addict, an orphaned girl seeking vengeance, and an Old Man are all that stand between total darkness and the annihilation of humanity. Armed with cold suits, ice rifles, and the mysticism of Old Men the three begin a journey north to the Engine of the World - the only force capable of beating back the inexhaustible Roil.
If it seems curious that I capitalized Old Men thus far, it should. In Jamieson's world the Old Men are something akin to the Apostles of Christ if the Apostles had an insatiable hunger (use your imagination) and the ability to conjure ice at will. In this bad analogy the Engine of the World would be Christ. Throughout the novel who, and why, the Old Men are is of utmost interest. It is clear from early on that the Old Men are a bastion against the Roil. Where the Roil is hot as the sun, the Old Men are cold as hell.
One of the most frustrating things with steampunk for me is the lack of fantasy. Not in a genre sense, but in the sense of imagination. I always find myself asking the question, if I wanted to read about Victorian England why am I reading a steampunk re-imagining of it? Jamieson has totally sloughed off this genre standard in creating an entire second world fantasy. The Roil, the four metropolises, ice cannons, Engines of the World, and other epic sounding steampunk elements compose a beautifully dark, wholly imagined world that bears no resemblance to our own.
Jamieson populates his worlds as much with "villains" as with heroes. I put quotes around villains because to be frank, I'm not sure Roil has a villain. It's clear Jamieson wants his reader to hate Stade, the leader of the city of Mirrlees. He begins the novel by murdering his rivals in the street and doesn't get much friendlier from there. The truth is, he's trying to do right by his people. He sees the Roil as an inevitability and he wants to protect as many of his citizens as he can (everyone else can kiss his ass). Even the Roil itself, which is about as evil as it gets on the surface, is more a force of nature than a malevolent force.
Of course given that, it should be no surprise that Jamieson's heroes aren't particularly heroic. David, a young man of privilege is addicted to a drug called Carnival (heroinesque). He is often more concerned about scoring than he is about staying alive. His companion, an Old Man named John Cadell, isn't all roses either. In fact, he killed David's uncle a few years back. He's feels bad about it though. The list goes on and on. If a novel's strength is judged on its characters, then Roil is She-Hulk. Not the Incredible Hulk mind you (there isn't an iconic character in the bunch), but Jamieson has created a smorgasbord of captivating characters that bring everything to life.
That said, Roil is not without some fault. For all his exceptional world building and lush characterizations, Jamieson's narrative is decidedly standard to anyone who's read a surfeit of fantasy novels. Yet so are many of the paragons of the genre. Moreso than any genre, speculative fiction excels foremost through characters and setting. A strong, original narrative is all well and good, but without fantasy a novel will fall flat. On the strength of his setting and characters alone, I believe Jamieson has begun something that has the potential to be a standard bearer for Angry Robot and the steampunk subgenre.
And don't forget, Roil is the first in The Nightbound Land series - I'm sure Jamieson has a few twists and turns in store. So get back to work Trent, I'm ready for the sequel.
Sidenote: It's a real pain to write a review where one of the characters (Roil) is the same as the title of the novel (Roil). Just saying...
Release Information: Roil is due for a U.S. release on August 30, 2011 in Mass Market Paperback and Kindle.
June 14, 2013
Back in Grade 7, we studied short stories and storytelling. We covered Freitag’s Pyramid: introduction, inciting force, rising action, crisis/climax, denouement, and resolution. We studied The Most Dangerous Game, and we listed the different types of conflict: man vs man, man vs himself, man vs nature, etc. It’s a simplistic way to analyze literature, but it does provide a good foundation to build upon in later years, once you have the ability to make more nuanced observations. I still remember it this day, and drew upon it as I considered how to first cover short stories with my sixth form students! And, reading Roil, all I can think about is man versus nature. The eponymous phenomenon that threatens the twelve cities of Shale is a fierce manifestation of nature, a rejection of the mechanical hubris that humans in this world have used to remake it for their purposes.
This isn’t the most straightforward of books to follow. In both setting and style, it reminds me a little of China Miéville’s work. Trent Jamieson doesn’t quite replicate Miéville’s truly wondrous sense of the weird, but he comes close. Roil is a good case study for the debate of where to demarcate the line between fantasy and science fiction, and it demonstrates that sensible people will eventually conclude it’s difficult, nigh impossible, to draw such a line. The atmosphere of this book is decidedly fantasy, in a dark, swashbuckling sense. The technology is almost steampunk, with fantastic airships and moving carriages and cannons and guns that shoot ice. Oh, and trains. Good, old-fashioned trains. And a world-controlling Engine.
The Engine of the World is one of the most interesting parts of this book, even if it doesn’t get that much page-time. It ostensibly is the reason the Roil has not expanded as much or as fast as it could have. The Engine (which seems to be some kind of dimensional gateway on its best days) held it in check in the past. Now the Roil is on the march again, and the remaining cities of Shale are desperate enough to contemplate using it. But the only one who might be able to do so, the only sane architect of the Engine left alive, has escaped their custody.
I didn’t have the easiest time getting to know the main characters. Truth be told, I’m not sure I know them even now. Their names spring to mind easily enough, but if you asked me about their parentage, their motivations, their story arcs, I’d be hard-pressed to discuss them at any length. Roil is one of those works that skilfully disposes of exposition, preferring to establish its world through hints in dialogue, epigraphs, and the occasional epistolary evidence. It makes for a more intriguing story; I’d really like to spend more time in this world and get to know its people. But I didn’t get too close to them this time.
Hence, I find it difficult to really highlight any specific part of the book. There is no subplot that jumped out at me, no moment of redemption that moved me to tears, no triumph that inspired a cheer or laughter. Half the time I wasn’t sure what was going on, and the other half of the time I knew what was going on but didn’t necessarily understand its importance. For me, the most intriguing mystery was what Cadell wanted to do to the Engine of the World and how it would help them beat the Roil. The fact that David picks up Cadell’s mantle to complete the mission, with very little exposition explaining what was going on, doesn’t clear much up.
Jamieson’s world of Shale is one that intrigues me. I’d like to learn more. But he doesn’t give me enough to go on, enough to make me care about the insane conflict we land in the middle of at the beginning of Roil. It’s one thing to come up with an intense story featuring zombie-like creatures and a world-spanning phenomenon that wants to eat your cities; it’s another to present that story in such a way as to sustain the reader’s interest. In the end, Roil just didn’t leave much of an impression on me, as this somewhat over-generalized review probably demonstrates.
This isn’t the most straightforward of books to follow. In both setting and style, it reminds me a little of China Miéville’s work. Trent Jamieson doesn’t quite replicate Miéville’s truly wondrous sense of the weird, but he comes close. Roil is a good case study for the debate of where to demarcate the line between fantasy and science fiction, and it demonstrates that sensible people will eventually conclude it’s difficult, nigh impossible, to draw such a line. The atmosphere of this book is decidedly fantasy, in a dark, swashbuckling sense. The technology is almost steampunk, with fantastic airships and moving carriages and cannons and guns that shoot ice. Oh, and trains. Good, old-fashioned trains. And a world-controlling Engine.
The Engine of the World is one of the most interesting parts of this book, even if it doesn’t get that much page-time. It ostensibly is the reason the Roil has not expanded as much or as fast as it could have. The Engine (which seems to be some kind of dimensional gateway on its best days) held it in check in the past. Now the Roil is on the march again, and the remaining cities of Shale are desperate enough to contemplate using it. But the only one who might be able to do so, the only sane architect of the Engine left alive, has escaped their custody.
I didn’t have the easiest time getting to know the main characters. Truth be told, I’m not sure I know them even now. Their names spring to mind easily enough, but if you asked me about their parentage, their motivations, their story arcs, I’d be hard-pressed to discuss them at any length. Roil is one of those works that skilfully disposes of exposition, preferring to establish its world through hints in dialogue, epigraphs, and the occasional epistolary evidence. It makes for a more intriguing story; I’d really like to spend more time in this world and get to know its people. But I didn’t get too close to them this time.
Hence, I find it difficult to really highlight any specific part of the book. There is no subplot that jumped out at me, no moment of redemption that moved me to tears, no triumph that inspired a cheer or laughter. Half the time I wasn’t sure what was going on, and the other half of the time I knew what was going on but didn’t necessarily understand its importance. For me, the most intriguing mystery was what Cadell wanted to do to the Engine of the World and how it would help them beat the Roil. The fact that David picks up Cadell’s mantle to complete the mission, with very little exposition explaining what was going on, doesn’t clear much up.
Jamieson’s world of Shale is one that intrigues me. I’d like to learn more. But he doesn’t give me enough to go on, enough to make me care about the insane conflict we land in the middle of at the beginning of Roil. It’s one thing to come up with an intense story featuring zombie-like creatures and a world-spanning phenomenon that wants to eat your cities; it’s another to present that story in such a way as to sustain the reader’s interest. In the end, Roil just didn’t leave much of an impression on me, as this somewhat over-generalized review probably demonstrates.
July 3, 2011
3.5/5
egalley thanks to Angry Robot
Interesting premise isn't it? And totally wrong.
I had to literally fight my way through the book. Don't get me wrong, - this is a good book, interesting, original, leaves plenty to work with for your imagination... But my God, would it have hurt to give us a little bit of prologue or some sort of world description instead of just throwing us into the deep end and let us swim or sink?
It took me 5 chapters to understand the structure. The quote in the beginning of each chapter is from the future and it's relevant to what happens to the characters in the present.
In the south last defence of civilisation, city of Tate succumbs to Roil, a chaotic mass of creatures with one consciousness, that came out from the core of the planet. Roil can't stand the cold, which is the only weapon of the last human cities against its invasion.
Margaret, the only daughter of Tate engineers manages to get out of the dying city and heads off up north.
In the north David, an addict and a son of one of the leaders of the opposition to the current tyrant watches his father die from the hands of Vergers, some sort of genetically modified human hunters. His father's friends arrange his passage away from the city with the help of one of the Old Men, half-mad and very strange Cadell.
Cadell has got his own agenda. He is one of the first Engineers who built the Engine of the World, but they played too much with it, civilisation crumbled to what it is now and the Engineers were cursed with virtual immortality, madness and perpetual cannibalistic hunger for human flesh.
Cadell wants to see the extent of damage the Roil has done and get to The Engine to switch on the cold and destroy the Roil.
The book is full of confusing power struggles, multiple POV's, battles, gadgets, pursuits and even has a magnificent airships fight. It took me half a book to get into it, and if you get that far it was all worth it, ladies and gentlemen! :) In the end I had more questions than answers, and I would really want to get a bit more clear structure and less different POV's in the book two.
Overall, not bad. Not bad at all.
egalley thanks to Angry Robot
Interesting premise isn't it? And totally wrong.
I had to literally fight my way through the book. Don't get me wrong, - this is a good book, interesting, original, leaves plenty to work with for your imagination... But my God, would it have hurt to give us a little bit of prologue or some sort of world description instead of just throwing us into the deep end and let us swim or sink?
It took me 5 chapters to understand the structure. The quote in the beginning of each chapter is from the future and it's relevant to what happens to the characters in the present.
In the south last defence of civilisation, city of Tate succumbs to Roil, a chaotic mass of creatures with one consciousness, that came out from the core of the planet. Roil can't stand the cold, which is the only weapon of the last human cities against its invasion.
Margaret, the only daughter of Tate engineers manages to get out of the dying city and heads off up north.
In the north David, an addict and a son of one of the leaders of the opposition to the current tyrant watches his father die from the hands of Vergers, some sort of genetically modified human hunters. His father's friends arrange his passage away from the city with the help of one of the Old Men, half-mad and very strange Cadell.
Cadell has got his own agenda. He is one of the first Engineers who built the Engine of the World, but they played too much with it, civilisation crumbled to what it is now and the Engineers were cursed with virtual immortality, madness and perpetual cannibalistic hunger for human flesh.
Cadell wants to see the extent of damage the Roil has done and get to The Engine to switch on the cold and destroy the Roil.
The book is full of confusing power struggles, multiple POV's, battles, gadgets, pursuits and even has a magnificent airships fight. It took me half a book to get into it, and if you get that far it was all worth it, ladies and gentlemen! :) In the end I had more questions than answers, and I would really want to get a bit more clear structure and less different POV's in the book two.
Overall, not bad. Not bad at all.
March 13, 2012
When David's father is killed before his eyes he believes his world is ending. Unfortunately, not only is David's personal world ending, it's also ending for everyone else: the Roil is coming.
Margaret is the only child of famous inventors. The Roil has laid siege to their city for thirty years, and it's through their inventiveness that the city survives. But their big experiment goes horribly wrong.
Cadell finds David alone on the street and saves him from a fate similar to his father's. Cadell is an Old Man, born thousands of years before, cursed with sanity and an unquenchable hunger. He may be the only person able--and willing--to save the remaining cities of Shale from the Roil.
Medicine Paul is a victim of his own political scheming, and in order to survive must make a deal with the enemy.
ROIL by Trent Jamieson at first blush seems like your standard end-of-the-world fantasy novel. Instead we get dark fantasy with steampunk and zombie apocalypse flavor; he does his best to break those cliches and create something fresh in a fantasy-horror mash up. For the most part he succeeds...and in other ways falls disappointingly short.
Jamieson gets points for inventiveness. He sets up a world in turmoil, where city-states dot the landscape. Despite decades of knowing about the Roil, their own political infighting results in a people woefully unprepared for the Roil's sudden aggression. Cities fall. People die. They seem incapable of saving themselves. Add to this a varied cast of experience, naivete, and suffering, and we get an interesting world that's exciting and creative.
ROIL is narrated in limited third person, with occasional scenes in omniscient; this writing indecision will tell you right there that the author still has some things to learn about his craft (despite other published works). We have the four main characters, but Jamieson includes other scattered viewpoints, such as a random creature or bug or the soon to be deceased--sometimes switching around within the same scene. This lack of consistency affects clarity throughout and I found these side viewpoints (among which I include the confusing chapter headers) to be irrelevant to the story itself, if somewhat flavorful to the setting. At the least they are distracting. At the worst pointless filler that affect pace and reader patience when time could have been better spent on detailing a world and its history without the info dumps.
It didn't help either that it took almost the entire book to feel a connection with the characters. Don't get me wrong, they are well-drawn, but they're difficult to like. David is addicted to Carnival and lives in a stupor; the mysterious Cadell drags him along for reasons that makes no sense as the boy is a burden. Margaret must escape the fall of Tate, but can't grieve so goes through the motions of moving on--but with a chip on her shoulder. Medicine Paul...even by the end I'm not really clear on the purpose of his story line.
ROIL moves full-tilt. I like a quick-paced story, but ROIL often suffers from too-quick transitions between main characters; this makes scenes short and difficult to settle into a character's situation or personality and affects flow detrimentally. It also means that the setting and characters lack the establishing details necessary for readers to visualise the world itself. The world was interesting, and Jamieson would spend time on some lovely descriptions, but at other times gloss over important information. Again a lack of consistency.
Ultimately ROIL suffers from movie to book syndrome--only without the movie. It would probably translate well on a movie screen, but without a consistent narrative of clues that include setting, description, and viewpoint, this is a book of ideas without what it needs for a successful delivery. By the abrupt ending I had grown frustrated because I didn't get what I needed to love the characters and care about their plight.
Recommended Age: This book will appeal to teenage boys 14+; parents should be aware that a main character is addicted to recreational drugs, but not without consequences
Language: Maybe a dozen instances in the entire book
Violence: Death and blood throughout, but not excessively gruesome
Sex: Barely referenced
I purchased the Kindle edition ($2.99, down from the $7 I bought it for several months ago). I'm not sure about the print edition, but it had more than its fair share of formatting and editing errors.
Margaret is the only child of famous inventors. The Roil has laid siege to their city for thirty years, and it's through their inventiveness that the city survives. But their big experiment goes horribly wrong.
Cadell finds David alone on the street and saves him from a fate similar to his father's. Cadell is an Old Man, born thousands of years before, cursed with sanity and an unquenchable hunger. He may be the only person able--and willing--to save the remaining cities of Shale from the Roil.
Medicine Paul is a victim of his own political scheming, and in order to survive must make a deal with the enemy.
ROIL by Trent Jamieson at first blush seems like your standard end-of-the-world fantasy novel. Instead we get dark fantasy with steampunk and zombie apocalypse flavor; he does his best to break those cliches and create something fresh in a fantasy-horror mash up. For the most part he succeeds...and in other ways falls disappointingly short.
Jamieson gets points for inventiveness. He sets up a world in turmoil, where city-states dot the landscape. Despite decades of knowing about the Roil, their own political infighting results in a people woefully unprepared for the Roil's sudden aggression. Cities fall. People die. They seem incapable of saving themselves. Add to this a varied cast of experience, naivete, and suffering, and we get an interesting world that's exciting and creative.
ROIL is narrated in limited third person, with occasional scenes in omniscient; this writing indecision will tell you right there that the author still has some things to learn about his craft (despite other published works). We have the four main characters, but Jamieson includes other scattered viewpoints, such as a random creature or bug or the soon to be deceased--sometimes switching around within the same scene. This lack of consistency affects clarity throughout and I found these side viewpoints (among which I include the confusing chapter headers) to be irrelevant to the story itself, if somewhat flavorful to the setting. At the least they are distracting. At the worst pointless filler that affect pace and reader patience when time could have been better spent on detailing a world and its history without the info dumps.
It didn't help either that it took almost the entire book to feel a connection with the characters. Don't get me wrong, they are well-drawn, but they're difficult to like. David is addicted to Carnival and lives in a stupor; the mysterious Cadell drags him along for reasons that makes no sense as the boy is a burden. Margaret must escape the fall of Tate, but can't grieve so goes through the motions of moving on--but with a chip on her shoulder. Medicine Paul...even by the end I'm not really clear on the purpose of his story line.
ROIL moves full-tilt. I like a quick-paced story, but ROIL often suffers from too-quick transitions between main characters; this makes scenes short and difficult to settle into a character's situation or personality and affects flow detrimentally. It also means that the setting and characters lack the establishing details necessary for readers to visualise the world itself. The world was interesting, and Jamieson would spend time on some lovely descriptions, but at other times gloss over important information. Again a lack of consistency.
Ultimately ROIL suffers from movie to book syndrome--only without the movie. It would probably translate well on a movie screen, but without a consistent narrative of clues that include setting, description, and viewpoint, this is a book of ideas without what it needs for a successful delivery. By the abrupt ending I had grown frustrated because I didn't get what I needed to love the characters and care about their plight.
Recommended Age: This book will appeal to teenage boys 14+; parents should be aware that a main character is addicted to recreational drugs, but not without consequences
Language: Maybe a dozen instances in the entire book
Violence: Death and blood throughout, but not excessively gruesome
Sex: Barely referenced
I purchased the Kindle edition ($2.99, down from the $7 I bought it for several months ago). I'm not sure about the print edition, but it had more than its fair share of formatting and editing errors.
October 24, 2011
After reading some other reviews, I was a tad anxious that the alleged infodumps and character-switching would put me off Roil. What I actually found was the opposite.
The world of Shale was a world I might have dreamed, and then been unable to find the words - so I'm pleased that Jamieson found a way to pin it down. It all made perfect, poetic sense to me. Yes, the archetypes we all know and love are here, but they are beautifully done, in a Fellowship of the Ring meets Dune kind of way, with an overhanging, Clive-Barkerish sense of malice.
Anyway, the writing is much prettier than in the Death Works series; more like what you find in Jamieson's short stories, and the individual cities, lost or living, cast solid shadows, both geographically and in the pages of Shale's imagined history. I am keen for the next book.
The world of Shale was a world I might have dreamed, and then been unable to find the words - so I'm pleased that Jamieson found a way to pin it down. It all made perfect, poetic sense to me. Yes, the archetypes we all know and love are here, but they are beautifully done, in a Fellowship of the Ring meets Dune kind of way, with an overhanging, Clive-Barkerish sense of malice.
Anyway, the writing is much prettier than in the Death Works series; more like what you find in Jamieson's short stories, and the individual cities, lost or living, cast solid shadows, both geographically and in the pages of Shale's imagined history. I am keen for the next book.
February 10, 2012
I guess I expected more. Some very interesting ideas to be sure, but some things about this book just didn't work for me. To start with, some plain bad editing. An hour or two could pass between one line of text and the next, with no warning. The short chapters, each with a fake quote, jarred the text and kept any flow from being build up.
We are informed that each character is important, or from important families, but never really learn why. Not only do I not care for them, I didn't care one way or another what happened to them.
The magic is jarringly out of place in the steam punk world. Not normal zombies in steampunkland(though there are zombies), but I need the magic to be somewhat believable, here it seemed tacked on.
Even though this is an obvious "first book" of a series, not enough was revealed to make me care about reading it further. This is the first real miss I have had in a while. If it was a physical copy it would already be sold.
We are informed that each character is important, or from important families, but never really learn why. Not only do I not care for them, I didn't care one way or another what happened to them.
The magic is jarringly out of place in the steam punk world. Not normal zombies in steampunkland(though there are zombies), but I need the magic to be somewhat believable, here it seemed tacked on.
Even though this is an obvious "first book" of a series, not enough was revealed to make me care about reading it further. This is the first real miss I have had in a while. If it was a physical copy it would already be sold.
May 7, 2020
The concept behind this book is a fascinating one, in which darkness is slowly taking over the world and transforming everything within it to something foul and violent and, in some places, genuinely creepy. The dead walk. Tiny moths flutter in your eyes and mouth and take over your brain so that you become a sentient extension of the Roil itself. And the shrinking pockets of humanity have to do their best to survive the Roil while also surviving all the other problems inherent with corrupt politicians and drugs and violence and all the other worldly vices.
A fascinating concept indeed. It’s regretful, then, that I found this book falling short of what I saw as its initial potential.
This book mostly suffers from a lack of descriptive consistency. Some things are beautifully described, and there’s no doubt of what characters are seeing, feeling, doing. Other things are glossed over. And I’m not talking about small things, either. The only clear picture I have of any of the Roil creatures is the Vermatisaur, and that thing appeared for about 5 pages. Things that appeared more often had brief descriptions of how they moved, how a part of their body looked, but nothing that could bring it all together in my mind.
The world of Shale and its history felt similarly. It felt like this was a book of hints, glimpses of some deeper story that could have made the whole thing so much richer if they’d actually been elaborated on and expanded instead of just glossed over and passed by. While reading this, I felt uncomfortably like I must have missed something. A previous book, some necessary prequel that would have clarified half of the finer details mentioned here. I felt like it was taken for granted that the readers would all be in the author’s mind, knowing what he knew and thus there was n need for elaboration.
It didn’t work that way. And I’m really sorry to see that, because as I said, the basic premise of the story was fine, and the kind of thing that you don’t want to read alone once the sun’s gone down. I don’t suspect I’ll be continuing on to the second book of the series after this rather inconsistent introduction.
(Book received in exchange for an honest review.)
A fascinating concept indeed. It’s regretful, then, that I found this book falling short of what I saw as its initial potential.
This book mostly suffers from a lack of descriptive consistency. Some things are beautifully described, and there’s no doubt of what characters are seeing, feeling, doing. Other things are glossed over. And I’m not talking about small things, either. The only clear picture I have of any of the Roil creatures is the Vermatisaur, and that thing appeared for about 5 pages. Things that appeared more often had brief descriptions of how they moved, how a part of their body looked, but nothing that could bring it all together in my mind.
The world of Shale and its history felt similarly. It felt like this was a book of hints, glimpses of some deeper story that could have made the whole thing so much richer if they’d actually been elaborated on and expanded instead of just glossed over and passed by. While reading this, I felt uncomfortably like I must have missed something. A previous book, some necessary prequel that would have clarified half of the finer details mentioned here. I felt like it was taken for granted that the readers would all be in the author’s mind, knowing what he knew and thus there was n need for elaboration.
It didn’t work that way. And I’m really sorry to see that, because as I said, the basic premise of the story was fine, and the kind of thing that you don’t want to read alone once the sun’s gone down. I don’t suspect I’ll be continuing on to the second book of the series after this rather inconsistent introduction.
(Book received in exchange for an honest review.)
October 23, 2011
Also published under The Ranting Dragon
Author interview: http://bit.ly/qjmOyI
Roil is the impressive first installment in The Nightbound Land duology by Trent Jamieson, up-and-coming Australian author of the urban fantasy trilogy Death Works. Jamieson’s newest novel showcases a powerful imaginative streak, creating a darkly fascinating world and successfully combining elements of science fiction, fantasy, steampunk and horror.
Roil is an apocalyptic tale set in a world called Shale, which lies on the brink of destruction by a seemingly unstoppable force known as the Roil. The Roil manifests as a malignant heat and creature-filled darkness, spreading across the land and engulfing everything in its path. Of the twelve great metropolises that once stood, all but four have been consumed. As if that wasn’t bad enough, the Roil is not only expanding at an unprecedented rate, it also seems to be changing, taking on an intelligence of its own. Humanity prepares to make its final stand. However, the last chance of salvation may well lie with a drug-addicted youth, a vengeful young woman and a mysterious 4000 year old man as they seek a mysterious machine from a bygone era, The Engine of the World.
No time for half measures or polite introductions
Our initial introduction to the strange and perilous world of Shale is far from gentle. Roil begins with our protagonist, David,witnessing the brutal murder of his father by political adversaries before he, himself, is forced to flee for his life. The reader is thrown into the thick of the action and from then on the story progresses at a lightning fast place. Cities fall and lives are destroyed in the blink of an eye.
Personally, I found this helped create a sense of urgency and confusion which really complimented the overall tone of the novel and the events depicted throughout. Like the reader, the characters are “thrown into the deep end” with little time to collect their thoughts. Nevertheless, most of the negative reviews I’ve seen cite this “ungentle introduction” as one of the aspects they disliked about the novel. Undeniably, this will appeal to some readers more than others, as will certain other aspects of the narrative.
For instance, each chapter of Roil begins with an excerpt from “future texts” regarding Shale. These excerpts relate at least tangentially to the events depicted within the chapter, despite (quite cleverly) not giving too much of the story away. This may be a little confusing or jarring to some readers. Personally, I was a little uncertain at first, although I found I grew accustomed to these passages relatively quickly and came to enjoy the foreshadowing.
A plethora of interesting viewpoint characters
Multiple events unfold at once throughout Roil and, as a result, there are a number of simultaneous narratives and frequent shifts between various points of view. Initially, I felt a little detached from the characters as the viewpoint would change before I could get a good grasp on their personalities. However, as the novel progressed I grew to relate to these imperfect individuals and found characterization to be one of the novel’s strongest points.
Jamieson’s characters manage to remain relatable and believable even as their lives undergo complete upheaval and their world falls to pieces around them. The protagonists all retain shades of moral ambiguity and even their most “noble” actions are frequently driven by selfish or morally suspect motivations. David has nowhere else to go and would rather spend his remaining life spaced out on the drug Carnival than have any responsibility; Margaret is driven by an insatiable desire for revenge; and Cadell’s motivations, like almost everything else about the Old Man, are shrouded in mystery. Furthermore, even the most ruthless antagonists, such as Stade, are not wholly evil, and truly believe they are doing what’s best for humanity given the circumstances.
A fascinating world of imagination and horror
For me, one of the outstanding aspects of Roil was the setting. Jamieson is undeniably imaginative and the creations with which he populates his world are refreshingly unpredictable and decidedly bizarre.
In many way the civilizations depicted are technologically advanced, although much of this advancement seems to be tailored specifically to holding off the Roil. One gets the impression that when faced with imminent destruction, development related to all but the most immediate concerns is stalled and some aspects of society may even regress. Therefore, although we have advanced ice weapons and cold suits, most other aspects of the world are less advanced and embody what could be considered elements of steampunk.
Many other fascinating concepts are introduced throughout Roil, including countless weird creatures and strange technologies. The mythology of the Old Men in particular was quite intriguing. Little is known about the Old Men, although the remnants of their once great civilization lie scattered across Shale. In addition, they have strange powers and are as cold as ice to the touch, the very antithesis of the Roil’s heat. Despite the presence of so many intriguing creations, description remains relatively sparse throughout Roil as Jamieson invites the reader to use their own imagination. While this keeps up the pace and adds to the authenticity of the setting and characterization (the characters, after all, have grown up knowing what an aerokin looks like), it will probably suit some readers better than others.
The horror elements throughout Roil are deliciously creepy and insidious. Jamieson doesn’t resort to graphic violence or severed limbs, instead creating a creepy ambiance that unnerved me in a way that excessive gore never could. Some of the scariest moments are those in which he hints at untold horrors yet once again leaves the rest up to the reader’s imagination. Much terror lies in the unknown, after all.
The plot ends at a logical resting point, although many plot lines are left unresolved and there is still much to discover about Jamieson’s world. If you’re anything like me, you will be hankering for the next installment straight after you finish, so less patient readers may want to wait until the conclusion is closer to publication before starting this weird and wonderful duology.
Why should you read this book?
Overall, despite the fact that Roil has some minor flaws, they did not detract from my enjoyment of the novel. Those who like their fantasy complete with weird technologies, creepy monsters, and interesting characters need look no further. Roil is a fun, absorbing, and action packed read that isn’t to be missed.
Author interview: http://bit.ly/qjmOyI
Roil is the impressive first installment in The Nightbound Land duology by Trent Jamieson, up-and-coming Australian author of the urban fantasy trilogy Death Works. Jamieson’s newest novel showcases a powerful imaginative streak, creating a darkly fascinating world and successfully combining elements of science fiction, fantasy, steampunk and horror.
Roil is an apocalyptic tale set in a world called Shale, which lies on the brink of destruction by a seemingly unstoppable force known as the Roil. The Roil manifests as a malignant heat and creature-filled darkness, spreading across the land and engulfing everything in its path. Of the twelve great metropolises that once stood, all but four have been consumed. As if that wasn’t bad enough, the Roil is not only expanding at an unprecedented rate, it also seems to be changing, taking on an intelligence of its own. Humanity prepares to make its final stand. However, the last chance of salvation may well lie with a drug-addicted youth, a vengeful young woman and a mysterious 4000 year old man as they seek a mysterious machine from a bygone era, The Engine of the World.
No time for half measures or polite introductions
Our initial introduction to the strange and perilous world of Shale is far from gentle. Roil begins with our protagonist, David,witnessing the brutal murder of his father by political adversaries before he, himself, is forced to flee for his life. The reader is thrown into the thick of the action and from then on the story progresses at a lightning fast place. Cities fall and lives are destroyed in the blink of an eye.
Personally, I found this helped create a sense of urgency and confusion which really complimented the overall tone of the novel and the events depicted throughout. Like the reader, the characters are “thrown into the deep end” with little time to collect their thoughts. Nevertheless, most of the negative reviews I’ve seen cite this “ungentle introduction” as one of the aspects they disliked about the novel. Undeniably, this will appeal to some readers more than others, as will certain other aspects of the narrative.
For instance, each chapter of Roil begins with an excerpt from “future texts” regarding Shale. These excerpts relate at least tangentially to the events depicted within the chapter, despite (quite cleverly) not giving too much of the story away. This may be a little confusing or jarring to some readers. Personally, I was a little uncertain at first, although I found I grew accustomed to these passages relatively quickly and came to enjoy the foreshadowing.
A plethora of interesting viewpoint characters
Multiple events unfold at once throughout Roil and, as a result, there are a number of simultaneous narratives and frequent shifts between various points of view. Initially, I felt a little detached from the characters as the viewpoint would change before I could get a good grasp on their personalities. However, as the novel progressed I grew to relate to these imperfect individuals and found characterization to be one of the novel’s strongest points.
Jamieson’s characters manage to remain relatable and believable even as their lives undergo complete upheaval and their world falls to pieces around them. The protagonists all retain shades of moral ambiguity and even their most “noble” actions are frequently driven by selfish or morally suspect motivations. David has nowhere else to go and would rather spend his remaining life spaced out on the drug Carnival than have any responsibility; Margaret is driven by an insatiable desire for revenge; and Cadell’s motivations, like almost everything else about the Old Man, are shrouded in mystery. Furthermore, even the most ruthless antagonists, such as Stade, are not wholly evil, and truly believe they are doing what’s best for humanity given the circumstances.
A fascinating world of imagination and horror
For me, one of the outstanding aspects of Roil was the setting. Jamieson is undeniably imaginative and the creations with which he populates his world are refreshingly unpredictable and decidedly bizarre.
In many way the civilizations depicted are technologically advanced, although much of this advancement seems to be tailored specifically to holding off the Roil. One gets the impression that when faced with imminent destruction, development related to all but the most immediate concerns is stalled and some aspects of society may even regress. Therefore, although we have advanced ice weapons and cold suits, most other aspects of the world are less advanced and embody what could be considered elements of steampunk.
Many other fascinating concepts are introduced throughout Roil, including countless weird creatures and strange technologies. The mythology of the Old Men in particular was quite intriguing. Little is known about the Old Men, although the remnants of their once great civilization lie scattered across Shale. In addition, they have strange powers and are as cold as ice to the touch, the very antithesis of the Roil’s heat. Despite the presence of so many intriguing creations, description remains relatively sparse throughout Roil as Jamieson invites the reader to use their own imagination. While this keeps up the pace and adds to the authenticity of the setting and characterization (the characters, after all, have grown up knowing what an aerokin looks like), it will probably suit some readers better than others.
The horror elements throughout Roil are deliciously creepy and insidious. Jamieson doesn’t resort to graphic violence or severed limbs, instead creating a creepy ambiance that unnerved me in a way that excessive gore never could. Some of the scariest moments are those in which he hints at untold horrors yet once again leaves the rest up to the reader’s imagination. Much terror lies in the unknown, after all.
The plot ends at a logical resting point, although many plot lines are left unresolved and there is still much to discover about Jamieson’s world. If you’re anything like me, you will be hankering for the next installment straight after you finish, so less patient readers may want to wait until the conclusion is closer to publication before starting this weird and wonderful duology.
Why should you read this book?
Overall, despite the fact that Roil has some minor flaws, they did not detract from my enjoyment of the novel. Those who like their fantasy complete with weird technologies, creepy monsters, and interesting characters need look no further. Roil is a fun, absorbing, and action packed read that isn’t to be missed.
August 8, 2024
I listened to the audiobook for Roil and the narrator was good, but nothing extraordinary.
If you like darker fantasy and distinctive world building, Roil is a good offering. The characters are solid, and out two main leads feel particularly human with a good mixture of flaws and personality that makes it easy to invest in them. Margaret shines more in the due to her competence and managing to land a gritty, forceful, tough personality without being unlikeable. David doesn't do much through the course of the book, but remains a compelling character despite his addiction because of the aforementioned humanity.
But, the book strength lies in its world building and more particularly the Roil. The Roil successfully pervades the book as this bleak, looming threat. Its monsters are fun and have just enough of the horror aspect and visuals to be intimidating. The use of heat and cold makes the various interactions with and conflicts against the Roil rewardingly interesting as well as diverse.
The story itself walks its various characters through many shades of gray morality, and achieves an apocalyptic and grim narrative/setting without punishing the reader.
Pacing and Prose are solid
If you like darker fantasy and distinctive world building, Roil is a good offering. The characters are solid, and out two main leads feel particularly human with a good mixture of flaws and personality that makes it easy to invest in them. Margaret shines more in the due to her competence and managing to land a gritty, forceful, tough personality without being unlikeable. David doesn't do much through the course of the book, but remains a compelling character despite his addiction because of the aforementioned humanity.
But, the book strength lies in its world building and more particularly the Roil. The Roil successfully pervades the book as this bleak, looming threat. Its monsters are fun and have just enough of the horror aspect and visuals to be intimidating. The use of heat and cold makes the various interactions with and conflicts against the Roil rewardingly interesting as well as diverse.
The story itself walks its various characters through many shades of gray morality, and achieves an apocalyptic and grim narrative/setting without punishing the reader.
Pacing and Prose are solid
December 28, 2023
Overall decent story and interesting world with some interesting characters, but the prose and editing left a LOT to be desired. A lot of missing semicolons (pet peeve I guess) and it felt often that scenes and transitional actions were missing. Also not a whole lot of description in terms of what things look like so it's mostly up to your imagination - could be a stylistic choice and could be considered bad or good but I felt neutral about that. Also, I went in expecting more of a science-fantasy gaspunk aesthetic but it turned out to be more sci-fi post-apocalyptic, which I usually dislike but this time it was alright.
September 2, 2018
Truly enjoyed reading this book and I'm looking forward to finishing the series. This is a very interesting and adventurous Steampunk-esque tail.
December 29, 2011
Roilis the first book in a duology to be released by Angry Robot books, the second will be called Nights Engines.
The story
Shale is in trouble, dying. A vast, chaotic, monster-bearing storm known only as the Roil is expanding, consuming the land.
Where once there were twelve great cities, now only four remain, and their borders are being threatened by the growing cloud of darkness. The last humans are fighting back with ever more bizarre new machines. But one by one the defences are failing. And the Roil continues to grow.
With the land in turmoil, it’s up to a decadent wastrel, a four thousand year-old man, and a young woman intent on revenge to try to save their city – and the world.
A dancer, macabre.
There are writers that can pump out quality genre novels, that give the slavering hordes what we want, whether it’s Steampunk or Space Opera, or just good honest escapism.
Then there’s those writers that take those well trodden floor boards and fashion a dance of their own, mixing influences from a number of subgenres until what we have is compelling and unique.
I think Jamieson is one of those writers, especially with Roil. It’s Trent’s skill that makes it hard to slot the novel into a nice and neatly labelled pigeon hole. It has an infusion of Steampunk, with its railways and named engines, airships and the neo-Victorian sentimentality. The world of Shale gives an impression of a slightly skewed, malevolent Dickensian London – this comes through in the snippets from the history books that are referenced at chapter beginnings, the descriptions of political parties, the dialogue between the characters.
Cadell nodded his head. “He knew that as soon as he crossed the floor of Parliament, soon as he joined the Confluents, something was coming. He just didn’t expect it to be this. Thought they were all working towards the same thing. Stade proved him wrong. Oh, lad, there are secrets that layer Mirrlees and Shale, sediments of madness and lies more damning than you could believe. Missteps, and murders, from the First Ships down.”
To this Jamieson with his talent for dark fantasy introduces, grotesque and horrifying adversaries in the shape of Quarg hounds and Garment Flutes and spiders that feed on you while you sleep. But it was the rather surreal visual he evoked with the seemingly innocuous Witmoths, that really made me shiver:
Jeremy grinned, a wide and terrible grin. An actor’s grin, or a mask, for surely it was not his own. “Heat is the issue here, the draw and the reasoning; furnace heat, blood heat. The Roil told me, in its loud old voice. Can’t you hear it?” His smile grew and grew and it came spilling from his mouth, dark and frangible, a softly hissing shadow; moth-like they fluttered. So many of them, the man must be filled with them “Witmoths,” Jeremy whispered.“Thought and madness and command.”
I’d watch a movie based on Roil for that visual alone.
Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic
This horrifying dark fantasy/steampunk tale is under pinned with the science fiction trope of a long colonised world, with forgotten technologies. There are the Old men from the seed ships, those that built the ancient metropolises with technologies so indecipherable that they might as well be magic.
There are advanced technologies in play but Shale's inhabitants have only Industrial Age vocabulary and understanding to describe them. Jamieson is likewise careful in his descriptions of old tech only hinting at what scientific advances may underpin or shape Shale. The reader then, in that sense is not much better of than the protagonist.
Fan’s of Scott Westerfeld’s Leviathan series will enjoy the Steampunk/Biopunk aspects. Those with a penchant for sophisticated and subtle horror will enjoy the devious nature of the Roil and Jamieson’s deft descriptions.
I for one, can’t wait for Nights Engines
July 21, 2011
I got an advanced reading copy of this book through NetGalley.com. The premise was very intriguing and I was excited to read the book. It was an incredibly creative world, that followed some interesting characters through a dark steampunk adventure. This book is the first in a series called The Nightbound Lands.
Margaret is the daughter of some famous scientists, when her home town falls to the Roil she is forced to flee through the Roil and try to find a way to help stop the Roil's expansion. David is a drug addict who is on the run from political enemies of his father; he meets up with an Old Man named Cadell and is suddenly forced to follow the Old Man into battles he doesn't want to be part of and into more danger than he can bear. All of the characters are fighting to survive the spread of the Roil which is expanding at increased speed.
Jamieson has created an incredibly interesting and complex world in this book. It is one of the most interesting worlds I have ever read about. The world is being taken over by the Roil; think of it kind of as The Nothing in The Neverending Story, but rather than being full of nothing it is a huge hot darkness full of nightmarish creatures. The surviving world is grouped into metropolises that survive by fighting with cold weapons and technology. The story has a steampunk overtone at times; Margaret's city runs off of steam powered things and there are dirigibles.
In this incredibly complex world is, of course, complex politics. You have the group that David's father belongs to which seem to be working with the four thousand year old, Old Man...kind of. You have the Vergers and the Drifters all trying to survive and reign supreme. There are also the Cuttlefolk, who aren't quite human, and then of course all the horrible creatures that exist within the Roil.
As if that isn't enough there is a grand engine running the whole world, dirigibles, and the mysterious Vastkind that pop up here and there in the story.
Then there are the characters. Margaret and David are both interesting to read about; the beginning the book follows their adventures separately. These are the type of characters you won't necessarily love or connect with on an emotional level (they have their low selfish moments as well as their heroic moments) but they are interesting to read about and follow. You also read the story from a number of other different viewpoints; both Medicine Paul and the Old Man tell significant portions of the story. I am not a huge fan of having such a multitude of viewpoints because it breaks up the story and makes things a bit confusing at first.
I was a little disappointed in the ending because everything was just finally set up and the characters were finally fighting together and then the book just ended. I didn't realize this was part of a series, and I was a little bummed that I couldn't read how everything would play out. This is a very complicated story and I felt like by the time I got everything sorted out and was actually beginning to understand this world well...the story was over.
Overall I really enjoyed this book. The author builds an incredibly interesting world. There is a lot of action, some adventure, and some politics. I loved the idea of the Roil and the mystery that surrounds it. The characters weren't the strong point of the story, but they were well done and provided a good vehicle for the plot. Some of the characters and creatures presented are extremely mysterious and I am eager to learn more about them. I was disappointed with how abruptly the story ended. So readers just beware that this is part of a series and nothing is really resolved in this first book. Fans of epic fantasy, or complicated dark fantasy adventures should enjoy this book. I would encourage steampunk fans to check it out too (although no romance here, so probably not a book for those who like romance in their steampunk). It is an incredibly creative and a very engaging read; I will definitely be checking out future books in this series.
Margaret is the daughter of some famous scientists, when her home town falls to the Roil she is forced to flee through the Roil and try to find a way to help stop the Roil's expansion. David is a drug addict who is on the run from political enemies of his father; he meets up with an Old Man named Cadell and is suddenly forced to follow the Old Man into battles he doesn't want to be part of and into more danger than he can bear. All of the characters are fighting to survive the spread of the Roil which is expanding at increased speed.
Jamieson has created an incredibly interesting and complex world in this book. It is one of the most interesting worlds I have ever read about. The world is being taken over by the Roil; think of it kind of as The Nothing in The Neverending Story, but rather than being full of nothing it is a huge hot darkness full of nightmarish creatures. The surviving world is grouped into metropolises that survive by fighting with cold weapons and technology. The story has a steampunk overtone at times; Margaret's city runs off of steam powered things and there are dirigibles.
In this incredibly complex world is, of course, complex politics. You have the group that David's father belongs to which seem to be working with the four thousand year old, Old Man...kind of. You have the Vergers and the Drifters all trying to survive and reign supreme. There are also the Cuttlefolk, who aren't quite human, and then of course all the horrible creatures that exist within the Roil.
As if that isn't enough there is a grand engine running the whole world, dirigibles, and the mysterious Vastkind that pop up here and there in the story.
Then there are the characters. Margaret and David are both interesting to read about; the beginning the book follows their adventures separately. These are the type of characters you won't necessarily love or connect with on an emotional level (they have their low selfish moments as well as their heroic moments) but they are interesting to read about and follow. You also read the story from a number of other different viewpoints; both Medicine Paul and the Old Man tell significant portions of the story. I am not a huge fan of having such a multitude of viewpoints because it breaks up the story and makes things a bit confusing at first.
I was a little disappointed in the ending because everything was just finally set up and the characters were finally fighting together and then the book just ended. I didn't realize this was part of a series, and I was a little bummed that I couldn't read how everything would play out. This is a very complicated story and I felt like by the time I got everything sorted out and was actually beginning to understand this world well...the story was over.
Overall I really enjoyed this book. The author builds an incredibly interesting world. There is a lot of action, some adventure, and some politics. I loved the idea of the Roil and the mystery that surrounds it. The characters weren't the strong point of the story, but they were well done and provided a good vehicle for the plot. Some of the characters and creatures presented are extremely mysterious and I am eager to learn more about them. I was disappointed with how abruptly the story ended. So readers just beware that this is part of a series and nothing is really resolved in this first book. Fans of epic fantasy, or complicated dark fantasy adventures should enjoy this book. I would encourage steampunk fans to check it out too (although no romance here, so probably not a book for those who like romance in their steampunk). It is an incredibly creative and a very engaging read; I will definitely be checking out future books in this series.
July 17, 2011
Good enough but not that great here I present before you my views on
Trent Jamieson's
upcoming book
Roil
.
Here is the summary of the book:
Shale is in trouble - the creature-filled darkness known as the Roil is expanding, consuming the land, swallowing cities whole. Where once there were 12 metropolises, now only 4 remain. It's up to a drug addict, an old man and a woman bent on revenge to try to save their city - and the world.
Its steampunk - its sci-fi - its full of action and its a dystopic future and on top of that a gorgeous cover -- great combination which should make for a good enough read for me but somehow I lost interest half way through. Lets speculate why....
So, in the south last defence of civilisation, city of Tate succumbs to Roil, a chaotic mass of creatures with one consciousness, that came out from the core of the planet. Roil can't stand the cold, which is the only weapon of the last human cities against its invasion. Margaret, the only daughter of Tate engineers manages to get out of the dying city and heads off up north. In the north David, an addict and a son of one of the leaders of the opposition to the current tyrant watches his father die from the hands of Vergers, some sort of genetically modified human hunters. His father's friends arrange his passage away from the city with the help of one of the Old Men, half-mad and very strange Cadell.
Cadell on the other hand has got his own agenda. He is one of the first Engineers who built the Engine of the World, but they played too much with it, civilisation crumbled to what it is now and the Engineers were cursed with virtual immortality, madness and perpetual cannibalistic hunger for human flesh. Cadell wants to see the extent of damage the Roil has done and get to The Engine to switch on the cold and destroy the Roil.
The thing I loved about this book and which I thought was its strongest quality was the creative & robust world-building. Too often in steampunk-infused fiction, the tech is simply used as ornamentation—bells & whistles without much purpose or functionality. In Roil, the tech, which included endothermic weaponry, semi-organic aircrafts, and colossal steam-operated trains & vessels, took center stage right alongside the characters that continuously relied upon it. Moreover, I appreciated the assortment of unique characters and the unusual, slightly ragtag team of heroes. I have to admit that I have a soft spot in my heart for unconventional protagonists who are rough around the edges and who start off without a single heroic bone in their body, but then end up doing heroic things much to their own surprise.
But there were certain aspects of the book that made them unappealing to me. My first complaint is based mostly on personal preference and that is the use of multiple character perspectives. It is not advised to use too many POVs while writing a novel and more than two POVs tend to be distracting and confusing. Roil incorporates multiple different perspectives of both major and minor characters. I could understand the purpose of this—a way to compliment the sprawling magnitude of the story and fantasy world—but didn't like it at all. My dislike was compounded by the fact that I felt the transitions between those perspectives were often done too abruptly and not always very cohesive in nature. A fact that somewhat detached me from the story line.
Then over the three main characters - Margaret, Cadell and David. All three somewhat felt under-developed and making me not feel attached to them at all.
And finally the pacing was a bit uneven. The first half of the book was rather sluggish with a few bursts of action accompanied by lots of traveling between locations and talking without clear explanation which thoroughly turned turned about for the next part. It took me half a book to get into it and somewhat made me give it up. But I suppose any of you could give it a chance - well second chances should be given.
Here is the summary of the book:
Shale is in trouble - the creature-filled darkness known as the Roil is expanding, consuming the land, swallowing cities whole. Where once there were 12 metropolises, now only 4 remain. It's up to a drug addict, an old man and a woman bent on revenge to try to save their city - and the world.
Its steampunk - its sci-fi - its full of action and its a dystopic future and on top of that a gorgeous cover -- great combination which should make for a good enough read for me but somehow I lost interest half way through. Lets speculate why....
So, in the south last defence of civilisation, city of Tate succumbs to Roil, a chaotic mass of creatures with one consciousness, that came out from the core of the planet. Roil can't stand the cold, which is the only weapon of the last human cities against its invasion. Margaret, the only daughter of Tate engineers manages to get out of the dying city and heads off up north. In the north David, an addict and a son of one of the leaders of the opposition to the current tyrant watches his father die from the hands of Vergers, some sort of genetically modified human hunters. His father's friends arrange his passage away from the city with the help of one of the Old Men, half-mad and very strange Cadell.
Cadell on the other hand has got his own agenda. He is one of the first Engineers who built the Engine of the World, but they played too much with it, civilisation crumbled to what it is now and the Engineers were cursed with virtual immortality, madness and perpetual cannibalistic hunger for human flesh. Cadell wants to see the extent of damage the Roil has done and get to The Engine to switch on the cold and destroy the Roil.
The thing I loved about this book and which I thought was its strongest quality was the creative & robust world-building. Too often in steampunk-infused fiction, the tech is simply used as ornamentation—bells & whistles without much purpose or functionality. In Roil, the tech, which included endothermic weaponry, semi-organic aircrafts, and colossal steam-operated trains & vessels, took center stage right alongside the characters that continuously relied upon it. Moreover, I appreciated the assortment of unique characters and the unusual, slightly ragtag team of heroes. I have to admit that I have a soft spot in my heart for unconventional protagonists who are rough around the edges and who start off without a single heroic bone in their body, but then end up doing heroic things much to their own surprise.
But there were certain aspects of the book that made them unappealing to me. My first complaint is based mostly on personal preference and that is the use of multiple character perspectives. It is not advised to use too many POVs while writing a novel and more than two POVs tend to be distracting and confusing. Roil incorporates multiple different perspectives of both major and minor characters. I could understand the purpose of this—a way to compliment the sprawling magnitude of the story and fantasy world—but didn't like it at all. My dislike was compounded by the fact that I felt the transitions between those perspectives were often done too abruptly and not always very cohesive in nature. A fact that somewhat detached me from the story line.
Then over the three main characters - Margaret, Cadell and David. All three somewhat felt under-developed and making me not feel attached to them at all.
And finally the pacing was a bit uneven. The first half of the book was rather sluggish with a few bursts of action accompanied by lots of traveling between locations and talking without clear explanation which thoroughly turned turned about for the next part. It took me half a book to get into it and somewhat made me give it up. But I suppose any of you could give it a chance - well second chances should be given.
December 20, 2012
Roil is the first book of Trent Jamieson's Nightbound Land duology. I've had it on my TBR since around the time it came out, but have only just got around to reading it.
Roil is set in a very different world to ours. Every layer of it is different, and so it takes a little while for the world to be fully built up — to Jamieson's credit, he avoids large chunks of info dumping — the blurb doesn't do that aspect justice. The Roil itself is a seething storm of monsters and destruction which can only be fought with cold. There's a bit of a steampunk aspect to the endothermic weaponry (ice cannon, ice rifles, cooled swords) and the transportation, but against the backdrop of the world being destroyed, it didn't feel as steampunky as another book might.
Margaret (see cover art) comes from a city that is already surrounded by the Roil. The other cities think it was destroyed when the Roil overtook it, but thanks to the ingenuity of her parents, the city was able to survive for twenty more years, keeping the monsters at bay with sophisticated ice cannon although they couldn't hold the ever-present darkness back. The story opens with the fall of Margaret's city and her flight out of the Roil.
Around the same time, David, a young drug addict, watches his father get assassinated and knows that he's next. In the course of fleeing for his life, he meets up with Cadell an Old (ancient) Man, and the only hope for defeating the Roil.
Ultimately, it's not just the Roil and its monsters that our main characters are up against; there are human forces with their own agenda — like the man who wants David dead — for them to contend with also.
I liked reading about both Margaret and David, although Margaret is definitely the more kickarse character and David is a bit wet behind the ears. There was a third character, Medicine Paul, who I found it harder to relate to because for the first half of the book I wasn't entirely sure whether I should be on his side or not. I suspect he'll play a more prominent role in the sequel.
The way Roil is written, you have to trust some aspects of the worldbuilding to make sense later on, which didn't bother me but might bother some readers. Also, while I wouldn't call Roil a horror book, it definitely has some aspects of horror, like someone being eaten by spiders and lots of people being possessed by evil moths. Fair warning. Perhaps dark steampunk fantasy would be an apt sub-genre/description. It also can be read as a metaphor for global warming but doesn't have to be and can definitely be enjoyed either way. I'm not sure if the parallels were the author's intention but they do exist. Oh, and points to him for getting thermodynamics right (with the endothermic weaponry etc), always good to see.
I enjoyed Roil more than I expected toafter reading certain goodreads reviews. I highly recommend it to anyone who is looking for something different in their fantasy or in their steampunk. Trust me, there's nothing pedestrian about the world Jamieson has created.
4.5 / 5 stars
You can read more of my reviews on my blog.
Roil is set in a very different world to ours. Every layer of it is different, and so it takes a little while for the world to be fully built up — to Jamieson's credit, he avoids large chunks of info dumping — the blurb doesn't do that aspect justice. The Roil itself is a seething storm of monsters and destruction which can only be fought with cold. There's a bit of a steampunk aspect to the endothermic weaponry (ice cannon, ice rifles, cooled swords) and the transportation, but against the backdrop of the world being destroyed, it didn't feel as steampunky as another book might.
Margaret (see cover art) comes from a city that is already surrounded by the Roil. The other cities think it was destroyed when the Roil overtook it, but thanks to the ingenuity of her parents, the city was able to survive for twenty more years, keeping the monsters at bay with sophisticated ice cannon although they couldn't hold the ever-present darkness back. The story opens with the fall of Margaret's city and her flight out of the Roil.
Around the same time, David, a young drug addict, watches his father get assassinated and knows that he's next. In the course of fleeing for his life, he meets up with Cadell an Old (ancient) Man, and the only hope for defeating the Roil.
Ultimately, it's not just the Roil and its monsters that our main characters are up against; there are human forces with their own agenda — like the man who wants David dead — for them to contend with also.
I liked reading about both Margaret and David, although Margaret is definitely the more kickarse character and David is a bit wet behind the ears. There was a third character, Medicine Paul, who I found it harder to relate to because for the first half of the book I wasn't entirely sure whether I should be on his side or not. I suspect he'll play a more prominent role in the sequel.
The way Roil is written, you have to trust some aspects of the worldbuilding to make sense later on, which didn't bother me but might bother some readers. Also, while I wouldn't call Roil a horror book, it definitely has some aspects of horror, like someone being eaten by spiders and lots of people being possessed by evil moths. Fair warning. Perhaps dark steampunk fantasy would be an apt sub-genre/description. It also can be read as a metaphor for global warming but doesn't have to be and can definitely be enjoyed either way. I'm not sure if the parallels were the author's intention but they do exist. Oh, and points to him for getting thermodynamics right (with the endothermic weaponry etc), always good to see.
I enjoyed Roil more than I expected to
4.5 / 5 stars
You can read more of my reviews on my blog.
October 7, 2011
A Review by Loren Foster
Originally posted at Netgalley.com
10/06/11
Title: Roil
Author: Trent Jamieson
Publisher: Angry Robot
Pub Date: August, 30, 2011
ISBN: 9780857661845
Format: Paperback
Pages: 432
List Price: $7.99
According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary ( http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictio... ) the word ROIL is a verb whose first known use dates back to 1590. Definition is given as: to make turbid by stirring up the sediment or dregs; to stir up; disturb; to move turbulently; be in a state of turbulence or agitation.
Synonyms: boil, churn, moil, seethe.
Antonyms: delight, gratify, please.
In “Roil”, the first installment of The Nightbound Land, Trent Jamieson indeed toils through all the variations of the verb roil. Unfortunately, he has chosen to begin our tortuous journey bound to the company of David. As an addict, dependent on the antithetically named Carnival, David rarely rises above an emotionless state, seeming to exist solely as a means to move the story along as he is dragged through the muddy mire of an Earth called Shale.
If not for the commitment to review this book, I would have stopped reading it soon after the first pages. I was agitated by the lack of detail of David’s city Mirrlees-on-Weep, or of a description of David himself. Granted, David does grow on you after a while, but it is a slow process like curing a bad rash.
Margaret Penn and her city of Tate’s desperate decades long Roil engulfed struggle would have served up a much more moving and gratifyingly turbid start. She carries the weight and responsibilities of the worlds salvation with an Icy style and fashion that David lacks.
Frustration with scanty clues to the worlds back history clashes and wars with tantalizing hints and foreshadowings. Monstrous creatures vary in credibility and details, such as the innocuously named Hideous Garment Flutes. A garment flute is a trumpet-shaped frill on a dress...what exactly is hideous about them?
Jamieson proves masterful in his flesh rending gut twisting panoramas, inflicting trauma any E.R. surgeon would run screaming from. Battle scenes and fervent fields of gory transmogrification abound.
Add to the mix the mystery and menace of the Old Men and their links to the enigmatic Engine of the World. Drift, a flying city home of the Aerokin with their symbiotic living ships (a la Farscape’s Moya ) literally leave things up in the air with the ending begging for the next installment “Night’s Engines”, if only in hopes of untying and making sense of all those chapter heading quotes that allude to a future in which someone survived to publish.
Which brings us to the old adage, “Publish or Perish.” Will Shale, a lowly sedimentary rock compacted together by pressure, rise from the seething coils of the Roil, or will it succomb?
Time will Tell the Tale in “Night’s Engines.”
Loren Foster
http://shadolrds.wordpress.com/
Originally posted at Netgalley.com
10/06/11
Title: Roil
Author: Trent Jamieson
Publisher: Angry Robot
Pub Date: August, 30, 2011
ISBN: 9780857661845
Format: Paperback
Pages: 432
List Price: $7.99
According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary ( http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictio... ) the word ROIL is a verb whose first known use dates back to 1590. Definition is given as: to make turbid by stirring up the sediment or dregs; to stir up; disturb; to move turbulently; be in a state of turbulence or agitation.
Synonyms: boil, churn, moil, seethe.
Antonyms: delight, gratify, please.
In “Roil”, the first installment of The Nightbound Land, Trent Jamieson indeed toils through all the variations of the verb roil. Unfortunately, he has chosen to begin our tortuous journey bound to the company of David. As an addict, dependent on the antithetically named Carnival, David rarely rises above an emotionless state, seeming to exist solely as a means to move the story along as he is dragged through the muddy mire of an Earth called Shale.
If not for the commitment to review this book, I would have stopped reading it soon after the first pages. I was agitated by the lack of detail of David’s city Mirrlees-on-Weep, or of a description of David himself. Granted, David does grow on you after a while, but it is a slow process like curing a bad rash.
Margaret Penn and her city of Tate’s desperate decades long Roil engulfed struggle would have served up a much more moving and gratifyingly turbid start. She carries the weight and responsibilities of the worlds salvation with an Icy style and fashion that David lacks.
Frustration with scanty clues to the worlds back history clashes and wars with tantalizing hints and foreshadowings. Monstrous creatures vary in credibility and details, such as the innocuously named Hideous Garment Flutes. A garment flute is a trumpet-shaped frill on a dress...what exactly is hideous about them?
Jamieson proves masterful in his flesh rending gut twisting panoramas, inflicting trauma any E.R. surgeon would run screaming from. Battle scenes and fervent fields of gory transmogrification abound.
Add to the mix the mystery and menace of the Old Men and their links to the enigmatic Engine of the World. Drift, a flying city home of the Aerokin with their symbiotic living ships (a la Farscape’s Moya ) literally leave things up in the air with the ending begging for the next installment “Night’s Engines”, if only in hopes of untying and making sense of all those chapter heading quotes that allude to a future in which someone survived to publish.
Which brings us to the old adage, “Publish or Perish.” Will Shale, a lowly sedimentary rock compacted together by pressure, rise from the seething coils of the Roil, or will it succomb?
Time will Tell the Tale in “Night’s Engines.”
Loren Foster
http://shadolrds.wordpress.com/
January 27, 2013
It isn't often that I will write a review for a book after only 79 pages. I probably won't ever do it again, but never say never, or ever, as it were. On a side note, I seem to spend a lot of time reading random books from my bookshelves while I'm waiting for the semi-sketchy romances on my first-gen Sony ereader to load, but that's another story.
First, let me say, that Roil is dense with information, doesn't have a lot of explanation, is hard to understand, and has some of the most extensive world-building that I've ever seen. It took somewhere between 30-50 pages in before I began to understand what was going on and gain some grasp on the situation, and I've always been good at keeping track of names and plot points.
This style isn't going to be for everyone. It's cinematic in a way that not many books are. Rather than starting with a wide scope and narrowing to focus on a single character, it almost sets up flash cuts. You have excerpts from history texts stacked on top of brief, tension-laden moments with the main characters (which I suppose would be match cuts, if we're following film terminology), before it all flashes away again and back on top of itself. Admittedly, this is one of the things that makes the book hard to understand. It also made me keep reading, because those moments of short, but intense focus allow for a very clear picture of every scene, even if I didn't understand the terminology yet.
It's hard to discuss the plot of this book without discussing the style for me. And this book does have plot. It has Plot with a capital P even. It melds Lovecraft with futuristic fantasy and even a touch of Pullman-- the Engine of the World, from the first moment I heard it, reminded me of Pullman, and made me want to read more. Essentially, due to some cataclysmic event-- and yes, the book relies on a Cataclysm plot device, let's try to get past that-- the Roil has come again after an Ice Age pushed it back at some point before. The Roil is a perversion. It spawns monsters by its very existence, ruins cities, and eats the world, leaving fire in its wake. Very few people are left from the events at the book's start that are able to work to try to stop the Roil, and I honestly don't trust any of them. Their motives are sketchy at best, and their means are often distasteful.
Yet something about this book keeps me reading it, and I think that's the world-building. I can picture each scene with such extreme clarity-- can see the Halloween lights everywhere, see the rats and the spiders, hear the rumble of the train-- that I am instantly sucked in. This book is painfully hard to understand, but it has a slow burn, a sort of seductive mirage that it can cast if you let it. And that's definitely worth something. I'm just not sure what yet.
First, let me say, that Roil is dense with information, doesn't have a lot of explanation, is hard to understand, and has some of the most extensive world-building that I've ever seen. It took somewhere between 30-50 pages in before I began to understand what was going on and gain some grasp on the situation, and I've always been good at keeping track of names and plot points.
This style isn't going to be for everyone. It's cinematic in a way that not many books are. Rather than starting with a wide scope and narrowing to focus on a single character, it almost sets up flash cuts. You have excerpts from history texts stacked on top of brief, tension-laden moments with the main characters (which I suppose would be match cuts, if we're following film terminology), before it all flashes away again and back on top of itself. Admittedly, this is one of the things that makes the book hard to understand. It also made me keep reading, because those moments of short, but intense focus allow for a very clear picture of every scene, even if I didn't understand the terminology yet.
It's hard to discuss the plot of this book without discussing the style for me. And this book does have plot. It has Plot with a capital P even. It melds Lovecraft with futuristic fantasy and even a touch of Pullman-- the Engine of the World, from the first moment I heard it, reminded me of Pullman, and made me want to read more. Essentially, due to some cataclysmic event-- and yes, the book relies on a Cataclysm plot device, let's try to get past that-- the Roil has come again after an Ice Age pushed it back at some point before. The Roil is a perversion. It spawns monsters by its very existence, ruins cities, and eats the world, leaving fire in its wake. Very few people are left from the events at the book's start that are able to work to try to stop the Roil, and I honestly don't trust any of them. Their motives are sketchy at best, and their means are often distasteful.
Yet something about this book keeps me reading it, and I think that's the world-building. I can picture each scene with such extreme clarity-- can see the Halloween lights everywhere, see the rats and the spiders, hear the rumble of the train-- that I am instantly sucked in. This book is painfully hard to understand, but it has a slow burn, a sort of seductive mirage that it can cast if you let it. And that's definitely worth something. I'm just not sure what yet.
August 14, 2011
I picked this book up via NetGalley as it sounded like an interesting read. While a little confusing to begin with, it didn’t take long to get a picture of what was going on. The author really does throw you in the deep end, though it is well worth sticking with because even if you feel like you’re playing catch up, it’s an exciting place to be in!
It’s been a long time since I’ve hit upon such a richly imagined world. It was so alien, so new, so fascinating, and so beautifully described. I easily lost myself in it, and look forward to having that opportunity again in the second book in the series.
The Roil – the rolling, hot, massive darkness that seems intent on devouring the whole world – is a character in it’s own right. Populated with scary and intriguing creatures, we learn throughout the book the ways in which is has evolved. I particularly enjoyed the ‘witmoths’, beautifully creepy critters which infest humans to bring them to the Roil’s side.
The other characters are all unique and interesting as well. The heroes of the tale are a drug addicted guy, an Old Man (who is creepy and dangerous), and a young woman who has escaped a fallen city and is intent on getting revenge against the Roil, which took her parents. Initially their story lines are individual, but they all meet up eventually, and find that they are walking the same path. Cadell, the Old Man, in particular is a fantastic character. I really loved learning more about the Old Men, they are so creepy, and horrific in some instances, but definitely working against the Roil.
Wound throughout this are secondary characters with their own back story and motivations – a lot of those political – which add to the depth and richness of the story. It’s a complex world, with a lot going on it it. Over the course of the novel we learn a fair bit about the history of the cities, the Roil, the world and the different groups of people that populate it.
This is a pretty dark book, with lots of unpleasant things happening in it – LOVED it. If I had to say a few negative things it would possibly be that while I enjoyed reading the characters and found them unique, I didn’t really connect with any of them on an emotional level. Also, while you are thrown into action initially, it takes a little while for the story line to really get moving. By the time I hit half way I was well and truly caught up in it, but if it’s not up your alley, you might struggle a little to begin with. I lost track of how far through I was and the end hit me pretty quickly. When I read it, I didn’t realize it was the first book in a series so that came as a bit of a shock – I really can’t wait for the next book to come out so that I can immerse myself in this world again.
It’s been a long time since I’ve hit upon such a richly imagined world. It was so alien, so new, so fascinating, and so beautifully described. I easily lost myself in it, and look forward to having that opportunity again in the second book in the series.
The Roil – the rolling, hot, massive darkness that seems intent on devouring the whole world – is a character in it’s own right. Populated with scary and intriguing creatures, we learn throughout the book the ways in which is has evolved. I particularly enjoyed the ‘witmoths’, beautifully creepy critters which infest humans to bring them to the Roil’s side.
The other characters are all unique and interesting as well. The heroes of the tale are a drug addicted guy, an Old Man (who is creepy and dangerous), and a young woman who has escaped a fallen city and is intent on getting revenge against the Roil, which took her parents. Initially their story lines are individual, but they all meet up eventually, and find that they are walking the same path. Cadell, the Old Man, in particular is a fantastic character. I really loved learning more about the Old Men, they are so creepy, and horrific in some instances, but definitely working against the Roil.
Wound throughout this are secondary characters with their own back story and motivations – a lot of those political – which add to the depth and richness of the story. It’s a complex world, with a lot going on it it. Over the course of the novel we learn a fair bit about the history of the cities, the Roil, the world and the different groups of people that populate it.
This is a pretty dark book, with lots of unpleasant things happening in it – LOVED it. If I had to say a few negative things it would possibly be that while I enjoyed reading the characters and found them unique, I didn’t really connect with any of them on an emotional level. Also, while you are thrown into action initially, it takes a little while for the story line to really get moving. By the time I hit half way I was well and truly caught up in it, but if it’s not up your alley, you might struggle a little to begin with. I lost track of how far through I was and the end hit me pretty quickly. When I read it, I didn’t realize it was the first book in a series so that came as a bit of a shock – I really can’t wait for the next book to come out so that I can immerse myself in this world again.
July 31, 2013
It seems as though any book published by Angry Robot turns out to be wicked good. They're not your typical steampunk or urban fantasy novels. Roil is another example of a crazy good book.
This continent, Shale, - even the entire world, is being consumed by this thing called the Roil. Heat loving monsters like you've never heard of before....quarg hounds, witmoths, garment flutes...lots of baddies. From the back of the book - "It's up to a decadent wastrel, a four thousand year old man and a young woman bent on revenge to try to save their city - and the world."
I enjoyed this book, even though it seemed so hopeless that any of them would survive. The Roil is relentless and just consumes whole cities, people with them. The witmoths take over the people, and the whole thing is changing. What was once seemingly random monsters now seem to have a plan, and to be using strategy. Added to that you have a mayor of one city who has tried to convince the people there's no danger until the last minute, there's these other people called cuttlefolk who have an uneasy truce with people, and yet will kill. And that four thousand year old man? a very dangerous man who barely keeps himself in check, but is still trying to help save humanity.
The narration as well as the dialogue is very well done, making the book just flow. I would love to get hold of the second in this duology - find out who wins in the end.
The characters were great - the old man, creepy as hell and very powerful. The young man, David - who at first can only think of his drug, but of course, life intervenes (as it usually does), and Margaret. Margaret is soooo angry. She escaped a Roil invasion and wants to destroy the Roils - she's ready to kill.
Good reading, highly recommended.
This continent, Shale, - even the entire world, is being consumed by this thing called the Roil. Heat loving monsters like you've never heard of before....quarg hounds, witmoths, garment flutes...lots of baddies. From the back of the book - "It's up to a decadent wastrel, a four thousand year old man and a young woman bent on revenge to try to save their city - and the world."
I enjoyed this book, even though it seemed so hopeless that any of them would survive. The Roil is relentless and just consumes whole cities, people with them. The witmoths take over the people, and the whole thing is changing. What was once seemingly random monsters now seem to have a plan, and to be using strategy. Added to that you have a mayor of one city who has tried to convince the people there's no danger until the last minute, there's these other people called cuttlefolk who have an uneasy truce with people, and yet will kill. And that four thousand year old man? a very dangerous man who barely keeps himself in check, but is still trying to help save humanity.
The narration as well as the dialogue is very well done, making the book just flow. I would love to get hold of the second in this duology - find out who wins in the end.
The characters were great - the old man, creepy as hell and very powerful. The young man, David - who at first can only think of his drug, but of course, life intervenes (as it usually does), and Margaret. Margaret is soooo angry. She escaped a Roil invasion and wants to destroy the Roils - she's ready to kill.
Good reading, highly recommended.
March 2, 2012
Originally reviewed at incaseofsurvival.com here http://incaseofsurvival.com/post-apoc...
This book is brutal, very dark, almost unremittingly so. Even the best of the grimdark genre needs moments of light or hope, though, or the book becomes emotionally draining- like this one does. So much so I had to stop half way through and read something else. I sincerely hope the second book has some more bright spots in it.
The writing is competent, often poetic, but sometimes a little overwrought. Now, I love a bit of melodramatic writing along with the next goth girl, and while most of it was perfectly within the feel of the novel, sometimes I ended up rolling my eyes.
The characters are very well drawn, you get to know them quite fast even if intially they only have bare-bones personalities- but the trouble with Jamieson's skill is characterisation is lies in the tendency he has to show us enjoyable character who exist only to die in the same chapter they're introduced. Like a number of the techniques he uses, this tires the reader out, leaving them no room to care for the main characters.
I won't spoilt the ending, or anything that happens if I can avoid it, as it really is breathtaking. A lot of the things I really loved about this novel I can't reveal, as they would count as spoilers. It's that kind of book.
If you find poetic description annoying, or you can't handle unrelenting GRIMDARK, you will HATE this book. Otherwise, I'd say it's well worth a read. I will certainly be picking up the sequel.
This book is brutal, very dark, almost unremittingly so. Even the best of the grimdark genre needs moments of light or hope, though, or the book becomes emotionally draining- like this one does. So much so I had to stop half way through and read something else. I sincerely hope the second book has some more bright spots in it.
The writing is competent, often poetic, but sometimes a little overwrought. Now, I love a bit of melodramatic writing along with the next goth girl, and while most of it was perfectly within the feel of the novel, sometimes I ended up rolling my eyes.
The characters are very well drawn, you get to know them quite fast even if intially they only have bare-bones personalities- but the trouble with Jamieson's skill is characterisation is lies in the tendency he has to show us enjoyable character who exist only to die in the same chapter they're introduced. Like a number of the techniques he uses, this tires the reader out, leaving them no room to care for the main characters.
I won't spoilt the ending, or anything that happens if I can avoid it, as it really is breathtaking. A lot of the things I really loved about this novel I can't reveal, as they would count as spoilers. It's that kind of book.
If you find poetic description annoying, or you can't handle unrelenting GRIMDARK, you will HATE this book. Otherwise, I'd say it's well worth a read. I will certainly be picking up the sequel.
June 23, 2012
Roil is a hard book to rate - and even to comment on.
On the one hand, the world-building was great. Unique. Fascinating. Clearly a lot of thought has gone into it, a mixture of alternative universe / high fantasy / steampunk (with possible scifi elements).
On the other hand, there's the writing. I suspect this may be a matter of taste - some people will love Jamieson's style, with its run-on sentences (seriously, someone should have exterminated 2/3 of the commas used in this book) and abrupt shifts in point of view and disjointed action scenes, some won't.
I'm unfortunately in the latter camp, and I found the book took me far too much effort to read - and not just because he clearly doesn't believe in setting up the scenes or explaining anything and instead lets the readers do all the hard work by piecing bits of information together in the hopes that it will at some point start to make sense. It did, eventually, but for me, it was more effort than it was worth, ultimately, as I spent half the book plain not caring about this world or its inhabitants because, really, why should I have cared when I had no clue who they were or what that world was about?
The ending was also far too abrupt, not the least because in the ebook version, the actual book ended at 93% in. I'm sure it was meant to get us all excited about the second book in the duology, but... I'm really not sure I'll be bothered to read it.
On the one hand, the world-building was great. Unique. Fascinating. Clearly a lot of thought has gone into it, a mixture of alternative universe / high fantasy / steampunk (with possible scifi elements).
On the other hand, there's the writing. I suspect this may be a matter of taste - some people will love Jamieson's style, with its run-on sentences (seriously, someone should have exterminated 2/3 of the commas used in this book) and abrupt shifts in point of view and disjointed action scenes, some won't.
I'm unfortunately in the latter camp, and I found the book took me far too much effort to read - and not just because he clearly doesn't believe in setting up the scenes or explaining anything and instead lets the readers do all the hard work by piecing bits of information together in the hopes that it will at some point start to make sense. It did, eventually, but for me, it was more effort than it was worth, ultimately, as I spent half the book plain not caring about this world or its inhabitants because, really, why should I have cared when I had no clue who they were or what that world was about?
The ending was also far too abrupt, not the least because in the ebook version, the actual book ended at 93% in. I'm sure it was meant to get us all excited about the second book in the duology, but... I'm really not sure I'll be bothered to read it.
March 22, 2012
Trent Jamieson is a writer of no small talent, one who suffuses his richly imagined worlds with authentic human feeling and - as a result - portrays realistic characters in extraordinary circumstances. Roil is a prodigious work of imagination. The world of Roil has a history as complex as its current social and geographical topography (and on that last point, I could have done with a map to plot the journeys of our protagonists because the place feels that real).
Roil allows Trent to give free reign to his darker imaginings and the physical threat of the roil and its denizen 'roilings' demonstrate that very well. The action is relentless, complex and delivered for the most part at breakneck speed. It's all a fantastic adventure and the ending sets up nicely for book two. The only reason I didn't give Roil five stars was firstly that some of the scenes, I felt, could have benefited from a final polish (eg the capture of the group by the cuttlefolk and their subsequent rout) because I couldn't visualise things as much as I might have liked and secondly, in all the excitement and action, I didn't feel able to bond as closely on an emotional level with Roil's protagonists as I have with other pieces written by Trent.
Roil allows Trent to give free reign to his darker imaginings and the physical threat of the roil and its denizen 'roilings' demonstrate that very well. The action is relentless, complex and delivered for the most part at breakneck speed. It's all a fantastic adventure and the ending sets up nicely for book two. The only reason I didn't give Roil five stars was firstly that some of the scenes, I felt, could have benefited from a final polish (eg the capture of the group by the cuttlefolk and their subsequent rout) because I couldn't visualise things as much as I might have liked and secondly, in all the excitement and action, I didn't feel able to bond as closely on an emotional level with Roil's protagonists as I have with other pieces written by Trent.
October 2, 2012
I have rated this book a three, because every single part of it was either ridiculously stupid, or absolutely brilliant. I want to give it both a one and a five, because while there are parts that I love, and wish other books could pull off, there are an equal number of parts that I detest.
Endothermic weaponry to fight an enemy that thrives on oppressive heat? Amazing.
Doing that thing where the author makes up a bunch of terms and never just explains any but makes the reader figure it out? Annoying, but okay. Not ever offering ANY information on half those terms? Sort of evil, yeah.
A brutal government coup? Interesting event that could cast perspective on the story. A government that is never explained beyond saying that there are mayors, and sometimes a council? Less interesting, more just hollow.
An ancient weapon that has attained sentience and cursed its users? Brilliant idea. I just wish that it wasn't used to justify the parts of the book where the characters violate the story's internal laws of physics.
All in all, there's a lot of good material here, it's just not strung together very well, and the character who I think is supposed to be the protagonist is kind of an idiot. Maybe that was the point, I don't know. I didn't like him.
Endothermic weaponry to fight an enemy that thrives on oppressive heat? Amazing.
Doing that thing where the author makes up a bunch of terms and never just explains any but makes the reader figure it out? Annoying, but okay. Not ever offering ANY information on half those terms? Sort of evil, yeah.
A brutal government coup? Interesting event that could cast perspective on the story. A government that is never explained beyond saying that there are mayors, and sometimes a council? Less interesting, more just hollow.
An ancient weapon that has attained sentience and cursed its users? Brilliant idea. I just wish that it wasn't used to justify the parts of the book where the characters violate the story's internal laws of physics.
All in all, there's a lot of good material here, it's just not strung together very well, and the character who I think is supposed to be the protagonist is kind of an idiot. Maybe that was the point, I don't know. I didn't like him.
August 22, 2012
"The history of this world cannot be understood without a complete knowledge of the three forces that govern it. The Roil, the Engine and, of course, The Breaching Spire. We know of a Mechanical Winter, we have heard whisperings of the punishment meted out for that by whatever brute intellect rules Tearwin Meet. We know that the Roil is ancient, that it has come before.
So what is it that we know?
Nothing.
Our history is but one of events, scattered and continuing, but never in the context that such knowledge would bring.
We stare into the great dark, little more than idiots, playing out roles that we do not understand."
And so it is with us as readers. We are plunged into the book without knowledge of anyone or anything and I loved it. There is no preconceived knowing of who is good and who is bad. We only discover things as the characters do which I found rather quite freeing. Can't wait to read book two.
So what is it that we know?
Nothing.
Our history is but one of events, scattered and continuing, but never in the context that such knowledge would bring.
We stare into the great dark, little more than idiots, playing out roles that we do not understand."
And so it is with us as readers. We are plunged into the book without knowledge of anyone or anything and I loved it. There is no preconceived knowing of who is good and who is bad. We only discover things as the characters do which I found rather quite freeing. Can't wait to read book two.
July 2, 2012
Things I didn't like about this book:
- It was extremely poorly edited
- The plot didn't make any sense to me
- It took me a long, long time to become invested in any of the characters
BUT
- At about 60% in, things started to happen!
- The female characters are really kick-ass, especially the wisecracking female pilot of a living, sentient (I think) ship!
- The world-building was really intriguing.
This would be a really good beach book (because it doesn't really matter if beach books don't make sense.) My sofa is my beach (because I've got AC, and don't have to worry about sunburn) so, despite my grumbling, this really has been an enjoyable read. Even in the sense of, "WTF is going on?"
Next up is "Night Engines", which I bought on the strength of its really, really pretty cover. Yes I can be shallow that way.
- It was extremely poorly edited
- The plot didn't make any sense to me
- It took me a long, long time to become invested in any of the characters
BUT
- At about 60% in, things started to happen!
- The female characters are really kick-ass, especially the wisecracking female pilot of a living, sentient (I think) ship!
- The world-building was really intriguing.
This would be a really good beach book (because it doesn't really matter if beach books don't make sense.) My sofa is my beach (because I've got AC, and don't have to worry about sunburn) so, despite my grumbling, this really has been an enjoyable read. Even in the sense of, "WTF is going on?"
Next up is "Night Engines", which I bought on the strength of its really, really pretty cover. Yes I can be shallow that way.
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