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Exiles: A Tale from the Chronicles of Magnus
In an alternate reality, Europe is ruled by a suffocating bureaucracy that restricts technology and robs its citizens of both past and future, offering only an endless now. The Order has survived survived wars, famines, strikes and revolutions without flinching...but today a common tramp, a disillusioned smuggler and a mercenary with a lust for power will join forces and set in motion events that will shake this faceless tyranny to its foundations, and usher in a new age of empire. The rise of Magnus Antonius Magnus begins here....
181 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 31, 2023
3 people are currently reading
8 people want to read
About the author
Miles Watson
32 books64 followersMiles Watson was born in Evanston, Illinois. The son of a prominent Chicago journalist, he took an early interest in writing and published his first short story at 17. He worked in Criminal Justice for ten years before moving to Los Angeles for a dozen more, where he worked on numerous television shows and half a dozen feature films. He is the author of four book series: CAGE LIFE, SINNER'S CROSS, THE CHRONICLES OF MAGNUS and SOMETHING EVIL as well as numerous novellas, which have won nearly 30 literary awards.
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January 22, 2024
Exiles: A Tale From The Chronicles of Magnus by Miles Watson
Reviewed By: Sara Hailstone
Miles Watson has presented a thought-provoking and politically inspiring novella with “Exiles: A Tale From The Chronicles of Magnus” with quotable text and compelling characters. Fixed to a narrative of revolution and the fall of a European oppressive power, the intrigue of a character, almost omniscient in creating a resisting network to a tyrannical power called The Order, lies in the man named Magnus. An exile isolated on a remote island, the novella braids together multiple plotlines of the writings of Magnus’ ability to fuel the people to rebellion, an untraditional strong female smuggler named Marguerite who has gotten her hands on his chronicles and the ticking time-bomb of an overarching plot arc of The Order attempting to regain control from those who stood up against it. Magus, known formally from his writings as Enitan Champolean inspires and connects to Marguerite. What is at stake is the will for the rise of a new age of rulership and the defeat of control that has endured for centuries.
I was struck by the train-of-thought and personal story of yearning for escape by Magnus. Many times, in speaking from a core of raw human emotion, I felt he was speaking to our situation and current affairs. One well-written segment stays with me long after the novella is finished:
“I beg you to understand that this is not the overhead rhetoric of a madman, not the ravings of a frustrated drunk. It is the sober conclusion of years’ worth of observation. We are trapped within a zero-sum game. Those who rule us cannot give us what we demand without sacrificing some of their own privileges, and the more we receive, the more they must sacrifice. Of course, they could do this and still lead lives of luxury, but history shows us a man with a private jet will not trade it willingly for a mere limousine. Those who have much, want more; and those who have it all, want to keep everything. It is easy for them to draft the strongest of us into the army to die in pointless wars, to keep the rest under surveillance, to stupefy us with cheap liquor and cheaper entertainments, to rob us of our ability to rebel by restricting our technology, and to murder those who cannot be pacified by deploying their assassins.”
This monologue stilled me and makes for a well-crafted narrative. I bore witness to the character, Marguerite, herself, who connects to Magnus and his testimony. Despite her cunning and having worked her way up in ranks from trying to get away with being a child stow-away, she was trained by the best in smuggling. I admired her character. “But here I am, a captain, and my elevated position only gives me better vantage of my web. How like this strange little man I am. And how desperate for escape.” I read on eagerly anticipatings these plotlines would meet and coalesce in a crossroads.
Written in the style of an alternate-history thriller, “Exiles,” was created with the mindset as a ‘one-off’ gig Deux Ex of a dictator’s defeat and the need for justice. Miles Watson had crafted the character of Magnus and laid him aside, but, the character would not fall away. Watson confesses in his Afterward that “as time passed, I found myself more and more curious, not only about the finer details of Magnus’s rise to power, but also the system of government he had overthrown that he might crown himself master of Europe. What was the Order? Why did it arouse such hatred in Magnus and his followers? How was it ultimately brought down?” A novella that was intended with a firm beginning and ending has grown beyond the confines of the writing as Watson himself states that there is more coming in terms of Magnus’ story. Watson does not fully know yet what those stories will be as “Magnus is one step ahead of everybody.”
Miles Watson demonstrates a command of his subject matter with firm research and the creative fluidity to bring this world of revolution to life for the reader. A multi-award winner with over 15 credentials, Watson has solidly carved out a space as an independent author. His most recent awards are: The Literary Titan Book Award Gold Medal Winner (2022), a Pinnacle Book Achievement Award Winner (2022), and a Book Excellence Award Finalist (2022). He has studied in Criminal Justice and History and has achieved a Masters of Fine Arts in Writing Popular Fiction. Further, his life experience coincides with a backbone of foundation that gives weight to the quality of his work evident in the vigor of his writing. He worked in law enforcement for ten years and has contributed his writing mindset to television and feature films.
A repertoire of his works includes: Cage Life, Knuckle Down, Devils You Know, The Numbers Game, Nosferatu, and Sinner’s Cross. A recent work, “The Very Dead of Winter,” won the Literary Titan Book Award- Gold Medal (2022), a Pinnacle Book Achievement Award (2022) and was a Book Excellence Award Finalist (2023).
Watson can be found on his website: https://www.mileswatsonauthor.com/.
This review is my third on a work by Miles Watson. I enjoy the world-building and depth of characterization that the author establishes while tying plotlines together with strong and accessible prose. I highly recommend his most recent work. Thank you to Miles Watson and Coffee and Thorn for the complimentary copy in request for an honest review!
Reviewed By: Sara Hailstone
Miles Watson has presented a thought-provoking and politically inspiring novella with “Exiles: A Tale From The Chronicles of Magnus” with quotable text and compelling characters. Fixed to a narrative of revolution and the fall of a European oppressive power, the intrigue of a character, almost omniscient in creating a resisting network to a tyrannical power called The Order, lies in the man named Magnus. An exile isolated on a remote island, the novella braids together multiple plotlines of the writings of Magnus’ ability to fuel the people to rebellion, an untraditional strong female smuggler named Marguerite who has gotten her hands on his chronicles and the ticking time-bomb of an overarching plot arc of The Order attempting to regain control from those who stood up against it. Magus, known formally from his writings as Enitan Champolean inspires and connects to Marguerite. What is at stake is the will for the rise of a new age of rulership and the defeat of control that has endured for centuries.
I was struck by the train-of-thought and personal story of yearning for escape by Magnus. Many times, in speaking from a core of raw human emotion, I felt he was speaking to our situation and current affairs. One well-written segment stays with me long after the novella is finished:
“I beg you to understand that this is not the overhead rhetoric of a madman, not the ravings of a frustrated drunk. It is the sober conclusion of years’ worth of observation. We are trapped within a zero-sum game. Those who rule us cannot give us what we demand without sacrificing some of their own privileges, and the more we receive, the more they must sacrifice. Of course, they could do this and still lead lives of luxury, but history shows us a man with a private jet will not trade it willingly for a mere limousine. Those who have much, want more; and those who have it all, want to keep everything. It is easy for them to draft the strongest of us into the army to die in pointless wars, to keep the rest under surveillance, to stupefy us with cheap liquor and cheaper entertainments, to rob us of our ability to rebel by restricting our technology, and to murder those who cannot be pacified by deploying their assassins.”
This monologue stilled me and makes for a well-crafted narrative. I bore witness to the character, Marguerite, herself, who connects to Magnus and his testimony. Despite her cunning and having worked her way up in ranks from trying to get away with being a child stow-away, she was trained by the best in smuggling. I admired her character. “But here I am, a captain, and my elevated position only gives me better vantage of my web. How like this strange little man I am. And how desperate for escape.” I read on eagerly anticipatings these plotlines would meet and coalesce in a crossroads.
Written in the style of an alternate-history thriller, “Exiles,” was created with the mindset as a ‘one-off’ gig Deux Ex of a dictator’s defeat and the need for justice. Miles Watson had crafted the character of Magnus and laid him aside, but, the character would not fall away. Watson confesses in his Afterward that “as time passed, I found myself more and more curious, not only about the finer details of Magnus’s rise to power, but also the system of government he had overthrown that he might crown himself master of Europe. What was the Order? Why did it arouse such hatred in Magnus and his followers? How was it ultimately brought down?” A novella that was intended with a firm beginning and ending has grown beyond the confines of the writing as Watson himself states that there is more coming in terms of Magnus’ story. Watson does not fully know yet what those stories will be as “Magnus is one step ahead of everybody.”
Miles Watson demonstrates a command of his subject matter with firm research and the creative fluidity to bring this world of revolution to life for the reader. A multi-award winner with over 15 credentials, Watson has solidly carved out a space as an independent author. His most recent awards are: The Literary Titan Book Award Gold Medal Winner (2022), a Pinnacle Book Achievement Award Winner (2022), and a Book Excellence Award Finalist (2022). He has studied in Criminal Justice and History and has achieved a Masters of Fine Arts in Writing Popular Fiction. Further, his life experience coincides with a backbone of foundation that gives weight to the quality of his work evident in the vigor of his writing. He worked in law enforcement for ten years and has contributed his writing mindset to television and feature films.
A repertoire of his works includes: Cage Life, Knuckle Down, Devils You Know, The Numbers Game, Nosferatu, and Sinner’s Cross. A recent work, “The Very Dead of Winter,” won the Literary Titan Book Award- Gold Medal (2022), a Pinnacle Book Achievement Award (2022) and was a Book Excellence Award Finalist (2023).
Watson can be found on his website: https://www.mileswatsonauthor.com/.
This review is my third on a work by Miles Watson. I enjoy the world-building and depth of characterization that the author establishes while tying plotlines together with strong and accessible prose. I highly recommend his most recent work. Thank you to Miles Watson and Coffee and Thorn for the complimentary copy in request for an honest review!
February 16, 2024
Wow. I am very rarely lost for words when I read, but this was an experience. I loved every moment of it. Exiles is a kind of prequel to "deus ex" a very short novella about A man who wanted to be treated like God, who ruled and very quickly found out what it was like to find his world crumbling. Exiles, gives the reader a massive insight into Magnus, but as much as we find out about him, and he is a key character, he is not the Main character by any means.
Exiles, is a story within a story. Marguerite Bain, captain of the sea dragon, is the present story, and the exile in question secretly writes his story, of how he got where he is, on hidden notebooks given to him by Marguerite within the designated barrels of food and drink she is paid to drop off to his island. Whilst they do merge and separate frequently, it is by no means confusing, and actually quite refreshing, to have clear plotlines throughout.
I cannot say much, as it gives away the plot and this is one I would hate to ruin the experience for. The universe the Exiles is written in, is brutal, so unforgiving, not at all for the people, and that's partially why the Exile ends up on a tiny island on his own.
Miles Watson writes the world in such a way that immerses me so very deeply, I could hear the sea, feel the depressive streets and how much revolution means to the people involved. I could very clearly envision in my mind the characters, the scenery and even the sea dragon.
I think, compared to Deus Ex, there is not that "roman empire/greek empire" feel, but the oppressive, crushing feel of the order, who runs the alternate reality Europe, is very different in my opinion.
I think my review speaks for itself, in that I found everything, from the plot, to the world building, characters, to be perfect for me. In terms of world building, there is money, different names for countries and cities, everything is so well thought of, that although the thought of Europe is there, it is very much different to the one I know now.
I really cannot wait to read anymore that comes from this universe. Whether it be Magnus, "the exile", or even Marguerite.
(Read Deus ex too!!)
Exiles, is a story within a story. Marguerite Bain, captain of the sea dragon, is the present story, and the exile in question secretly writes his story, of how he got where he is, on hidden notebooks given to him by Marguerite within the designated barrels of food and drink she is paid to drop off to his island. Whilst they do merge and separate frequently, it is by no means confusing, and actually quite refreshing, to have clear plotlines throughout.
I cannot say much, as it gives away the plot and this is one I would hate to ruin the experience for. The universe the Exiles is written in, is brutal, so unforgiving, not at all for the people, and that's partially why the Exile ends up on a tiny island on his own.
Miles Watson writes the world in such a way that immerses me so very deeply, I could hear the sea, feel the depressive streets and how much revolution means to the people involved. I could very clearly envision in my mind the characters, the scenery and even the sea dragon.
I think, compared to Deus Ex, there is not that "roman empire/greek empire" feel, but the oppressive, crushing feel of the order, who runs the alternate reality Europe, is very different in my opinion.
I think my review speaks for itself, in that I found everything, from the plot, to the world building, characters, to be perfect for me. In terms of world building, there is money, different names for countries and cities, everything is so well thought of, that although the thought of Europe is there, it is very much different to the one I know now.
I really cannot wait to read anymore that comes from this universe. Whether it be Magnus, "the exile", or even Marguerite.
(Read Deus ex too!!)
February 18, 2024
Miles Watson drew me into his dystopian world from the first page. The intrigue and betrayals within the Order, the Brotherhood, the Solution, and other shadowy organizations make for a complex world, where the elites of the Order rule over the miserable masses. One unforgettable image that evokes the nightmare world of Exiles is that of a smuggler’s sailing ship passed on the high seas by a well-armed, atomic-powered warship of the Order.
With vivid and unsparing descriptions, the story introduces Marguerite, the captain of a smuggler’s ship, The Sea Dragon, a red-sailed junk. Her wretched past made her the woman she is, unafraid of the barbaric crew of men she commands, and no stranger to violence.
Magnus, a brutal man who would destroy the Order and take power for himself, gives Marguerite a commission to bring supplies to a remote island where he has exiled a man. The commission from the Brotherhood cannot be refused, although Marguerite, who bristles at Magnus’s manner, breaks the rules of the assignment at her first opportunity. She provides the exile with contraband writing materials, then becomes fascinated as she reads his life story and the events that propelled him to high status in the revolution against the Order, all based on happenstance and furthered by his lies. Magnus learned of the deception, which is the reason for the exile.
Marguerite’s dangerous game ends when a spy, placed aboard the Sea Dragon by the Watch, a secret group that protects the Order, kills the crew and attacks her. Injured and barely alive, Marguerite gathers her valuables and leaves her sabotaged and sinking ship in a utility boat headed for the island, where the exile, the fictitiously named Enitan Champoleon, nurses her.
In a dramatic twist, Marguerite chooses to change places with Enitan, and the meaning of the title, Exiles, becomes clear. The strong writing, deeply drawn characterizations, and interesting plot make this novella a highly recommended read.
With vivid and unsparing descriptions, the story introduces Marguerite, the captain of a smuggler’s ship, The Sea Dragon, a red-sailed junk. Her wretched past made her the woman she is, unafraid of the barbaric crew of men she commands, and no stranger to violence.
Magnus, a brutal man who would destroy the Order and take power for himself, gives Marguerite a commission to bring supplies to a remote island where he has exiled a man. The commission from the Brotherhood cannot be refused, although Marguerite, who bristles at Magnus’s manner, breaks the rules of the assignment at her first opportunity. She provides the exile with contraband writing materials, then becomes fascinated as she reads his life story and the events that propelled him to high status in the revolution against the Order, all based on happenstance and furthered by his lies. Magnus learned of the deception, which is the reason for the exile.
Marguerite’s dangerous game ends when a spy, placed aboard the Sea Dragon by the Watch, a secret group that protects the Order, kills the crew and attacks her. Injured and barely alive, Marguerite gathers her valuables and leaves her sabotaged and sinking ship in a utility boat headed for the island, where the exile, the fictitiously named Enitan Champoleon, nurses her.
In a dramatic twist, Marguerite chooses to change places with Enitan, and the meaning of the title, Exiles, becomes clear. The strong writing, deeply drawn characterizations, and interesting plot make this novella a highly recommended read.
February 24, 2024
Exiles, by Miles Watson, is a novella, but it could almost stand as a full length novel. It serves as an introduction to “The Magnus Chronicles”, a series of dystopian novels set in a world that could be Earth in either the past or future. That is not clear from the story. Is it an alternative history or a possible future? I think the reader must decide.
There is some modern technology, but it is limited by “The Order”, the body that rules over most of Europe. However, there is also a lot of 19th century technology still in use, though that might be because modern technology is banned from use.
This little book actually tells two stories in one. The first is told by Marguerite Bain, the Captain of a smuggling ship. Smuggling is an organised, if dangerous, profession with its own ruling Guild. Marguerite gained her command under the tutelage of a senior Captain who now serves as one of the Guild’s governors.
While smuggling is illegal, a blind eye is turned for the most part. Bribery and corruption play a large part in that unofficial; tolerance, as it does in most of life under The Order.
Marguerite has had a hard life, not one to be envied by any woman. Now, as skipper of her own ship, she has to show that she is ready to kill anyone who challenges her position and the only way she has been able to prove that is to do it. Now an uneasy truce lies between her and her crew, though she knows that if she shows any sign of weakness they would kill her, after taking their pleasure first, of course.
The Sea Dragon, her ship, is contracted to deliver supplies to the eponymous exile on his remote and barren island. It is a task she is unable to refuse because it has been brokered by the Guild and such a contract can’t be broken.
Her instructions are strict. Deliver the supplies and leave the island. Do not make any attempt to communicate with the exile. The previous contractor forgot those rules and now he is no longer alive.
But Marguerite is curious and can’t resist finding out about the exile, so she secretes a notebook and pencil in the supplies, asking him to tell his story.
Which is the second story in the book.
Enitan Champoleon is a name that is notorious as an opponent of The Order, an organiser of the resistance. He is almost mythical, a sort of Scarlet Pimpernel figure. But if the Order captured him they would just kill him, not exile him on a barren rock. So, who had placed Champoleon in this living hell?
All becomes clear by the end of the story.
But through this dialogue Marguerite starts to feel a bizarre kinship with the exile.
The style of language is fitting for the ambivalent chronological setting of the book. In many ways it is Victorian, but interspersed with more modern phrases and idiom.
Either of the two stories are capable of engaging the reader fully, but the two of them together become compelling and the book is a real page turner. For lovers of fantasy or sci-fi it is a very good read.
This reviewer is now a convert and will now be embarking on reading The Magnus Chronicles in full.
I recommend “Exiles” by Miles Watson.
There is some modern technology, but it is limited by “The Order”, the body that rules over most of Europe. However, there is also a lot of 19th century technology still in use, though that might be because modern technology is banned from use.
This little book actually tells two stories in one. The first is told by Marguerite Bain, the Captain of a smuggling ship. Smuggling is an organised, if dangerous, profession with its own ruling Guild. Marguerite gained her command under the tutelage of a senior Captain who now serves as one of the Guild’s governors.
While smuggling is illegal, a blind eye is turned for the most part. Bribery and corruption play a large part in that unofficial; tolerance, as it does in most of life under The Order.
Marguerite has had a hard life, not one to be envied by any woman. Now, as skipper of her own ship, she has to show that she is ready to kill anyone who challenges her position and the only way she has been able to prove that is to do it. Now an uneasy truce lies between her and her crew, though she knows that if she shows any sign of weakness they would kill her, after taking their pleasure first, of course.
The Sea Dragon, her ship, is contracted to deliver supplies to the eponymous exile on his remote and barren island. It is a task she is unable to refuse because it has been brokered by the Guild and such a contract can’t be broken.
Her instructions are strict. Deliver the supplies and leave the island. Do not make any attempt to communicate with the exile. The previous contractor forgot those rules and now he is no longer alive.
But Marguerite is curious and can’t resist finding out about the exile, so she secretes a notebook and pencil in the supplies, asking him to tell his story.
Which is the second story in the book.
Enitan Champoleon is a name that is notorious as an opponent of The Order, an organiser of the resistance. He is almost mythical, a sort of Scarlet Pimpernel figure. But if the Order captured him they would just kill him, not exile him on a barren rock. So, who had placed Champoleon in this living hell?
All becomes clear by the end of the story.
But through this dialogue Marguerite starts to feel a bizarre kinship with the exile.
The style of language is fitting for the ambivalent chronological setting of the book. In many ways it is Victorian, but interspersed with more modern phrases and idiom.
Either of the two stories are capable of engaging the reader fully, but the two of them together become compelling and the book is a real page turner. For lovers of fantasy or sci-fi it is a very good read.
This reviewer is now a convert and will now be embarking on reading The Magnus Chronicles in full.
I recommend “Exiles” by Miles Watson.
February 1, 2024
One man: an unwanted, abused orphan who found an escape in books, and in a moment of danger decides to model himself on a fictional character.
One woman: sold to a whorehouse as a child who has found her escape in the discipline and ruthlessness needed to become a captain of a smuggling ship.
A second man: convinced of his superiority, admitting no morality or laws but his own, who has sworn to destroy the despotic government known as The Order.
Eniton Champoleon, Marguerite Bain, Magnus.
Marguerite Bain, Captain of the Sea Dragon, is hired by The Order to take food and water to a tiny island on which a man is exiled. She is to make no contact with them. But Marguerite is not of a mind to do as she is told, and she leaves writing materials in one shipment. The story she is given in return tells of the unwanted orphan who becomes a wanderer and a conman, a tramp – until the day he accepts a free meal in exchange for listening to a political speaker. Caught up in the movement against The Order, he invents a history for himself and a future for the revolutionaries: one that has no basis in reality. But his lies will have a price, when a rising revolutionary called Magnus reveals his hand.
Marguerite, her own past too painful to dwell on, finds herself questioning her own choices as she reads Champoleon’s autobiography. Drawn to him, her interest in his story becomes compulsive, and dangerous.
Written in the style of a political thriller, set in an alternative future Europe, Exiles is also a psychological study of exile both voluntary and involuntary. Champoleon and Marguerite are both set apart from others by the circumstances of their childhoods and the paths taken as adults, whether by choice or by fate. Neither have anyone to trust, or love. Magnus, who believes himself an Übermensch, to use Nietzsche’s term, has no use for humanity except as tools for his vow to overturn The Order. All three have fictionalized their own lives, shaping them into an image individual to each character, but separate, alone, untouchable.
The novella, while capable of being read as a standalone, is also backstory for Watson’s earlier book Deus Ex. Much of it is told in great detail through Champoleon’s biographical writing – a technique I found palled after a while. But it does have the effect of distancing the reader from Champoleon, leading to the question of whether or not any of what he writes is true, or simply another story.
Exiles has many twists and reversals, in good thriller style, and the tension and action builds throughout. Character voices are distinct. Watson is a writer of talent and imagination, with deeper themes beyond the surface stories of his books.
One woman: sold to a whorehouse as a child who has found her escape in the discipline and ruthlessness needed to become a captain of a smuggling ship.
A second man: convinced of his superiority, admitting no morality or laws but his own, who has sworn to destroy the despotic government known as The Order.
Eniton Champoleon, Marguerite Bain, Magnus.
Marguerite Bain, Captain of the Sea Dragon, is hired by The Order to take food and water to a tiny island on which a man is exiled. She is to make no contact with them. But Marguerite is not of a mind to do as she is told, and she leaves writing materials in one shipment. The story she is given in return tells of the unwanted orphan who becomes a wanderer and a conman, a tramp – until the day he accepts a free meal in exchange for listening to a political speaker. Caught up in the movement against The Order, he invents a history for himself and a future for the revolutionaries: one that has no basis in reality. But his lies will have a price, when a rising revolutionary called Magnus reveals his hand.
Marguerite, her own past too painful to dwell on, finds herself questioning her own choices as she reads Champoleon’s autobiography. Drawn to him, her interest in his story becomes compulsive, and dangerous.
Written in the style of a political thriller, set in an alternative future Europe, Exiles is also a psychological study of exile both voluntary and involuntary. Champoleon and Marguerite are both set apart from others by the circumstances of their childhoods and the paths taken as adults, whether by choice or by fate. Neither have anyone to trust, or love. Magnus, who believes himself an Übermensch, to use Nietzsche’s term, has no use for humanity except as tools for his vow to overturn The Order. All three have fictionalized their own lives, shaping them into an image individual to each character, but separate, alone, untouchable.
The novella, while capable of being read as a standalone, is also backstory for Watson’s earlier book Deus Ex. Much of it is told in great detail through Champoleon’s biographical writing – a technique I found palled after a while. But it does have the effect of distancing the reader from Champoleon, leading to the question of whether or not any of what he writes is true, or simply another story.
Exiles has many twists and reversals, in good thriller style, and the tension and action builds throughout. Character voices are distinct. Watson is a writer of talent and imagination, with deeper themes beyond the surface stories of his books.
February 17, 2024
I'll be honest, I'm not sure what to make of Exiles, and I can't decide if I liked it or not - it has me puzzled. (But is that, perhaps, the author's intention?) The blurb above doesn't seem to fit the book, or have I missed a point somewhere?
The story starts with Marguerite Bain, captain of the Sea Dragon. She is obviously a mentally damaged individual, well capable of looking after herself and very much her own person. It is also obvious from the outset that this is no ordinary ship in no ordinary, familiar world. So far, so good.
Marguerite is a smuggler, and she has been commissioned to do a specific job: take a cargo to a remote island and leave it there after removing the 'empties' of a previous delivery.
Someone is marooned, exiled on the island and Marguerite disobeys orders by being curious to discover who it is and why he is there. No spoilers, I'll not divulge how she does this, or who the exile is, or why the entire story is happening in the first place because I partly feel that other readers might understand the plot more than I did, and this is a story that gradually unfolds, until you're not quite sure what is the truth and what isn't - what is a story and what isn't.
My fault, I suspect, that I got lost with who was who, and what was happening and why, probably because I am not really 'into' this genre of storytelling. I did find the 'story' of the exile to be, (and my apologies to the author) somewhat tedious after a while, page after page of 'me, me, me'. I very soon disliked the character, and I would have exiled him myself quite happily for being a total bore. But stick with it, it is part of the plot.
Marguerite I liked, the Sea Dragon I liked, the sailing detail I liked, (very clever and imaginative!) The alternative reality I liked... I just didn't understand what was going on, or why.
This might, however, not entirely be down to me? Exiles is supposed to be a standalone, but it is also the backstory for Miles Watson’s earlier book Deus Ex, which I have not read - perhaps this novella is not as much of a standalone as the author intended? Without reading the other book I couldn't really say, but this might explain why I got lost somewhere along the way?
I am inhibited by visual impairment, which makes for slow reading so novels where the emphasis is on concentration in order to negotiate the twists, turns and cleverly hidden labyrinths are, sadly, not quite for me any more.
Even so, for readers who enjoy unravelling puzzles, this one should suit well, so I'll give Exiles 4 stars for that and for the high level of imagination and because I loved the ship.
The story starts with Marguerite Bain, captain of the Sea Dragon. She is obviously a mentally damaged individual, well capable of looking after herself and very much her own person. It is also obvious from the outset that this is no ordinary ship in no ordinary, familiar world. So far, so good.
Marguerite is a smuggler, and she has been commissioned to do a specific job: take a cargo to a remote island and leave it there after removing the 'empties' of a previous delivery.
Someone is marooned, exiled on the island and Marguerite disobeys orders by being curious to discover who it is and why he is there. No spoilers, I'll not divulge how she does this, or who the exile is, or why the entire story is happening in the first place because I partly feel that other readers might understand the plot more than I did, and this is a story that gradually unfolds, until you're not quite sure what is the truth and what isn't - what is a story and what isn't.
My fault, I suspect, that I got lost with who was who, and what was happening and why, probably because I am not really 'into' this genre of storytelling. I did find the 'story' of the exile to be, (and my apologies to the author) somewhat tedious after a while, page after page of 'me, me, me'. I very soon disliked the character, and I would have exiled him myself quite happily for being a total bore. But stick with it, it is part of the plot.
Marguerite I liked, the Sea Dragon I liked, the sailing detail I liked, (very clever and imaginative!) The alternative reality I liked... I just didn't understand what was going on, or why.
This might, however, not entirely be down to me? Exiles is supposed to be a standalone, but it is also the backstory for Miles Watson’s earlier book Deus Ex, which I have not read - perhaps this novella is not as much of a standalone as the author intended? Without reading the other book I couldn't really say, but this might explain why I got lost somewhere along the way?
I am inhibited by visual impairment, which makes for slow reading so novels where the emphasis is on concentration in order to negotiate the twists, turns and cleverly hidden labyrinths are, sadly, not quite for me any more.
Even so, for readers who enjoy unravelling puzzles, this one should suit well, so I'll give Exiles 4 stars for that and for the high level of imagination and because I loved the ship.
February 19, 2024
Miles Watson writes an alternate historical tale with Exiles: A Tale from the Chronicles of Magnus
In Exiles, the reader is introduced to Magnus, the titular character, and he is also the protagonist of the series. Exiles is part of The Chronicles of Magnus series, and this is volume two. I am a big fan of Miles Watson and read whatever this author writes. This author has a grand imagination, and talent for showing the story. The reader ends up in Europe, however it is not as it is, but what it could possibly be, in another time, in an alternate world. Miles Watson has a great imagination. Miles Watson is so talented at building this new world called Europe, but with its governing body, being so restrictive it is worse than just a simple dictatorship. The citizens who don't fight back and do their best to just survive, still have their restrictions, limited technology, and the robbing of their civil rights as persons. Magnus may be the protagonist, but that doesn't always mean that he's a 'good guy.' He is looking out for himself, and has a plan for a new world, where he has the power, instead of the governing Order. He's a raw, and tenacious character, and is very self-centered, but yet, has been beat down, so much that he fears there is no end to the Order of things, but still he has to lift himself up, since no one else will do it. I really like Magnus, and he is one of those characters, you like at one moment, and then dislike at the next, but he is himself. Never is anyone but himself. Exiles: A Tale from the Chronicles of Magnus is a definite recommendation by Amy's Bookshelf Reviews. I read this book to give my unbiased and honest review. Amy's Bookshelf Reviews recommends that anyone who reads this book, to also write a review.
In Exiles, the reader is introduced to Magnus, the titular character, and he is also the protagonist of the series. Exiles is part of The Chronicles of Magnus series, and this is volume two. I am a big fan of Miles Watson and read whatever this author writes. This author has a grand imagination, and talent for showing the story. The reader ends up in Europe, however it is not as it is, but what it could possibly be, in another time, in an alternate world. Miles Watson has a great imagination. Miles Watson is so talented at building this new world called Europe, but with its governing body, being so restrictive it is worse than just a simple dictatorship. The citizens who don't fight back and do their best to just survive, still have their restrictions, limited technology, and the robbing of their civil rights as persons. Magnus may be the protagonist, but that doesn't always mean that he's a 'good guy.' He is looking out for himself, and has a plan for a new world, where he has the power, instead of the governing Order. He's a raw, and tenacious character, and is very self-centered, but yet, has been beat down, so much that he fears there is no end to the Order of things, but still he has to lift himself up, since no one else will do it. I really like Magnus, and he is one of those characters, you like at one moment, and then dislike at the next, but he is himself. Never is anyone but himself. Exiles: A Tale from the Chronicles of Magnus is a definite recommendation by Amy's Bookshelf Reviews. I read this book to give my unbiased and honest review. Amy's Bookshelf Reviews recommends that anyone who reads this book, to also write a review.
February 18, 2024
This is a strange and eerie tale of the kind that Miles Watson tells so well – lonely misfits in desperate situations, finding a way through a world where they don’t belong. And a cruel world at that: Watson’s worlds are always cruel. Marguerite is a pirate with a desperate past now isolated as captain of a ship whose crew neither offers nor deserves trust, tied by bonds of threat and obligation to a guild that she must obey. Champoleon is a powerful dissident who has been exiled by a cruel dictator to an island, where he is kept alive by anonymous consignments of necessities, but with no hope of escape. Neither has much to live for, but they both cling to existence with a fierce determination. Their stories unfold through a series of transitions between their different viewpoints, then wind, unwind, rewind together. The story is hauntingly told (like everything that this author writes) and leads one through troubling landscapes in a disturbingly familiar, disturbingly unfamiliar, world. Are we in an imaginary future? An imaginary past? It’s hard to tell. Is anyone telling the complete truth? Again, hard to tell. But one reads on, trying to find a foothold, never entirely understanding, right to the end. I have read the book to which this is billed as a “prequel”, and I cannot say that it grounded me for the reading of this one, which was a different experience entirely: I wouldn’t have noticed the connection if it hadn’t been pointed out, and I wouldn’t have read this story differently, I think, if I’d never heard of the other. This one left me with a kind of satisfaction: the closure is curiously kind. Thank you for that, Mr Watson. It was a wonderful read.
February 21, 2024
…a man imprisoned by a tyrant on a remote island, intended to be beyond all human contact – will he ever escape? Will he die alone?
When I was asked about taking part in this book tour from Coffee and Thorn, this line sold me into picking this up. Being a prequel to Watson’s novel, Deus Ex, this novella sets the story and explains the background of Magnus.
This is not my first book from Watson, and I always get blown away each time. Their writing style is always so captivating. From the first few sentences, I was sucked in and had to know what would happen. I was captivated by Marguerite immediately, I found myself easily following in her steps, the captain of a smuggler crew, who’d been tasked to bring supplies to Magnus on the island. I fell in love with her character and her story of how she became the captain of her crew and took no bullshit. I absolutely love strong female leads, and Marguerite didn’t disappoint! She was definitely one amazing badass!
And once we started to get introduced to Enitan, I couldn’t help but be further entranced. I wanted to learn what happened to him and why he was alone on this island, I wanted to know how things would play out. And learn more about Magnus. I haven’t read Deus Ex, but you better believe that after reading this I plan to!
Thank you Coffee and Thorn for this opportunity! I always enjoy reading Miles Watson’s stories, each one has surprised me and entertained me. If you enjoy historical fantasy and descriptive reads then this one is definitely for you! I can’t wait to get my hands on Deus Ex and continue Magnus’ story!
When I was asked about taking part in this book tour from Coffee and Thorn, this line sold me into picking this up. Being a prequel to Watson’s novel, Deus Ex, this novella sets the story and explains the background of Magnus.
This is not my first book from Watson, and I always get blown away each time. Their writing style is always so captivating. From the first few sentences, I was sucked in and had to know what would happen. I was captivated by Marguerite immediately, I found myself easily following in her steps, the captain of a smuggler crew, who’d been tasked to bring supplies to Magnus on the island. I fell in love with her character and her story of how she became the captain of her crew and took no bullshit. I absolutely love strong female leads, and Marguerite didn’t disappoint! She was definitely one amazing badass!
And once we started to get introduced to Enitan, I couldn’t help but be further entranced. I wanted to learn what happened to him and why he was alone on this island, I wanted to know how things would play out. And learn more about Magnus. I haven’t read Deus Ex, but you better believe that after reading this I plan to!
Thank you Coffee and Thorn for this opportunity! I always enjoy reading Miles Watson’s stories, each one has surprised me and entertained me. If you enjoy historical fantasy and descriptive reads then this one is definitely for you! I can’t wait to get my hands on Deus Ex and continue Magnus’ story!
February 16, 2024
I was guiltily in love with Marguerite from the first ruthless thrust of her dagger. And I was lost aboard her ship, in that cold sea, sailing to a place of endless exile. I shared her fascination with the Exile, I read his story along with her, I got caught up in that unkind, grey world from which he had once sprung, a kind of dismal vision of some Eastern European totalitarian dictatorship.
The book in a sense is a prequel to Watson's novella Deus Ex but only in an indirect way, and although I had read and admired Deus Ex it was not the book that most came to my mind as I read this one. This story stands alone; its links to another book are interesting but also incidental. Occasionally as I read I thought of Kafka's In the Penal Colony. Several times I thought of Evelyn Waugh's A Handful of Dust. Once or twice I thought of Coleridge's Rime of the Ancient Mariner. For me, Miles Watson is right up there amongst those greats. Whatever genre he writes in - and there are many - his ability to immerse the reader, to take their hand and hold so tight that they have no choice but to follow, is unsurpassed. His writing is mesmerising.
Here, the deft plotting which slowly, slowly, brings together the story and the story-within-a-story is gorgeous. And the conclusion - unexpected - is profoundly correct and satisfying.
The book in a sense is a prequel to Watson's novella Deus Ex but only in an indirect way, and although I had read and admired Deus Ex it was not the book that most came to my mind as I read this one. This story stands alone; its links to another book are interesting but also incidental. Occasionally as I read I thought of Kafka's In the Penal Colony. Several times I thought of Evelyn Waugh's A Handful of Dust. Once or twice I thought of Coleridge's Rime of the Ancient Mariner. For me, Miles Watson is right up there amongst those greats. Whatever genre he writes in - and there are many - his ability to immerse the reader, to take their hand and hold so tight that they have no choice but to follow, is unsurpassed. His writing is mesmerising.
Here, the deft plotting which slowly, slowly, brings together the story and the story-within-a-story is gorgeous. And the conclusion - unexpected - is profoundly correct and satisfying.
February 19, 2024
I received a copy of this for free, to review as part of a book tour with Coffee And Thorn.
From the first few sentences, this book seemed to stir a feeling inside me, and I would describe that feeling as a kind of dark anticipation. I felt somehow that this story would not be a happy one, and would not end happily. I think that sometimes as a reader, when a book gives that sort of impression, you feel a kind of odd excitement, feeling that the ending of the story will not be happy, and that was why I kept reading.
At the beginning of the story, the characters that were presented did not seem easy to like, but they did seem intriguing, in a dark sort of way. I find that is often the case with unlikeable characters, and that was certainly the case with Marguerite. I wanted to know more about this character, who appeared cold and detached.
The writing had a dark, gritty tone that continued as the story progressed. Although it wasn't a particularly long story, it felt like quite an intense read, and definitely a book that I could escape into.
Thank you to Coffee And Thorn, and to the author, for the opportunity to read and review this.
From the first few sentences, this book seemed to stir a feeling inside me, and I would describe that feeling as a kind of dark anticipation. I felt somehow that this story would not be a happy one, and would not end happily. I think that sometimes as a reader, when a book gives that sort of impression, you feel a kind of odd excitement, feeling that the ending of the story will not be happy, and that was why I kept reading.
At the beginning of the story, the characters that were presented did not seem easy to like, but they did seem intriguing, in a dark sort of way. I find that is often the case with unlikeable characters, and that was certainly the case with Marguerite. I wanted to know more about this character, who appeared cold and detached.
The writing had a dark, gritty tone that continued as the story progressed. Although it wasn't a particularly long story, it felt like quite an intense read, and definitely a book that I could escape into.
Thank you to Coffee And Thorn, and to the author, for the opportunity to read and review this.
February 19, 2024
Bleak and almost entirely without love. What is there for these characters, in the world that Miles Watson has built for them? This book is a dark exploration of the inner workings of exile - two bitter outcasts, each captive in lonely lives that that they have crafted out of their own flaws and betrayals. Neither is likeable, neither can do much more than survive. And yet I saw a bit of myself in each of them, and though I did not like it, I rooted for both of them. The story within the story - the accidentail rise of a cynical man through a shadowy order of power and repression - is gripping. It had an edge of truth that made me think of many leaders in the current world. The story that wraps around it has more heart, and its arc has a kind of redemption to it. But bleak still. No compromises.
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