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Fourlands #1-4
The Castle Omnibus: The Year of Our War, No Present Like Time, The Modern World
50 immortals, chosen by the emperor lead humanity in an endless war against hordes of ginant insects. Their immortality, conferred on them by the emperror can be taken away if they lose a challange to be part of the circle of 50.
Jant, the emperor's drug-addicted messanger, the only man who can fly, tells the story of mankinds savage fight for survival in a uniquely imagined, beautiful fantasy world.
884 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 17, 2009
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
November 2, 2016
Omnibus edition containing three novels in Swainston's Castle trilogy. I reviewed the novels individually.
The Year of Our War
...In some ways The Year of Our War is a rocky start to the trilogy, but also one that shows a lot of potential. The setting is absolutely unique and after reading this book you can't possibly not want to learn more. The story is a dark one, but it doesn't overly rely on shock tactics to keep the reader's attention. Swainston is clearly interested in the darker side of human nature and her main character is a big part of that. His addiction and personality make him a character that is guaranteed to provoke a reaction in the reader. Probably not a positive one in all readers but if you can stomach a main character you can't always sympathise with, he is bound to take you for quite a ride. I'll be reading the second volume in the not too distant future to see where he will lead us and of course to find out if he can get the monkey off his back.
Full Random Comments review.
No Present Like Time
...I enjoyed this second book more than the first. Where the frayed threads of Jant's life make for a bumpy ride in the first novel, this book reads a lot more smoothly. He has a bit more time to reflect on the state of the world, giving the reader a lot more insight into what is actually going on. Swainston leaves quite a lot dangling for the final volume. It has plenty of potential to be a proper climax to the series. I can see all sorts of directions in which Swainston could take the story. Swainston has not only created a fascinating world, she also keeps her readers guessing. How many fantasy novels can you think of that are truly unpredictable? I can't think of many. This sense of unpredictability is perhaps the series' greatest achievement.
Full Random Comments review.
The Modern World
...Castle is not quite what it appears to be seems to be the message of this book. Don't believe everything you are told. Don't take things at face value. Swainston makes us question just about everything we think we know about Castle and Fourlands. There obviously is a lot more to this tale, which makes it all the more surprising that the author went on to write a prequel about Jant's early years next. You can feel Castle is at a turning point, even if it takes a while for the full impact to be felt. The Modern World deepens the reader's understanding of Fourlands and Castle in ways neither of the previous two books did. It is without a doubt my favourite of the three novels in this omnibus.
Full Random Comments review.
The Year of Our War
...In some ways The Year of Our War is a rocky start to the trilogy, but also one that shows a lot of potential. The setting is absolutely unique and after reading this book you can't possibly not want to learn more. The story is a dark one, but it doesn't overly rely on shock tactics to keep the reader's attention. Swainston is clearly interested in the darker side of human nature and her main character is a big part of that. His addiction and personality make him a character that is guaranteed to provoke a reaction in the reader. Probably not a positive one in all readers but if you can stomach a main character you can't always sympathise with, he is bound to take you for quite a ride. I'll be reading the second volume in the not too distant future to see where he will lead us and of course to find out if he can get the monkey off his back.
Full Random Comments review.
No Present Like Time
...I enjoyed this second book more than the first. Where the frayed threads of Jant's life make for a bumpy ride in the first novel, this book reads a lot more smoothly. He has a bit more time to reflect on the state of the world, giving the reader a lot more insight into what is actually going on. Swainston leaves quite a lot dangling for the final volume. It has plenty of potential to be a proper climax to the series. I can see all sorts of directions in which Swainston could take the story. Swainston has not only created a fascinating world, she also keeps her readers guessing. How many fantasy novels can you think of that are truly unpredictable? I can't think of many. This sense of unpredictability is perhaps the series' greatest achievement.
Full Random Comments review.
The Modern World
...Castle is not quite what it appears to be seems to be the message of this book. Don't believe everything you are told. Don't take things at face value. Swainston makes us question just about everything we think we know about Castle and Fourlands. There obviously is a lot more to this tale, which makes it all the more surprising that the author went on to write a prequel about Jant's early years next. You can feel Castle is at a turning point, even if it takes a while for the full impact to be felt. The Modern World deepens the reader's understanding of Fourlands and Castle in ways neither of the previous two books did. It is without a doubt my favourite of the three novels in this omnibus.
Full Random Comments review.
April 14, 2016
(Re-posted from http://theturnedbrain.blogspot.com)
Ah, the omnibus. Many trilogies I would never had read if they'd not been released in omnibus form. It's three books for the price of one and a bit! Frankly, you'd be losing money if you didn't buy it! (Or so I tell I tell my boyfriend when yet another parcel of books appears on the doorstep...) If I'd had to have purchased the three books in the Castle trilogy, The Year of Our War, No Present Like Time and The Modern World, I know I never would have.
I mean, the plot sounded intriguing enough. An emperor dude has the power to make people immortal, but he grants the gift only to the man or woman that proves themselves to be the indisputable best at something. But you can't, like, be the best at ribbon curling, your skill has to be relevant to the centuries long war the emporer's been waging against an invading swarm of bugs. Jant is the best messenger at the world, because he's pretty good at learning new languages and diplomacy, but mostly its because he can fly and no one else can. Which seems a bit like an unfair advantage to me but there you go.
Sounds pretty cool, yes? But there were several things that turned me off. Firstly, Jant is a drug addict, hooked on a hallucinogenic called Cat. Man, I hate reading about drug addiction. Partly because I find books (and movies too) that deal with addiction tend to be too dark for my liking but mostly, having never been a drug addicit myself and therefor having no understanding of what it feels like, I get really frustrated. 'Hey, character x, have you tried just, you know, not taking drugs?' Also, the trilogy has garnered some pretty average reviews, the most troubling being that the characters are shallow and boring.
But, omnibus! So I bought, I read and, friends, I loved it. Loved it like my niece loves pink. (And believe me, the kid loves pink). Are the secondary characters somewhat 2d? Well, yes, but, but, I think that's the point. Because Jant, our erstwhile first POV narrator, is just a wee bit self centered. If the people around him seem to lack depth its because he's too busy checking out his reflection in the mirror to notice their depths. It obvious that Swainston is capable of writing fleshed out and complex character because that's exactly what Jant is.
There are three races in the book, humans and "Awains" (who are pretty much people with wings (who can't fly)) are the two who co-exsist quite happily and who we see the most of. But then there are the Rhydainne, (I may be getting the spelling wrong here, my book is out of arms reach), an odd race who live way up in the snowy mountains. They are extemely fast and insanely self serving. Their language doesn't actually have a word for "we," but it does have over fifty for drunk. (Jant says this is because it gets too cold they need to drink to stop their blood from freezing, but Jant says a lot of things...) Humans and Awains are very distrustful of Rhydainne, and so Jant often gets treated with suspicion or fear, on account of he's half Rhydainne half Awain. (This is how he can fly, super light Rhydainne bones combined with Awain wings).
Jant is a fascinating mix of both cultures. He craves acceptance and love, but at the same time his solitary Rhydainne nature shines through. He has a wife, for instance, but the only time he seems to think about her when she's not with him is when she's having an affair. And then it's only about how Jant feels, and not at all about her. He constantly twists situations around to serve himself, and has a constant stream of excuses ready to explain why he's never wrong, especially when he's taking drugs, and he's kinda always taking drugs. Dugs which, I haven't yet mentiond, teleport him to another world which reads like something China Mieville wrote and then decided was too weierd. The drug taking didn't bore as much as I expected it too, or even at all. I think Jants wicked sense of humour played a huge part in it, he kept taking drugs and screwng up and I just kept on forgiving him. Plus, Swainstone's descriptions of flying make it sound like just the coolest thing ever. There's something vicariously enjoyable about the constant envy Jant receives because he can fly.
The plot? Hmmm,well, ok. A lot seems to happen, but then you stop and think and realise that actually, nothing has happned. It also gets a little confusing at times, and story elements are set up to be important and then kind of go no where. But I can gaurantee that it will be different from any fantasy you've read before. And honestly, he plot could have been Jant goes to the market to by fruit but buys socks instead and I'd read it, solely because of Jant's voice. He made the whole trilogy for me, and is the reason I can't wait to get my hands of the prequel and I'm hoping like crazy that Swainston writes a sequel.
Ah, the omnibus. Many trilogies I would never had read if they'd not been released in omnibus form. It's three books for the price of one and a bit! Frankly, you'd be losing money if you didn't buy it! (Or so I tell I tell my boyfriend when yet another parcel of books appears on the doorstep...) If I'd had to have purchased the three books in the Castle trilogy, The Year of Our War, No Present Like Time and The Modern World, I know I never would have.
I mean, the plot sounded intriguing enough. An emperor dude has the power to make people immortal, but he grants the gift only to the man or woman that proves themselves to be the indisputable best at something. But you can't, like, be the best at ribbon curling, your skill has to be relevant to the centuries long war the emporer's been waging against an invading swarm of bugs. Jant is the best messenger at the world, because he's pretty good at learning new languages and diplomacy, but mostly its because he can fly and no one else can. Which seems a bit like an unfair advantage to me but there you go.
Sounds pretty cool, yes? But there were several things that turned me off. Firstly, Jant is a drug addict, hooked on a hallucinogenic called Cat. Man, I hate reading about drug addiction. Partly because I find books (and movies too) that deal with addiction tend to be too dark for my liking but mostly, having never been a drug addicit myself and therefor having no understanding of what it feels like, I get really frustrated. 'Hey, character x, have you tried just, you know, not taking drugs?' Also, the trilogy has garnered some pretty average reviews, the most troubling being that the characters are shallow and boring.
But, omnibus! So I bought, I read and, friends, I loved it. Loved it like my niece loves pink. (And believe me, the kid loves pink). Are the secondary characters somewhat 2d? Well, yes, but, but, I think that's the point. Because Jant, our erstwhile first POV narrator, is just a wee bit self centered. If the people around him seem to lack depth its because he's too busy checking out his reflection in the mirror to notice their depths. It obvious that Swainston is capable of writing fleshed out and complex character because that's exactly what Jant is.
There are three races in the book, humans and "Awains" (who are pretty much people with wings (who can't fly)) are the two who co-exsist quite happily and who we see the most of. But then there are the Rhydainne, (I may be getting the spelling wrong here, my book is out of arms reach), an odd race who live way up in the snowy mountains. They are extemely fast and insanely self serving. Their language doesn't actually have a word for "we," but it does have over fifty for drunk. (Jant says this is because it gets too cold they need to drink to stop their blood from freezing, but Jant says a lot of things...) Humans and Awains are very distrustful of Rhydainne, and so Jant often gets treated with suspicion or fear, on account of he's half Rhydainne half Awain. (This is how he can fly, super light Rhydainne bones combined with Awain wings).
Jant is a fascinating mix of both cultures. He craves acceptance and love, but at the same time his solitary Rhydainne nature shines through. He has a wife, for instance, but the only time he seems to think about her when she's not with him is when she's having an affair. And then it's only about how Jant feels, and not at all about her. He constantly twists situations around to serve himself, and has a constant stream of excuses ready to explain why he's never wrong, especially when he's taking drugs, and he's kinda always taking drugs. Dugs which, I haven't yet mentiond, teleport him to another world which reads like something China Mieville wrote and then decided was too weierd. The drug taking didn't bore as much as I expected it too, or even at all. I think Jants wicked sense of humour played a huge part in it, he kept taking drugs and screwng up and I just kept on forgiving him. Plus, Swainstone's descriptions of flying make it sound like just the coolest thing ever. There's something vicariously enjoyable about the constant envy Jant receives because he can fly.
The plot? Hmmm,well, ok. A lot seems to happen, but then you stop and think and realise that actually, nothing has happned. It also gets a little confusing at times, and story elements are set up to be important and then kind of go no where. But I can gaurantee that it will be different from any fantasy you've read before. And honestly, he plot could have been Jant goes to the market to by fruit but buys socks instead and I'd read it, solely because of Jant's voice. He made the whole trilogy for me, and is the reason I can't wait to get my hands of the prequel and I'm hoping like crazy that Swainston writes a sequel.
June 6, 2021
Read this right away then hunt down and devour:
Above the Snowline (2010)
Fair Rebel (2016)
Above the Snowline (2010)
Fair Rebel (2016)
July 12, 2016
An eclectic mix of ideas which didn't quite work for me. The first half of the first book I didn't like it at all - disliked the main character, didn't like the world, most of it was about taking drugs, the writing was not amazing. I almost got to the point of deciding not to finish the book. The second half of that book was a little easier to read, which was good. Each book improved on the last in terms of writing quality, and the drug taking was less of a focus by the last book. I almost liked the last book, but still the world and the pacing were not quite good enough, and neither was the conclusion quite satisfying enough.
First book 1.5*
2nd 2*
3rd 2.25*
First book 1.5*
2nd 2*
3rd 2.25*
October 17, 2021
I have read quite a few fantasy series over the past few years and none, not even the big names, have written a series as incredible as the Castle series. It frustrates me to no end that this is not a huge, widely-known and beloved series. Tell a friend.
April 22, 2023
Best chance charity shop punt ever? Yeah maybe. This is proper good fantasy, set in a fully realized world as transporting and laterally imaginative as Gormenghast's or Jonathan Strange's, with a fabulously compromised protagonist/narrator as guide.
April 6, 2014
Overall, I did quite enjoy this book. This of course if the first 3 books in the series, that appears to be continuing, so I have some catching up to do.
Now there were some good and bad things about this Omnibus. The bad was that Steph's writing was not quite up to the polished quality I had been used to reading. The first book was abyssal and I found it very difficult to get through, as I would continue to hit 'walls' in the imaginary reality she was trying to create. Most of these were do to placement or timing of placed thoughts or interactions of the characters that really felt like I was taking 2 steps backwards from the previous paragraph, only to come full circle again.
The writing overall got a lot better in the second book, although there were still a few points where I hit walls, and found it hard to navigate. but by book three, she hit her stride and I felt more comfortable with everything and could really lose myself in the story.
The characters are quite interesting and almost familiar in some ways. The world is deep and rich, although some of the tangents that delve deeper in to this are poorly placed, they are still nice bits of lore.
None of the stories really had a 'wow' factor, but there is enough in this world where you are curious as to how its all going to play out as information is revealed.
If Steph hadn't improved her storytelling ability, I don't think that I would have continued with this series, but now I'm certainly interested, and will look for book 4 to see what happens next. I would recommend that its worth a read if you can mentally prepare that you might have a hard time through book 1, and half of book 2, but its well worth it come book 3.
Now there were some good and bad things about this Omnibus. The bad was that Steph's writing was not quite up to the polished quality I had been used to reading. The first book was abyssal and I found it very difficult to get through, as I would continue to hit 'walls' in the imaginary reality she was trying to create. Most of these were do to placement or timing of placed thoughts or interactions of the characters that really felt like I was taking 2 steps backwards from the previous paragraph, only to come full circle again.
The writing overall got a lot better in the second book, although there were still a few points where I hit walls, and found it hard to navigate. but by book three, she hit her stride and I felt more comfortable with everything and could really lose myself in the story.
The characters are quite interesting and almost familiar in some ways. The world is deep and rich, although some of the tangents that delve deeper in to this are poorly placed, they are still nice bits of lore.
None of the stories really had a 'wow' factor, but there is enough in this world where you are curious as to how its all going to play out as information is revealed.
If Steph hadn't improved her storytelling ability, I don't think that I would have continued with this series, but now I'm certainly interested, and will look for book 4 to see what happens next. I would recommend that its worth a read if you can mentally prepare that you might have a hard time through book 1, and half of book 2, but its well worth it come book 3.
May 14, 2016
★ - Most books with this rating I never finish and so don't make this list. This one I probably started speed-reading to get it over with.
★★ - Average. Wasn't terrible, but not a lot to recommend it. Probably skimmed parts of it.
★★★ - Decent. A few good ideas, well-written passages, interesting characters, or the like.
★★★★ - Good. This one had parts that inspired me, impressed me, made me laugh out loud, made me think - it got positive reactions and most of the rest of it was pretty decent too.
★★★★★ - Amazing. This is the best I've read of its genre, the ones I hold on to so I can re-read them and/or loan them out to people looking for a great book. The best of these change the way I look at the world and operate within it.
★★ - Average. Wasn't terrible, but not a lot to recommend it. Probably skimmed parts of it.
★★★ - Decent. A few good ideas, well-written passages, interesting characters, or the like.
★★★★ - Good. This one had parts that inspired me, impressed me, made me laugh out loud, made me think - it got positive reactions and most of the rest of it was pretty decent too.
★★★★★ - Amazing. This is the best I've read of its genre, the ones I hold on to so I can re-read them and/or loan them out to people looking for a great book. The best of these change the way I look at the world and operate within it.
August 4, 2012
oh! so excited, got the omnibus form abebooks today. looking forward to seeing what happens next with Jain, the Shift, the insects.... is Mist really dead? are the Tine coming through? Will there be more dreadful puns (impossum fur cloaks, fibre toothed tigers, whorses with lipstick... rides for hire) Marvellous.
Book 2 (No presence like time, nice pun) was OK. Another island to find, another insect released, more bad people to kill. Some moments of goodness.
Book 3 (the modern world) was... well... um. Some good bits, Jant getting himself in and out of trouble, Lightning moving on.
Overall, only two-three stars. First one was great, second OK, third hohum.
Book 2 (No presence like time, nice pun) was OK. Another island to find, another insect released, more bad people to kill. Some moments of goodness.
Book 3 (the modern world) was... well... um. Some good bits, Jant getting himself in and out of trouble, Lightning moving on.
Overall, only two-three stars. First one was great, second OK, third hohum.
April 6, 2020
This a great trilogy that pulls from the high fantasy genre without delving into chapter long descriptions of a charater's coat pocket. Although the writing is a bit uneven, there are a lot of good ideas. Steph Swainston creates a world that is an interesting blend of modern and medieval that is filled with a variety of twisted characters. Although the writing is a bit uneven, there are a lot of good ideas.
May 17, 2010
My review here.
November 2, 2012
I gave it a valiant try, but I just couldn't finish it. Too weird for me, and that's saying something...
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews