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The Onyx Court #2
In Ashes Lie
ABOVE
It is the seventeenth century. For twenty years, the City of London has been torn apart: by war, by plague, by fire.
BELOW
The Onyx Court is London's faerie shadow. Dedicated to co-existence with mortals, it struggles to survive against rival courts who oppose everything it stands for.
BETWEEN
Now, when these two realms are at their most divided, they face a threat neither can defeat alone. The Great Fire ravaging London is more than mere flames. While the city's human residents struggle to halt the inexorable blaze, the fae must defeat a stranger foe: the embodiment of the fire itself, a monstrous Dragon that seeks to devour London both above and below. If the faerie queen Lune and her mortal consort cannot bring the two worlds together, the city itself may not survive . . . .
It is the seventeenth century. For twenty years, the City of London has been torn apart: by war, by plague, by fire.
BELOW
The Onyx Court is London's faerie shadow. Dedicated to co-existence with mortals, it struggles to survive against rival courts who oppose everything it stands for.
BETWEEN
Now, when these two realms are at their most divided, they face a threat neither can defeat alone. The Great Fire ravaging London is more than mere flames. While the city's human residents struggle to halt the inexorable blaze, the fae must defeat a stranger foe: the embodiment of the fire itself, a monstrous Dragon that seeks to devour London both above and below. If the faerie queen Lune and her mortal consort cannot bring the two worlds together, the city itself may not survive . . . .
468 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2009
34 people are currently reading
1239 people want to read
About the author
Marie Brennan
171 books3,249 followersMarie Brennan a.k.a. M.A. Carrick
Marie Brennan is a former anthropologist and folklorist who shamelessly pillages her academic fields for material. She recently misapplied her professors' hard work to Turning Darkness Into Light, a sequel to the Hugo Award-nominated series The Memoirs of Lady Trent. As half of M.A. Carrick, she is also the author of The Mask of Mirrors, first in the Rook and Rose trilogy. For more information, visit swantower.com, Twitter @swan_tower, or her Patreon.
Marie Brennan is a former anthropologist and folklorist who shamelessly pillages her academic fields for material. She recently misapplied her professors' hard work to Turning Darkness Into Light, a sequel to the Hugo Award-nominated series The Memoirs of Lady Trent. As half of M.A. Carrick, she is also the author of The Mask of Mirrors, first in the Rook and Rose trilogy. For more information, visit swantower.com, Twitter @swan_tower, or her Patreon.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews
July 7, 2009
In Ashes Lie continues the story of the Onyx Court, a faerie city situated just below London, and the Court's dealings with London's mortals. Lune, who became queen of the Onyx Court in Midnight Never Come, reigns still. Her mortal consort, Michael Deven, is long dead. Lune has chosen another man to act as her official consort and liaison with the mortal world, but the role is political only.
In Ashes Lie follows Lune and her allies through the end of Charles I's troubled reign, Oliver Cromwell's rise to power, and the eventual restoration of the monarchy. Running alongside this mortal politicking, dangerous plots are afoot in the faerie court. As you might guess by the novel's title, the climactic events take place during the Great Fire of 1666, which threatens to destroy both London and the Onyx Court. Like Midnight Never Come, In Ashes Lie gets off to a slowish start. Marie Brennan takes her time moving all of her pieces into place. When all hell does break loose, though, it's as exciting as anyone could wish, and made all the more effective by the careful, deliberate buildup of events.
This is, first and foremost, a story about power: its uses and misuses. It becomes clear early in the novel that Lune has been changed by her years on the throne, by the tough decisions that a ruler must make. The events of In Ashes Lie test her further, and there are a few questions always on Lune's mind and the reader's: When should justice be tempered by mercy? Should the fae meddle in mortal affairs, and if so, how? Can Lune avoid becoming as ruthless as her predecessor, Invidiana?
Readers looking for romance will not find it here. If In Ashes Lie is a love story, it's a love story between Lune and her kingdom, and between her mortal friends and the city of London. It's a beautiful and touching story, too. It's just not what you may be expecting if you seek another Lune/Deven plotline.
I'd be remiss if I didn't also mention Brennan's prose, just as restrained and elegant as before. And the only real peeve I had in Midnight Never Come has been remedied here: there's a map of London in the front of the book, along with a Dramatis Personae for those moments when you can't remember who is lord of what.
Recommended, with the caveat that you'll probably want to read Midnight Never Come first. In Ashes Lie stands on its own plotwise, but there are many references to people and events past. The characters' history weighs heavily on them, and you'll get more out of the story if you are familiar with that history.
In Ashes Lie follows Lune and her allies through the end of Charles I's troubled reign, Oliver Cromwell's rise to power, and the eventual restoration of the monarchy. Running alongside this mortal politicking, dangerous plots are afoot in the faerie court. As you might guess by the novel's title, the climactic events take place during the Great Fire of 1666, which threatens to destroy both London and the Onyx Court. Like Midnight Never Come, In Ashes Lie gets off to a slowish start. Marie Brennan takes her time moving all of her pieces into place. When all hell does break loose, though, it's as exciting as anyone could wish, and made all the more effective by the careful, deliberate buildup of events.
This is, first and foremost, a story about power: its uses and misuses. It becomes clear early in the novel that Lune has been changed by her years on the throne, by the tough decisions that a ruler must make. The events of In Ashes Lie test her further, and there are a few questions always on Lune's mind and the reader's: When should justice be tempered by mercy? Should the fae meddle in mortal affairs, and if so, how? Can Lune avoid becoming as ruthless as her predecessor, Invidiana?
Readers looking for romance will not find it here. If In Ashes Lie is a love story, it's a love story between Lune and her kingdom, and between her mortal friends and the city of London. It's a beautiful and touching story, too. It's just not what you may be expecting if you seek another Lune/Deven plotline.
I'd be remiss if I didn't also mention Brennan's prose, just as restrained and elegant as before. And the only real peeve I had in Midnight Never Come has been remedied here: there's a map of London in the front of the book, along with a Dramatis Personae for those moments when you can't remember who is lord of what.
Recommended, with the caveat that you'll probably want to read Midnight Never Come first. In Ashes Lie stands on its own plotwise, but there are many references to people and events past. The characters' history weighs heavily on them, and you'll get more out of the story if you are familiar with that history.
June 23, 2017
In this sequel to Midnight Never Come, Brennan moves forward from the end of the Elizabethan era to the middle of the seventeenth century. As the book begins, the Great Fire of London is just starting, and humans and fae alike are battling its flames. But it isn't just the fire that threatens: Brennan flashes back to earlier in the century, when King Charles I fought with politics and soldiers against the Roundheads, and Queen Lune of the fae Onyx Court struggles for her throne as well.
_In Ashes Lie_ has all the excellent historical detail and folklore of _Midnight Never Come_, and similarly good portraits of its historical characters and its fictional ones. I missed some of the emotional immediacy provided by the romance in _Midnight Never Come_, but the romance isn't just forgotten here; Lune still remembers and grieves for her human lover, who isn't simply forgotten as the immortal court lives past him. The flashback structure is well handled, and the plot is especially dexterously woven into the threads of history. I think I liked _In Ashes Lie_ even more than _Midnight Never Come_, and I definitely look forward to the next book, which Brennan calls "an Enlightenment faerie alchemical fantasy".
_In Ashes Lie_ has all the excellent historical detail and folklore of _Midnight Never Come_, and similarly good portraits of its historical characters and its fictional ones. I missed some of the emotional immediacy provided by the romance in _Midnight Never Come_, but the romance isn't just forgotten here; Lune still remembers and grieves for her human lover, who isn't simply forgotten as the immortal court lives past him. The flashback structure is well handled, and the plot is especially dexterously woven into the threads of history. I think I liked _In Ashes Lie_ even more than _Midnight Never Come_, and I definitely look forward to the next book, which Brennan calls "an Enlightenment faerie alchemical fantasy".
September 6, 2021
in this second book Miss Brennan takes on not only the English Monarchy in Charles and his successor Charles II but also the Great Fire of London. Pitting Mortal and Fae against a Dragon. Lune is still Queen... Her Prince of the Stone Lord Anthony Ware succumbs to the Plague so she also must name a new Prince finding him in Dr. Jack Ellin....New members of Lune's Court appear and some older ones return. I liked this book can't wait to read the next....
January 24, 2016
history with a very thin veneer of novel, and i prefer *not* to have faeries with my history, thanks.
January 22, 2019
I would prefer it if the action were a little more linear, but otherwise I have no criticisms of this fine instalment of the Onyx Court series. By virtue of crosschecking with information on line, I learnt a great deal of history of which I would otherwise have been ignorant. Lune's development as a character was particularly pleasing. Looking forward to the next in the series, which I am just about to start, and highly recommended. Do read the first novel beforehand, though.
January 22, 2024
If anything, I think I enjoyed this book more than the first in the series. Some events in history covered are the execution of Charles I, Cromwell’s protectorate, the restoration of the monarchy and Charles II as well as the great fire of London. I loved how the author weaves the world of fae and the Onyx Court around the events. How a war with Scottish fae led to the great fire and how the dragon was eventually defeated.
January 30, 2019
Looking forward to continuing reading the series. This author's fine, thought-provoking and fun work does not disappoint...
July 4, 2009
It is 1636, the reign of Charles I and a time of upheaval in the English Parliament. With pressure from the Puritans, pressure against Charles Stuart's spendthrift ways and his requests for more money to fund his war in Scotland, the Commons is being manipulated by a few to put Charles on trial.
Sir Antony Ware, an alderman with a seat in the Commons, toes a fine line between Royalists and Puritans, trying to keep his seat long enough to do some good. For it's not just the mortals of London who are affected, but the fae of the Onyx Hall beneath the city feel the pain and upheaval of the world above.
Antony is the Faerie Queen's consort, the "Prince of the Stone", a mortal co-ruler of the Onyx Court. The Queen, Lune, once loved a mortal man, Michael Deven, and understands as no one else does the ties between the Onyx Hall and London City. The fae of the Hall's close relations with the mortal world brings censure and scorn from other faerie kingdoms, in particular the Scottish Gyre-Carling, Nicneven, who schemes to bring them down in retaliation for the death of Mary, Queen of Scots.
In 1666, the Great London Fire is started by an errant spark from a baker's oven and goes on to completely destroy the old city as well as more beyond its walls. In the Onyx Hall, the Winter Hag breathes the cold wind of death through the palace at the behest of Nicneven. As a great Fire Dragon is born of the ever-increasing flames, so the threat from all sides increases and Lune is put in the untenable position of having to consider the sacrifice of her home, or her throne.
Anyone who knows their British history knows that Charles I was tried and executed by his own parliament, something that had no precedent and has never happened since. It was a corrupted parliament with no authority, but it served its purpose and a brief Commonwealth and military rule led by Oliver Cromwell, Lord Protector, followed. (Despite what the book's blurb says, the political upheaval etc. didn't occur in 1666.)
The Fire of 1666, the year after the Black Plague devastated the population of London, is another big event in the country's history. As historical fiction, In Ashes Lie is a detailed, vigourous read. I haven't studied this century since first year uni and frankly, I'd forgotten all the details, so it was refreshing to revisit it all in a fictional context.
In contrast, the fantasy side of the novel is sadly lacking. The old city of London, with the Tower and London Bridge, St Paul's Cathedral and the Exchange, Cheapside and Gracechurch Street (recognisable by any Pride and Prejudice fan), is a place of mystery, darkness, squalor and myth. Less squalor these days I'm sure, but the whole of England is inseparable from its folklore. There's an atmosphere of promise, a hint of something Other, something fae, hidden unless you know where to look for it.
The trouble is, I never got a chance to see beyond a surface picture. Few of the faeries were fleshed out - Lune, yes, but the sprite Irrith, the knight Cerendel, the giant Prigurd, the brownies Gertrude and Rosamunde and a bare few others were lightly touched upon, their personalities hinted at. I might have been able to appreciate this mysteriousness but the atmosphere was missing. The novel revolves entirely on plot and a forward momentum through the decades, from 1636 to 1666, and selfishly hoards its characters' more intimate natures, feelings and motivations.
The structure worked well most of the time, alternating between short visits to the fire in 1666, where time moves more slowly as they battle the flames, the Dragon, the Hag and Nicneven, and the lead-up to the fire, jumping over near decades in the interim. There're always some elements of the future that you know of, and others that haven't yet been revealed, which maintains some suspense and tension. Yet the anticipation is not always there, and as bogged down in worldly politics as it can get, it didn't always hold my interest. I also sometimes became disorientated, struggling to remember whether something happened in the now or in the future.
In a way, I was disappointed that Brennan didn't interweave the fae with the mortals more closely - history happened regardless of the fae, rather than truly influenced or affected by it, leaving you wondering what the point is. On the one hand, I like that it wasn't contrived in that way, but on the other I kept thinking it would be made more exciting if it were. Needless to say, I fluctuated in my response a great many times while reading this.
Sir Antony Ware, an alderman with a seat in the Commons, toes a fine line between Royalists and Puritans, trying to keep his seat long enough to do some good. For it's not just the mortals of London who are affected, but the fae of the Onyx Hall beneath the city feel the pain and upheaval of the world above.
Antony is the Faerie Queen's consort, the "Prince of the Stone", a mortal co-ruler of the Onyx Court. The Queen, Lune, once loved a mortal man, Michael Deven, and understands as no one else does the ties between the Onyx Hall and London City. The fae of the Hall's close relations with the mortal world brings censure and scorn from other faerie kingdoms, in particular the Scottish Gyre-Carling, Nicneven, who schemes to bring them down in retaliation for the death of Mary, Queen of Scots.
In 1666, the Great London Fire is started by an errant spark from a baker's oven and goes on to completely destroy the old city as well as more beyond its walls. In the Onyx Hall, the Winter Hag breathes the cold wind of death through the palace at the behest of Nicneven. As a great Fire Dragon is born of the ever-increasing flames, so the threat from all sides increases and Lune is put in the untenable position of having to consider the sacrifice of her home, or her throne.
Anyone who knows their British history knows that Charles I was tried and executed by his own parliament, something that had no precedent and has never happened since. It was a corrupted parliament with no authority, but it served its purpose and a brief Commonwealth and military rule led by Oliver Cromwell, Lord Protector, followed. (Despite what the book's blurb says, the political upheaval etc. didn't occur in 1666.)
The Fire of 1666, the year after the Black Plague devastated the population of London, is another big event in the country's history. As historical fiction, In Ashes Lie is a detailed, vigourous read. I haven't studied this century since first year uni and frankly, I'd forgotten all the details, so it was refreshing to revisit it all in a fictional context.
In contrast, the fantasy side of the novel is sadly lacking. The old city of London, with the Tower and London Bridge, St Paul's Cathedral and the Exchange, Cheapside and Gracechurch Street (recognisable by any Pride and Prejudice fan), is a place of mystery, darkness, squalor and myth. Less squalor these days I'm sure, but the whole of England is inseparable from its folklore. There's an atmosphere of promise, a hint of something Other, something fae, hidden unless you know where to look for it.
The trouble is, I never got a chance to see beyond a surface picture. Few of the faeries were fleshed out - Lune, yes, but the sprite Irrith, the knight Cerendel, the giant Prigurd, the brownies Gertrude and Rosamunde and a bare few others were lightly touched upon, their personalities hinted at. I might have been able to appreciate this mysteriousness but the atmosphere was missing. The novel revolves entirely on plot and a forward momentum through the decades, from 1636 to 1666, and selfishly hoards its characters' more intimate natures, feelings and motivations.
The structure worked well most of the time, alternating between short visits to the fire in 1666, where time moves more slowly as they battle the flames, the Dragon, the Hag and Nicneven, and the lead-up to the fire, jumping over near decades in the interim. There're always some elements of the future that you know of, and others that haven't yet been revealed, which maintains some suspense and tension. Yet the anticipation is not always there, and as bogged down in worldly politics as it can get, it didn't always hold my interest. I also sometimes became disorientated, struggling to remember whether something happened in the now or in the future.
In a way, I was disappointed that Brennan didn't interweave the fae with the mortals more closely - history happened regardless of the fae, rather than truly influenced or affected by it, leaving you wondering what the point is. On the one hand, I like that it wasn't contrived in that way, but on the other I kept thinking it would be made more exciting if it were. Needless to say, I fluctuated in my response a great many times while reading this.
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December 23, 2022As above, so below. There is a struggle above. King and Parliament vie for power. Below, there is rebellion in the faerie realm and the Onyx Court. And in a humble bakery in London’s Pudding Lane, a spark will ignite and force all, Roundhead and Cavalier, human and fae, to set aside their differences to save their homes from annihilation.
Brennan’s mastery of mixing history with her faerie world was tested in Midnight Never Come. But as important as the history was Brennan was free their to build a love story around the events without the being tied too strongly to fixed dates and events.
This time history is front and centre though she’s left plenty of room for development the story is constrained by the timing and movement of historical events.
In order to split things up and also to show more sustained development Brennan switches from the slow burning events which lead up to the beheading of King Charles and the restoration of Parliament and the Monarchy to the supernatural fight that takes place during the Great Fire of London.
Because of the limitations of the narrative I did find it a slow going. This isn’t to say that it isn’t enjoyable but due to the timescale it had sometimes lacks a sense of urgency to drags you from one event to the next.
Brennan does do an amazing job of weaving parallels between the real world events with the affects on the fae and vice versa.
We meet some new characters and see the return of others. Lune is immortal but Deven is mortal and can not live forever. Instead Lune has chosen a new Prince of Stone, a mortal to help rule at her side. Anthony’s role is more than ceremonial. He’s Lune’s connection with the mortal world and it’s a connection that works both ways. He needs the fae in the real world as well.
Some great touches are explored like Queen Lune and the long shadow of the Queen she replaced in Midnight Never Come and those events lingering influence over Lunes decisions.
Like Mythago Wood this is closer to my idea of fantasy and what I want from a fantasy story. I want a story that has clever ideas, emotional and characters that can be connected with and getting away from the quest stereotypes, though they of course have their own place in fantasy.
Overall, the tone is different from Midnight Never Come but Brennen takes that foundation and expands on it focusing in on historical events but also fleshing out on earlier characters and new challenges. It does require you to be paying a bit of attention, especially during the leaps in time but they are all flagged if you take a little bit of time.
I’m excited to see the next one is called A Star Shall Fall. How teasing is that!
PS: I was lucky enough to meet Marie when she was doing on the ground research for A Star Shall Fall and her schedule for her London trip was exhausting. I’m always a bit worried when meeting and author that I won’t like the book after meeting them.
Thankfully I did end up liking In Ashes Lie, as Marie has a wonderful sense of humour and is a fascinating person to listen to and she showed that what is presented in each novel is just the surface of the attention to detail she has put in to it.
Brennan’s mastery of mixing history with her faerie world was tested in Midnight Never Come. But as important as the history was Brennan was free their to build a love story around the events without the being tied too strongly to fixed dates and events.
This time history is front and centre though she’s left plenty of room for development the story is constrained by the timing and movement of historical events.
In order to split things up and also to show more sustained development Brennan switches from the slow burning events which lead up to the beheading of King Charles and the restoration of Parliament and the Monarchy to the supernatural fight that takes place during the Great Fire of London.
Because of the limitations of the narrative I did find it a slow going. This isn’t to say that it isn’t enjoyable but due to the timescale it had sometimes lacks a sense of urgency to drags you from one event to the next.
Brennan does do an amazing job of weaving parallels between the real world events with the affects on the fae and vice versa.
We meet some new characters and see the return of others. Lune is immortal but Deven is mortal and can not live forever. Instead Lune has chosen a new Prince of Stone, a mortal to help rule at her side. Anthony’s role is more than ceremonial. He’s Lune’s connection with the mortal world and it’s a connection that works both ways. He needs the fae in the real world as well.
Some great touches are explored like Queen Lune and the long shadow of the Queen she replaced in Midnight Never Come and those events lingering influence over Lunes decisions.
Like Mythago Wood this is closer to my idea of fantasy and what I want from a fantasy story. I want a story that has clever ideas, emotional and characters that can be connected with and getting away from the quest stereotypes, though they of course have their own place in fantasy.
Overall, the tone is different from Midnight Never Come but Brennen takes that foundation and expands on it focusing in on historical events but also fleshing out on earlier characters and new challenges. It does require you to be paying a bit of attention, especially during the leaps in time but they are all flagged if you take a little bit of time.
I’m excited to see the next one is called A Star Shall Fall. How teasing is that!
PS: I was lucky enough to meet Marie when she was doing on the ground research for A Star Shall Fall and her schedule for her London trip was exhausting. I’m always a bit worried when meeting and author that I won’t like the book after meeting them.
Thankfully I did end up liking In Ashes Lie, as Marie has a wonderful sense of humour and is a fascinating person to listen to and she showed that what is presented in each novel is just the surface of the attention to detail she has put in to it.
May 3, 2022
While I loved the 1st book this one I admit I struggled with. It just didn't capture me in the same way. Also didn't like the jumping around, while it's done in many books this one I actually found myself having to look at the dates and almost refresh my memory of bits.
December 13, 2019
This book was the bane of my existence. I do not mean that it was bad (I rated it four stars, after all), I just mean that, for nigh on a year, this book sat on my shelf with less than the first hundred pages read. I don’t know what it was. Maybe it was the terrible cover. Maybe it was my post-Christmas reading slump (which I’m hoping to dodge this year). Whatever it was, this book sat on my shelf, judging me for my cowardice for eleven long months. Then, after the all-consuming disappointment that was The Subtle Knife, I decided to retreat back into a world I knew.
And I loved it.
I think I must be one of the few people out there who prefer these books to Marie Brennan’s Lady Trent books. Don’t get me wrong, I adored Isabella, and I owe A Natural History of Dragons a huge debt for getting me back into reading, but I always felt that those books fell short of what they could be. In a way, I do feel the same way here. I dearly wished that we could spend more time with strange creatures such as the mara, the goblins, the Cailleach Bheur and the talking tree. It’s actually a similar problem to what I had with City of Stairs – I just wasn’t allowed enough time with the weird creatures.
What really sells this series for me is the characters. I would hate to be in Lune’s position. I took one look at the catty backstabbing and constantly shifting friendship groups of high school and promptly ran away. One day in the Onyx Court and I think I’d lose my mind. The political machinations and difficulties are very well done, and the layering of mortal and human politics was fascinating to watch. The characters go through a lot in this, both Lune and Antony, her new human consort. Lune has to deal with betrayal on all sides and has to fight for London, both below and above, to keep them whole. Antony, on the other hand, is torn between the two worlds, one of which he must keep secret from Kate, his wife (who I loved, by the way). Antony may be my favourite character in this book, partly because, through him, I was able to see England’s struggles. First under a hapless king, then through civil war, then under Oliver Cromwell’s fist, then in plague. It was stressful, I’ll tell you that. One of the things I loved most about Lune was her struggle between keeping control of a cutthroat court and trying not to become like Invidiana. Even dead, the old faerie queen continues to cast a shadow, one felt most acutely by Lune, and it was fascinating, if sometimes painful, to watch Lune grapple with handling her predecessor’s legacy.
The final thing I love about this series is the way fae are portrayed. When I was a child, I received two versions of faeries. One was from Disney movies: tiny, shiny wings, little wands and ridiculously adorable and bungling. The other I’m not even sure where I got it from. Maybe it was from one of those multi-coloured fairy books. Maybe I made them up. (Come to think of it, it might have been after reading The Luck Uglies). Whatever instigated it, I entered teenagehood believing that fairies were strange creatures – long-living, eldritch and a little twisted. When I began reading Sarah J Maas’ A Court of Thorns and Roses, I was hoping for something along these lines.
As anyone who’s come within poking distance of this series will know, that is not what I got. In Maas’ books, fairies are essentially super-hot, immortal humans with flawless skin and a culture-wide obsession with sex. These fairies are nothing like that. The majority of them see humans as paltry things, to be avoided and at best be used for entertainment (whatever that may entail) and then abandoned. But that’s not the whole story. The other side is the fact that, once given, a fairy’s love endures forever, long after the death of their beloved. A constant source of confusion to the fae is Lune’s love for the late Michael Deven, a human being. I loved the way Michael and his mortality had rubbed off on Lune. The subject of immortality (which is a concept that scares me to my marrow) is barely even mentioned in Maas’ books (another reason for disappointment) but in Brennan’s, with the plague raging through England, it is impossible to ignore, and it was interesting to watch the differing faerie reactions to such a grand scale of death.
In short, I thoroughly enjoyed this book – court intrigue, just enough historical stress, characters that I love and a version of fairies that I can get behind. Now please let me see more of the weird creatures, Brennan.
Clare G. 🌻
And I loved it.
I think I must be one of the few people out there who prefer these books to Marie Brennan’s Lady Trent books. Don’t get me wrong, I adored Isabella, and I owe A Natural History of Dragons a huge debt for getting me back into reading, but I always felt that those books fell short of what they could be. In a way, I do feel the same way here. I dearly wished that we could spend more time with strange creatures such as the mara, the goblins, the Cailleach Bheur and the talking tree. It’s actually a similar problem to what I had with City of Stairs – I just wasn’t allowed enough time with the weird creatures.
What really sells this series for me is the characters. I would hate to be in Lune’s position. I took one look at the catty backstabbing and constantly shifting friendship groups of high school and promptly ran away. One day in the Onyx Court and I think I’d lose my mind. The political machinations and difficulties are very well done, and the layering of mortal and human politics was fascinating to watch. The characters go through a lot in this, both Lune and Antony, her new human consort. Lune has to deal with betrayal on all sides and has to fight for London, both below and above, to keep them whole. Antony, on the other hand, is torn between the two worlds, one of which he must keep secret from Kate, his wife (who I loved, by the way). Antony may be my favourite character in this book, partly because, through him, I was able to see England’s struggles. First under a hapless king, then through civil war, then under Oliver Cromwell’s fist, then in plague. It was stressful, I’ll tell you that. One of the things I loved most about Lune was her struggle between keeping control of a cutthroat court and trying not to become like Invidiana. Even dead, the old faerie queen continues to cast a shadow, one felt most acutely by Lune, and it was fascinating, if sometimes painful, to watch Lune grapple with handling her predecessor’s legacy.
The final thing I love about this series is the way fae are portrayed. When I was a child, I received two versions of faeries. One was from Disney movies: tiny, shiny wings, little wands and ridiculously adorable and bungling. The other I’m not even sure where I got it from. Maybe it was from one of those multi-coloured fairy books. Maybe I made them up. (Come to think of it, it might have been after reading The Luck Uglies). Whatever instigated it, I entered teenagehood believing that fairies were strange creatures – long-living, eldritch and a little twisted. When I began reading Sarah J Maas’ A Court of Thorns and Roses, I was hoping for something along these lines.
As anyone who’s come within poking distance of this series will know, that is not what I got. In Maas’ books, fairies are essentially super-hot, immortal humans with flawless skin and a culture-wide obsession with sex. These fairies are nothing like that. The majority of them see humans as paltry things, to be avoided and at best be used for entertainment (whatever that may entail) and then abandoned. But that’s not the whole story. The other side is the fact that, once given, a fairy’s love endures forever, long after the death of their beloved. A constant source of confusion to the fae is Lune’s love for the late Michael Deven, a human being. I loved the way Michael and his mortality had rubbed off on Lune. The subject of immortality (which is a concept that scares me to my marrow) is barely even mentioned in Maas’ books (another reason for disappointment) but in Brennan’s, with the plague raging through England, it is impossible to ignore, and it was interesting to watch the differing faerie reactions to such a grand scale of death.
In short, I thoroughly enjoyed this book – court intrigue, just enough historical stress, characters that I love and a version of fairies that I can get behind. Now please let me see more of the weird creatures, Brennan.
Clare G. 🌻
September 26, 2020
Learning actual history as entertainment--accompanied by the fantasy of faeries, sprites, and goblins --is a truly phenomenal, even aspirational idea. It's akin to a spoonful of sugar to help the medicine go down, as touted by fictional nanny Mary Poppins.
This novel concerns, first, the real life drama of Oliver Cromwell's Protectorate coup, the dissolution of Parliament by a disgruntled army, and the unlawful execution of a king, Charles the First. Few Americans know anything about England's 17th century civil war, which has clear echoes in the U.S. right now. So it's a very worthy attempt.
The second and third tragedies of that sad century in England were the fire that devastated almost all of London, killing some 13,000 people--and, of course, the resurrection of bubonic plague. These, too, are both topics that also touch upon the present, with western states uncontrollably ablaze amidst an ever mutating, seemingly unstoppable virus. (To date, there has never been a vaccine successful against any coronavirus.) Marie Brennan's understanding of these topics is both perspicuous and perspicacious, and she might even have chosen them for their specific relevance to the present, except that this novel was published in 2009. Call her prescient, then--just to get in all those "p" words.
Her characters are thoroughly engaging. The fantasy world of the faerie court, the Onyx Hall, which lies under London and mimics the world above physically and karmically, is lavishly depicted. Moral issues are identified, developed and resolved with due care.
So why only three stars? The first novel in the series, Midnight Never Come, followed Elizabeth I's reign barely, focusing almost entirely on the Onyx Court itself, although a pact made between the queen above and the one below, made before either had achieved power, provides a link. In this second novel, there's far greater focus on the history of the real London; this would have been successful but for two problems.
The first problem is the lesser of the two, so let's deal with that first. The plague is one area in which there's really no link between the worlds; the fae cannot contract disease and are effectively immortal. And they cannot cure disease in humans. That part of the story nearly drowns in the faerie queen's angst about her inability to assist and takes up too much of the tale.
The second problem is more significant and altogether a case of the author shooting herself in the foot, as it were--an unnecessary, self-inflicted fault. Brennan chose to skip forward and backward in time in completely arbitrary fashion as she describes actual historical events. Even for the reader familiar with the history, this back and forth becomes confusing and cumbersome. For readers unfamiliar with events, it becomes a quagmire perhaps too consuming to continue. And that is a genuine shame, for Brennan has much to teach, in that history.
One last thought, regarding the Onyx Court books: this reviewer suggests, for readers who make it through this second novel and want to continue with the series, that one read the 4th book, With Fate Conspire, before reading the third, A Star Shall Fall.
Finally, be sure not to miss her very best efforts, in The Complete Memoirs of Lady Trent Series: A Natural History of Dragons, The Tropic of Serpents, The Voyage of the Basilisk, In the Labyrinth of Drakes, ... Sanctuary of Wings (The Memoirs of Lady Trent #1-5). Now THOSE merit 5 stars, indeed!
This novel concerns, first, the real life drama of Oliver Cromwell's Protectorate coup, the dissolution of Parliament by a disgruntled army, and the unlawful execution of a king, Charles the First. Few Americans know anything about England's 17th century civil war, which has clear echoes in the U.S. right now. So it's a very worthy attempt.
The second and third tragedies of that sad century in England were the fire that devastated almost all of London, killing some 13,000 people--and, of course, the resurrection of bubonic plague. These, too, are both topics that also touch upon the present, with western states uncontrollably ablaze amidst an ever mutating, seemingly unstoppable virus. (To date, there has never been a vaccine successful against any coronavirus.) Marie Brennan's understanding of these topics is both perspicuous and perspicacious, and she might even have chosen them for their specific relevance to the present, except that this novel was published in 2009. Call her prescient, then--just to get in all those "p" words.
Her characters are thoroughly engaging. The fantasy world of the faerie court, the Onyx Hall, which lies under London and mimics the world above physically and karmically, is lavishly depicted. Moral issues are identified, developed and resolved with due care.
So why only three stars? The first novel in the series, Midnight Never Come, followed Elizabeth I's reign barely, focusing almost entirely on the Onyx Court itself, although a pact made between the queen above and the one below, made before either had achieved power, provides a link. In this second novel, there's far greater focus on the history of the real London; this would have been successful but for two problems.
The first problem is the lesser of the two, so let's deal with that first. The plague is one area in which there's really no link between the worlds; the fae cannot contract disease and are effectively immortal. And they cannot cure disease in humans. That part of the story nearly drowns in the faerie queen's angst about her inability to assist and takes up too much of the tale.
The second problem is more significant and altogether a case of the author shooting herself in the foot, as it were--an unnecessary, self-inflicted fault. Brennan chose to skip forward and backward in time in completely arbitrary fashion as she describes actual historical events. Even for the reader familiar with the history, this back and forth becomes confusing and cumbersome. For readers unfamiliar with events, it becomes a quagmire perhaps too consuming to continue. And that is a genuine shame, for Brennan has much to teach, in that history.
One last thought, regarding the Onyx Court books: this reviewer suggests, for readers who make it through this second novel and want to continue with the series, that one read the 4th book, With Fate Conspire, before reading the third, A Star Shall Fall.
Finally, be sure not to miss her very best efforts, in The Complete Memoirs of Lady Trent Series: A Natural History of Dragons, The Tropic of Serpents, The Voyage of the Basilisk, In the Labyrinth of Drakes, ... Sanctuary of Wings (The Memoirs of Lady Trent #1-5). Now THOSE merit 5 stars, indeed!
January 3, 2019
The middle of the 17th Century was not kind to England. Charles I Stuart was a poor king; Scotland was in turmoil; Ireland threatened to revolt; Civil War tore the country to shreds over (mostly) religious differences, leading to the execution of Charles and the fleeing of his son to the Continent; The Cromwellian Protectorate led the country further into ruin; the Plague killed thousands in 1665/6; wars with the Dutch waxed and waned; and then the Great Fire of 1666 destroyed 80% of "inner" London (that portion within the old Roman walls) as well as a large chunk to the west of the wall.
In Ashes Lie is set within this tumultuous time. Two stories are deftly woven together. The first is the political battles between what passed for Parliament and Charles I, the revolt and reformation of the army into a political force that eventually overthrew and then executed Charles, leading to the Protectorate. The second is the plague which tore through London from the summer of 1665 through the Winter of 1666, and then the great Fire of September, 1666. Antony Ware, a businessman, baronet and politician in London, is also the mortal Prince of the Stone, who sits alongside Queen Lune of the Onyx Court, advising the Court on Human concerns as they affect the fae realm.
Lune's throne has never been totally secure from intrigue inside and outside the Court. The two stories tell of these intrigues, against the backdrop of all the troubles which Human London is suffering, and the back-and-forth telling of them, while a bit disorienting at times, generally does both threads well, by never completely revealing the final pattern until truly at the end of both. Those who have read things such as The Lord of the Rings should have no trouble keeping the two stories separate.
This is a novel, of course, but the historical accuracy of events against which the story is told is amazing, yet it rarely gets in the way; if anything, it enriches the tale. The machinations of Ifarren Vidar use Humans, pushing certain political events even more than they might otherwise have gone, causing them especial suffering in the process, as he tries to wrest the Onyx Court for himself.
Character development in this novel is not quite as strong as in the first, probably because most of it was done in the first. There are few new characters of major import, other than Antony Ware, his wife Kate, and Dr. John Ellin. This story is strongly plot-driven, and if it has a failing, it is that the plot occasionally runs away with itself, but I would rather have that than a story with strong characters and no plot. This was my second (or perhaps third) reading, and I quite enjoyed it! This series will NOT be one which I donate to a Little Free library or some such.
In Ashes Lie is set within this tumultuous time. Two stories are deftly woven together. The first is the political battles between what passed for Parliament and Charles I, the revolt and reformation of the army into a political force that eventually overthrew and then executed Charles, leading to the Protectorate. The second is the plague which tore through London from the summer of 1665 through the Winter of 1666, and then the great Fire of September, 1666. Antony Ware, a businessman, baronet and politician in London, is also the mortal Prince of the Stone, who sits alongside Queen Lune of the Onyx Court, advising the Court on Human concerns as they affect the fae realm.
Lune's throne has never been totally secure from intrigue inside and outside the Court. The two stories tell of these intrigues, against the backdrop of all the troubles which Human London is suffering, and the back-and-forth telling of them, while a bit disorienting at times, generally does both threads well, by never completely revealing the final pattern until truly at the end of both. Those who have read things such as The Lord of the Rings should have no trouble keeping the two stories separate.
This is a novel, of course, but the historical accuracy of events against which the story is told is amazing, yet it rarely gets in the way; if anything, it enriches the tale. The machinations of Ifarren Vidar use Humans, pushing certain political events even more than they might otherwise have gone, causing them especial suffering in the process, as he tries to wrest the Onyx Court for himself.
Character development in this novel is not quite as strong as in the first, probably because most of it was done in the first. There are few new characters of major import, other than Antony Ware, his wife Kate, and Dr. John Ellin. This story is strongly plot-driven, and if it has a failing, it is that the plot occasionally runs away with itself, but I would rather have that than a story with strong characters and no plot. This was my second (or perhaps third) reading, and I quite enjoyed it! This series will NOT be one which I donate to a Little Free library or some such.
February 14, 2017
Having enjoyed the first book in this series ‘Midnight Never Come’, a chance find in the library, I was delighted to see that subsequent books continue to take the reader through different eras of British history. The second book ‘In Ashes Lie’ moves the reader forward to the 17th Century: the time of Charles I, Oliver Cromwell and ultimately, in an exciting finale of which we have regular glimpses as the novel moves backwards and forwards in time, the Great Fire of London.
I could not understand at first why the story needed to keep jumping between the Great Fire and the preceding history, but eventually the reason became clear. The excitement of the fire raging through the old city of London broke up much of the rather tedious parliamentary shenanigans! As I got further into the book its pace increased and I enjoyed it very much. The very existence of the hidden faerie kingdom under London is inextricably linked to that of the city above ground, unbeknown to all but a very few humans with the future of life above and below ground depending on the bravery and joint actions of the key characters.
As with the previous book, at first the plot seemed to drag with, as I have already hinted, the detailed political history rather slowing down the storyline. I am sure the author, Marie Brennan, felt it essential but much of it was lost on me and perhaps could have been slimmed down without losing the impact of the main plotline. In the first book, ‘Midnight Never Come’, my knowledge of the Tudor period helped me understand the background history, about which the author appeared very knowledgeable. I am sure ‘In Ashes Lie’ was equally as well researched, however as I know little of this era I felt rather lost as I tried to understand the politics behind the storyline. A short historical outline at the start of the book would be extremely helpful and I would suggest this as worthwhile in all of the books. It would also help the reader to know which human characters are based on reality and which are fictional.
I shall certainly read the third novel in the Onyx court series, titled 'A Star Shall Fall' and set in 1759, though will do a little historical research of my own first, I think. There is also a fourth book 'With Fate Conspire' set in Victorian England. However before these I shall try to find the short e-book, Onyx Court #1.5 which is set in 1625 and called 'Deeds of Men'.
The books were not written in chronological order as the numbering implies, the actual order of writing being #2, #3, #4 and #1.5 followed by #1, presumably to explain the origins of the Onyx Court.
I have given this book 5*, though would have given 4.5 if I could because of my comments on historical detail. However, it is undoubtedly well researched and was both exciting and thoroughly enjoyable to read. I would not hesitate to recommend it and its precedessor to friends.
I could not understand at first why the story needed to keep jumping between the Great Fire and the preceding history, but eventually the reason became clear. The excitement of the fire raging through the old city of London broke up much of the rather tedious parliamentary shenanigans! As I got further into the book its pace increased and I enjoyed it very much. The very existence of the hidden faerie kingdom under London is inextricably linked to that of the city above ground, unbeknown to all but a very few humans with the future of life above and below ground depending on the bravery and joint actions of the key characters.
As with the previous book, at first the plot seemed to drag with, as I have already hinted, the detailed political history rather slowing down the storyline. I am sure the author, Marie Brennan, felt it essential but much of it was lost on me and perhaps could have been slimmed down without losing the impact of the main plotline. In the first book, ‘Midnight Never Come’, my knowledge of the Tudor period helped me understand the background history, about which the author appeared very knowledgeable. I am sure ‘In Ashes Lie’ was equally as well researched, however as I know little of this era I felt rather lost as I tried to understand the politics behind the storyline. A short historical outline at the start of the book would be extremely helpful and I would suggest this as worthwhile in all of the books. It would also help the reader to know which human characters are based on reality and which are fictional.
I shall certainly read the third novel in the Onyx court series, titled 'A Star Shall Fall' and set in 1759, though will do a little historical research of my own first, I think. There is also a fourth book 'With Fate Conspire' set in Victorian England. However before these I shall try to find the short e-book, Onyx Court #1.5 which is set in 1625 and called 'Deeds of Men'.
The books were not written in chronological order as the numbering implies, the actual order of writing being #2, #3, #4 and #1.5 followed by #1, presumably to explain the origins of the Onyx Court.
I have given this book 5*, though would have given 4.5 if I could because of my comments on historical detail. However, it is undoubtedly well researched and was both exciting and thoroughly enjoyable to read. I would not hesitate to recommend it and its precedessor to friends.
January 12, 2024
Book 2 in the Onyx Court series by Marie Brennan. Could not put this down - another example of well written historical fantasy, based in the 1600's in a turbulent time for England, both for mortals and fae.
Blurb:
The year is 1666. The King and Parliament vie for power, fighting one another with politics and armies alike. Below, the faerie court has enemies of its own. The old ways are breaking down, and no one knows what will rise in their place.
But now, a greater threat has come, one that could destroy everything. In the house of a sleeping baker, a spark leaps free of the oven - and ignites a blaze that will burn London to the ground. While the humans struggle to halt the conflagration that is devouring the city street by street, the fae pit themselves against a less tangible foe: the spirit of the fire itself, powerful enough to annihilate everything in its path.
Mortal and fae will have to lay aside the differences that divide them, and fight together for the survival of London itself...
This second book was as good as the first - am powering my way through this thoroughly enjoyable series. The first volume was in one of my subscription boxes; I liked it so much that I had to get the rest in the series. This is a world I love reading about (although I wouldn't want to be part of it, I think!), and the plots, characters, world building, writing are all very good indeed.
Blurb:
The year is 1666. The King and Parliament vie for power, fighting one another with politics and armies alike. Below, the faerie court has enemies of its own. The old ways are breaking down, and no one knows what will rise in their place.
But now, a greater threat has come, one that could destroy everything. In the house of a sleeping baker, a spark leaps free of the oven - and ignites a blaze that will burn London to the ground. While the humans struggle to halt the conflagration that is devouring the city street by street, the fae pit themselves against a less tangible foe: the spirit of the fire itself, powerful enough to annihilate everything in its path.
Mortal and fae will have to lay aside the differences that divide them, and fight together for the survival of London itself...
This second book was as good as the first - am powering my way through this thoroughly enjoyable series. The first volume was in one of my subscription boxes; I liked it so much that I had to get the rest in the series. This is a world I love reading about (although I wouldn't want to be part of it, I think!), and the plots, characters, world building, writing are all very good indeed.
June 26, 2025
The first half was hard to get through. It was, like, way too historically accurate. And DENSE. There were so many characters - also actual real life people from history - and aahhhhh nothing was really explained, we are just reading events as they happen. I had to stop and google names so many times.
I nearly DNF'd, honestly. Eventually I just stopped googling and if I didn't remember someone's name I didn't care and that helped immensely.
Once you get past the halfway mark a lot of that dense history lesson fades away and we get into the proper meaty bits of the actual fucking story. There was real events woven into the fantastical fae court and it was just really, really awesome.
I can't wait to read the next one - god almighty I hope the history is less HISTORY, though!
I nearly DNF'd, honestly. Eventually I just stopped googling and if I didn't remember someone's name I didn't care and that helped immensely.
Once you get past the halfway mark a lot of that dense history lesson fades away and we get into the proper meaty bits of the actual fucking story. There was real events woven into the fantastical fae court and it was just really, really awesome.
I can't wait to read the next one - god almighty I hope the history is less HISTORY, though!
December 20, 2019
Abandoned on page 316 of 600. Stopped reading a couple of months ago as I was going away. Never felt compelled to go back. This is a problem with this author. She has interesting ideas and worlds but for some reason I am never that invested in the characters. I’d sort of like to know what happens to them but not enough to take the time to find out. A pity because after abandoning her Natural History of Dragons series for that reason I really enjoyed the first book in this series. But this second book I just can’t be bothered. Luckily the first book stands on its own. Two stars as I was enjoying it just not enough.
February 25, 2022
I should have loved this, but I didn't. It was...okay. But exceedingly grimdark, and it turns out that most of the problems of the book are self-inflicted, created through grim stubbornness. I know a lot of it was the limitations of actual historical events, but I guess I wasn't in the right mood for that.
December 10, 2018
The biggest crime of this book was that it was too dull and long for a story about a dragon setting London aflame.
I remember having patience for the politicking and meandering in the first book, but I think all that dried up for me in this sequel. Sighhhhh.
I remember having patience for the politicking and meandering in the first book, but I think all that dried up for me in this sequel. Sighhhhh.
May 14, 2022
Die Mischung aus historischer Geschichte und Phantasie ist großartig. Nur das hin und her Springen zwischen der ersten Hälfte des 17. Jahrhunderts und 1666, dem Jahr des großen Brandes in London, nervt extrem.
July 22, 2018
Well plotted, thoroughly researched, skillfully written. It's just a shame there wasn't as much depth of character and description of the world as I would have liked.
Read
September 24, 2019Didn't realize it was book number 2. Gave me a better grasp on English history
Read
September 16, 2020About a third of the way through, time jumps forwards by several decades and the whole human cast changes.
January 1, 2021
Really enjoying this series. They scratch two itches, historical fiction and anything faerie. Lovely stuff.
September 14, 2021
I got so lost in this story that I read half the book in my first sitting. That doesn't happen to me often.
May 17, 2022
Really like these books. Great writing.
Read
December 15, 2022I usually enjoy Marie Brennan but this really fell flat for me. I think it was just too much English history to click for me
September 8, 2018
This is the second book in the Onyx Court series by Marie Brennan except that now I find that there's a book (Deeds of Men) that falls between the first and second books which I haven't read. Never fear: I shall remedy this.
The first book dealt with the realm of Queen Elizabeth I who lived from 1533 through 1603.
This books deals with King Charles I (1600 - 1649), the Great Fire of London (1666), and the Great Plague of London (1665-1666). Note that the Fire and the Plague overlap. Coincidence? I have no clue but given the construction practices (wood and plaster) and the living conditions of the time, it's just unfortunate.
Evangelical Christians are used to thinking that there is a spiritual realm that overlays the physical world that we see and that angelic and demonic powers are contending with the people who govern to affect the affairs of the world. This book (and all of the books in the Onyx Court series) take a similar view of the world, substituting the Fae for angels and demons.
The Onyx Court is intrinsically tied to the monarchy in London and tries to protect England and its people, but Fae courts in Ireland and Scotland (and their human leadership) contend for control. It's a political mess (sound familiar?).
Queen Lune is brought forward into the story from the first book. Her human Prince (of Stone) from book one, Michael Deven, is long dead, replaced by Sir Antony Ware who himself is followed by Dr. Jack Ellin. Poor King Charles lost his head; the Puritans of the time, seeking to remake society in their strict but graceless interpretation of the Bible, reminded me a lot of the "Christians" who support President Trump (they don't show a lot of compassion or grace). The story and the characters and the interactions between the distant Fae courts is wonderfully woven together.
The only thing that I found a bit confusing was the timeline. The events in the book (the Fire and the Plague) weren't strictly chronological.
Now back to Book 1.5.
The first book dealt with the realm of Queen Elizabeth I who lived from 1533 through 1603.
This books deals with King Charles I (1600 - 1649), the Great Fire of London (1666), and the Great Plague of London (1665-1666). Note that the Fire and the Plague overlap. Coincidence? I have no clue but given the construction practices (wood and plaster) and the living conditions of the time, it's just unfortunate.
Evangelical Christians are used to thinking that there is a spiritual realm that overlays the physical world that we see and that angelic and demonic powers are contending with the people who govern to affect the affairs of the world. This book (and all of the books in the Onyx Court series) take a similar view of the world, substituting the Fae for angels and demons.
The Onyx Court is intrinsically tied to the monarchy in London and tries to protect England and its people, but Fae courts in Ireland and Scotland (and their human leadership) contend for control. It's a political mess (sound familiar?).
Queen Lune is brought forward into the story from the first book. Her human Prince (of Stone) from book one, Michael Deven, is long dead, replaced by Sir Antony Ware who himself is followed by Dr. Jack Ellin. Poor King Charles lost his head; the Puritans of the time, seeking to remake society in their strict but graceless interpretation of the Bible, reminded me a lot of the "Christians" who support President Trump (they don't show a lot of compassion or grace). The story and the characters and the interactions between the distant Fae courts is wonderfully woven together.
The only thing that I found a bit confusing was the timeline. The events in the book (the Fire and the Plague) weren't strictly chronological.
Now back to Book 1.5.
November 25, 2018
I quite liked the first book, but I am finding this one really heavy going: The writing's hardly scintillating and I find the random jumping about in the time-line really disorienting, especially as, so far (p.334) it seems to no great effect. I WILL plough on, but prob won't bother with any sequels...
... Some weeks later: and, frankly, it WAS a plough.
... Some weeks later: and, frankly, it WAS a plough.
July 5, 2015
In the mid 1600s England stands in peril. Above ground King Charles and Parliament fight for power. Below ground the faerie queen, Lune, struggles against dangerous adversaries. Together with Anthony, her human consort and The Prince of Stone, both hope to find peace for both the human and faerie England. But what will both sides be able to do when London is is suddenly set ablaze by a deadly and magical fire that consumes the city?
In Ashes Lie is the second book in the Onyx court series, following Midnight Never Come. The series has a fascinating concept, retelling English history by adding in a second court made up of faeries. The events of the human world are often mirrored by those in faerie. The character of Lune returns, but this time as Queen. It’s easy to sympathize with her during her struggle as she attempts to hold her world together even when things seem hopeless. I also enjoyed the character of Anthony who replaces Michael Deven (from Midnight Never Come) as her human consort. There is no romance between the two central characters this time, which I did miss a little. Still I found their relationship to be powerful, regardless of it’s platonic state.
Admittedly, I found In Ashes Lie to be a step below Midnight Never Come. Part of that reason is my own prejudices. While I have an established interest in the Elizabethan setting that housed Midnight Never Come, I am less interested in the English Civil War, so the historical elements did not always grab me as much. Also, In Ashes Lie makes use of two time lines. The main story takes place from 1636 to 1666, and features very long chapters. The secondary storyline takes place in 1666 during The Great Fire of London, and features shorter chapters. In someways it was interesting to see glimpses of the future, and then how the present got there, but in other ways this stylistic choice caused a lot of problems for me. I often found myself getting confused with the 1666 storyline, as so much time was spent away from it, I forgot what state the characters were in by the time I got back to it. As a result, this damaged my enjoyment of the book.
Due to my lack of initial interest in the chosen time frame, as well as problems with the multiple time lines, I have to admit that I didn’t enjoy In Ashes Lie as much as I did it’s predecessor. Still, I once again enjoyed watching how real life events were parallel by those in Onyx Court, and the characters were complex enough to hold my interest, so I did end up liking the book in the end. I do plan on continuing the series.
In Ashes Lie is the second book in the Onyx court series, following Midnight Never Come. The series has a fascinating concept, retelling English history by adding in a second court made up of faeries. The events of the human world are often mirrored by those in faerie. The character of Lune returns, but this time as Queen. It’s easy to sympathize with her during her struggle as she attempts to hold her world together even when things seem hopeless. I also enjoyed the character of Anthony who replaces Michael Deven (from Midnight Never Come) as her human consort. There is no romance between the two central characters this time, which I did miss a little. Still I found their relationship to be powerful, regardless of it’s platonic state.
Admittedly, I found In Ashes Lie to be a step below Midnight Never Come. Part of that reason is my own prejudices. While I have an established interest in the Elizabethan setting that housed Midnight Never Come, I am less interested in the English Civil War, so the historical elements did not always grab me as much. Also, In Ashes Lie makes use of two time lines. The main story takes place from 1636 to 1666, and features very long chapters. The secondary storyline takes place in 1666 during The Great Fire of London, and features shorter chapters. In someways it was interesting to see glimpses of the future, and then how the present got there, but in other ways this stylistic choice caused a lot of problems for me. I often found myself getting confused with the 1666 storyline, as so much time was spent away from it, I forgot what state the characters were in by the time I got back to it. As a result, this damaged my enjoyment of the book.
Due to my lack of initial interest in the chosen time frame, as well as problems with the multiple time lines, I have to admit that I didn’t enjoy In Ashes Lie as much as I did it’s predecessor. Still, I once again enjoyed watching how real life events were parallel by those in Onyx Court, and the characters were complex enough to hold my interest, so I did end up liking the book in the end. I do plan on continuing the series.
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