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Children of the Shaman #3
Malarat
The Duc de Malarat wants to conquer the Kingdom of Lefranu. In his army ride the ruthless and fanatical Domini Canes, warrior monks of the Inquisition who have forged a secret weapon to cripple the power of the shamans.
But when Malarat’s eldest son challenges a stranger to a duel, he sets in motion a terrifying train of events. For the stranger is Malchik Vasilyevich, now a man; and his sister Annat stands with her allies and the Railway People as a fully-trained shaman, prepared to defend the city of Yonar from Malarat’s army.
But Malchik and Annat will face foes much worse than the Duc de Malarat, even as the struggle that began in Lefranu spreads to the spirit world and beyond.
But when Malarat’s eldest son challenges a stranger to a duel, he sets in motion a terrifying train of events. For the stranger is Malchik Vasilyevich, now a man; and his sister Annat stands with her allies and the Railway People as a fully-trained shaman, prepared to defend the city of Yonar from Malarat’s army.
But Malchik and Annat will face foes much worse than the Duc de Malarat, even as the struggle that began in Lefranu spreads to the spirit world and beyond.
415 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 1, 2013
About the author
Jessica Rydill
10 books192 followersJessica Rydill is a British fantasy author from Bath. Born in 1959, she studied English at King's College, Cambridge before qualifying as a solicitor. She travelled a lot in her twenties. Orbit Books published her first novel, Children of the Shaman, in 2001, and Locus magazine short-listed it for best first novel. Sequel The Glass Mountain appeared in October 2002.
From 2017-2021, small press Grimbold Books reissued both books, with sequels Malarat and Winterbloom.
Jessica's most recent book, The Girl from the Sea, came out in 2019.
Jessica lives near Bath with her husband and her crew of Ball-jointed dolls or BJD, which aren't creepy. Though they can be badly behaved...
Visit Jessica's web-site at www.shamansland.com to learn about the shamanworld.
From 2017-2021, small press Grimbold Books reissued both books, with sequels Malarat and Winterbloom.
Jessica's most recent book, The Girl from the Sea, came out in 2019.
Jessica lives near Bath with her husband and her crew of Ball-jointed dolls or BJD, which aren't creepy. Though they can be badly behaved...
Visit Jessica's web-site at www.shamansland.com to learn about the shamanworld.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
August 5, 2013
This is an exceptional example of the fantasy genre.
The setting for the main world is a pure fantasy with enough of a connection to our own world to help the reader establish character and setting. And while the setting on first glance seems to be the generally over-used European setting this is far from the case as the author believably merges the medieval and the age of steam with everything two different societies imply.
While reading this book, I was put in mind of some of the works of the British author Michael Moorcock (not the Elric stories, more the Gloriana, Hawkmoon and 'Nomad of the Time Stream' ones). The author does not list Moorcock as an influence, so I hope she takes this as being the compliment it is from me.
The world building is detailed. This might be a turn-off for some, but I loved it. The writer obviously knows her stuff in this area and I found it all fascinating. On the other hand, the description of the action sequences could have been improved, in my opinion, but definitely not their scope. I think this is probably best explained by saying this story is more in the style of epic fantasy rather than that of the sword and sorcery genre.
To finish off, if you are not one to be put off by differences in sexuality and like your fantasy worlds detailed and to contain hints of the real one, then I would thoroughly recommend this book.
And now I have to wait until the first two books come out for my Kindle...
The setting for the main world is a pure fantasy with enough of a connection to our own world to help the reader establish character and setting. And while the setting on first glance seems to be the generally over-used European setting this is far from the case as the author believably merges the medieval and the age of steam with everything two different societies imply.
While reading this book, I was put in mind of some of the works of the British author Michael Moorcock (not the Elric stories, more the Gloriana, Hawkmoon and 'Nomad of the Time Stream' ones). The author does not list Moorcock as an influence, so I hope she takes this as being the compliment it is from me.
The world building is detailed. This might be a turn-off for some, but I loved it. The writer obviously knows her stuff in this area and I found it all fascinating. On the other hand, the description of the action sequences could have been improved, in my opinion, but definitely not their scope. I think this is probably best explained by saying this story is more in the style of epic fantasy rather than that of the sword and sorcery genre.
To finish off, if you are not one to be put off by differences in sexuality and like your fantasy worlds detailed and to contain hints of the real one, then I would thoroughly recommend this book.
And now I have to wait until the first two books come out for my Kindle...
October 9, 2014
This was far and away my favorite book in the series. The characters and plot became more complex and engrossing. The shaman world travel was extremely interesting to me, as well as the goddess worship and different aspects of the goddess. The intercept between the past and future characters was fascinating and an interesting plot twist. I loved the shaman horse and how she was used and woven throughout the story. I wanted very much to find out how it ended, but was sad to see it over. I am hoping that there will be another book in the series as was hinted at the end of this one.
September 10, 2014
Malarat is something of a cross-genre beast in that I believe it has elements both of fantasy and alternate history.
The idea is that it is set in a parallel world where history is slightly divergent. But it's also a world where magic is part of everyday life.
In Lefranu, which is similar to 19th century France, they have levels of technology that include steam trains, dirigibles and other steam-powered forms of transport. But this is confined to the south of the country.
The planet has only recently emerged from a mini Ice-Age, and the northern half has been isolated since the Middle Ages. So large areas have effectively stayed stuck in the Mediaeval era.
These elements - magic, and the culture-clash between Mediaeval and steampunk technology, form the basis of all my books to date. The trouble starts when the steam-powered lot start building a railway north.
Magic is a key element, but the culture of the country is important, together with the fact that Christianity and Judaism both appear, only in a different format. A lifelong obsession with the mystery of Rennes-le-Chateau and the Legend of Mary Magdalen (see the Da Vinci Code for the background) led me to introduce goddesses into the equation.
I love all that esoteric stuff and there is a small parallel with the Orphic Mysteries, in that somebody goes into the underworld to bring somebody back.
In common with many people, I read 'Holy Blood, Holy GrailHoly Blood, Holy Grail and found it a mine of fascinating myths and ideas. I was also heavily influenced by Robert Graves's The White Goddess: A Historical Grammar of Poetic Myth which I read when I was a teenager. Since then, I have come across more than one book linking Mary Magdalen to Goddess-worship. Graves's book gave rise to the idea that goddesses might be ambivalent, or even negative.
Several of the main characters in Malarat are goddess-worshippers, with the added complication that some of them have actually met the goddess.
Linking back to my first book, Children of the Shaman she is a two-faced (or dual-aspected) goddess called Artemyas/Nyssa.
Robert Graves was not a whole-hearted fan of the White Goddess, whom he identified with the Muse. In Malarat, the goddess's divine plan, or an element of her myth, moves in on the characters and re-arranges their lives, for good or ill. She moves from the background into the foreground, and calls in an outstanding debt that no-one else remembered.
The idea is that it is set in a parallel world where history is slightly divergent. But it's also a world where magic is part of everyday life.
In Lefranu, which is similar to 19th century France, they have levels of technology that include steam trains, dirigibles and other steam-powered forms of transport. But this is confined to the south of the country.
The planet has only recently emerged from a mini Ice-Age, and the northern half has been isolated since the Middle Ages. So large areas have effectively stayed stuck in the Mediaeval era.
These elements - magic, and the culture-clash between Mediaeval and steampunk technology, form the basis of all my books to date. The trouble starts when the steam-powered lot start building a railway north.
Magic is a key element, but the culture of the country is important, together with the fact that Christianity and Judaism both appear, only in a different format. A lifelong obsession with the mystery of Rennes-le-Chateau and the Legend of Mary Magdalen (see the Da Vinci Code for the background) led me to introduce goddesses into the equation.
I love all that esoteric stuff and there is a small parallel with the Orphic Mysteries, in that somebody goes into the underworld to bring somebody back.
In common with many people, I read 'Holy Blood, Holy GrailHoly Blood, Holy Grail and found it a mine of fascinating myths and ideas. I was also heavily influenced by Robert Graves's The White Goddess: A Historical Grammar of Poetic Myth which I read when I was a teenager. Since then, I have come across more than one book linking Mary Magdalen to Goddess-worship. Graves's book gave rise to the idea that goddesses might be ambivalent, or even negative.
Several of the main characters in Malarat are goddess-worshippers, with the added complication that some of them have actually met the goddess.
Linking back to my first book, Children of the Shaman she is a two-faced (or dual-aspected) goddess called Artemyas/Nyssa.
Robert Graves was not a whole-hearted fan of the White Goddess, whom he identified with the Muse. In Malarat, the goddess's divine plan, or an element of her myth, moves in on the characters and re-arranges their lives, for good or ill. She moves from the background into the foreground, and calls in an outstanding debt that no-one else remembered.
October 5, 2013
Malarat by Jessica Rydill
Malarat by Jessica Rydill is a distant, yet entertaining quality about the work. It holds readers just at arm’s length, as the tons of old society held those viewed as “beneath” just on the outside, so that the general masses could watch the upper-crust revelry, but know he or she was not welcome to join in the fun. The language tends to be overdone at times, which can put some readers off, but such stoic stance can be expected out of the work’s chosen format.
The characters are strong and clear, the Duc de Malarat being the title character. Although, there does not seem to be one character singled out for favor in the reader’s eyes. Malarat is also the territory run by the Duc de Malarat. Characters and the plot in Rydill’s work are sectioned-off by location.
The work is written in third person, and is evocative of play formatting. In truth, it is a play without being a play. Shakespearian fans will find the flow highly reminiscent. True to such a format, the front of the book includes a “glossary of unusual words” followed by a list of characters. In this hefty book, there is intrigue, politics, the threat of war on top of wars already being waged under the surface.
Rydill’s work is interesting and intricately put together. The play format and its subsequent idiosyncrasies may put some readers off, but then, a number of individuals shy from classics due to one aspect or another. Yet, each classic tale is still a part of today’s literary world because others find in them enchanting and engrossing.
Malarat by Jessica Rydill is a distant, yet entertaining quality about the work. It holds readers just at arm’s length, as the tons of old society held those viewed as “beneath” just on the outside, so that the general masses could watch the upper-crust revelry, but know he or she was not welcome to join in the fun. The language tends to be overdone at times, which can put some readers off, but such stoic stance can be expected out of the work’s chosen format.
The characters are strong and clear, the Duc de Malarat being the title character. Although, there does not seem to be one character singled out for favor in the reader’s eyes. Malarat is also the territory run by the Duc de Malarat. Characters and the plot in Rydill’s work are sectioned-off by location.
The work is written in third person, and is evocative of play formatting. In truth, it is a play without being a play. Shakespearian fans will find the flow highly reminiscent. True to such a format, the front of the book includes a “glossary of unusual words” followed by a list of characters. In this hefty book, there is intrigue, politics, the threat of war on top of wars already being waged under the surface.
Rydill’s work is interesting and intricately put together. The play format and its subsequent idiosyncrasies may put some readers off, but then, a number of individuals shy from classics due to one aspect or another. Yet, each classic tale is still a part of today’s literary world because others find in them enchanting and engrossing.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews