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The Song of the Sycamore
On the broken world of Urdezha, Wendal Finn died on the hostile plains of the wasteland, one more casualty in the endless war between the city-dwellers and the clansfolk. But now Wendal has returned to his home city of Old Castle, possessed by something he brought back from the wasteland, something old and best left forgotten. The spirits are calling it Sycamore, an ancient entity out to avenge all victims of murder. And in a city like Old Castle, no one is innocent.
With his mind trapped inside a dead body, Wendal can do nothing but watch as Sycamore turns him into a serial killer. Until the magicians take an interest in him. Preserving Wendal's body and trapping Sycamore inside it, the magicians now have the perfect assassin at their disposal. Whenever they need an enemy removed, they can set the killer loose on Old Castle. Between these moments of horror, Wendal struggles to piece together the remnants of his former life. He wants to know why his wife died while he was fighting in the war, but no one will tell him, no one wants him to know. Left to his own devices, Wendal picks at the scabs that cover the dark secrets of the magicians and reveals a threat to every city on Urdezha.
The clans are massing. A supernatural storm is raging across the wasteland. It has already destroyed one city, and now it is heading for Old Castle. And the only one who might prevent oblivion is the murderous entity who the spirits are calling Sycamore.
With his mind trapped inside a dead body, Wendal can do nothing but watch as Sycamore turns him into a serial killer. Until the magicians take an interest in him. Preserving Wendal's body and trapping Sycamore inside it, the magicians now have the perfect assassin at their disposal. Whenever they need an enemy removed, they can set the killer loose on Old Castle. Between these moments of horror, Wendal struggles to piece together the remnants of his former life. He wants to know why his wife died while he was fighting in the war, but no one will tell him, no one wants him to know. Left to his own devices, Wendal picks at the scabs that cover the dark secrets of the magicians and reveals a threat to every city on Urdezha.
The clans are massing. A supernatural storm is raging across the wasteland. It has already destroyed one city, and now it is heading for Old Castle. And the only one who might prevent oblivion is the murderous entity who the spirits are calling Sycamore.
- GenresFantasy
496 pages, Paperback
First published August 22, 2019
6 people are currently reading
207 people want to read
About the author
Edward Cox
57 books104 followersAuthor of THE RELIC GUILD trilogy (The Relic Guild, The Cathedral of Known Things, The Watcher of Dead Time) published by Gollancz. Represented by Howard Morhaim Literary Agency. Daddy, husband, reader.
I can also be found here:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/EdwardCox10
Tumblr: http://edward-cox.tumblr.com/
Wattpad:http://www.wattpad.com/user/Edward_Cox
I can also be found here:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/EdwardCox10
Tumblr: http://edward-cox.tumblr.com/
Wattpad:http://www.wattpad.com/user/Edward_Cox
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
January 22, 2021
“The dead call me Sycamore,” I told the storm above Old Castle. “I am their Shepherd”
The Song of the Sycamore by Edward Cox is a beautifully complex and surreal novel, one which blends the fantasy and sci-fi genres to bring us a tale of vengeance, of grief, and of sacrifice.
The world of Urdezha is broken, a war rages on two fronts; the first being between the barbaric Clansfolk, who dwell in the Wasteland, and the citizens of Old Castle. The second is a war between the Scientists and the Magicians. Meet Wendal Finn, a former soldier who gave his life to fighting against the Clansfolk. Presumed dead in the Wasteland, Wendal returns to Old Castle - but not alone. A spirit known as the Sycamore possesses Wendal, and it’s sole purpose is to enact revenge on behalf of victims who have been murdered. The Sycamore’s judgment always ends in blood.
Wendal and the Sycamore essentially become Old Castle’s reapers, yet with this much power inside him the Magicians and the Scientists vie to control him. If that’s not bad enough, our ill-fated Wendal has a more pressing matter to deal with too - his wife Eden’s mysterious suicide.
The Song of the Sycamore is told from Wendal’s first person narration, and we immediately see that his character is riddled with grief, he is battle shocked and as a result is addicted to drugs, which brings him much needed relief from his haunting memories. Wendal is clearly heavily flawed, yet he is likeable all the same. Throughout the novel his character is plagued by ghouls seeking vengeance for their death, we learn of all the atrocities Wendal is forced to commit by the Sycamore’s will, we see that his life is no longer his own as the Magicians and Scientists pursue him, and as we witness his desperate longing to reunite with his dead wife, I could not help but sympathise with him. He is a broken man living in a cruel unforgiving world.
“My choices had been submerged in the waters of my grief like an ancient baptism until I had clung to the last hope, shining as a single star in an empty sky: Eden.”
So what kind of a world is this? Well, it is a deadly one - the Wasteland is a forever looming threat surrounding Old Castle, the city in which humanity lives. The Wasteland is a desolation which spews out orc-like Clansfolk, ghouls, Skarabs, trolls, and an array of monsters hell bent on breaking through the city’s shield and wreaking havoc. I wouldn’t quite say this book is horror, but Cox certainly dances on the borders of the genre as certain scenes were fantastically creepy. Through Wendal’s backstory and even from his friend Nel’s account of her time in the war, Cox shows us exactly how perilous the Wasteland is and the scars it leaves on those who survive the war. Cox also meticulously gives us a lot of history of this world, tales of long lost Gods, of other realms, of long fought battles over Ether - the source of power used by both The Magicians and the Scientists. These two conflicting sides divide the streets of Old Castle, you either follow the Scientists ethos of being a ‘good citizen’ or you're an outlawed Magician. Some scenes did delve into sci-fi elements and technology, particularly military technology, which were hard for me to visualise and comprehend. Yet overall the world-building in this book is beyond excellent as it is full of insightful details. I praise Cox for creating a standalone which feels so satisfyingly in-depth.
“The void was a vacuum and it brought fear to the faces of the ghosts. With a unified voice, they issued a single moan, one word, one accusation: ‘Sycamore.’”
As the story unravels Cox’s lyrical and emotive prose delivers a building sense of foreboding and an ominous atmosphere, which actually made me feel quite on edge. The chapters from Sycamore’s POV also heightened this growing tension as its narrative voice contained much ambiguity. The Sycamore may be an entity of vengeance, yet that vengeance was often just. I never could guess who the next target would be nor predict how Wendal would fare by the end.
“I had become a puppet, a servant, as weak as the body I wore, forced to experience the slow drip of time as humans did, to feel life as they lived it.
But my patience would outwait them all.”
A grim world, a narrative laced with mystery and a protagonist who teeters on the edges of being both a hero and a villain; The Song of the Sycamore ultimately explores the horrors of warfare and the age old quest for power. Cox poignantly reflects upon what happens to those who get caught in the crossfire.
ARC provided by Gollancz in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for the copy!
The Song of the Sycamore by Edward Cox is a beautifully complex and surreal novel, one which blends the fantasy and sci-fi genres to bring us a tale of vengeance, of grief, and of sacrifice.
The world of Urdezha is broken, a war rages on two fronts; the first being between the barbaric Clansfolk, who dwell in the Wasteland, and the citizens of Old Castle. The second is a war between the Scientists and the Magicians. Meet Wendal Finn, a former soldier who gave his life to fighting against the Clansfolk. Presumed dead in the Wasteland, Wendal returns to Old Castle - but not alone. A spirit known as the Sycamore possesses Wendal, and it’s sole purpose is to enact revenge on behalf of victims who have been murdered. The Sycamore’s judgment always ends in blood.
Wendal and the Sycamore essentially become Old Castle’s reapers, yet with this much power inside him the Magicians and the Scientists vie to control him. If that’s not bad enough, our ill-fated Wendal has a more pressing matter to deal with too - his wife Eden’s mysterious suicide.
The Song of the Sycamore is told from Wendal’s first person narration, and we immediately see that his character is riddled with grief, he is battle shocked and as a result is addicted to drugs, which brings him much needed relief from his haunting memories. Wendal is clearly heavily flawed, yet he is likeable all the same. Throughout the novel his character is plagued by ghouls seeking vengeance for their death, we learn of all the atrocities Wendal is forced to commit by the Sycamore’s will, we see that his life is no longer his own as the Magicians and Scientists pursue him, and as we witness his desperate longing to reunite with his dead wife, I could not help but sympathise with him. He is a broken man living in a cruel unforgiving world.
“My choices had been submerged in the waters of my grief like an ancient baptism until I had clung to the last hope, shining as a single star in an empty sky: Eden.”
So what kind of a world is this? Well, it is a deadly one - the Wasteland is a forever looming threat surrounding Old Castle, the city in which humanity lives. The Wasteland is a desolation which spews out orc-like Clansfolk, ghouls, Skarabs, trolls, and an array of monsters hell bent on breaking through the city’s shield and wreaking havoc. I wouldn’t quite say this book is horror, but Cox certainly dances on the borders of the genre as certain scenes were fantastically creepy. Through Wendal’s backstory and even from his friend Nel’s account of her time in the war, Cox shows us exactly how perilous the Wasteland is and the scars it leaves on those who survive the war. Cox also meticulously gives us a lot of history of this world, tales of long lost Gods, of other realms, of long fought battles over Ether - the source of power used by both The Magicians and the Scientists. These two conflicting sides divide the streets of Old Castle, you either follow the Scientists ethos of being a ‘good citizen’ or you're an outlawed Magician. Some scenes did delve into sci-fi elements and technology, particularly military technology, which were hard for me to visualise and comprehend. Yet overall the world-building in this book is beyond excellent as it is full of insightful details. I praise Cox for creating a standalone which feels so satisfyingly in-depth.
“The void was a vacuum and it brought fear to the faces of the ghosts. With a unified voice, they issued a single moan, one word, one accusation: ‘Sycamore.’”
As the story unravels Cox’s lyrical and emotive prose delivers a building sense of foreboding and an ominous atmosphere, which actually made me feel quite on edge. The chapters from Sycamore’s POV also heightened this growing tension as its narrative voice contained much ambiguity. The Sycamore may be an entity of vengeance, yet that vengeance was often just. I never could guess who the next target would be nor predict how Wendal would fare by the end.
“I had become a puppet, a servant, as weak as the body I wore, forced to experience the slow drip of time as humans did, to feel life as they lived it.
But my patience would outwait them all.”
A grim world, a narrative laced with mystery and a protagonist who teeters on the edges of being both a hero and a villain; The Song of the Sycamore ultimately explores the horrors of warfare and the age old quest for power. Cox poignantly reflects upon what happens to those who get caught in the crossfire.
ARC provided by Gollancz in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for the copy!
June 1, 2019
Come sing me the Song of the Dead.
The Sycamore is the ancient spirit of the unavenged, reaper of the souls of murderers. The Sycamore is the judgement of long-departed gods.
Wendal Finn is its human host. Former soldier, alcoholic, drug addict. Citizen of Old Castle, a besieged frontier city on the edge of the Wasteland, reminiscent of Valengrad from Ed McDonald's Blackwing. In Old Castle, *good* citizens follow the law of the Scientists, while others are drawn to the lore of the Magicians. Wendal Finn is not a *good* citizen.
Finn is faced with tragedy and impossible choices in this mythological, post-apocalyptic fantasy thriller that pits the paths of magic and science on a collision course that will decide the fate of a word. Fresh and inventive, with a beautifully crafted world - Cox has outdone himself with this one.
Come sing the Song of Always.
The Sycamore is the ancient spirit of the unavenged, reaper of the souls of murderers. The Sycamore is the judgement of long-departed gods.
Wendal Finn is its human host. Former soldier, alcoholic, drug addict. Citizen of Old Castle, a besieged frontier city on the edge of the Wasteland, reminiscent of Valengrad from Ed McDonald's Blackwing. In Old Castle, *good* citizens follow the law of the Scientists, while others are drawn to the lore of the Magicians. Wendal Finn is not a *good* citizen.
Finn is faced with tragedy and impossible choices in this mythological, post-apocalyptic fantasy thriller that pits the paths of magic and science on a collision course that will decide the fate of a word. Fresh and inventive, with a beautifully crafted world - Cox has outdone himself with this one.
Come sing the Song of Always.
May 25, 2019
Imaginative, creepy, tragic, violent and poignant, The Song of the Sycamore is a fantastic book and, in places, a scathing critique on humanity and our seemingly endless quest for power.
Two first-person POVs - Wendal and Sycamore - share one body as the Shepherd of the Dead possesses Wendal Finn, a soldier who returns home from the war to discover his wife has killed herself.
The world of Urdezha has been wrecked and now the rival factions of Scientists and Magicians constantly strive to achieve power and bring down their rivals. At the same time, they conduct an endless war against the clansfolk who live on the wasteland between the human cities - a war that is not what it seems.
With elements of a murder mystery, and a mystery mystery, the plot also looks hard at the mechanics of grief and greed and the awful pragmatism of people struggling to survive in a shattered, poisoned world.
Cox's trademark blend of science, fantasy and visceral body-horror are on full display here, as is the breadth of his imagination. His worldbuilding is exquisite and the characters are deliciously flawed - I really never expected to be rooting for a spirit of vengeance on what at first glance appears to be an insane murder spree in a besieged city that runs on magic and may end up being destroyed by it. Yet I was and I did and I have no regrets, because the dead deserve their vengeance - and Sycamore will give it to them.
Many thanks to Gollancz for sending me an arc of this book.
Two first-person POVs - Wendal and Sycamore - share one body as the Shepherd of the Dead possesses Wendal Finn, a soldier who returns home from the war to discover his wife has killed herself.
The world of Urdezha has been wrecked and now the rival factions of Scientists and Magicians constantly strive to achieve power and bring down their rivals. At the same time, they conduct an endless war against the clansfolk who live on the wasteland between the human cities - a war that is not what it seems.
With elements of a murder mystery, and a mystery mystery, the plot also looks hard at the mechanics of grief and greed and the awful pragmatism of people struggling to survive in a shattered, poisoned world.
Cox's trademark blend of science, fantasy and visceral body-horror are on full display here, as is the breadth of his imagination. His worldbuilding is exquisite and the characters are deliciously flawed - I really never expected to be rooting for a spirit of vengeance on what at first glance appears to be an insane murder spree in a besieged city that runs on magic and may end up being destroyed by it. Yet I was and I did and I have no regrets, because the dead deserve their vengeance - and Sycamore will give it to them.
Many thanks to Gollancz for sending me an arc of this book.
August 24, 2019
Ed’s previous trilogy of novels (collectively known as The Guild Trilogy) have built up a reputation for stylistic grimness, a Grimdark sensibility but one based more on urban noir than typical Fantasy tropes.
The Song of the Sycamore dips into a similar vein, but is a more complex tale.
From the publisher: On the broken world of Urdezha, Wendal Finn died on the hostile plains of the wasteland, one more casualty in the endless war between the city-dwellers and the clansfolk. But now Wendal has returned to his home city of Old Castle, possessed by something he brought back from the wasteland, something old and best left forgotten. The spirits are calling it Sycamore, an ancient entity out to avenge all victims of murder. And in a city like Old Castle, no one is innocent.
With his mind trapped inside a dead body, Wendal can do nothing but watch as Sycamore turns him into a serial killer. Until the magicians take an interest in him. Preserving Wendal's body and trapping Sycamore inside it, the magicians now have the perfect assassin at their disposal. Whenever they need an enemy removed, they can set the killer loose on Old Castle. Between these moments of horror, Wendal struggles to piece together the remnants of his former life. He wants to know why his wife died while he was fighting in the war, but no one will tell him, no one wants him to know. Left to his own devices, Wendal picks at the scabs that cover the dark secrets of the magicians and reveals a threat to every city on Urdezha.
The clans are massing. A supernatural storm is raging across the wasteland. It has already destroyed one city, and now it is heading for Old Castle. And the only one who might prevent oblivion is the murderous entity who the spirits are calling Sycamore.
As you can see from the publisher’s summary, it is all pretty grim from the start. Our lead character, Wendal Finn, is a dead person possessed by a demonic creature known as Sycamore. Living in a city called Old Castle, Sycamore, using the body of Wendal, is a Shepherd, whose job is to avenge those who have been murdered by hearing their Song and killing their murderer.
Whilst you could see Sycamore/ Wendal as a force for good – a means of vengeance & retribution – their motivation serves a wider purpose. Sycamore/ Wendal is captured by Dyonne Obor, a Magician who hopes to use Sycamore to gain an upper hand in a war between the Scientists and the Magicians. Generally, the Scientists are seen as ‘the good guys’, preserving order and stability whilst the Magicians the ones determined to bring back the power of the old ways. However, there is a covert battle going on that has been going on for a long time and this creates a complicated backstory in this squalid world.
So, at first this seems like a pretty grimdark, steampunk kind of story. With a combination of wild inventions and arcane magic, dark decrepitude and nasty political shenanigans, fans of Grimdark and steampunk will get a lot of what they like here. I recognised elements of Iain Banks’ Feersum Enjinn and even a touch of Vance’s Dying Earth to this one. Everywhere is grimy, decayed and decrepit. There’s a feeling of ickyness that fans of China Mieville and Ed McDonald (Blackwing) will recognise.
And… I must admit that it was this that nearly killed the book for me. It is unpleasant. Whilst dealing with the darker nature of human depravity it felt like it was going to be one long wallow in a cesspool – difficult to maintain over a whole novel and ultimately dispiritingly and unrelentlessly bleak.
It also didn’t help that the characters seemed horrible as well. Whilst I could see that the characters are complex and multi-faceted, I was finding that I disliked the characters, their motives and their actions, which all seemed to want to outdo each other in their levels of nastiness.
Had the book continued in this manner I would have given it up as another attempt to tap into a mystery set in a steam-punky, Grimdark world – which I would have quickly got bored with. The first two parts of the book made me suspect that the purpose of the novel was nothing more than to make the reader feel better by showing them just how low things can go.
However, just as I was about to give up, about halfway through the novel took an abrupt left-turn. In the third part of the story, we suddenly get detailed memories – to Wendal’s life with his wife, Eden, who appears to have committed suicide, and to Wendal’s life as a soldier, as the operator of an ether-run battle suit fighting the clansmen of the wilderness outside the city. The story suddenly gains momentum and a breath of fresh air as a sort of steampunk version of Starship Troopers. It's a nice mixture of fantasy (magic, ether) and science fiction (force-fields, battlemech suits).
And then there’s the bigger picture – when we return to the present there’s tension created by the arrival of a storm to Old Castle that literally and figuratively means something, whilst at the same time the ongoing covert War between the Scientists and the Magicians, which Wendal finds himself involved in, comes to a head.
It may not be a surprise that this is something that Sycamore, and therefore Wendal is connected to, as Wendal is the vessel of Sycamore’s embodiment in Old Castle. The last part of the novel sees this played out and Sycamore is seen for what he really is.
My initial concerns that the book would do nothing more than make me feel permanently grubby were soon realised to be a gross misunderstanding. By the end the complex nature of the narrative and the development of the characters had done their work and won me over. In its twisty, turny way, the ending was a genuine revelation and one which was not easily achieved, which is a tribute to the writer.
To sum up then, Song of the Sycamore is a book that takes time to build but once it engages with the reader it keeps you going and doesn’t let go. It plays with the reader’s perceptions to such an extent that it will keep many a reader guessing until the end. I really wasn’t sure I was going to like this one at first and yet by the end I totally did. File under “May not be for everyone, but some readers will love it.”
The Song of the Sycamore dips into a similar vein, but is a more complex tale.
From the publisher: On the broken world of Urdezha, Wendal Finn died on the hostile plains of the wasteland, one more casualty in the endless war between the city-dwellers and the clansfolk. But now Wendal has returned to his home city of Old Castle, possessed by something he brought back from the wasteland, something old and best left forgotten. The spirits are calling it Sycamore, an ancient entity out to avenge all victims of murder. And in a city like Old Castle, no one is innocent.
With his mind trapped inside a dead body, Wendal can do nothing but watch as Sycamore turns him into a serial killer. Until the magicians take an interest in him. Preserving Wendal's body and trapping Sycamore inside it, the magicians now have the perfect assassin at their disposal. Whenever they need an enemy removed, they can set the killer loose on Old Castle. Between these moments of horror, Wendal struggles to piece together the remnants of his former life. He wants to know why his wife died while he was fighting in the war, but no one will tell him, no one wants him to know. Left to his own devices, Wendal picks at the scabs that cover the dark secrets of the magicians and reveals a threat to every city on Urdezha.
The clans are massing. A supernatural storm is raging across the wasteland. It has already destroyed one city, and now it is heading for Old Castle. And the only one who might prevent oblivion is the murderous entity who the spirits are calling Sycamore.
As you can see from the publisher’s summary, it is all pretty grim from the start. Our lead character, Wendal Finn, is a dead person possessed by a demonic creature known as Sycamore. Living in a city called Old Castle, Sycamore, using the body of Wendal, is a Shepherd, whose job is to avenge those who have been murdered by hearing their Song and killing their murderer.
Whilst you could see Sycamore/ Wendal as a force for good – a means of vengeance & retribution – their motivation serves a wider purpose. Sycamore/ Wendal is captured by Dyonne Obor, a Magician who hopes to use Sycamore to gain an upper hand in a war between the Scientists and the Magicians. Generally, the Scientists are seen as ‘the good guys’, preserving order and stability whilst the Magicians the ones determined to bring back the power of the old ways. However, there is a covert battle going on that has been going on for a long time and this creates a complicated backstory in this squalid world.
So, at first this seems like a pretty grimdark, steampunk kind of story. With a combination of wild inventions and arcane magic, dark decrepitude and nasty political shenanigans, fans of Grimdark and steampunk will get a lot of what they like here. I recognised elements of Iain Banks’ Feersum Enjinn and even a touch of Vance’s Dying Earth to this one. Everywhere is grimy, decayed and decrepit. There’s a feeling of ickyness that fans of China Mieville and Ed McDonald (Blackwing) will recognise.
And… I must admit that it was this that nearly killed the book for me. It is unpleasant. Whilst dealing with the darker nature of human depravity it felt like it was going to be one long wallow in a cesspool – difficult to maintain over a whole novel and ultimately dispiritingly and unrelentlessly bleak.
It also didn’t help that the characters seemed horrible as well. Whilst I could see that the characters are complex and multi-faceted, I was finding that I disliked the characters, their motives and their actions, which all seemed to want to outdo each other in their levels of nastiness.
Had the book continued in this manner I would have given it up as another attempt to tap into a mystery set in a steam-punky, Grimdark world – which I would have quickly got bored with. The first two parts of the book made me suspect that the purpose of the novel was nothing more than to make the reader feel better by showing them just how low things can go.
However, just as I was about to give up, about halfway through the novel took an abrupt left-turn. In the third part of the story, we suddenly get detailed memories – to Wendal’s life with his wife, Eden, who appears to have committed suicide, and to Wendal’s life as a soldier, as the operator of an ether-run battle suit fighting the clansmen of the wilderness outside the city. The story suddenly gains momentum and a breath of fresh air as a sort of steampunk version of Starship Troopers. It's a nice mixture of fantasy (magic, ether) and science fiction (force-fields, battlemech suits).
And then there’s the bigger picture – when we return to the present there’s tension created by the arrival of a storm to Old Castle that literally and figuratively means something, whilst at the same time the ongoing covert War between the Scientists and the Magicians, which Wendal finds himself involved in, comes to a head.
It may not be a surprise that this is something that Sycamore, and therefore Wendal is connected to, as Wendal is the vessel of Sycamore’s embodiment in Old Castle. The last part of the novel sees this played out and Sycamore is seen for what he really is.
My initial concerns that the book would do nothing more than make me feel permanently grubby were soon realised to be a gross misunderstanding. By the end the complex nature of the narrative and the development of the characters had done their work and won me over. In its twisty, turny way, the ending was a genuine revelation and one which was not easily achieved, which is a tribute to the writer.
To sum up then, Song of the Sycamore is a book that takes time to build but once it engages with the reader it keeps you going and doesn’t let go. It plays with the reader’s perceptions to such an extent that it will keep many a reader guessing until the end. I really wasn’t sure I was going to like this one at first and yet by the end I totally did. File under “May not be for everyone, but some readers will love it.”
September 7, 2019
A pleasingly different attempt at Epic Fantasy that create a very unusual world and story of revenge and lost lost in a stand-alone tale
Full review - https://www.runalongtheshelves.net/bl...
Full review - https://www.runalongtheshelves.net/bl...
October 12, 2020
An intriguing and inventive fantasy that steps beyond the usual form. A stand-alone, sort-of mystery set up meant I wasn't sure exactly what I was getting here, which was all to the good. There's a simple tale at the heart of this, but one with many layers to peel back and a clever juggling act between the spirit of vengeance and the grief-stricken man. It took me a little while to get into (probably just because of the times we're in and where I was in my own writing) plus there were a few minor niggles (I'd have preferred the different time threads to be more interwoven so they unfurled together, plus a few little things like names and the months of the year made me wonder if this was a future earth which was a distraction and never came to anything) but they really were minor and this is highly recommended.
August 8, 2019
This is a good one!!
Wendal died in the war. Now, he is returning home. He is possessed by something named Sycamore.
Some call him an ageless demon. Sycamore may be a demon or not, but he has a purpose. Getting revenge for murder victims. The problem is, the hands enacting this revenge belong to Wendel.
I really enjoyed this one. I was confused at first, but then it all came together. Wendal is a great character, and I really liked the magic. I could just picture the city with its shield up!
If you enjoy fantasy, give this one a go!
I received a copy from Net Galley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Wendal died in the war. Now, he is returning home. He is possessed by something named Sycamore.
Some call him an ageless demon. Sycamore may be a demon or not, but he has a purpose. Getting revenge for murder victims. The problem is, the hands enacting this revenge belong to Wendel.
I really enjoyed this one. I was confused at first, but then it all came together. Wendal is a great character, and I really liked the magic. I could just picture the city with its shield up!
If you enjoy fantasy, give this one a go!
I received a copy from Net Galley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read
August 19, 2019Time to delve into the world behind that gorgeous cover…
And man oh man is it a creepy premise. The ‘Sycamore’ in question is an ancient spirit of revenge, which takes over a man as he returns to his hometown after a year fighting the clanspeople in the broken waste of Urdezha. And almost everybody in town is guilty of something. Cue carnage, politics and a fair amount of backstabbing.
Steampunk savagery
The world that Edward Cox has created is deeply disturbing but also marvellous. Think dystopian future with a side amount of steampunk mixed in; a world where people get drugged out of their minds on jenkem and Scientists and Magicians are fighting each other for control over the hearts and minds of the people. A world where unavenged spirits hang out as ‘ghouls’, making the life of Sycamore’s victim a misery. A world, actually, that’s not too far removed from Ed McDonald’s excellent Blackwing series.
That victim in question is Wendal Finn, whose story we follow as he comes home to find out that his wife has killed herself. His memory is fragmented, he’s fighting Sycamore for control of his body, and he’s trying to piece together just what dark deeds are unfolding in the city of Old Castle.
Wendal v Sycamore: who will win?
All the characters that we meet are instantly engaging, but the dynamic between Wendal and Sycamore is particularly intriguing. Watching them rub off on each other and slug it out in the landscape of Wendal’s dreams make for some fascinating discussions on humanity and war, and Cox’s sure hand means that the writing is never boring. We also get to know Wendal intimately: so intimately that you feel genuinely invested in the wellbeing of his dead wife, even though you never actually meet her.
You also get sucked into the intrigue that is unfolding in the city of Old Castle. There are pretty much no good guys in this power play: only people who are scheming and backstabbing and trying to claw their way to the top, and Wendal is caught up in the middle. Who’s telling the truth? Who’s hiding what? And who’s going to get hurt when the truth comes out?
Final thoughts from this bookworm?
This book is a lot of things. It’s a fantasy (and I mean fantasy, with all the fantastical elements dialled up to 10) set on a bleak and ruined world. It’s a story about desperate people. It’s ultimately a tragedy. And there is a fair amount of gore. This book is not for the faint of heart, but it’s full of heart, and it’s a must-read.
And man oh man is it a creepy premise. The ‘Sycamore’ in question is an ancient spirit of revenge, which takes over a man as he returns to his hometown after a year fighting the clanspeople in the broken waste of Urdezha. And almost everybody in town is guilty of something. Cue carnage, politics and a fair amount of backstabbing.
Steampunk savagery
The world that Edward Cox has created is deeply disturbing but also marvellous. Think dystopian future with a side amount of steampunk mixed in; a world where people get drugged out of their minds on jenkem and Scientists and Magicians are fighting each other for control over the hearts and minds of the people. A world where unavenged spirits hang out as ‘ghouls’, making the life of Sycamore’s victim a misery. A world, actually, that’s not too far removed from Ed McDonald’s excellent Blackwing series.
That victim in question is Wendal Finn, whose story we follow as he comes home to find out that his wife has killed herself. His memory is fragmented, he’s fighting Sycamore for control of his body, and he’s trying to piece together just what dark deeds are unfolding in the city of Old Castle.
Wendal v Sycamore: who will win?
All the characters that we meet are instantly engaging, but the dynamic between Wendal and Sycamore is particularly intriguing. Watching them rub off on each other and slug it out in the landscape of Wendal’s dreams make for some fascinating discussions on humanity and war, and Cox’s sure hand means that the writing is never boring. We also get to know Wendal intimately: so intimately that you feel genuinely invested in the wellbeing of his dead wife, even though you never actually meet her.
You also get sucked into the intrigue that is unfolding in the city of Old Castle. There are pretty much no good guys in this power play: only people who are scheming and backstabbing and trying to claw their way to the top, and Wendal is caught up in the middle. Who’s telling the truth? Who’s hiding what? And who’s going to get hurt when the truth comes out?
Final thoughts from this bookworm?
This book is a lot of things. It’s a fantasy (and I mean fantasy, with all the fantastical elements dialled up to 10) set on a bleak and ruined world. It’s a story about desperate people. It’s ultimately a tragedy. And there is a fair amount of gore. This book is not for the faint of heart, but it’s full of heart, and it’s a must-read.
July 14, 2019
“The dead call you Sycamore, but I think they should be calling you Shepherd?”
Two rival factions battle it out for control of the city of Old Castle in the land of Urdezha – the Quantum and the Salem, the Scientists and the Magicians, while outside the city walls, the Clansfolk wage their war against both.
In the midst of it all is Wendal Finn – soldier, husband, and now pawn of the Salem, possessed by the spirit of the Shepherd of the Dead, or as the dead themselves call him, Sycamore.
Wendal has returned home from the war to find his wife has killed herself, and in exchange for information to help find her spirit, he ends up as an assassin for the Magicians, however involuntary his agreement in this matter may be.
Being led a merry dance by his Magician custodian, Dyonne Obor, Wendal spirals down and down into the mystery of the world he lives in, into its deepest, darkest secrets.
Can Wendal stop the oncoming storm that threatens to wipe out all life on Urdezha?
This is a fabulous fantasy adventure, all dark and twisty, and it’ll make you question which side you’re on, who’s good, who’s bad, until you arrive at the end, breathless and wanting more.
The world building is rich and vivid, the characters are flawed and relatable, the plot and pacing is superb, and my god is it emotion filled. Not ashamed to admit that I held my breath a fair bit, and shed a few tears at this book.
It’s got it all – mystery, magic, murder, adventure, and real heart and emotional depth, with an ending that’ll surprise you and make you gasp.
“The dead called me Sycamore. But not for much longer.”
(Thank you to the publishers and Net Galley for the ARC)
Two rival factions battle it out for control of the city of Old Castle in the land of Urdezha – the Quantum and the Salem, the Scientists and the Magicians, while outside the city walls, the Clansfolk wage their war against both.
In the midst of it all is Wendal Finn – soldier, husband, and now pawn of the Salem, possessed by the spirit of the Shepherd of the Dead, or as the dead themselves call him, Sycamore.
Wendal has returned home from the war to find his wife has killed herself, and in exchange for information to help find her spirit, he ends up as an assassin for the Magicians, however involuntary his agreement in this matter may be.
Being led a merry dance by his Magician custodian, Dyonne Obor, Wendal spirals down and down into the mystery of the world he lives in, into its deepest, darkest secrets.
Can Wendal stop the oncoming storm that threatens to wipe out all life on Urdezha?
This is a fabulous fantasy adventure, all dark and twisty, and it’ll make you question which side you’re on, who’s good, who’s bad, until you arrive at the end, breathless and wanting more.
The world building is rich and vivid, the characters are flawed and relatable, the plot and pacing is superb, and my god is it emotion filled. Not ashamed to admit that I held my breath a fair bit, and shed a few tears at this book.
It’s got it all – mystery, magic, murder, adventure, and real heart and emotional depth, with an ending that’ll surprise you and make you gasp.
“The dead called me Sycamore. But not for much longer.”
(Thank you to the publishers and Net Galley for the ARC)
May 3, 2020
Seriously good.
The milieu brings to mind Leiber, Howard (and a dash of Masters of the Universe maybe?) with the author’s personal dark spin on things, of course. The blend of world-building and action is brilliantly done and what you end up with is a rollicking, unusual and highly engaging Fantasy adventure.
Recommended.
The milieu brings to mind Leiber, Howard (and a dash of Masters of the Universe maybe?) with the author’s personal dark spin on things, of course. The blend of world-building and action is brilliantly done and what you end up with is a rollicking, unusual and highly engaging Fantasy adventure.
Recommended.
October 31, 2019
Took awhile to get going. Its weird and strange fantasy with a scifi grimdark vibe. I got Peter Newman vibes when reading this. I liked the characters but it took some time really making sense of the world. The last 20% really made it all worth it
July 21, 2024
This somehow feels like it is a well know extremely well written fantasy novel and yet has only 75 ratings.
All I can say is that this is criminally underrated. I will start recommending this to people trying to get into dystiopian fantasy.
All I can say is that this is criminally underrated. I will start recommending this to people trying to get into dystiopian fantasy.
October 26, 2019
Excellent book.... Recommend reading.
February 3, 2024
*This is one of my prompt reads*
This was fucking wild. I don't remember exactly why I wanted to read this book. Maybe because it sounded interesting? Either way, it stayed with me to the point I bought a physical copy, something I don't do as much anymore because I can read anything I want on my e-reader.
As much as I loved the worldbuilding, and I really do love the worldbuilding, I didn't really care for the characters or the politics at all. Wendal was... fine, if not a bit of a blank slate, and I liked Nel. Sycamore, with all his mysteriousness, too. All the others, I couldn't give a shit.
The world is cruel, unrelenting. Almost the entire Earth-like planet is a wasteland, with a few hundred large cities sprinkled across the surface. I say "Earth-like" because it feels very Earth-y, with stuff like our months. On the other hand, this world has magic.
Everyone has mandatory military service when they turn 20, where they'll fight on the wasteland against, well, wastelanders. About 25% doesn't come back, and most of the people that do are traumatized for life.
The wasteland has dragon-like creatures, poisonous bogs, cannibals (the wastelanders eat the city-dwellers). It also has this thing called graveforests, which consist of corpse-trees. In a world of mostly wasteland and dead things, it wouldn't be unreasonable to think those corpse-trees are huge, ancient, dead trees. Well, they are huge and they are ancient, but they aren't dead. They're trees planted inside people's corpses and they're very much living trees.
There's also this thing called Dust (not the Golden Compass kind), that makes up most of the cities. You can make food, furniture, houses, almost anything with Dust. And Dust is made from the city's waste, including sewage and dead bodies.
It's stuff like that that makes the world so interesting. If it had had less politics and more Sycamore killing people, I would have enjoyed it more, I think.
On that same note,
I didn't like the ending. It was convoluted and I had no idea what was going on. Maybe with a reread I'll have a better understanding of the climax's events, but for now, I was just left confused. Because I didn't care about the politics of Old City, I also couldn't care less what happened to the politicians, who were pretty important near the end.
Last thing, but I noticed that some chapters (pretty sure all in the flashback part) had the same recurring two typos. There's a character named Danii, who's sometimes called Danni, and a soldier was sometimes spelled solider. The first time I saw Danni, I backtracked to make sure I had seen it spelled differently before and then scanned past Danni to see which one was the typo.
Anyway.
Four stars for the worldbuilding :)
This was fucking wild. I don't remember exactly why I wanted to read this book. Maybe because it sounded interesting? Either way, it stayed with me to the point I bought a physical copy, something I don't do as much anymore because I can read anything I want on my e-reader.
As much as I loved the worldbuilding, and I really do love the worldbuilding, I didn't really care for the characters or the politics at all. Wendal was... fine, if not a bit of a blank slate, and I liked Nel. Sycamore, with all his mysteriousness, too. All the others, I couldn't give a shit.
The world is cruel, unrelenting. Almost the entire Earth-like planet is a wasteland, with a few hundred large cities sprinkled across the surface. I say "Earth-like" because it feels very Earth-y, with stuff like our months. On the other hand, this world has magic.
Everyone has mandatory military service when they turn 20, where they'll fight on the wasteland against, well, wastelanders. About 25% doesn't come back, and most of the people that do are traumatized for life.
The wasteland has dragon-like creatures, poisonous bogs, cannibals (the wastelanders eat the city-dwellers). It also has this thing called graveforests, which consist of corpse-trees. In a world of mostly wasteland and dead things, it wouldn't be unreasonable to think those corpse-trees are huge, ancient, dead trees. Well, they are huge and they are ancient, but they aren't dead. They're trees planted inside people's corpses and they're very much living trees.
There's also this thing called Dust (not the Golden Compass kind), that makes up most of the cities. You can make food, furniture, houses, almost anything with Dust. And Dust is made from the city's waste, including sewage and dead bodies.
It's stuff like that that makes the world so interesting. If it had had less politics and more Sycamore killing people, I would have enjoyed it more, I think.
On that same note,
I didn't like the ending. It was convoluted and I had no idea what was going on. Maybe with a reread I'll have a better understanding of the climax's events, but for now, I was just left confused. Because I didn't care about the politics of Old City, I also couldn't care less what happened to the politicians, who were pretty important near the end.
Last thing, but I noticed that some chapters (pretty sure all in the flashback part) had the same recurring two typos. There's a character named Danii, who's sometimes called Danni, and a soldier was sometimes spelled solider. The first time I saw Danni, I backtracked to make sure I had seen it spelled differently before and then scanned past Danni to see which one was the typo.
Anyway.
Four stars for the worldbuilding :)
November 28, 2019
I am a massive fan of The Relic Guild trilogy, so I was eager to read this book. When I heard this book was available to pre-order, I bought it without even reading the synopsis. The Song of the Sycamore is a dark fantasy full of twists and turns. I loved it!
Wendal Finn is a fascinating character, and I liked him a lot. Two rival factions are battling it out for control of the city of Old Castle in the land of Urdezha – the Quantum (the Scientists) and the Salem (the Magicians), while outside the city walls, the Clansfolk wage their war against both. Wendal is a soldier fighting in a conflict between the city-dwellers and clansfolk. While out in the wastelands, Wendal "dies" and finds himself trapped in his body. The poor man finds himself hosting an entity that the spirits (ghosts) call Sycamore and becomes an instrument of vengeance. When the magicians manage to track and trap Sycamore, Wendal finds himself between a rock and a hard place. The world of Urdezha is in turmoil, and all Wendal wants to do is find out why his wife took her life.
Geoffrey Breton narrates the audiobook. I thought he did an excellent job of bringing the story to life. I love his reading voice.
There are some interesting characters that Wendal encounters. The mysterious Magician and Wendal's custodian, Dyonne Obor. She plays a pivotal role in this tale. Then there is Wendal's friend and neighbour, Ginnell (Nell) Memphis. She is just as messed up as Wendal, having fought in the war too, but she is loyal and has a wicked sense of humour.
I started to listen to this book and found myself a little confused as to how Sycamore came to be in Wendal as the author began the story after the event. However, as I listened, I quickly became hooked by the dilemma Wendal faced - both under the control of a vengeful being, and controlled by the magicians while looking into his wife's death and the connection to the scientists. I found myself commiserating with Wendal as he tried to navigate his new life. There are several twists and turns that surprised, shocked and pleased me. The author has created a rich tapestry of intricately woven words that captivate, horrify and surprise. There is a scene that just about tore my heart out, and I cried alongside Wendal. As the story unfolded and Wendal uncovered secrets that no one wanted him to unearth, I found myself rooting for him, though I did find his amiability towards his situation in the beginning rather strange. There was no anger or angst, only resignation and acceptance. By the time I reached the end of the book and discovered Sycamore's reason for inhabiting Wendal, I felt connected to the characters and was sad to say goodbye to them.
Edward Cox has written an excellent stand-alone dark fantasy. I love his fast-paced writing style, as well as his attention to detail, the world-building and character development. The flow is excellent too. Ever since I read his debut series, The Relic Guild trilogy, I have become a fan of this author.
I do not recommend this book to younger readers due to some of the subject matter and violence. There are no scenes of a sexual nature, though, so parental guidance advised for the violence. I do, however, highly recommend this book if you love science fiction, dark fantasy, horror, mystery, and suspense genres. - Lynn Worton
Wendal Finn is a fascinating character, and I liked him a lot. Two rival factions are battling it out for control of the city of Old Castle in the land of Urdezha – the Quantum (the Scientists) and the Salem (the Magicians), while outside the city walls, the Clansfolk wage their war against both. Wendal is a soldier fighting in a conflict between the city-dwellers and clansfolk. While out in the wastelands, Wendal "dies" and finds himself trapped in his body. The poor man finds himself hosting an entity that the spirits (ghosts) call Sycamore and becomes an instrument of vengeance. When the magicians manage to track and trap Sycamore, Wendal finds himself between a rock and a hard place. The world of Urdezha is in turmoil, and all Wendal wants to do is find out why his wife took her life.
Geoffrey Breton narrates the audiobook. I thought he did an excellent job of bringing the story to life. I love his reading voice.
There are some interesting characters that Wendal encounters. The mysterious Magician and Wendal's custodian, Dyonne Obor. She plays a pivotal role in this tale. Then there is Wendal's friend and neighbour, Ginnell (Nell) Memphis. She is just as messed up as Wendal, having fought in the war too, but she is loyal and has a wicked sense of humour.
I started to listen to this book and found myself a little confused as to how Sycamore came to be in Wendal as the author began the story after the event. However, as I listened, I quickly became hooked by the dilemma Wendal faced - both under the control of a vengeful being, and controlled by the magicians while looking into his wife's death and the connection to the scientists. I found myself commiserating with Wendal as he tried to navigate his new life. There are several twists and turns that surprised, shocked and pleased me. The author has created a rich tapestry of intricately woven words that captivate, horrify and surprise. There is a scene that just about tore my heart out, and I cried alongside Wendal. As the story unfolded and Wendal uncovered secrets that no one wanted him to unearth, I found myself rooting for him, though I did find his amiability towards his situation in the beginning rather strange. There was no anger or angst, only resignation and acceptance. By the time I reached the end of the book and discovered Sycamore's reason for inhabiting Wendal, I felt connected to the characters and was sad to say goodbye to them.
Edward Cox has written an excellent stand-alone dark fantasy. I love his fast-paced writing style, as well as his attention to detail, the world-building and character development. The flow is excellent too. Ever since I read his debut series, The Relic Guild trilogy, I have become a fan of this author.
I do not recommend this book to younger readers due to some of the subject matter and violence. There are no scenes of a sexual nature, though, so parental guidance advised for the violence. I do, however, highly recommend this book if you love science fiction, dark fantasy, horror, mystery, and suspense genres. - Lynn Worton
August 27, 2019
Wendal Finn died on military service, yet has returned to Old Castle apparently alive and well. But out in the wilderness, far beyond the safety of Wendal’s home, in a place ravaged by terrifying and savage opponents and strange magic, the unbelievable has happened. For all his appearance of normality Wendal is an unwilling host to Sycamore, a revenger of the murdered, co-opting Wendal’s body to bring the perpetrators to justice and as a result turning Wendal into a serial killer. As Wendal tries to fight the thing that has made him its host, he also attempts to piece together the mystery of his wife’s apparent suicide. In so doing he uncovers the type of dark secrets the rulers of his city would rather keep hidden. All the while a supernatural storm makes its ominous approach towards the city.
In an unnerving grimdark opening Wendal is making his way to something that is not going to end well. But he is clearly not onboard with the mission. The reason why soon becomes obvious in a most disturbing way. So the plot already thickens before it’s even started, and you just know its unfolding will be relentless and not for the faint-hearted.
Edward Cox’s worldbuilding is great. Through Wendal you’re quickly plunged into the sights and smells of Old Castle and a complex plot which twists and turns its intriguing way to an interesting dénouement. It is indeed a tricky plot with many points of crisis for Wendal, who doggedly pursues the truth of his wife’s death regardless of his own safety, or sanity.
Although there appears to be more than one story thread requiring a large list of characters, all with some different avenue to offer the hapless Wendal, the author has managed to keep control of everything and weave a murder mystery, political intrigue as well as something that can only be described as military fantasy/science fiction, while creeping the reader out.
The part I enjoyed the most was the backstory of Wendel’s military service because I became so emotionally engaged with the raw relentlessness of the conscripts’ lives. It also brought home a rumbling disquiet of wondering what the war was all for, considering it had been going on for so long and no one saw the need or had the courage to question why the population was being sent out to feed a conflict which only those in power could see the point to.
The build up to the way Sycamore came to inhabit Wendal’s body was particularly effective with regards to the hopelessness of Wendal’s situation yet, like all good horror stories, at the same time keeping the reader in a state of hoping the inevitable would not happen.
In all The Song of the Sycamore was an engrossing experience, offering any grim dark fantasy aficionado plenty to get their reading teeth into.
The Song of the Sycamore was courtesy of Orion via NetGalley
In an unnerving grimdark opening Wendal is making his way to something that is not going to end well. But he is clearly not onboard with the mission. The reason why soon becomes obvious in a most disturbing way. So the plot already thickens before it’s even started, and you just know its unfolding will be relentless and not for the faint-hearted.
Edward Cox’s worldbuilding is great. Through Wendal you’re quickly plunged into the sights and smells of Old Castle and a complex plot which twists and turns its intriguing way to an interesting dénouement. It is indeed a tricky plot with many points of crisis for Wendal, who doggedly pursues the truth of his wife’s death regardless of his own safety, or sanity.
Although there appears to be more than one story thread requiring a large list of characters, all with some different avenue to offer the hapless Wendal, the author has managed to keep control of everything and weave a murder mystery, political intrigue as well as something that can only be described as military fantasy/science fiction, while creeping the reader out.
The part I enjoyed the most was the backstory of Wendel’s military service because I became so emotionally engaged with the raw relentlessness of the conscripts’ lives. It also brought home a rumbling disquiet of wondering what the war was all for, considering it had been going on for so long and no one saw the need or had the courage to question why the population was being sent out to feed a conflict which only those in power could see the point to.
The build up to the way Sycamore came to inhabit Wendal’s body was particularly effective with regards to the hopelessness of Wendal’s situation yet, like all good horror stories, at the same time keeping the reader in a state of hoping the inevitable would not happen.
In all The Song of the Sycamore was an engrossing experience, offering any grim dark fantasy aficionado plenty to get their reading teeth into.
The Song of the Sycamore was courtesy of Orion via NetGalley
September 1, 2021
I don't normally write goodreads reviews, but this book is flying under the radar big time and it needs to be better known (only 24 reviews at the moment?!).
It starts with an imaginative premise: Wendal Finn, a war-damaged soldier, returns to his home after he had supposedly died. Only its not quite him anymore, for a mythical spirit, Sycamore, avenger of the dead, shares his body with him. The relation between Wendal and Sycamore starts off quite simple: two minds in the same body, none of which really want to have anything to do with the other, but none can be free of the other just yet. However, as the book progresses, new facets about both of them are gradually revealed, turning their symbiosis into something more complex.
Immersive atmosphere: the first thing that hit me at the beginning of the novel was the atmostphere of Urdezha, in general, and Old Castle, in particular. It's dirty, gloomy and decrepit. A well-fleshed out world with its people trying their best to improve their conditions, but ultimately constrained by their grim surroundings. A city hiding many dark secrets under the surface, secrets to which most people are oblivious to, largely because they don't want to deal with (or are told they should not deal with).
Masterful writing: the writing is rich, at times using a lot of metaphors, but never dense or hard to read. It bears similarities with the writing of China Mieville and the wider new-wierd genre, but it's more toned down and, overall, very well balanced with simpler language (think Alastair Reynolds). All in all, it's very enjoyable to read and a real page-turner...
Well crafted plot: which brings me to the next point: the plot. Initially, it doesn't seem to be very complex: upon his return to Old Castle, Wendal is trying to find out what happened to his wife. For the first quarter of the book, I assumed there wasn't going to be much more to it. I couldn't have been more wrong. While it takes a while to take off, the plot turned out great. Multi-layered, featuring interesting and unexpected turns, characters having to watch their backs at the same time as plotting their own nefarious moves. The ending is fitting, deeply moving and tying all the loose ends neatly together.
Strong characters: as for the cast, I found Wendal Finn to be a very relatable character. A man who's thrown into a struggle he doesn't fully understand, trying to swim against the current and do his best to survive. He is, at the same time, emblematic for gloomy setting of Old Castle, and a contrasting character, a ray of light in the darkness for those he cares about. The supporting characters are all well fleshed out, with clear and distict voices.
Overall: a very enjoyable read. Imaginative, clever and moving fantasy. One of the best I've read this year.
It starts with an imaginative premise: Wendal Finn, a war-damaged soldier, returns to his home after he had supposedly died. Only its not quite him anymore, for a mythical spirit, Sycamore, avenger of the dead, shares his body with him. The relation between Wendal and Sycamore starts off quite simple: two minds in the same body, none of which really want to have anything to do with the other, but none can be free of the other just yet. However, as the book progresses, new facets about both of them are gradually revealed, turning their symbiosis into something more complex.
Immersive atmosphere: the first thing that hit me at the beginning of the novel was the atmostphere of Urdezha, in general, and Old Castle, in particular. It's dirty, gloomy and decrepit. A well-fleshed out world with its people trying their best to improve their conditions, but ultimately constrained by their grim surroundings. A city hiding many dark secrets under the surface, secrets to which most people are oblivious to, largely because they don't want to deal with (or are told they should not deal with).
Masterful writing: the writing is rich, at times using a lot of metaphors, but never dense or hard to read. It bears similarities with the writing of China Mieville and the wider new-wierd genre, but it's more toned down and, overall, very well balanced with simpler language (think Alastair Reynolds). All in all, it's very enjoyable to read and a real page-turner...
Well crafted plot: which brings me to the next point: the plot. Initially, it doesn't seem to be very complex: upon his return to Old Castle, Wendal is trying to find out what happened to his wife. For the first quarter of the book, I assumed there wasn't going to be much more to it. I couldn't have been more wrong. While it takes a while to take off, the plot turned out great. Multi-layered, featuring interesting and unexpected turns, characters having to watch their backs at the same time as plotting their own nefarious moves. The ending is fitting, deeply moving and tying all the loose ends neatly together.
Strong characters: as for the cast, I found Wendal Finn to be a very relatable character. A man who's thrown into a struggle he doesn't fully understand, trying to swim against the current and do his best to survive. He is, at the same time, emblematic for gloomy setting of Old Castle, and a contrasting character, a ray of light in the darkness for those he cares about. The supporting characters are all well fleshed out, with clear and distict voices.
Overall: a very enjoyable read. Imaginative, clever and moving fantasy. One of the best I've read this year.
February 21, 2021
This is an interesting read in that at the very beginning, the main character is already dead. It might feel then, at first that there could be no stakes in going forward, but that's certainly not the case! The mystery seeped in the text is reason enough to continue.
Wendal died and was taken over by a mysterious entity known only as the Sycamore. This entity seems to investigate murders, fulfilling any lingering revenge they feel toward their killers. Although Wendal is no longer of the mortal realm in the way he should be, he's still aware of the ways in which his body is being used by the entity possessing him. He's forced to stand by and 'watch,' so to speak, unable to interfere with the actions.
Though one would think that it's not necessarily a bad thing for 'killers' to get their just desserts, it becomes increasingly clear that Sycamore isn't without fault itself. The vessels it chooses to carry out these goals are frequently used and abused until they can no longer be utilized, and then they are callously abandoned in favor of the next, better suited vessel that happens along. Sycamore seems to be a known entity in the magical world, and is feared - for good reason.
Wendal realizes that his broken existence and his empty life were what permitted the possession to happen in the first place, but what does knowing that do for him when there's nothing apparent that he can do about it? If there did arise an opportunity to shake his captor, would he take it, no matter the consequences?
'Hope - that was what drove me; that was all I had left. Hope for a stagnant existence on a broken world. I never envisioned my life turning out this way.'
All this sounds very interesting! And it may be for some! I never actually finished this book to completion outside of casually skimming it. The backgrounds of the characters, including the main character Wendal were simply too disjointed for me to have any real connection with them. There were supposed to be borne a feeling of desperation in the reader toward the main characters plight, but it was difficult to feel when exposed to some of the reasoning behind his predicament in the first place. But it very much felt impossible to grasp what was happening with the little tidbits of information that were scattered throughout. It always felt like I was one step too late behind.
Wendal died and was taken over by a mysterious entity known only as the Sycamore. This entity seems to investigate murders, fulfilling any lingering revenge they feel toward their killers. Although Wendal is no longer of the mortal realm in the way he should be, he's still aware of the ways in which his body is being used by the entity possessing him. He's forced to stand by and 'watch,' so to speak, unable to interfere with the actions.
Though one would think that it's not necessarily a bad thing for 'killers' to get their just desserts, it becomes increasingly clear that Sycamore isn't without fault itself. The vessels it chooses to carry out these goals are frequently used and abused until they can no longer be utilized, and then they are callously abandoned in favor of the next, better suited vessel that happens along. Sycamore seems to be a known entity in the magical world, and is feared - for good reason.
Wendal realizes that his broken existence and his empty life were what permitted the possession to happen in the first place, but what does knowing that do for him when there's nothing apparent that he can do about it? If there did arise an opportunity to shake his captor, would he take it, no matter the consequences?
'Hope - that was what drove me; that was all I had left. Hope for a stagnant existence on a broken world. I never envisioned my life turning out this way.'
All this sounds very interesting! And it may be for some! I never actually finished this book to completion outside of casually skimming it. The backgrounds of the characters, including the main character Wendal were simply too disjointed for me to have any real connection with them. There were supposed to be borne a feeling of desperation in the reader toward the main characters plight, but it was difficult to feel when exposed to some of the reasoning behind his predicament in the first place. But it very much felt impossible to grasp what was happening with the little tidbits of information that were scattered throughout. It always felt like I was one step too late behind.
August 24, 2019
I don't usually use terms like "full of emotions" when i review a fantasy book but these are words i'm sure I can use for this one.
It's a grim fantasy book but it's also full of emotion, with a fleshed out, realistic and "so human" main character.
It's not one of those book where the positive characters are nearly perfect and the villain are "so so bad".
Everyone is a mix, nobody is perfect and I found that I liked Sycamore as much as I liked Wendal.
The world building is amazing, bleak and with elements of steampunk.
I loved this book, once I started I couldn't put it down, and I appreciated it's originality.
I look forward to reading other books by this author.
I strongly recommend it.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
It's a grim fantasy book but it's also full of emotion, with a fleshed out, realistic and "so human" main character.
It's not one of those book where the positive characters are nearly perfect and the villain are "so so bad".
Everyone is a mix, nobody is perfect and I found that I liked Sycamore as much as I liked Wendal.
The world building is amazing, bleak and with elements of steampunk.
I loved this book, once I started I couldn't put it down, and I appreciated it's originality.
I look forward to reading other books by this author.
I strongly recommend it.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
July 2, 2019
This book was like a great big slap of fantasy to the face, and while you are reeling to catch you breath it just pulls you down into a rich, amazing, horrific world where you have no idea who is bad and who is good. Those lines seemed to blur the whole way through, keeping you guessing and on your toes. It was a thrill of a ride, making it hard to out down. It is the sort of book your promise yourself one more page at night, and then actually stop three chapters later.
A must read, and I can not wait for more!
A must read, and I can not wait for more!
October 21, 2020
Caveat - I won this book in a competition on Twitter, and I had not read any of the author’s work before. However, I enjoyed the writing so much that I’ll be buying Edward Cox’s other novels.
Song of the Sycamore is a dark and twisty tale that will keep you on the edge of your seat. It’s also a brilliant exploration of human savagery and lust for power. Wendell, the main character has such depth and humanity that it’s impossible not to feel for him and the impossible situation he’s in.
Song of the Sycamore is a dark and twisty tale that will keep you on the edge of your seat. It’s also a brilliant exploration of human savagery and lust for power. Wendell, the main character has such depth and humanity that it’s impossible not to feel for him and the impossible situation he’s in.
October 17, 2019
Edward Cox has written another classic. Fantasy, horror, sci-fi blend, this book really does have it all. It's both heartfelt and tender, whilst being utterly bleak in the best possible way. The main character, Wendell is so loveable, despite his flaws, and the story twists in ways that you won't imagine. 5* read and worth every penny.
April 7, 2020
Another good one from Ed, well worth the asking price!!
dnf
October 24, 2025I like the idea so much. But I am just never in the mood to pick it up
July 22, 2020
I'm not quite sure how to rate this one. I only became truly engaged in this story when I started reading about Wendal's army service and how he came to be entwined with Sycamore. This portion came about 1/3 of the way into the book as a sort of flash back. For the most part, Edward Cox was able to go back and forth in the timeline of this story for best effect, but I honestly think I would have enjoyed this book more if it had been told in a more chronological order. A 3.5 for me that could have been 4-4.5 stars if told in a different order, I suppose.
September 26, 2019
This is an interesting book. with a feeling of freshness about it.
The setting is wonderful with enough quirk that i'd happily read more books set in this world.
The opening 25% of the book is really, really good. It hooked me in early and established the characters and the story well.
Over the next 15% or so I completely lost interest and if this wasn't a NetGalley book I would probably have given up at the 40% mark. The primary reason for this is that the main character is just so passive. Wendel doesn't question anything, he doesn't make any decisions, he doesn't rail against his situation. For me, he's too accepting - he goes where he's told to go and does what he's told to do and that really irritated me. Wendel might be the main character but he's a far cry from being a protagonist and it's hard to tell who the protagonist is.
I'm really glad I kept going though because the final 40% is a return to the excellence of the first part.
I really enjoyed the resolution - it felt right,
I loved the sections where Wendel was doing his city service, the characters and the relationships between them were really strong, I felt Wendel had more agency and personality in these sections.
I have to give this book a rating of 4 stars (3 stars is "enjoyable but average" and this book is way better than average.) even if, in my opinion, it has flaws.
The setting is wonderful with enough quirk that i'd happily read more books set in this world.
The opening 25% of the book is really, really good. It hooked me in early and established the characters and the story well.
Over the next 15% or so I completely lost interest and if this wasn't a NetGalley book I would probably have given up at the 40% mark. The primary reason for this is that the main character is just so passive. Wendel doesn't question anything, he doesn't make any decisions, he doesn't rail against his situation. For me, he's too accepting - he goes where he's told to go and does what he's told to do and that really irritated me. Wendel might be the main character but he's a far cry from being a protagonist and it's hard to tell who the protagonist is.
I'm really glad I kept going though because the final 40% is a return to the excellence of the first part.
I really enjoyed the resolution - it felt right,
I loved the sections where Wendel was doing his city service, the characters and the relationships between them were really strong, I felt Wendel had more agency and personality in these sections.
I have to give this book a rating of 4 stars (3 stars is "enjoyable but average" and this book is way better than average.) even if, in my opinion, it has flaws.
September 27, 2019
LISTENED TO AUDIOBOOK....An incredible experience listening to Wendell's/Sycamores story on Odessa. Mr. Cox wrote a very dark but engaging novel about a man trying to find his wife while being hosted by an usher of the dead who. Magic is pulled from "ether Crystal's and is used in unique ways to power things in the city as well as other unique useful items. There is a history of an ancient civilization that is explored and provides additional wonder and insight into the characters background. I will say no more about the store but is a gimme for any dark/grim alternate history fantasy fan.
The narrator was well chosen and did a superb job being the color to the writers picture.
Fantastic listen and well worth the credit
The narrator was well chosen and did a superb job being the color to the writers picture.
Fantastic listen and well worth the credit
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