Jonathan Stroud: The Ring of Solomon

Bartimaeus is back, only this time we follow his adventures in antiquity, rather than in modern England. Solomon is the King of Israel, and possesses a mighty Ring that can summon thousands of spirits from the Other World at a single touch. As he gains power, he commands mighty magicians, who happen to summon Bartimaeus to achieve their goals.

Asmira is a hereditary Guard to Balkis, Queen of Sheba. As Solomon's empire expands, smaller nations like Sheba are threatened. As a last-ditch effort to preserve the nation, Balkis sends Asmira to Jerusalem on a dangerous quest to save her land.

The Ring of Solomon is the sequel to the popular Bartimaeus Trilogy by British author Jonathan Stroud. As before, the djinn Bartimaeus is the main character in the novel, and the highlight of the story. The footnotes, comprising Bartimaeus' sarcastic, cheeky commentary are interspersed throughout his narrative arc, and remain as refreshing as ever.

That's not to say that this is a derivative copy of the original series. Despite being set in ancient Israel, rather than in London, Stroud's worldbuilding remains as convincing as ever. His depictions of Jerusalem, if it were ruled by magicians wielding powerful spirits from the Other World, is thought-provoking and highly interesting. The Ring is essentially a nuclear weapon, and just as powerful - the alternate timeline portrayed through the use of the Ring remains an engaging depiction of what could have happened.

The characters are new too, and just as multi-dimensional as those in the original. Although Nathaniel, Kitty, and the others are gone, new characters enter the fray: Asmira, Khaba, and Solomon, to name a few. On the spirits' side, Bartimaeus and Faquarl carry over from before, with a plethora of new spirits that are just as complex as their human counterparts. As before, Stroud utilizes a POV method of storytelling, shifting primarily between Bartimaeus and Asmira's perspectives.

A primary strength of the Bartimaeus Trilogy was the tight and focused plotting, combined with a breakneck pace that left the reader wanting more. The Ring of Solomon continues this tradition, combining exhilarating action scenes with unforeseen plot twists that never start to get boring or repetitive. The novel does lack the powerful climactic scenes of the Bartimaeus Trilogy, although that is to be expected, since it is (as of now) a standalone novel.

The Ring of Solomon is an excellent addition to Stroud's ongoing Bartimaeus novels. The characters are as layered as ever, and the worldbuilding and plot remain convincing and engaging. As a young adult novel, it succeeds very well, constructing a alternative timeline revolving around fantasy elements that draw the reader in with its meticulously detailed magic system and imaginative ideas.

Rating: (8.5/10)

Gerald Morris: The Savage Damsel and the Dwarf

Lynet is the younger sister to Lyonesse, the heiress of the Castle Perle. Unfortunately for them, the evil Knight of the Red Lands is determined to win the fair Lyonesse's hand in marriage, and has laid siege to them. Lynet, determined to right wrongs, sneaks out in hopes of reaching Camelot and convincing one of the famous Knights of the Round Table to defeat the Knight of the Red Lands. Along the way she meets the dwarf Roger, the kitchen knave Beaumains, and many other characters, and finds out that many things are not as they seem.

The Savage Damsel and the Dwarf is the third book in Gerald Morris's Arthurian series, and is the first novel to feature a different protagonist. The story is modeled after Sir Gareth's tale in Le Morte d'Arthur - although as the author himself points out, the original source material is very sparse, arbitrary, and lacking in details. Morris invents his own material in many spots to great success, and the characters are handled very deftly. Lyonesse is portrayed as a selfish, haughty princess, and the not-so-glamorous realities of shining knights and courtly love are amusingly pointed out by Roger's sharp wit. The overwhelming tendency of knights to hide their names and the fact that a simple beard can hide one's true identity features prominently throughout the whole novel, often to a ridiculous extent. It seems as if no one in England is smart enough to pierce a simple disguise - but this irrationality itself points fun at the often absurd Le Morte d'Arthur.

Although the world is not entirely believable, the novels are meant to be whimsical and fantastical. From faery enchantresses to magical potions, the England in this novel is mysterious and filled with adventures. Although quests and magic abound with seeming nonsense, the characters are the focus, and they are completely believable. The powerful characters like King Arthur and Sir Gawain take a side role, as Lynet, Roger, and Beaumains are the real protagonists of the story. They contrast quite well with each other, with Beaumain's courtly mannerisms a perfect foil to Roger's pragmatic wit.

As ever, Morris continues his snappy dialogue, and several moments actually induce physical laughter. One specific scene involving a duel, a fish, and various musings upon the conjugation of the past tense of "cleave" is rendered quite spectacularly and merits special notice. Though lighthearted as ever, the quest form of the novel never feels old and is a joy to read.

The Savage Damsel and the Dwarf is a excellent addition to an addicting series. Although it features a different protagonist, the reader can identify with Lynet just as easily as with Terence. These novels offer a vivid spin on the established work of Malory, creating a new tale of King Arthur that is just as captivating as the original.

Rating: (7/10)

Gerald Morris: The Squire, His Knight, and His Lady

Terence, squire to Sir Gawain, is now familiar with life in Camelot. Life is dull, until things begin to ramp up. The Roman Emperor Lucius declares war on Arthur, and strange faery knights challenge the Round Table's honor. Again, Terence must go on a quest with his master, exploring foreign lands and rescuing damsels in distress.

The Squire, His Knight, and His Lady is the sequel to The Squire's Tale. Morris continues to draw from traditional Arthurian tales: the novel revolves mainly around the poem Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. Terence and Gawain adventure just like before, but we meet some new characters too, among them Sir Lancelot. The outrageous courtly behavior of Lancelot and the other French courtiers is amusing, and seen through Terence's eyes, is ridiculously over-the-top. When Terence and Gawain finally embark on their quest, they spend a lot more space journeying to the Green Chapel than Gawain does in the poem. Indeed, the bulk of the novel is actually spent traveling.

Stylistically, the novel follows the same pattern established in The Squire's Tale. The banter is witty and humorous, the air is lighthearted, and the pace is comfortable. The novel does contain several serious moments, however - and the rarity of these moments makes them all the more touching. Gawain's final confrontation with the Green Knight and his subsequent fate is rendered very poignantly, even though it is all told from Terence's point of view. Although the novel is relatively short, the prose is done so efficiently that we learn much about a character in a few short lines. Although the material is high fantasy - recreant knights, faery magic, towering castles, damsels-in-distress, and jousting are key elements to the tale - we can still identify with the doomed situation between Arthur, Guinevere, and Lancelot, or with Gawain's struggle between honor and reason.

The Squire, His Knight, and His Lady is a solid follow-up to The Squire's Tale, and retains the same lighthearted, adventurous air as its predecessor. In these Arthurian novels, author Gerald Morris has successfully recreated the shining knights and chivalrous deeds of the source material, while still keeping the book accessible to young contemporary readers.

Rating: (7/10)

Gerald Morris: A Squire's Tale

Terence is an orphan raised by the hermit Trevisant in a forest. One day he encounters a knight, and Trevisant declares that his time in the forest is done, and he is now to be the knight's squire. The knight is Sir Gawain, and together the two journey to Camelot and embark on many quests and adventures.

The Squire's Tale is a young adult Arthurian novel, drawing much of its content from Sir Thomas Malory's Le Morte d'Arthur. Author Gerald Morris attempts to adapt the source material for a younger audience, and succeeds admirably. Much of the plot itself is taken directly from the beginning of Le Morte d'Arthur, but is fleshed out in a way as to make Malory's work more accessible to a more contemporary audience. For example, Terence's adventures include the Battle of the Five Kings, the Battle with the Emperor Lucius, and the quest involving the white hart and hound. Several characters are Morris's own creation, the protagonist Terence being the prime example.

The novel is not meant to be a direct adaptation. Although the fundamental plot of Le Morte d'Arthur is preserved, Morris adds characterizations and subtle changes that add a new spin to the classic Arthurian legends. Sir Gawain, for example, is portrayed as a pragmatic and honorable knight, and Merlin holds a very minor role. Morris's style flows very well and he writes very good dialogue: there is a general air of humor throughout, and several conversations actually made me laugh out loud. For those who have read Le Morte d'Arthur, there are also indirect references that poke fun at the original text. Gawain ridicules many of the Round Table's knights, for example, for dressing up fancily while being terrible fighters. Questing knights frequently encounter each other on their journeys, despite the improbably nature of such frequent encounters.

Overall, the novel is very lighthearted and fun to read. The travelogue style works very well here, as the key element of Arthurian legends is the quest. The dialogue consistently delivers, and there are genuine moments of laughter throughout. The novel has some serious moments, but never feels too long. If there's one problem, it's that the end feels a bit rushed. It's a testament to Morris's ability to draw readers in, however, that I was left wanting more after finishing the last page. As a young adult book, The Squire's Tale is a success, as it doesn't take itself too seriously and is addicting to read: there's always the urge to read the next chapter to find out what happens next to Sir Gawain and Terence.

Rating: (7/10)

Inauguration

And the blog is live! But what will be on it?

I'm an avid reader/watcher of anything sci-fi/fantasy: space operas, heroic fantasy, urban fantasy, steampunk, post-apocalyptic, etc. But really, anything that captivates my mind is fine.

Currently reading: Parsifal's Page, Gerald Morris.