Review: good
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 10 1, 2013
I admit I was surprised: I did not expect much from this novel and the rather cheesy bookcover did nothing to improve expectations. Nor did the uninspired blurb.This is a rather well crafted high fantasy with gay main characters.The author -a former author of M/M erotica whose output I have found very uneven- acknowledges some influences, Tolkien and Wagner included, but the plot itself is interesting and far from derivative.So far from derivative that, aside from the general setting, I could find no similarity with Wagner whatsoever.Several motives are actually far from new but each and every of them is reworked into a perfectly consistent and agreeable plot that pushes forward without effort.It is not a very quick read: the author is far too interested in delving into the mystical and the psychological to allow for a breathless pace, but the story never drags, not even halfway through, when Sky and the Queen discuss at length about good and evil in a rather inconclusive way.Curiously enough, this is a trait this novel shares with every other high fantasy I have read: I know not a single fantasy author who, deciding to express his musings on good and evil, actually managed to make himself understood.On the other hand action scenes are many and well done. The author possibly lacks the taste for extensive, beautiful descriptions of some of his colleagues but at least he manages to keep them straight and clear.Writing in general is probably not as poignant and neat as one could wish but neither does it stand in the way of enjoyment.Characterization is consistent.Kjartan does not really grow as a character but he is very likeable to begin with; Sky grows up and becomes much more mature instead. Some transitions could have been dealt with more subltlety without the author choosing to plant a flag on them to make the reader aware of their importance but there is nothing really embarassing.Side characters are well thought of and serve their purpose.There is a couple of explicit if unremarkable sex scenes I could have done without, but not so many as to disturb too much.A revision should also take care of the random typo/grammar mistake: they tend to stand out as this book is rather well edited.