Review: To Play the King
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 01 6, 2013
The title of this review is taken from Michael Dobbs's novel which was later parlayed into a 1993 BBC television mini-series of the same name. In both the novel and on TV (which aired in the United States on "Masterpiece Theatre"), the newly-crowned king finds his position of power threatened by malicious forces bent upon deposing him and instituting chaos throughout his realm.The antagonist, Prime Minister Urquhart, seeks His Majesty's downfall because of personal and political animosities that are too deep to ever be reconciled. Urquhart is a vile, underhanded character, interested solely in his own personal, financial, and political benefit. He surreptitiously employs well-placed allies within the government and the media to foment dissent, hoping to instigate a vote of no confidence in the House of Commons, whereupon new elections would have to immediately take place. Such a manufactured crisis would create a power vacuum into which Urquhart would step and form a government inherently sympathetic---and subservient---to his ambitions.Such treachery is not unique in the literary world. Examples abound: Professor Moriarity. Richard III. Fu Manchu. Aaron from "Titus Andronicus." Iago from "Othello." Captain Hook.In Sandra Ross's "Soul Mates Rise," the fourth and final installment of the "Witching Call" collection, such a scenario is closely parallelled: the King, Marcus, is threatened by a malevolent rival---his father Nickolas, whose bloodthirsty, maniacal desire for power is matched only by his eternal hatred of his son for having the temerity to assert his righteous claim to the throne.This internicine warfare threatens to disrupt the delicate balance of power in which the magicals maintain their superiority. Their benign rule is manifested in their Council, which have acknowledged Marcus and his bride, Lola, as the rightful ruling heirs.Much like Norman rule, The Hundred Years' War, the Wars of the Roses, and the English Civil War that plagued England over its long and storied history, royal pretenders and other assorted ne'er-do-wells such as Mary Queen of Scots, Bonnie Prince Charlie, King John, and Richard III asserted their claims to the British throne no matter how tenuous or outlandish---and did whatever was necessary to achieve this bloodthirsty goal. "Rise" takes a similar path, as father and son duel for paranormal supremacy and line up allies to support their respective causes.Ross weaves a suspenseful fantasy world of white magic versus its dark counterpart, and allows the protagonists to assert that which abounds in goodness, charity, benevolence, mercy, and righteousness. These qualities are plentiful throughout "Rise" and highlight the stark contrasts between a progressive, humane future with its dystopian doppelganger.Shades of Harry Potter's life-or-death struggle with Voldemort echo periodically throughout the story. Just as Harry crossed magic wands and matched wits with Draco Malfoy on a regular basis, so, too, is Nickolas's inherent malevolence counteracted by the combined forces of Marcus, Lola, Sable and Augusta, and their unconditional allies on The Council. Their determined stance in the face of certain annihilation lends credence to a noble crusade for what is good and fair in the realm of the otherworldly.While Ross may not be as universally famous as J.K. Rowling, the former's style is unique and reflects her literary voice in numerous published works that resonate with a certain niche of readers."Rise" provides solid entertainment in addition to a liberal helping of passionate love and romance. For the price, it's certainly worth downloading.