Review: it's better to simplify
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 04 21, 2013
This second instalment in the "Broken Mirrors" series highlights both the assets and the problems of the first one, "Coyote's Creed"; the same problems are to be found in the enjoyable House of Stone as well.Mr Demont's talent as a storyteller cannot be denied even if the tone here is much darker and makes for a slower pace.James is a very different character: while Spencer is a young man facing difficult external circumstances who can rely on his inner strength, James is a victim of abuse. He has huge self esteem issues that cripple him even while he is trying to move on; he is not whole and sound, his set of values appear much more shaky.The author does not shy away from his pain and he actually manages to make it convincing. The author also realises that such a different character needs a different treatment but he does not really strike the exact tone and balance to portray James' inner journey and growth. He never confides in his friends but neither does he muse about himself for us to see his thoughts. He is so deeply hurt and so deep in denial about it that his struggles not only escape his friends' attention but also the reader's awareness: we can imagine them but we never understand why he befriends Dave and why he falls in love with *** (no spoilers from me).Such a different lead implies a more sombre tone but this is fine as nobody really would wish a clone of Spencer.We are not denied the fun Mr Demont excels at: setting is inventive as ever, action scenes are quick and well done, many dialogues sparkle with humour.Side characters are nice enough even if Dave and Marvin are not fully rounded nor exploited as they could have been.My qualm here is the same as in book one, only raised to power: the treatment of the supernatural lore.I imagine the author must have a general picture of the powers that be in his world but such picture is impervious to our scrutiny. Magic and world building (literally: worlds get destroyed and built again in this book) are unclear and confusing.It was a problem in Coyote's Creed but it is damning here as the whole of the plot revolves about a set of supernatural laws the reader cannot really understand. The gods are very vulnerable to man's magic but at the same time they always end having the upper hand, human magicians have the power to break the pillars of the universe but die because of wound.In book one magic was just an added component that spurred a breathtaking action further so that it was easy to set misgivings aside but here magic is at the core of the plot and the result is messy. When James is on the road the story works just fine, when he is dealing with the supernatural things turn sour.I will read book three because I love the story and its characters but as of now I hope Mr Demont will reconsider his whole supernatural lore and either make it simpler or less relevant to the plot. Possibly both, as nobody really likes lengthy asides to explain how complicated things work.A second edition of his best works (House of Stone and Broken Mirrors) would be more than welcome.