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Something Red

by Douglas Nicholas (Goodreads Author)

3.57 of 5 stars 3.57 · rating details · 319 ratings · 136 reviews

From debut author Douglas Nicholas comes a haunting story of love, murder, and sorcery.

During the thirteenth century in northwest England, in one of the coldest winters in living memory, a formidable yet charming Irish healer, Molly, and the troupe she leads are driving their three wagons, hoping to cross the Pennine Mountains before the heavy snows set in.

Molly, her lov...more

Hardcover, 336 pages

Published September 18th 2012 by Atria/Emily Bestler Books (first published July 10th 2010)

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Aug 07, 2012 Tracey rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, england, medieval, netgalley

I was wary of all the extravagantly glowing reviews I saw on Goodreads for Something Red (which I received from the publisher through Netgalley, thank you to them). In many cases it's simply a sign that the author has a lot of cooperative friends. I'm happy to report that this is not the case here.

I was dismayed by the formatting of the ARC on my Kindle; it was a mess. The decorative elements of the text, while very nice, played harry with the reader program, and it took persistence just to get...more I was wary of all the extravagantly glowing reviews I saw on Goodreads for Something Red (which I received from the publisher through Netgalley, thank you to them). In many cases it's simply a sign that the author has a lot of cooperative friends. I'm happy to report that this is not the case here.

I was dismayed by the formatting of the ARC on my Kindle; it was a mess. The decorative elements of the text, while very nice, played harry with the reader program, and it took persistence just to get from one chapter to the next. However – well, two things. First, I pushed through despite the issues; I have been known to quit a book because of excessive formatting problems (there are just too many in queue to waste time on something that fights me), but this time I wanted to read this book. What's wonderful about this is (the second thing): I made a comment on Goodreads when I started – and the author got in touch with me for more details to pass on to the publishers to fix it. Which they did. Mostly. Except that new problems cropped up. But I'm sure the final product will be sorted. This book deserves a beautiful format (which, Mr. Nicholas tells me, is exactly what the hardcover is – I look forward to seeing it).

I keep trying to think of other books to compare this to, and I'm finding it difficult. Maybe that's why I've had trouble writing a review for it. It's a sneaky book. What could be very dull, traveling through forest in the winter, is turned into a small masterpiece of suspense as the travelers – Molly, a temporarily dispossessed Irish queen and her tiny caravan of an ox, a mule, two carts, and three of her kin, adopted and blood – pick their way through the coldest winter in living memory to trade and heal and maintain the bonds. The tribulations of journeying on muddy roads through a freezing and vast forest are detailed without every becoming tedious – and part of the beautiful way this is accomplished is through the boy Hob, whose perspective is used, and his relationship with the animals who pull their wagons. The ox and mule are given personalities better than a good number of human characters I've encountered in lesser books. And those basic difficulties of travel begin to pale next to the fear that suddenly comes one evening as they draw near a monastery where they will take shelter.

"He felt like a coney in a snare, and he could not tell why."

There's something in the trees. They can't see it, really, but they – humans and animals – know it's there. It's a predator, and nothing so clean a killer as a wolf or a bear, nothing so stupid as a brigand. They can feel its malice, and its attention … and it is a tremendous relief for the little group when they meet up with other travelers.

There are no stereotypes in Something Red. The individuals within these pages look askance at expectations, and walk the other way shaking their heads in disgust. The people – and the events, and the setting ... this is thirteenth-century England, in the very dead of winter, and almost as alien as Narnia. Maybe more. In this England there are small enclaves of people huddling together for survival, and travelers – like Molly and her troupe and the holy and unholy travelers they encounter – move from haven to haven trading what they have, such as music and news and healing, for shelter from the elements and the bandits and beasts haunting the forest. In this England there are battle monks who can – and will – beat intruders into bloody pulp, and who have created an ingeniously walled refuge; there are kindly nobles who keep packs of dogs that are almost as scary as anything in the woods; there are Templars and pilgrims and Lithuanian travelers.

Molly is a heroine to make all others look insipid. And I am including the horde of vampire-fighting/loving girls in recent fantasy in that sweeping statement. Molly is a battle queen, and the fact that she is middle-aged (or as I prefer to say, in her prime) has only made her tougher. One minute she will be healing with the gentlest of touches; the next she will be unerringly picking off bandits with a powerful bow. She is desirable: more than one man encountered in their travels makes it clear he would be happy to have her stay with him, but she already has a man in her bed when she chooses. And she has plans to end her exile from Ireland. Her enemies will need to start gathering an army now.

That man is Jack, a big, inscrutable, terribly scarred man who trails a history behind him that he would choose not to discuss even if those scars did not make speech difficult for him. He is far more than the gentle giant a story will sometimes feature; there is always the sense that there is a great deal going on in his heart and his head. He is Molly's man, in every way, and it is that that helps save him, and all of them in the end.

Nemain is Molly's granddaughter and her apprentice, on the edge of becoming a woman and shaping up to be every bit as formidable as Molly. She is, at times, otherworldly, a sprite earthbound; at other times she is a young girl who has been rather like a sister to Hob for the year and a half he's been with the group. At still other times she is like anything but Hob's sister, and baffling to the poor boy.

Hob is a lovely, lovely character. He is all boy; whatever the setting, boys always have and always will be unchanging in some regards: he goes where he shouldn't, does what he shouldn't, is always eager for a treat and reluctant for chores – and is just becoming old enough to see the allure of the young women they meet along the way. He develops a sweet infatuation with one girl, all the while growing more and more aware of Nemain.

Many times I've found that after the first flush of a read has worn off, a cooler head and heart means that the original rating for a book edges downward. After a while I'll go back and look at the notes I made toward a review, and I'll wonder why on earth I was as generous as I was… With Something Red, though, it went in the opposite direction. I gave it four stars, a "B". But time has passed, and I find that the impact of the book is still with me. The characters are still vivid. Four is not enough. (less)

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Oct 20, 2012 Jason Golomb rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: epic, fantasy, historical-fiction, horror, literature, thriller

“Something Red” is a beautifully written, patiently drawn, mood-filled literary thriller. It’s not outright scary, but one could classify it as horror. It’s not a straight out mystery, though poet-turned-novelist Douglas Nicholas drafts an expectant, slow-boil whodunit.

“Something Red” centers on a small band of travelers winding their way through northern England at the earliest onsets of winter. The story is told through the eyes of Hob, a young orphan in the care of Molly, a world-wise woman w...more “Something Red” is a beautifully written, patiently drawn, mood-filled literary thriller. It’s not outright scary, but one could classify it as horror. It’s not a straight out mystery, though poet-turned-novelist Douglas Nicholas drafts an expectant, slow-boil whodunit.

“Something Red” centers on a small band of travelers winding their way through northern England at the earliest onsets of winter. The story is told through the eyes of Hob, a young orphan in the care of Molly, a world-wise woman who's equally as skilled with a bow, as she is with the medicinal powders and elixirs she keeps in her wagon. Molly’s granddaughter Nemain and the silent, brooding and terrifically strong Jack, flesh out Molly’s troupe.

Nicholas uses his remarkable linguistic skill to build his plot and shape his characters, slowly like the earliest bubbles within a pot coming to boil. The story thread develops patiently, always on the verge of exposing an important clue, always promising to unlock a key riddle in a characters’ development.

This following quote not only describes a scene midway through the book, but aptly describes the reading experience itself. “Life with Molly’s troupe was a constant procession of revelations…like suddenly stumbling upon an old Roman road in the midst of thick forest. Questions rose to his lips, so many that his thoughts became too tangled to choose one."

There’s a supernatural element to the story, but it’s subtle and suggestive, and not fully explored until the final 75 pages or so. The dark and purposefully trudging plot persistently pulls the reader towards an inevitable peak - supernatural, but realistic and very human in its portrayals of emotions and motivations.

Nicholas serves the story like a feast of accents. The core narrative is written in a form of middle-age English, but the various characters are written with both soft and hard Irish brogues, peasant medieval English, and a heavily accented Eastern European.

So wonderfully epic in his storytelling, Douglas establishes a broad mythology that hints at the possibilities of a sequel.

If a monastery, forest inn and castle form the backdrop for the expositional narrative, then the building pressure and promise of snow and its eventual release in a monster blizzard provides its voice.

A great autumn or winter read, I wanted to step away from my reading nook and find a snowy forest dell to envelope myself further within this tale. But not too far.

As Hob asks from within the confortable and warm confines of an English castle: "What could harm us here? What could reach us here?”

Much. And more.

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Jul 12, 2012 Jillyn rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: historic fiction fans

Shelves: first-reads

I received this book through Goodreads First Reads.

Something Red is a novel that beautifully blends myth, magic, & mystery, & probably other words that start with "M" as well. It centers around a group of travelers. Molly is the leader- a tough but kind, skilled middle aged Irish woman. With her is her strong but silent lover, Jack, her granddaughter/protege Nemain, & the main character Hob, a boy who grows to manhood through this book's journey. They travel from place to place, stop...more

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Sep 05, 2012 Alisha-Dear Constant Reader rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: arc, scary, scifi, sort-of-amazing, netgalley

The perfect book for fall! Lovers of mystery, thrillers, and the unknown unite! There's something in the woods and it's hungry.

Something Red centers around a troupe traveling the snowy Pennine mountains of England in the 13th century when they encounter a pervasive sense that something evil is hunting for its meat, and has its unholy eye on their troupe. What inhabits the woods and how to avoid it is the central problem for Molly, Jack, her lover, Nemain, her granddaughter, and our young Hob.

So...more

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Nov 19, 2012 Amy rated it 5 of 5 stars

Dreary days often call for a magical, thrilling, spine tingling read; and one such perfect novel is Something Red by Douglas Nichols. Set in bone chilling winter, sometime in the thirteenth century, in the northwest corner of England, the novel follows Molly, a charming Irish healer and her companions as they attempt to cross the Pennine Mountains. Molly, her lover Jack, her granddaughter Nemain, and her apprentice Hob, quickly become aware of an unnatural presence in the mountains. As they come...more

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Oct 09, 2012 Kina rated it 5 of 5 stars

As I had previously mentioned in a review about Black Isle, there are so few good supernatural novels that are reminiscent of the original genre anywhere to be found. I have become quite disillusioned with the selection of paranormal/supernatural topics; sadly disappointed in the best sellers lists; and even more disappointed in formerly respectable book lists that give "starred" reviews for such fluff.

But when I finally find a gem, I am entranced. I am about half way through Something Red, and...more

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Sep 06, 2012 Seregil of Rhiminee rated it 5 of 5 stars

Originally published at Risingshadow.

Douglas Nicholas' Something Red is a novel which will leave you breathless with admiration, fascination and shock. In my opinion it's the best debut novel of 2012, because it blends beautiful prose, fantasy, horror and historical elements in a perfect way.

Before I write anything else, I'll mention that Something Red restored my faith in historical fiction. I've been more or less disappointed with some of the historical novels I've tried to read during the las...more

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Dec 07, 2012 Brendan rated it 5 of 5 stars

So often we have to choose between beautiful writing and, you know, a plot where something happens. Not this time. This book is a total gem--a tightly-plotted, thrilling story told in really beautiful prose. I hope this finds an audience because it defies easy categorization. Kind of a historical fiction/fantasy/horror-ish novel.

(view spoiler)...more

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Oct 08, 2012 Brie rated it 5 of 5 stars

I enjoyed this book greatly. I am a fan of stories that happen in the Middle Ages and this story is set during this time period. The book captures life during the time, during winter, while traveling, very well. It also is a bit of a coming of age story since Nob is 13 years old when this story happens. And, just to make the story even more interesting, it is a horror story involving shapeshifters/weres stalking the wagon caravan and travelers to kill them.

I loved the style the book was written...more

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Sep 17, 2012 Tammy rated it 5 of 5 stars

Often when I start reading a book, I have a pretty good idea of what to expect. But once in a while, I am surprised, and Something Red was one of the biggest and best reading surprises I’ve had in a long time. Nicholas is a master storyteller and has the rare skill of being able gradually build a sense of dread and terror in such a way that it virtually sneaks up on the reader. This is a rather quiet story that relies not on big action scenes, but on an irresistible mix of wonderful characters a...more Often when I start reading a book, I have a pretty good idea of what to expect. But once in a while, I am surprised, and Something Red was one of the biggest and best reading surprises I’ve had in a long time. Nicholas is a master storyteller and has the rare skill of being able gradually build a sense of dread and terror in such a way that it virtually sneaks up on the reader. This is a rather quiet story that relies not on big action scenes, but on an irresistible mix of wonderful characters and carefully constructed moments that add up to an amazing reading experience.

Set in thirteenth century England during an especially nasty winter, Molly and her band of friends are trying to cross a mountain pass with their wagons ahead of the impending heavy snows. Molly is an Irish woman of indeterminate age who brews potions and is able to communicate with crows. Her travelling companions are granddaughter Nemain (pronounced “Nevan”), a young girl in her teens who helps Molly make her concoctions and is able to sense danger; Jack, Molly’s lover and protector, a mysterious and silent man who is not able to speak but is a strong and passionate defender; and Hob, Molly’s thirteen-year-old apprentice whose main job is caring for the ox that pulls Molly’s wagon. The story is told in third person mostly from Hob’s point of view and takes place in a monastery, an inn, and a castle, as the troupe battles their way from place to place in the terrible winter snows that are gradually getting worse. As they make their way through the dark and snowy woods between each location, the feeling that something is stalking them is keenly felt by everyone in the troupe. And when the danger becomes real and horribly mutilated bodies begin to turn up, Molly and Jack come up with a dangerous plan to save those who are still alive.

The lilting Irish brogue of the characters was hard to get used to at first, but once I caught on to the rhythm and beauty of the language, I couldn’t imagine this book being written any other way. Nicholas is a poet, and his love of language shines through in every sentence. His descriptions, especially those involving the senses, are so vivid that I imagined I could feel the biting cold of the snow and even smell the coppery scent of blood. Although this is a fantasy, the fantastical elements are subtle, lying just beneath the surface of the story, waiting to jump out when you least expect them. I also loved the historical authenticity that Nicholas brings to the book, as he scatters words like “escaffignons” and “cotehardie” throughout the story.

Although I loved everything about this book, my favorite part of Something Red was the characters. Despite the unseen horror that is stalking them through the forest, there is a certain charm to the story that’s hard to explain, but I’m sure the characters have a lot to do with it. Molly, the leader of the group, has an almost mythic quality about her. She’s a woman who can seemingly do anything (throw knives, win at chess, heal the dying), and although she is a grandmother and is described as having gray hair, I never pictured her as an older woman. Her granddaughter Nemain, who just happens to be in love with Hob, is a mystery as well. Nicholas describes her in his typical poetic fashion: “Her silence was that of one who carries gold in a secret purse, hoping not to be noticed.” Fiercely devoted to Molly, Jack is a larger-than-life character with an intriguing back story that eventually emerges later in the book, and also explains why he is mute. Not only does he defend Molly, Nemain and Hob against the various dangers they encounter, but the author injects a touch of bawdiness into the story when describing his prowess in bed.

But of all the characters, I loved Hob the most. At its core, this is a coming-of-age story, and Hob goes through many changes before emerging a man at the end. One of his most endearing features is his love for Milo the ox, who also loves him back and will do anything Hob asks of him. Any coming-of-age story worth its salt wouldn’t be complete without first love, and Nicholas makes sure Hob experiences love and desire for the first time, but in a controlled and subtle way. Like the looming horrors in the snow, Hob’s awareness of his desire seems to grow alongside the terror, as he experiences the pain and confusion of first love.

Eventually Molly and her troupe are able to put a name to the evil and confront it, in a wonderfully surprising way. Nicholas brings in several shady characters later in the story who could be responsible for the horrific killings, but he keeps the reader guessing almost to the end. In the final pages as Hob makes the transition from child to adult, the snow begins to melt and winter turns to spring. I had goose bumps as I read the final page and longed to know that thing all writers want their readers to feel at the end of a story: What Happens Next.

Many thanks to the publisher (Atria/Emily Bestler Books) for a review copy.

This review originally appeared on Books, Bones & Buffy.(less)

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Oct 02, 2012 Dianne rated it 4 of 5 stars

Loved it!! England in the 13th century (for my history addiction), then a little magic, a little spooky, and a little coming of age/love story! A fast and entertaining read.

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Oct 22, 2012 David Keith rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: all-time-favorites, historical-fiction

Lyrical and erudite, this historical Middle Ages set novel is something special, and a bit of a campfire horror tale. I've not been cast under a book's spell quite like this since I first read Lord of the Rings, as a young boy. At heart it's a coming of age story of Hob, (I generally cring at comig of age stories. It's too easy of a device, over-used and repeative.) but very well done here. The setting and characters really come to life. I feel like I've just now returned from the past by time m...more

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Mar 15, 2013 Denise rated it 5 of 5 stars

I loved it. In terms of its tone, it reminded me of the Herzog film Nosferatu--lots of beautiful descriptions of wild places where there are "thin" places. The characters are fascinating: the boy, Hob; the ex-crusader, Jack Brown; the caravan's leader and wise woman, Molly; her granddaughter, Nemain. It is a great "winter" book, set during a fierce winter in the 13th century. Hob and the troop begin to realize that there is something out there in the woods keeping pace with them. They learn how...more

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Feb 24, 2013 Sarah rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction

A pleasant surprise. The authors clear enjoyment of north european and irish myths/lore made this book a very interesting read.

Hob, a young boy in early England, is part of band of travelers who trade music and healing for shelter along the road, and often help pilgrims and others find their way. The band is lead by a older Irish woman, her calls herself Molly. Usually. She is a musician and a healer and more then handy at weapons. She travels with her granddaughter Neiman, and her lover, Jake,...more

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Jan 02, 2013 Bob White rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, historical-horror-fantasy, favorites

I loved this book - you should read it now. It's a historical novel set in 13th century England but with a great horror/fantasy story as its base. This was clearly one of my very favorite reads of the past few years (right up there with A Dance with Dragons and Zone One).

Nicholas has a great writing style. His descriptions of medieval English life are top notch and really evoke the period. I learned a lot about the nuts and bolts of this era from this book. He uses some interesting devices such...more

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Dec 12, 2012 Book Him Danno rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, books-sent-by-author-publisher-for

The author spent a lot of energy developing the characters and describing the world which they inhabited. By the end of the book you really cared about these fully threshed out 3 dimensional people. Unfortunately that would have been fine in a massive multi-book epic saga, but in a relatively short 300 page book it came with a cost, and that was action. It took quite a while to even figure out what was going on, let alone to get into the story. We start with a group of travelers just going down...more

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Nov 17, 2012 Shonna Froebel rated it 4 of 5 stars

This first novel by the award-winning poet Nicholas is set in medieval times and follows the journey of young Hob, a boy just becoming a man as he travel through northern England with his Irish mistress Molly (Maeve), her granddaughter Nemain, and the man Jack. As the story begins they are travelling through a mountain pass, one protected by the warrior monks of a monastery set in the pass, as winter approaches. They feel the presence of something evil, and are glad to reach the protection of th...more

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Nov 13, 2012 Roslyn rated it 5 of 5 stars

Something Red
Douglas Nicholas

Something Red is a thrilling story, exquisitely written that starts off slowly and ends with a crescendo reminiscent of Beethoven’s symphonies. The reader is taken along a perilous journey of survival in northwest England during an unusually severe winter in the thirteenth century.

Mistress Molly and her band are traveling towards the Pennine Mountains hoping to get across them before the heavy snows set in. Their travels take them to a monastery, an inn, and lastly...more Something Red
Douglas Nicholas

Something Red is a thrilling story, exquisitely written that starts off slowly and ends with a crescendo reminiscent of Beethoven’s symphonies. The reader is taken along a perilous journey of survival in northwest England during an unusually severe winter in the thirteenth century.

Mistress Molly and her band are traveling towards the Pennine Mountains hoping to get across them before the heavy snows set in. Their travels take them to a monastery, an inn, and lastly to a castle. At each place they visit they learn and sense more about an appalling evil that is stalking the countryside.

Molly is an Irish woman of undefined age who brews potions, and supplies medical aid to her many friends along the route. Riding along side her, in separate wagons are her
Granddaughter Nemain, Jack Brown a silent mans a veteran of the crusades, with an intriguing back-story. When his peculiar powers emerge, he becomes the savior of the group and we are as astonished as thirteen-year-old orphan Hob, a recent recruit to the group. It is through Hob’s narration that the characters and story come to life as they travel the countryside and woods.

Within the first few pages, the reader is lead into this historical period. All the senses are awakened as the story unfolds, with vivid details of customs, food and living conditions during this period. Douglas Nicholas writes beautifully and his descriptions of minor details read like poetry. But beware. His subtle way of building up suspense, with each fright increasing is breathtaking, making it difficult not to keep turning the pages.

Nicholas’s method of character development bit by bit makes their powers believable to the reader. Molly starts off as an interesting character and as each chapter reveals more about her and her small traveling companions, we can feel assured that the evil lurking in the woods will have their comeuppance.

At first I found the lilting Irish brogue of some of the characters hard to get used to. But half way through, I felt as if I could speak and understand the language. It’s used as part of sentences that can easily be understood by the reader.

This is an extraordinary reading experience. I look forward to a sequel to this book that continues the saga of Molly and her troupe.
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Nov 12, 2012 Kelly rated it 5 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Something Red is basically a historical novel with a fine subtle horrific touch. It is told from the point of view of young Hob who is traveling with a small group- two Irish healers Maeve (Molly) and her granddaughter Nemain as well as Molly’s lover Jack. They are heading toward their winter accommodations and in order to get there must go over a pass and through a wooded area.
Something Red immediately opens with a sense of menace as our travelers make their wintery way through the woods toward...more Something Red is basically a historical novel with a fine subtle horrific touch. It is told from the point of view of young Hob who is traveling with a small group- two Irish healers Maeve (Molly) and her granddaughter Nemain as well as Molly’s lover Jack. They are heading toward their winter accommodations and in order to get there must go over a pass and through a wooded area.
Something Red immediately opens with a sense of menace as our travelers make their wintery way through the woods towards the monastery at the top of the pass. “his eye was locked to the curtain of trees, and now he saw a flicker, a glint, of russet color: red as a fox, but tall, tall, high as a big man perhaps, but hard to judge…..a faint coughing snarl came down the wind, and the ox shoved hard against his chest, breathing moist heat through the folds of his sheepskin coat, its blunted horns to either side of his body. The huge beast was hiding its face against him.”
As they continue on their way they find bloodied rags near the side of the track. Once they reach the monastery the monks, tough warriors who guard the road, inform them that it was one of their own who was killed. Our travelers rest awhile in the monastery and meet some fellow travelers on the road including a group of pilgrims as well as some Lietuvans returning to their homeland.
Hob and his group leave the monastery with the pilgrims and continue on towards their next stop, Osbert’s inn, and all the while they feel as if they are being stalked. Eventually they arrive at Osbert’s, a well-fortified inn comprised of several stout dwellings, two heavy fences and guarded by several large mastiffs. Both within the monastery and along the road the author does an excellent job filling in the characters of Hob’s companions. Jack is a keen observer and he notes how his companions act and how others interact with his companions in turn. We find that Molly is well respected, Jack is silent but strong and that Neiman is coming into her own both as a healer and a young woman.
The travelers eventually leave the inn but are accosted on the way by brigands and here we discover that Molly Is not only a healer but a formidable warrior “he heard the snap, snap, of Molly’s bow, the hum of Molly’s arrows, screams from the roadside…..Molly turned about and matter of factly swung a kick to his jaw…” One of the pilgrims is gravely injured and the group decides it must turn back to the inn. Once they return however they find a grim surprise.
“…and now the devastation within the dog run came into view. The ten great black bodies lay this way and that. One had its chest torn out, but most had terrible long gashes along their sides and bellies…..the dead had been temporarily laid out on the ground…The shapes, some forty of them, lay like so many bundles on the icy ground….”
After spending an uneasy night Hob and his group start back once more towards the woods but the grim surprises aren’t yet over. They come across a rock slide blocking their path but then discover the mutilated remains of the masons who had left with the Lietuvan group. The weather is starting to turn bad so Molly has them turn the wagons yet again and they start back but decide to take another fork and make an attempt to reach a nearby Norman castle. After running into a few of the castle’s men they eventually do make the castle but only after quite a bit of travail as they must make their way through a blizzard.
Once they arrive the author allows us and Hob’s little group to relax somewhat as Hob et al settles in for what looks like a long winter trapped in the castle. We are treated to scenes of what life must have been like in a castle and the author continues to develop the troupe’s personalities. We the reader though knows that this sense of clam is a false one, that something evil is bound to happen and indeed it does but not before Molly realizes that they are trapped in the castle with the thing that killed all of Osbert’s people. After Hob makes a telling remark she understands what they are up against and prepares accordingly. What follows is several tense pages of fighting throughout the castle. Fortunately this is a happily ever after type of book and evil is defeated, the boy marries the beautiful young healer and all is right with the world.
Mr. Nicholas does a fine job of showing us 13th century life as well as weaving bits of mythology and legend into a riveting tale. His characters are well imaged and his language is absolutely beautiful. Highly recommended
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Oct 24, 2012 Jessica Knauss rated it 4 of 5 stars

I read this book very slowly, partly because of other commitments, but also because it begins as if it were a snail at the races. It's easy to put down in frustration, because the language is difficult, even for someone like me, who has spent an inordinate amount of time thinking about the thirteenth century. When the travelers are finally attacked by bandits, the author interrupts the action with the kinds of descriptions we've already read so much of: the mechanism of how to secure the carts s...more I read this book very slowly, partly because of other commitments, but also because it begins as if it were a snail at the races. It's easy to put down in frustration, because the language is difficult, even for someone like me, who has spent an inordinate amount of time thinking about the thirteenth century. When the travelers are finally attacked by bandits, the author interrupts the action with the kinds of descriptions we've already read so much of: the mechanism of how to secure the carts so the attackers can't make off with them, what kind of arrow they're using, and how and when they were made.

Tenacious readers will be rewarded with a middle that reads like a horror movie: the characters get caught in a kind of mousetrap, in the snow, with dead bodies at every pass, and despite Molly's ability to deal with anything, it's possible to believe for a few moments that they're all going to die, either frozen or brutally murdered (and then frozen).

Especially tenacious readers will be rewarded with an ending unlike any other part of the book, and yet satisfyingly inevitable and maybe a little wistful. The ending will stay with me for a long time as an example of how to successfully end a complex book.

The book ends up working really well. Somehow, the reader cares about the characters that have come through so many words. Molly, Jack, Hob, and Nemain seem real and strong, and as if they have much more story to tell. The male/female balance of power and Molly's popularity were a pleasure to read about.

There is an obvious poetry to the language, and I enjoyed feeling as if I were actually living in the thirteenth century through the author's conjurings. The fantasy elements weave seamlessly into the history (it's been said before, but there's really no other word for how smoothly the two supposedly opposing elements meld). If you already have a thorough knowledge of the vocabulary of thirteenth-century English and Irish traveling life, or of you don't mind learning, this is the book for you.(less)

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Apr 10, 2012 Susanna Mahoney rated it 5 of 5 stars

Is a sensational Irish fable that met this reader's curiosity beyond expectations, it is a wonderful spun tale of the 1200's when travelers of royalty and pleasant decent from the far away a and of the Isle of Emerald Ireland were destined upon a journey to explore England and the back woods, traveling from refuge to refuge. It is a tale of a party of a created family brought together due to strange circumstances. Molly a mature fiery warrior part Irish healer and part magician, her granddaughte...more

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Nov 15, 2012 Hana Howard rated it 5 of 5 stars

Something Red is a thrilling story, exquisitely written that starts off slowly and ends with a crescendo reminiscent of Beethoven’s symphonies. The reader is taken along a perilous journey of survival in northwest England during an unusually severe winter in the thirteenth century.

Mistress Molly and her band are traveling towards the Pennine Mountains hoping to get across them before the heavy snows set in. Their travels take them to a monastery, an inn, and lastly to a castle. At each place th...more Something Red is a thrilling story, exquisitely written that starts off slowly and ends with a crescendo reminiscent of Beethoven’s symphonies. The reader is taken along a perilous journey of survival in northwest England during an unusually severe winter in the thirteenth century.

Mistress Molly and her band are traveling towards the Pennine Mountains hoping to get across them before the heavy snows set in. Their travels take them to a monastery, an inn, and lastly to a castle. At each place they visit they learn and sense more about an appalling evil that is stalking the countryside.

Molly is an Irish woman of undefined age who brews potions, and supplies medical aid to her many friends along the route. Riding along side her, in separate wagons are her
Granddaughter Nemain, Jack Brown a silent mans a veteran of the crusades, with an intriguing back-story. When his peculiar powers emerge, he becomes the savior of the group and we are as astonished as thirteen-year-old orphan Hob, a recent recruit to the group. It is through Hob’s narration that the characters and story come to life as they travel the countryside and woods.

Within the first few pages, the reader is lead into this historical period. All the senses are awakened as the story unfolds, with vivid details of customs, food and living conditions during this period. Douglas Nicholas writes beautifully and his descriptions of minor details read like poetry. But beware. His subtle way of building up suspense, with each fright increasing is breathtaking, making it difficult not to keep turning the pages.

Nicholas’s method of character development bit by bit makes their powers believable to the reader. Molly starts off as an interesting character and as each chapter reveals more about her and her small traveling companions, we can feel assured that the evil lurking in the woods will have their comeuppance.

At first I found the lilting Irish brogue of some of the characters hard to get used to. But half way through, I felt as if I could speak and understand the language. It’s used as part of sentences that can easily be understood by the reader.

This is an extraordinary reading experience. I look forward to a sequel to this book that continues the saga of Molly and her troupe.

(less)

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Jan 11, 2013 Zora rated it 5 of 5 stars

Atmospheric, delicately rendered historical fantasy. It feels like a fairy tale, it reads like the best of plotted literary novels, it grips you like a page-turning horror novel. In this story, Hob is a 13-year-old boy in the 13th century, servant and friend to the middle-aged Irish wisewoman Molly, who is more than she seems. Something is in the woods, threatening their little band as they travel through a harsh winter landscape.

The first 2/3 of the novel, while carrying a brewing sense of eer...more

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Dec 03, 2012 Chris Bauer rated it 5 of 5 stars

I'm not sure how this fine book slipped under my radar. Really glad I picked it up.

This is a coming of age story, set in 13th century England. Our young protag is on the cusp of manhood and is part of a traveling group of "entertainers" wandering the medieval lands. There is a very high degree of authenticity in the work and I was impressed by the smallest of details the author took to get things just right.

The characters were all exceptionally vibrant and well constructed. The conflicts in the...more

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Nov 04, 2012 Paul Pessolano rated it 4 of 5 stars

“Something Red” by Douglas Nicholas, published by Emily Bestler Books.

Category – Fantasy

In thirteenth century England, Molly, her lover Jack, her granddaughter Nemain, and young apprentice Hob, are attempting to traverse the mountains before the winter snows set in. Their first stop is the monastery of St. Germaine which has the trappings of a well guarded medieval fortress.

The reader soon finds out that Molly and Nemain have strange feelings about the winter night and the forest. A feeling of e...more

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Sep 19, 2012 Lucie rated it 3 of 5 stars

I was surprised by this novel that I compare a bit to "The name of the Rose" by Umberto Eco. That's a compliment! It shows in the writing of the story which is very nice. A beautiful style. Very detailed that allows the readers to immerse themselves in the atmosphere and get a good idea of the characters surroundings.

I add a caveat however on some dialogues that seek to represent accurately the talk of the Middle Ages in a certain layer of society. This amused me the first time but I admit tha...more

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Sep 17, 2012 ABookVacation rated it 1 of 5 stars

1.5 stars

This novel was really not for me. I think it’s more for those who like Tolkien’s style of writing, very descriptive and a bit slow paced, fueling the story with few events and much journeying along dangerous mountains. To be quite honest, I was bored throughout most of this novel, dying to get to the shape shifters and sorcerers. While warrior monks and knights are okay, they didn’t really do anything for the story, in my opinion, aside from creating a pit stop for the main entourage as...more

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Sep 18, 2012 Jaime rated it 2 of 5 stars

This book was written by a award winning poet. As you read it, that is evident. It is extremely descriptive and lyrical. The problem with this book is that it is extremely descriptive and lyrical. While it is beautifully written, the focus on the most minute details, causes the story to lag. To much time is spent describing people’s bath robe’s, and not enough time is spent creating a sense of urgency and danger. I also didn’t feel connected to the character’s. Molly is an extraordinary woman of...more

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Nov 03, 2012 Ashland Mystery Oregon rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: mystery-england

Publisher and Editor Emily Bestler never fails to please in her selections for Atria/Simon and Schuster, and Something Red is no exception.

An historical fantasy thriller, the stalwart Irish queen Molly guides a small troup through England during the coldest winter in memory. Molly's a sensitive and a healer too, picking up dangers in the dark, healing bodies and souls alike.

There's powerful writing and frightening imagery in these pages. The wind is alive seeking out the weak of heart. The fore...more

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Nov 21, 2012 Lindsay rated it 3 of 5 stars

(More like 3.5 stars)

This book was unique and interesting and very well-written, and I really enjoyed reading it. I just wish there was more to it. I liked what I read so much that I wanted more- more world-building, more interactions between the characters, more back-story.

I guess that's a good thing, right?

Anyway, the author's style is really well realized. I felt like I was reading a manuscript from the period in which the novel is placed, and that's rare in historical fiction. The diction,...more

1 like · like · see review

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About Douglas Nicholas

Douglas Nicholas is an award-winning poet whose work has appeared in numerous publications, among them Atlanta Review, Southern Poetry Review, Sonora Review, Circumference, A Different Drummer, and Cumberland Review, as well as the South Coast Poetry Journal, where he won a prize in that publication's Fifth Annual Poetry Contest.

Other awards include Honorable Mention in the Robinson Jeffers Tor Ho...more

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Books by Douglas Nicholas

The Old Language: Poems on the Company of Animals

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Quotes from Something Red

“There is nothing,” she said, and then, still looking away into the woods, reached sideways and took Ernald's arm firmly, “but be said by me, there was something hunting along our trail not a sennight since, and should it come here, see you and yours are within the gates.” She shook him gently. “Do not be slighting it, Ernald, great strong lad that you are and brave as a bear: it is something terrible, that no one should run to meet.” — 2 people liked it

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