The Copper Promise: Ghosts of the Citadel

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The Copper Promise: Ghosts of the Citadel

by Jen Williams (Goodreads Author)

4.56 of 5 stars 4.56 · rating details · 25 ratings · 7 reviews

The Citadel of Creos: silent, forbidden, haunted. No person in their right mind would attempt to explore it, but then, as Wydrin was fond of saying, adventurers are rarely in their right mind, especially when large amounts of coin are involved.

For the young Lord Frith, the secrets within are his key to a bloody revenge; for Sebastian, exiled from his order for crimes he’d...more

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Published December 20th 2011

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Dec 21, 2011 Colin Barnes rated it 5 of 5 stars

Ghosts of the Citadel is the first of a four-part serialised collection of novellas. This harkens back to serialised fiction of old. There are more and more rumblings around the interwebs of how this is the future of short-form fiction on eReaders. After reading this, I can say for certain I hope that is true.

There used to be a time when reading was about having fun, exploring new worlds and being enchanted by massive freakin’ fantasy creatures. We still have that to some degree, but things are...more Ghosts of the Citadel is the first of a four-part serialised collection of novellas. This harkens back to serialised fiction of old. There are more and more rumblings around the interwebs of how this is the future of short-form fiction on eReaders. After reading this, I can say for certain I hope that is true.

There used to be a time when reading was about having fun, exploring new worlds and being enchanted by massive freakin’ fantasy creatures. We still have that to some degree, but things are so much more serious now. (See Game of Thrones as an example of this ‘serious fantasy’ — my eyebrows are knitted together and my voice is low like Brian Blessed when I say that. Grrr, serious.) This is all fine and dandy. I, too, like a good Grrr, serious fantasy novel every now and then, but it’s nice to contrast that with pure unadulterated fun.

Of the story itself, we follow a trio of adventurers into the aforementioned Citadel. Jennifer Williams starts the story with a little bit of a prologue in chapter 1 to set up a bit of the world and lay down a few story lines. I was gripped from the very first page. Despite this novella following pulp traditions, there is no lack of skill in the prose, imagery or craft. In Lord Frith, Jennifer expertly creates a character with a multitude of motivations and goals (Can’t say too much about the beginning as it would spoil the story), so that when he pops up later in the story, it all ties together perfectly.
We are then taken into a vignette scene of true dungeon-crawling wonderfulness with two comic characters, Chednit and Gallo who get into a spot of bother in the eerie gloom. From this scene onwards we get tons of marvellous atmosphere, tension, and quite often, hilarity.

We then zoom to a frothy, swill laden tavern where we meet the two cornerstones of the story, and the main character in which the series is named after: The Copper Cat, aka Wydrin. She is a spiky, charming, dagger-wielding go-getter who has burned her way into my subconscious along with her disgraced Knight, Sebastian. The dialogue throughout between these adventurers is witty, snappy and a joy to read. Jennifer clearly knew her characters well when she wrote this, as they leap off the page with fully formed three dimensions. Wydrin will soon be a classic fantasy character and one of my favourites and probably yours, too.

Ghosts of the Citadel, being a novella, is a short read. I completed it in two sessions and loved every minute of it. There’s great pay off at the end, plenty of daring-do, and wondrous adventure throughout. The pacing of the story is perfect. We have great fight scenes with frenetic energy, then calmer scenes that are no less enjoyable. Jennifer proudly claims some classic tropes in this dungeon-crawler and twists them in her own style which makes for an incredibly enjoyable and believable world. I cannot wait to get my hands on the next instalment; these novellas are going to make a wonderful collection, and I heartily recommend you check this one out.(less)

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Jan 08, 2012 Ren Warom rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Everyone

I haven't read any fantasy in the longest time. There are reasons for that. Fifty book long cycles where each book is less a novel and more a stolen relic from Stonehenge (collect enough and you can build your own Machu Picchu if you can find a big enough plot of land, say, Russia) legions of elves, dwarves, witches and fair maids in revealing gowns and boring, predictable plots involving ordinary young men thrust into greatness. So imagine my delight when I find that not only is the Copper Prom...more I haven't read any fantasy in the longest time. There are reasons for that. Fifty book long cycles where each book is less a novel and more a stolen relic from Stonehenge (collect enough and you can build your own Machu Picchu if you can find a big enough plot of land, say, Russia) legions of elves, dwarves, witches and fair maids in revealing gowns and boring, predictable plots involving ordinary young men thrust into greatness. So imagine my delight when I find that not only is the Copper Promise a slender, pert little snippet of a novella but lo, not one heaving bosom, Dwarf, Elf or lowly farmhand who discovers he's the Next Big Thing in the Kingdom in sight! What bliss.

Instead we have the redoubtable, drink-swilling, more knives that you can shake a herd of Ninja at Wydrin with her dry wit and her Nanny Ogg-esque fondness for a jolly good raunchy sing-song. Fighting alongside her is Sebastian, the Knight with a shady-ish past. Now knights often appear in such quests but he's no tired, bitter, desperately grizzled lump of muscle whose sword seems magically ensorcelled to fell even the largest dragon just by looking at it. He's engagingly and reliably human, just as Wydrin is. These two make mistakes. They slip up, trust when perhaps they shouldn't and don't always look before they leap. It makes them likeable. Better than that, it makes them feel like old friends you could hit a brain-pickler of a pub crawl with, get into heap loads of marvellous trouble and still laugh about it the next day even as your face slowly blackens to the hue of a rotten banana and Wydrin posts up wood prints of you flashing your bits on the top of The Constipated Rooster.

Now the most unusual character, and the central character in the this first part of The Copper Promise, is Lord Frith. He's a bundle of contradictions if ever I saw one, in looks as well as psychology, but it's all believable and he has definite, chilling reasons for the way he is. His single-minded drive is gradually revealed as the story goes on until we find out that there is nothing he will not do, nothing he will refuse to suffer, in order to make right what was done. We are left, in truth, with the impression that it is Frith who will cause more problems for Wydrin and Sebastian than they (or rather Wydrin) could ever find for themselves. Despite his somewhat dogged and unrepentant single-mindedness often making him terse and unreliable I found myself liking Frith enormously and feeling intense sympathy for his cause. He's quite the character and I think he'll only get more interesting as the story grows which makes him nigh on irresistible.

In short, and in brief (don't look so relieved), this is a rollicking good ride of a novella and, whether you're still trying to build that Machu Picchu (I'm sure the Russians whose land you're trying to usurp aren't too chuffed) or whether you gave it up after becoming trapped in your own house by an ever growing mountain of tome-age, you will love The Copper Promise. It's fresh, original, full to bursting of wonderful writing and I for one look forward to reading the next part so I can find out what happens to Frith, Wydrin and Sebastian.(less)

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Dec 29, 2011 Matthew S. Dent rated it 5 of 5 stars

It was in a conversation with Jennifer Williams herself where I discussed the nature of reviewing; that reviews of books that most people give are by nature likely to be positive, as if a book is bad most people would put it down and not finish it. So in the first sentence, I’ve already made two things clear: that I know the author, and that I liked this book.

Quest fantasy and I haven’t historically had the best relationship. For a long while I regarded it as stagnant, boring and unoriginal. I t...more It was in a conversation with Jennifer Williams herself where I discussed the nature of reviewing; that reviews of books that most people give are by nature likely to be positive, as if a book is bad most people would put it down and not finish it. So in the first sentence, I’ve already made two things clear: that I know the author, and that I liked this book.

Quest fantasy and I haven’t historically had the best relationship. For a long while I regarded it as stagnant, boring and unoriginal. I think it might have been the elves. It probably didn’t have too good an opinion of me either, but since I’m a badass I never really cared. Two things have conspired to change that opinion: HBO’s TV adaptation of Game of Thrones, and Bethesda’s life-consuming open-world fantasy game Skyrim.

But to the book. The Copper Promise: Ghosts of the Citidel, follows a motley crew of adventurers entering the titular citadel for various reasons of their own. The crippled Lord Frith is searching for the key to regaining his castle, whilst mercenaries Sebastian (the Ynnsmouth Knight) and Wydrin (the Copper Cat) hunt for gold and riches. The synopsis seems pretty standard for quest fantasy, but the hero (if there is one in particular) isn’t a farm boy, and there doesn’t seem to be an evil emperor in sight.

Where it comes of its own is quite obvious and simple; it’s rather brilliantly written. The characters in particular shine, and all of them feel like real people. I think Wydrin is my favourite; rather than being a wilting princess or Amazonian wall of muscle, she’s an actual person. This is what fantasy so often misses out on, and characters become subservient to the plot. Rather, the plot should be driven onwards by the characters, by their personality and motivations. Williams clearly gets this.

Another endearing factor is that it’s a novella. So it’s short. In a genre world that seems dominated by sprawling epic tomes, a little brevity is like a cool breeze on a summer’s day. There are fewer words devoted to info-dumping, and more to in-story exposition. I finished this book in about a day, primarily because I couldn’t put it down. It was engaging, exciting, and left me looking very much forward to the next installment.

If you got a Kindle for Christmas (you lucky thing!) then I would heartily recommend you give The Copper Promise: Ghosts of the Citadel a read.(less)

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Aug 09, 2012 Heide Goody rated it 5 of 5 stars

This is a fantasy quest novel, but what sets it aside from others is the language and the characterization.
It starts with a (fairly violent) bang, and sets up some compelling motivation for the mysterious Lord Frith, who we follow through the book, never quite sure what he's really up to, but we can be certain that it will lead to trouble...
We meet the adventurers shortly afterwards, who are "swords for hire". What's truly delightful about this is that Wydrin, the female one, looks innocent, has...more

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Jun 27, 2012 Michelle Lilholm rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-i-own

Before I started reading this book, I read a few reviews on it. I cannot agree with them. I got really disappointed, especially after reading a few blog posts from Jennifer Williams, which are quite well written.

The only reason to why I finished the book is that it is short and will count towards my goal for books read this year.
I didn't really get any proper feelings for the characters, as they are very superficial (and especially Wydrin got on my nerves quite quickly). There are quite a few...more

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Apr 08, 2012 Nicholas Butler rated it 5 of 5 stars

Look if rip-roaring, hell for leather , baudy and salaciousness fantasy and epic , epic characters are the sort of thing you read to avoid looking up from your morning commute then BUY this now.

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Jan 19, 2012 Phil rated it 5 of 5 stars

Fantastic novella, a return to the Pulp Fiction greats I used to read in my youth. Brilliant characterisation, an interesting setting and some flashes of lively bater between the characters.

1 like · like · see review

May 05, 2013 Ed rated it 4 of 5 stars

Mar 30, 2013 Lisa rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: kindle, 2013-book-challenge

Mar 12, 2013 Мирела (fai_rodis) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Feb 12, 2013 Jim rated it 5 of 5 stars

Feb 05, 2013 Lauri added it

Dec 31, 2012 Mary rated it 4 of 5 stars

Jul 23, 2012 Laura marked it as to-read

Jun 06, 2012 Sarah rated it 5 of 5 stars

Apr 25, 2012 Eithne marked it as to-read

Apr 16, 2012 Paul rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, fiction

Apr 08, 2012 Melissa marked it as to-read

Apr 14, 2012 Therese rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2012, fantasy, fiction

Mar 07, 2012 Rich rated it 5 of 5 stars

Feb 27, 2012 Danny Davies rated it 5 of 5 stars

Feb 18, 2012 Billy Abbott rated it 3 of 5 stars

Feb 04, 2012 Alan rated it 5 of 5 stars

Jan 27, 2012 Jon Mac marked it as to-read

Jan 20, 2012 Rick F. marked it as to-read

Dec 24, 2011 Adam Christopher rated it 5 of 5 stars

Dec 24, 2011 Doug Strider rated it 5 of 5 stars

May 02, 2012 Jenni rated it 5 of 5 stars

Jan 28, 2012 Matt rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: recommended

Dec 22, 2011 Kate Sherrod rated it 5 of 5 stars

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