David Guymer's Blog - Posts Tagged "malice"

Malice by John Gwynne

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Let me begin by saying that this is probably the best 4-star book that I've ever reviewed, the reasons for the absent star in what is going to be a glowing write-up hopefully becoming apparent by the end.

It follows several principle characters (young commoner, Corban, his sister, Cywen, the warriors Veradis and Kastell, classically no-good advisor to the king, Evnis, and the bandit with a heart, Camlin) across a broad and brilliantly realised world that at times I could almost reach out and touch. The post-apocalyptic fantasy setting, riven by the wars of gods and monsters, is faintly reminiscent of others, David Eddings' Belgariad springs to mind, but to my mind John Gwynne blows them all away with the complexity of his world and the plots and prophecies that weave through every page.

The basic idea is that the God-War is coming in which Asroth is finally going to finish off the world to spite the god, Elyon. A 'Bright Star' will arise to face off against Asroth's 'Dark Sun' to decide the fate of the world. The act of genius here is to keep us guessing as to the identity of the two champions, even once it becomes pretty clear who both are it's still gripping stuff, and the fact that the characters themselves can't see it just adds to the slow-boil tension.

If I have a criticism however (and obviously I do) it's that it wasn't exactly a page-turner. I found it a book best for short sittings, or when I had literally NOTHING else to do (I took it camping, for which it proved perfectly suited). I wish I could give some good explanation as to why that is because the characters were believable and compelling, the plot gripping, and the world tangible, but there it is.

Despite the fact that I may have to devote a considerable chunk of valuable reading time to books 2-4, I will absolutely be taking that two-footed plunge as soon as humanly possible. The final chapters were messy and brutal in the finest George R.R. Martin tradition, and I can't wait to see what happens next.

Plus I have a solid crush on Gar. I want him to be *my* surrogate father.

(Also, this is the first book since Karen Miller's Empress and the character Hekat, where I've kept reading purely because I HATE a protagonist so much. I won't say who it is, for spoilers, but it's a rare talent on show!)



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