Queen of Nothing

Marla Mason #9

by T.A. Pratt

When a vile spirit awakens in the underworld, only sorcerer (and part-time death god) Marla Mason can save the world from devastation.

Genres: Urban Fantasy, Fantasy, Fiction, Urban, Audiobook, Mythology, Science Fiction Fantasy

215 pages, Nook

First published January 1, 2015

About the author

T.A. Pratt is the pseudonym of Tim Pratt, under which he penned the Marla Mason books.

I've crowdfunded seven projects (four through Kickstarter) successfully in the past few years, and I don't foresee any problems with this one, either. I write novels for a living, and this is a book I'm excited to do. It's always possible there will be bumps and delays on the production process, or an unforeseen illness or other disaster, but if so, I'll keep everyone posted, and we'll get there in the end.

Reviews

[Baal Of · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is a substantial amount of truth to the claim that Pratt is getting away with dumping whatever the hell he feels like into these stories because crowd-funding and no editor. I probably shouldn't have enjoyed this book as much as I did, but fuck it, I can't argue with my literary junk food stomach. Sometimes it demands treats, and this here was a treat that satisfied.

[Isaac · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the redeemer! Get it and read it!

What, you want more than that? OK, but be warned, I was in a fickle mood when I wrote this review.

First, if you haven't read the previous books, or at least the ones in this arc, you're going to miss much of the context. Seriously, this book does not stand well on it's own. You have been warned.

Pratt, you magnificent bastard, I read your book! Jokes, quotations, and compliments aside, this book is a redemption, and I mean that on several levels. It is almost a perfect read (nothing can be completely perfect…)

For those not in the know, T.A. Pratt loves him some cycles, and spends way too much time on TV Tropes. Actually, any amount of time on TV Tropes is too much, just ask them: TV Tropes will ruin your life. This is the second-to-last book of the entire series, and thus sets up to be a pretty epic climax with a pretty final boss — and nails it. One of the classic problems with protagonists who solve their conflicts is how to continue the story. Some creators take refuge in the status quo: no matter how large the personal victory, it just isn't significant enough to have any major change. Others use some sort of plot contrivance (A bag of spilling, perhaps?) to disempower the protagonist(s), and resetting the curve. Often, however, creators will take a third option, and instead engage in some power levelling. Tim Pratt has, over the course of the series, engaged in all of these methods, and more besides. However, the thing to remember is that tropes are not bad, and it's all about how you justify your plot bludgeons. (Hat tip to Ozzallos and his Rules of Fanfiction Failure for the phrase.)

This is a story which does it well. I offer as proof — I readdevoured it in two days. Some readers and fellow reviews will know that the quality of an enjoyment is measured in two ways — how long one savours it, and how long it takes one to consume it. Queen of Nothing is an excellent payoff for long-serving fans of the series, especially those like me who were very disappointed with the previous book, Lady of Misrule. I'm don't want to tell tales out of school, but let's just say I was pleasantly surprised to find that this was just as planned, and as hard for him to write as it was for me to read it.

As hinted in the opening, this book presents itself as the epic showdown. Old friends — and enemies too — get to have a star turn, as most everyone get to show up, be recognized, and many get to be badass for a moment or two. The pacing is well done, with a slow build-up leading into a headlong change, followed by some quiet time of reflection.

A big part of this is the return of fan favourite, Elsie Jarrow. Her chaotic nature allows her to be as Genre Savvy as the plot demands, without handing anyone the idiot ball (The power of Plot Compels You!), and serving as Ms. Exposition whenever needed. One of my complaints in previous books is that characters who needed to serve as the author's mouthpiece were co-opted, working against their established character. Just the presence of this character eliminates much of that irritation, without her waving a hand and becoming too much of a deus ex machina. Of course she does that too, for slightly comedic effect.

Marla herself gets a hero turn, which personally surprises me. I ended my previous review by stating ‘I don't care about Marla any more’, and one of the best tricks of this novel is making me care about her again — and justifying in a rational, internally consistent way why what happened, did. Make that big sacrifice, you antihero, you. If you don't know what I'm talking about, well… read the beginning of this review. I'm not just saying it to inflate my word count.

Technically, this story is a significant improvement on previous installments. The narrative is tighter, the editing is better, there are fewer mis-steps and plot meanderings. I feel there are still a few weaknesses, a couple of typos. The mythology-as-reality gag is a little shallow, Bradley doesn't get a lot of character development, and the climactic battle is derivative. Since the whole point of this story is the great Campbellian cycle and symbolism as material in metareality, I suppose one could argue that being derivative is the point. Personally, I would have liked to see some more development during the beginning, with Melody Sendall, and during the end. What happened to the old mortal Marla's enemies before they were pulled into battle? Are they ‘real’ souls or more constructs? More spading would have been preferred, but I suppose one could justify that as a matter of preference and spading.

Honestly, I think that's probably the second biggest compliment I'm able to give this. I don't think is a technical criticism I'd level at this book that is unqualified or unjustifiable. It is very readable, fast-paced, and snappy. If you enjoy slightly pulpy contemporary fantasy with a metafictive bent, I highly recommend Queen of Nothing.

[Timelord Iain · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finally returned to wrap this series up. Book 8 wasn't as fun as the previous books, but this book made up for it, in droves.

2024 Re-read: Yup, this book is great. Lots of character growth.

[John Adams · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable enough as the series winds down toward its conclusion.

[Julie Christen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fully satisfying ending to the trilogy!

[Matanael · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn’t understand anything to be honest

[Maggie Freeman]

This is, hand down, one of the best series I have ever read. The endings are always a surprise.

[Kristin B. Bodreau · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been following Marla Mason's story since the very first novel, Blood Engines (Marla Mason Book 1). She is a uniquely flawed hero who stays true to herself through all of these amazing books. Several novels back, the author lost his publisher for the series. Luckily, we now live in the era of crowd funding. T.A. Pratt has been able to continue this series by self publishing with the support of his readers. And I am so very glad he has.

Do you know what you get when you team up a psychic parasite, a career butler, a newborn trickster goddess, an autonomous fragment of a meta-being and the Bride of Death? Pure awesome, that's what. Add in a sadistic new Death God and some primordial chaos and how could you go wrong?

Queen of Nothing is my favorite Marla story yet. She's still just as kick ass as she ever was, with all her quirks and flaws. But she works hard to "Do Better." This novel has clever dialogue, intense action, vivid landscapes and heartwarming relationships. Pratt brings back some familiar faces in clever ways, drawing not only from past novels, but also from some of his wonderful short stories. The use of a previous villain turned unpredictable ally is brilliant and creates a wonderful humorous undertone.

There were moments during Queen of Nothing where I laughed out loud and others where I was holding back tears. Marla and her group of misfits are amazingly intricate characters. They work so hard to do good, but are so endearingly flawed. There are no perfect heroes here. The characters may be supernatural in origin, but they are so unrelentingly human you can see yourself in each one. Marla, who triumphs through pure pigheadedness. Rondeau, who would rather stay at home and drink or get laid, or both, but would risk everything for his friends. Pelham, the stalwart companion that wants nothing but to serve, yet is humorous and acidic in his own way. B gave up his position as part of the overseer of the multiverse to be with his friends. And others who I won't mention, so as not to ruin the surprise. This book has epic battles, God Eating monsters and visions of the Underworld pulled straight from Dante and Bosch. With all of that, the most interesting elements are the people and how they relate to each other.

I highly recommend this series and this author. I can't wait for his next book, and am supremely sad that it will be the last in this series. I will definitely by backing that project as I have all of his self-published novels. Do yourself a favor, and check out more from this amazing author.

[Steven · Rating 5 out of 5]

You'd think that there was nowhere left for Marla Mason to go. Nothing left for her or her friends to do.

You'd be wrong.

With a greater focus on the rest of Marla's friends, we get further insights into all of them and a twisting (and appropriately chaotic) adventure with eternity literally at stake.

If you've enjoyed the other Marla Mason novels, you'll enjoy this one.  As with many other longstanding series, you'll be a bit confused if you start here, though. Luckily, this series starts strong (with The Bone Shop, which you can read for free at marlamason.net) and only gets stronger.  Highly recommended.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pratt has a wonderful old school style, he kind of reminds me of Moorcock. By that I mean his prose isn't anything special, but the ideas shine through. At times he's just throwing nutty stuff out there that in another book wouldn't work. In his lovingly detailed universe madness is right at home.

This is the latest Marla Mason book, a series that started out as urban fantasy and has exploded into something else entirely different over the course of a lot of books. Shakespeare this isn't, but it's fantasy pulp at its finest. Start at the beginning if you haven't read any Pratt, you won't regret it. Looking forward to the next chapter.

[Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

A solid Marla Mason story. In this one the widowed Marla has to contend with a new Death God who has a lot of different ideas about what hell should be like for its souls -- ideas that she'd worked to get rid of in his predecessor (her husband).

But Marla is married to the office as much as the occupant of the office, and so this new Death God, as distasteful as he is, is her husband also.

Fun, nonstop action in this story that feels a bit like a penultimate novel in the Marla Mason urban fantasy series.

[Julia]

I love Marla Mason, but I could not force myself through this one. The nature of the action in QUEEN OF NOTHING seems to be retrospective, glimpses of Marla’s time as a god and the events surround it, and I just never felt any excitement about learning more. I made it to 62%, then stoped trying to force it. Maybe I’ll be back, maybe I’ll just skip this one and move on to the next book.

[Juliana Rew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another enjoyable outing with Tim Pratt's powerful witch Marla Mason, who's now queen of the underworld. I was sorry to see a few favorite characters end up dead (especially Juliana the bartender), but at least they have a good friend in Marla.

[Nirkatze · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a lot of fun! Really a capstone for the series, lots of easter eggs and payoffs. There's also a lot of symbolism throughout, and growth for Marla... Though it makes it feel like the next book is going to be an epilogue, and this was the climax.

[Jon · Rating 5 out of 5]

We are approaching the last of Marla's shenanigans, but it's a great trip anyway.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

As always, an enthralling read. Perhaps not my favorite of the recent books in this series, but it's tough in that it is setting up the final book in the series.

[✿Emma-Louise Violet · Rating 5 out of 5]

oh my.... seriously brilliant!

[J · Rating 5 out of 5]

The feels. The awesome.