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The Reluctant Ascent of Nevil Warbrook, in his own words: Volume Two, Blood & Water
“The pathetic fallacy is a much-abused literary device. Even MacGregor was not above employing consider the foggy night in Winchester when we first meet Captain Wolfe, or the rain-swept afternoon on Skye when Bheathain Somhairle rescues the lamb. In both scenes the weather reflects the character’s state of mind and today, aboard the train for Edenborough, the turbulent sky reflects my own uncertain mood.”The Reluctant Ascent of Nevil Warbrook, in his own words
It is quite possible that we owe the recent resurgence in magickal phenomena entirely to Nevil Warbrook, however reluctant he may have been The Iona Fellowship of Grace
A must-read alongside the author’s acclaimed restoration of This Iron Race
Edenborough Review of Books
Born in 1957, Nevil Warbrook was the only son of the poet Thomas Warbrook. Author of The Deeper Well and The Wandering Minstrel he was a respected authority on Scottish literature and Sir Tamburlaine Bryce MacGregor. His most recent work was the much-praised restoration of MacGregor’s novel, This Iron Race, published by Hare & Drum and intended to debunk conjuror-turned-psychic Hendryk van Zelden’s claim that MacGregor was a sorcerer. Divorced, Nevil shared a house with his cats, Boris and Tusker, in the Wiltshire village of Avebury where he was a much-loved member of the church and community.
Continuing from Intimations of Mortality, this volume begins with Nevil’s first encounter with the sinister one-eyed Merrowey on Arthur’s Seat in Edenborough, and an unsettling episode on Salamander Street in Leith. Closer to home, Boris goes missing in mysterious circumstances and boating on the Kennet and Avon Canal reviewing pubs embroils Nevil in a murder inquiry. Then a week in Pembrokeshire tutoring at a Creative Havens writing retreat with Eirish poet Bernadette Mulvey and the beautiful yet troubled Icelandic crime novelist Elfa Jonsdottír ends with a night to remember. Finally, his new kilt from Beavers of Edenborough brings a revelation so surprising he cannot accept it is true.
Last seen on Arthur’s Seat, Nevil’s whereabouts remains a mystery.
He was a lovely, lovely man and I miss him dreadfully, Molly Poppins, Avebury
We are continuing our enquiries and believe the clue to his disappearance lies somewhere in his journals, Detective Inspector Plum
It is quite possible that we owe the recent resurgence in magickal phenomena entirely to Nevil Warbrook, however reluctant he may have been The Iona Fellowship of Grace
A must-read alongside the author’s acclaimed restoration of This Iron Race
Edenborough Review of Books
Born in 1957, Nevil Warbrook was the only son of the poet Thomas Warbrook. Author of The Deeper Well and The Wandering Minstrel he was a respected authority on Scottish literature and Sir Tamburlaine Bryce MacGregor. His most recent work was the much-praised restoration of MacGregor’s novel, This Iron Race, published by Hare & Drum and intended to debunk conjuror-turned-psychic Hendryk van Zelden’s claim that MacGregor was a sorcerer. Divorced, Nevil shared a house with his cats, Boris and Tusker, in the Wiltshire village of Avebury where he was a much-loved member of the church and community.
Continuing from Intimations of Mortality, this volume begins with Nevil’s first encounter with the sinister one-eyed Merrowey on Arthur’s Seat in Edenborough, and an unsettling episode on Salamander Street in Leith. Closer to home, Boris goes missing in mysterious circumstances and boating on the Kennet and Avon Canal reviewing pubs embroils Nevil in a murder inquiry. Then a week in Pembrokeshire tutoring at a Creative Havens writing retreat with Eirish poet Bernadette Mulvey and the beautiful yet troubled Icelandic crime novelist Elfa Jonsdottír ends with a night to remember. Finally, his new kilt from Beavers of Edenborough brings a revelation so surprising he cannot accept it is true.
Last seen on Arthur’s Seat, Nevil’s whereabouts remains a mystery.
He was a lovely, lovely man and I miss him dreadfully, Molly Poppins, Avebury
We are continuing our enquiries and believe the clue to his disappearance lies somewhere in his journals, Detective Inspector Plum
280 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 2, 2023
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January 30, 2024
The third book in this self published fantasy series which I’ve stumbled upon, set in an alternate Britain, where ‘magick’ is a hidden, not respectable, aspect rarely intruding on everyday lives, though its existence is grudgingly recognised.
To summarise the quite unorthodox construction of the series so far:This Iron Race: Book One is mainly a 19th century fantasy, mostly set in Scotland, and written by a Sir Walter Scott style figure, Sir Tamburlaine Bryce MacGregor. It also features notes by his modern day editor, Nevil Warbrook, who’s attempting to reconstruct the book which was heavily edited back in its day, mainly to remove the frowned upon supernatural aspects. Note that both writers referred to here are part of the fiction, the real author of this series being unnamed!
The next book The Reluctant Ascent of Nevil Warbrook, in his own words: Volume One, Intimations of Mortality, is entirely different, being mainly the daily journal of modern day Nevil Warbrook. We learn that he’s continuing the editing of this apparently popular classic, though not much more about its content. However we do learn far more about Warbrook’s opinions and modest routine daily life.
Finally, this current read. This book continues in the same vein as the previous, Warbrook’s daily journal. As before he continues his editing and also tries to supplement his meagre income with other literary tasks, such as a retreat for wannabe writers. It’s slow paced. Most day’s entries feature something about his meals and his alcohol intake (not too bad, a glass or three of wine or beer most days, plus a ‘nightcap’ of whiskey, just enough to worry his doctor). It’s a simple routine life where domino games in a pub league, or committee meetings at his local church are highlights. It’s set in a part of England I know fairly well - stone circles, Avebury, Kennet and Avon canal, etc. As someone who’s probably older than Warbrook I certainly have ageing acquaintances who live similar simply structured lives. Maybe even a bit of me in there too that I don’t want to admit to! So Warbrook is a well constructed, recognisable character, certainly, but do I want to read about it as entertainment?!
However, the author spices up this sedate storyline with occasional unexplained incidents, some fleeting, a couple very dramatic, the significance of which Warbrook seems rather slow to appreciate. But I think the reader easily sees that they are probably something to do with the well hidden ‘magick’ in this alternate modern world and maybe connected to the classic book he’s editing which will restore some censored magical elements. What this might all lead up to can’t be guessed at the moment.
I enjoyed the read. It’s well written, a story that’s easy to get immersed in. It is gentle paced, slow moving in many respects, but I like the contrast then introduced with the (probably) supernatural features popping up unexpectedly. Some humour - I liked the twist on Warbrook’s ancestry near the end. However, we don’t seem to have moved a large distance plot-wise compared to the previous book, which covered similar territory in featuring his routine daily life. We learn a bit more about Warbrook and I’ve even gotten some liking for him now which I didn’t have in the previous volume. As one character says to him ‘you’re full of shite but you’ve got a good heart’. But it seemed to me that this volume has really only added a larger accumulation of surprising, probably supernatural, events which Warbrook hasn’t understood or formed an opinion about. 4*.
Not sure at present if there are follow ups intended to Warbrook’s life or the 19th century novel he’s reconstructing. But if so, I’m in. I’ve got to know where it’s going and hopefully Warbrook will make a breakthrough understanding why weird stuff keeps happening.
To summarise the quite unorthodox construction of the series so far:This Iron Race: Book One is mainly a 19th century fantasy, mostly set in Scotland, and written by a Sir Walter Scott style figure, Sir Tamburlaine Bryce MacGregor. It also features notes by his modern day editor, Nevil Warbrook, who’s attempting to reconstruct the book which was heavily edited back in its day, mainly to remove the frowned upon supernatural aspects. Note that both writers referred to here are part of the fiction, the real author of this series being unnamed!
The next book The Reluctant Ascent of Nevil Warbrook, in his own words: Volume One, Intimations of Mortality, is entirely different, being mainly the daily journal of modern day Nevil Warbrook. We learn that he’s continuing the editing of this apparently popular classic, though not much more about its content. However we do learn far more about Warbrook’s opinions and modest routine daily life.
Finally, this current read. This book continues in the same vein as the previous, Warbrook’s daily journal. As before he continues his editing and also tries to supplement his meagre income with other literary tasks, such as a retreat for wannabe writers. It’s slow paced. Most day’s entries feature something about his meals and his alcohol intake (not too bad, a glass or three of wine or beer most days, plus a ‘nightcap’ of whiskey, just enough to worry his doctor). It’s a simple routine life where domino games in a pub league, or committee meetings at his local church are highlights. It’s set in a part of England I know fairly well - stone circles, Avebury, Kennet and Avon canal, etc. As someone who’s probably older than Warbrook I certainly have ageing acquaintances who live similar simply structured lives. Maybe even a bit of me in there too that I don’t want to admit to! So Warbrook is a well constructed, recognisable character, certainly, but do I want to read about it as entertainment?!
However, the author spices up this sedate storyline with occasional unexplained incidents, some fleeting, a couple very dramatic, the significance of which Warbrook seems rather slow to appreciate. But I think the reader easily sees that they are probably something to do with the well hidden ‘magick’ in this alternate modern world and maybe connected to the classic book he’s editing which will restore some censored magical elements. What this might all lead up to can’t be guessed at the moment.
I enjoyed the read. It’s well written, a story that’s easy to get immersed in. It is gentle paced, slow moving in many respects, but I like the contrast then introduced with the (probably) supernatural features popping up unexpectedly. Some humour - I liked the twist on Warbrook’s ancestry near the end. However, we don’t seem to have moved a large distance plot-wise compared to the previous book, which covered similar territory in featuring his routine daily life. We learn a bit more about Warbrook and I’ve even gotten some liking for him now which I didn’t have in the previous volume. As one character says to him ‘you’re full of shite but you’ve got a good heart’. But it seemed to me that this volume has really only added a larger accumulation of surprising, probably supernatural, events which Warbrook hasn’t understood or formed an opinion about. 4*.
Not sure at present if there are follow ups intended to Warbrook’s life or the 19th century novel he’s reconstructing. But if so, I’m in. I’ve got to know where it’s going and hopefully Warbrook will make a breakthrough understanding why weird stuff keeps happening.
January 22, 2024
The second volume of Nevil's diaries. I first read this one several years ago, before it was published, and was delighted to re-read the description of what must be one of the most cursed canal boat trips ever imagined.
You really don't want to read this without reading the first volume, er, first, and neither of them without reading the first volume of This Iron Race.
Nevil's life continues to be more complex than he might wish. One of his cats goes missing and returns apparently (much) older than before. Can't be anything to do with the route of the Beckhampton Avenue that runs directly beneath his cottage, and which is popularly considered to be a faerie run, because that's all nonsense. The DNA test he took when he ordered his kilt has come back mistakenly claiming he's entirely Scottish when everyone knows his father, a well-known poet, is as English as tea. (Something famously not actually English at all, Nevil, if you think about it.) His mother's behaving oddly in her nursing home. And the parish council want him out frolicking with the Wiccans at midsummer. Add this to the fact that despite his honest belief that he has no trace of clearsight in his family, something screwed up his MRI and he's definitely seen a ghost. What next?
You really don't want to read this without reading the first volume, er, first, and neither of them without reading the first volume of This Iron Race.
Nevil's life continues to be more complex than he might wish. One of his cats goes missing and returns apparently (much) older than before. Can't be anything to do with the route of the Beckhampton Avenue that runs directly beneath his cottage, and which is popularly considered to be a faerie run, because that's all nonsense. The DNA test he took when he ordered his kilt has come back mistakenly claiming he's entirely Scottish when everyone knows his father, a well-known poet, is as English as tea. (Something famously not actually English at all, Nevil, if you think about it.) His mother's behaving oddly in her nursing home. And the parish council want him out frolicking with the Wiccans at midsummer. Add this to the fact that despite his honest belief that he has no trace of clearsight in his family, something screwed up his MRI and he's definitely seen a ghost. What next?
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