"Midnight Never Come", part one in "The Onyx Court" series is Marie Brennan's imaginary interpretation of the court politics in 15th century England during the reign of Queen Elizabeth. In this enthralling historical/urban fantasy novel, the mortal court is shadowed by its mysterious and slightly ominous counterpart led by the cruel faerie queen of Britain Invidiana.
The plot follows the struggles of Lady Lune, a courtier trying to regain the favour of Invidiana, lost after negotiating a treaty during her diplomatic mission with the sea-folk (who in fact are the faeries' secret weapon in dealing with the Spanish Armada). Sent out to the mortal court, Lune crosses paths with Michael Deven, aspiring secret agent in debt of Sir Walsingham, and eventually, the spark between fae and mortal kindles in a powerful, fate-changing way.
The first (and trust me, definitely not the last) asset of the novel is its authenticity. Marie Brennan has researched her novel set in the Elizabethan age exhaustingly and suffused it with plausible details. There are occasional flashbacks, hinting at the sinister deal between Elizabeth and Invidiana, which enrich the story and provide it with more depth.
Moreover, the author's take on the Onyx Court is original in the complex way she opposes the conduct of the two monarchs. While Elizabeth bathes in the adulation of her subjects, Invidiana is feared and encourages backstabbing and power struggles. As a whole, as far as setting and plot are concerned, Marie Brennan has achieved the unbelievable: pages fly by as if she has set a faerie charm on her readers. And has she?!
With the development of the story, the author manages to flesh out her characters by delving in their thoughts and actions, but superficially, as if she was too focused on the Elizabethan setting and missed out a few key scenes. Anyway, even though she is definitely not thorough in depicting her seconaray characters, the two house sprites in the novel, for instance, are refreshingly amusing after the menacing atmosphere of the faerie court.
The author's voice is strong and eloquent, her sentences flowing in their complexity. What astounded me is Marie Brennan's ability to slightly change her style when describing the mortal and the Onyx Court from light and inspired to creepy and intense. The pace is crisp and there are quite a few unexpected twists and turns to whet your appetite for the final countdown.
In conclusion, "Midnight Never Come" is an imaginative rendering of Queen Elizabeth's reign that ranges from ordinary to fantastical in its perfect balance between fae politics and otherworldly allure. The novel is rich in detail and the plot is virtually boiling with intrigue, ancient curses and a splash of magic.
Highly recommended.
9/10
0 коментара:
Post a Comment