Irons in the Fire
Irons in the Fire - by Juliet McKenna
Irons in the Fire has the characteristics that I look for when plucking a previously untried author's work from the fantasy and sci-fi risers of my local bookshop: endorsement by authors I have previously read and enjoyed (Kate Elliott and JV Jones) and a bibliography that extends beyond the tome I have in my hands. The first may have led me down some blind alleys (I am still working on forgiving Neil Gaiman for the hours of sheer eye gouging tedium which his recommendation of Gene Wolfe's The Wizard Knight led me to endure), but the latter has never done me wrong. You can be sure, at least, that when an author has managed to get three books published there will be a certain level of competence and felicity of style present in their work.
I did begin to fear, however, when reading the prologue of Irons in the Fire, that my trusty rule had betrayed me. Using the technique beloved of many a fantasy author, the back story and history of the nation central to the plot of the novel is briefly brushed over by a fictional academic. There is a lot of detail in these opening pages, presented in an overly succint and dry form, and as I sat reading it, my heart sank. Compared to, for example, the opening segments of the Belgariad, or the Dumas influenced musings of a Brust history, this was a weak offering. Irons in the Fire is a longish volume, and the thought that I was going to be subjected to hours of "tell, tell and tell some more", with no respite, filled me with despair.
Fear not though, gentle reader, for the book is actually good. In fact, the large amount of the information in the prologue is actually well presented as important plot detail later in the book, and quite why the prologue is there at all is a mystery for finer minds than mine. Rather than spoil the plot for you, I'll give you a sneaky peak, and hopefully whet your appetite. The kingdom of Lescar barely merits the title. Dukes squabble, march and countermarch, oppress their vassals without much regard for station, justice, equity or economics. Refugees from the conflict have worked hard to establish themselves in neighbouring domains, whilst trying to support those still at risk. The novel opens with a handful of these hardy souls determined to make some positive changes in their homeland, and as it progresses we see more of the effects of the conflict on the characters and their kith and kin.
One of the elements which puts this book ahead of a stock adventure fantasy is the way in which the characters readjust to new information. Yes, they have a plan, but not everything goes smoothly, and the plan itself needs some readjustment due to reality checks. This realism (because, let's be honest, no one ever comes up with a perfect plan in isolation and on the first attempt) gives the book a bit of charm to go along with what is quite a frantic action pace. The plotting and scheming blend well with interludes of violence, and the competing interests of the intriguers mean that the series as a whole has plenty of potential. And though I mention violence, and should mention that this book is to all intents and purposes set in a civil war, it is also worth noting that it does not have quite the same ground in veneer of despair that you would find in an Abercrombie or Morgan novel. The prospect of a somewhat happy ending does not seem to be totally out of reach for the characters, although it may be a product of my cynicism that I can see a way in which things could still go horribly wrong for all concerned.
All in all, this book is well worth a read - my endorsement is such that I'll be going back and acquiring the author's back catalogue. Those of you who already have it will probably have spotted that this book forms the start of a new series set in the same world as two previous series. Those of you who don't, be not perturbed - I only found out when trying to find out a bit more about the author for this review, so the author's goal of having an independent series, to which a reader can come to without previous reading, seems well accomplished.
Reviewed by Joel Glover aka Apricotmarmalade
Irons in the Fire has the characteristics that I look for when plucking a previously untried author's work from the fantasy and sci-fi risers of my local bookshop: endorsement by authors I have previously read and enjoyed (Kate Elliott and JV Jones) and a bibliography that extends beyond the tome I have in my hands. The first may have led me down some blind alleys (I am still working on forgiving Neil Gaiman for the hours of sheer eye gouging tedium which his recommendation of Gene Wolfe's The Wizard Knight led me to endure), but the latter has never done me wrong. You can be sure, at least, that when an author has managed to get three books published there will be a certain level of competence and felicity of style present in their work.I did begin to fear, however, when reading the prologue of Irons in the Fire, that my trusty rule had betrayed me. Using the technique beloved of many a fantasy author, the back story and history of the nation central to the plot of the novel is briefly brushed over by a fictional academic. There is a lot of detail in these opening pages, presented in an overly succint and dry form, and as I sat reading it, my heart sank. Compared to, for example, the opening segments of the Belgariad, or the Dumas influenced musings of a Brust history, this was a weak offering. Irons in the Fire is a longish volume, and the thought that I was going to be subjected to hours of "tell, tell and tell some more", with no respite, filled me with despair.
Fear not though, gentle reader, for the book is actually good. In fact, the large amount of the information in the prologue is actually well presented as important plot detail later in the book, and quite why the prologue is there at all is a mystery for finer minds than mine. Rather than spoil the plot for you, I'll give you a sneaky peak, and hopefully whet your appetite. The kingdom of Lescar barely merits the title. Dukes squabble, march and countermarch, oppress their vassals without much regard for station, justice, equity or economics. Refugees from the conflict have worked hard to establish themselves in neighbouring domains, whilst trying to support those still at risk. The novel opens with a handful of these hardy souls determined to make some positive changes in their homeland, and as it progresses we see more of the effects of the conflict on the characters and their kith and kin.
One of the elements which puts this book ahead of a stock adventure fantasy is the way in which the characters readjust to new information. Yes, they have a plan, but not everything goes smoothly, and the plan itself needs some readjustment due to reality checks. This realism (because, let's be honest, no one ever comes up with a perfect plan in isolation and on the first attempt) gives the book a bit of charm to go along with what is quite a frantic action pace. The plotting and scheming blend well with interludes of violence, and the competing interests of the intriguers mean that the series as a whole has plenty of potential. And though I mention violence, and should mention that this book is to all intents and purposes set in a civil war, it is also worth noting that it does not have quite the same ground in veneer of despair that you would find in an Abercrombie or Morgan novel. The prospect of a somewhat happy ending does not seem to be totally out of reach for the characters, although it may be a product of my cynicism that I can see a way in which things could still go horribly wrong for all concerned.
All in all, this book is well worth a read - my endorsement is such that I'll be going back and acquiring the author's back catalogue. Those of you who already have it will probably have spotted that this book forms the start of a new series set in the same world as two previous series. Those of you who don't, be not perturbed - I only found out when trying to find out a bit more about the author for this review, so the author's goal of having an independent series, to which a reader can come to without previous reading, seems well accomplished.
Reviewed by Joel Glover aka Apricotmarmalade Last updated by drosdelnoch Dec. 19, 2009.
NEW! DOWNLOAD UPDATES (PDF)
Be a Legend!
The DGLA is a Not-for-Profit organisation, which operates through the goodwill of its volunteers, sponsors and friends.
If you would like to help the DGLA continue, please consider making a small donation to our funds:
If you would like to help the DGLA continue, please consider making a small donation to our funds:
Badge
© 2010 Created by Deborah J Miller - Award Administrator
