Ramblings of a Crowe

Book Reviews

I've been meaning to do this for awhile, but haven't had the time. I love reading, not having a book in my purse or next to my bed drives me nuts. If the books is particularly good, I'll re-read it again and again, because we always miss something. There are some books I've read four or five times and I still find something new each time I open them.

So, without further ado...

Melusine by Sarah Monette

Felix Harrowgate is a wizard. He resides inside the Mirador, the city of Melusine's citadel of power where he is respected and wanted for his charm and wits. Within the Mirador, he is free of his abusive master, the one who saved him from his life of prostitution, enslaved him for other purposes, and taught him to behave like a nobleman instead of the gutter trash he was born as.

Mildmay the Fox is a thief. A cat-burglar, assassin for hire, whatever pays the bills type of guy. He's grown up in Melusine's lowest levels of society, being hunted and doing some hunting of his own.

The cogs of fate start to turn when Felix meets his old master inside the Mirador. Old magic, old habits, and old wounds start Felix on a downward spiral which ends with a violent rape and the shattering of the Virtu, the magical device that is the support of the Mirador's magic. With his mind shattered, drifting in and out of insanity, Felix is condemned to die by the Cabal--as soon as they figure out how to undo the magic he'd done.

Mildmay's life is looking pretty good for someone living in the grim bowels of Melusine. He's got himself a girlfriend, a place of his own, etc. Things are as peachy as they can be for a dour pessimist like Mildmay. Until his woman gets tangled up in some wicked Blood Magic and gets killed. Then he meets up with a mysterious wizard--one who insists that he is the key to finding Felix Harrowgate. Things go down hill from there.

The story of Melusine is seen through the eyes of both Felix and Mildmay. Felix narrates his perspective with an articulate pretentiousness fitting of a nobleman, with the occasional lapse into the gutter vernacular befitting of the street whore he really is--or was. Through most of the book he is stark raving mad, with moments of lucidity where his true character shines through--a self seeking, high-brow, catty snot.

When they're forced to flee Melusine, Mildmay and Felix find themselves alone in an unfriendly landscape, their only destination the broken dream of a mad man. Mildmay, a man with more patience that quite possibly God, leads them through the surrounding countryside. Starving, scared, and confused, they make their way away from the Mirador and around the Bastion, Mildmay the ever stoic protector and Felix the terrified seer of men with animal heads.

Melusine is a beautiful book. The words are elegantly crafted, each page is a turner. The voice of both Felix and Mildmay brings the story alive--so different, but so similar. Mildmay is easier to sympathize with, as he drags Felix across the countryside, often having to chase down the crazy wizard and rescue him from his own nightmares. But Felix's insanity is intriguing, as it slowly spirals to new lows with sudden moments of clarity, all triggered by events, words, or things he remembers.

This book is not your typical fantasy. There are no dragons, seekrit princes or kings masquerading as peasants. Melusine is more of a historical fantasy, rich in the culture of the world Ms. Monette has created. It is a story about people--Felix and Mildmay--and their problems, their fears, their relationship to each other.

I can't recommend this book enough. I'm always on the search for the story that will grab me and steal me away. Books like that are rare, and lucky for me, Melusine happens to be one of them.

A word of warning though, if you are looking for the typical fantasy story, this book probably won't be for you. It breaks rules for such a set genre. Also, this is the first book of a series--there are a lot of loose ends. Don't let that discourage you.

Posted by Zoso at October 22, 2006 10:53 AM