The Lord of the Rings Trilogy

"Let us hunt some orc!"

Even after all this time, I think this is one of the best lines in a trilogy that is filled with great lines. It's funny, I only realized more than ten years had passed since these movies came out (The Fellowship of the Ring appeared in 2001! Can you believe it?!) when I went to see the Hobbit, and for some reason I saw the dates of the previous movies online.

I then decided to undertake the huge task of seeing the whole extended trilogy again, both to plunge into Middle Earth again after The Hobbit did nothing more than whet my appetite for good fantasy, and for the Golden Gentlemen Challenge at Persie's blog. 

I had forgotten how long the films were (and btw, I deserve extra points for this - these monstrosities should count double, lol) but it is a good sort of long, with character development, amazing fight scenes, and beautiful scenery. I can't deny they have aged very well - there are amazingly few cringe worthy moments (and most of them revolve around an overly emotional Frodo) and all the films are still as exciting and visually impressive as ever.

Since there isn't much of interest to be said about these films that hasn't been said before, I thought I would go over some of my favourite scenes in each movie, and indulge in some fangirl babbling.

I used to think that the first movie, Fellowship of the Ring, was my favourite. It still has the most scenes that I love, but as a whole, I think I actually preferred Return of the King this time around - there is more Aragorn in it, and Eowyn kicking ass.

There are some seminal moments in the Fellowship movie, particularly Gandalf fighting the Balrog in Moria, with those lines we will never forget: "You shall not pass!" and "Fly, you fools!" but also Boromir's death and some of the scenes with Galadriel. But I think my favourite moment might be the scene where we first meet strider, in the tavern, and his face is lit by the red glow of his pipe.

In The Two Towers, I enjoyed everything that had to do with Rohan (I might have a thing for big bad Eomer *sigh*). The scene where our three heroes meet the war party and are surrounded by horses is impressive, and I love the first view of Rohan - it might not be as sophisticated as Rivendell or Minas Tirith, but I find that Hall and that empty town has a tragic beauty as well. The films ends in a high note, with The Battle at Helm's Deep, and it also has some brilliant scenes: Gimli trying to see over the edge of the ramparts, Legolas sliding down the stairs shooting orcs, Aragorn tossing Gimli to the bridge in front of the doors, Eomer's charge as dawn breaks... But the funniest moment is certainly when Merry and Pip discover pipe weed form the shire in the pantry in Isengard.

As for the last movie, I have a harder time putting my finger on exact moments I like - there is a beautiful sequence when the signals asking Rohan for help are being lit, for example, but that is due mostly to the beauty of the landscape. There is also a wonderful scene that is hauntingly beautiful when Faramir decides to follow his father's delusional orders and go defend Osgiliath, while the old man eats his dinner in the safety of the city. But mostly, there are a lot of good guys taking charge and kicking evil's ass, which always makes for brilliant entertainment.

Points tally: 3 films with 1 actor = 6 points + 5 from before for a total of 11 points.

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

As has probably become painfully obvious by now, I am something of a fantasy junky. And like most fantasy fans of my generation, I can trace the beginnings of this - let's call it fondness to avoid the (probably more accurate) word obsession - to a few very good books I read as a teen. There was the obvious Harry Potter series, Ursula K. Leguin Tales of Earthsea, some Douglas Adams and some Narnia and a lot of Philip Pullman, but also, and maybe most importantly Tolkien. 

The thing about Middle Earth is that it is a world that never seems to end - I read Lord of the Rings a couple of years before the movies came out, and then suddenly there were all those other books set up in this amazing world, and I simply had to read them all - The Silmarilion, Unfinished Tales, The Hobbit, to name a few. So, in short: I blame Tolkien.

Much of the hype was due to the success of Peter Jackson's trilogy, and it was well deserved. High Fantasy is a difficult genre, often long, with so many characters you can't keep them straight (cf- the hilarious cheat sheet for the Dwarves of Thorin's Company!) and meandering plots that take thousands of pages to get to the point, in language that is not always very straightforward. If you are an impatient reader, or have a short attention span, it can get tiring and confusing very quickly, and people just give up. So, good movies, that are faithful to the books they are based on, is a great compromise, a perfect way to delve into this new world and maybe grab the attention of people. Unlike some other die-hard fans, I am not at all opposed to movie adaptations of books I like (even if I have been disappointed before *cough* Eragon *cough*) and the Hobbit was just the same - I was there on opening night.

So, ten years after giving us the Lord of the Rings trilogy, Peter Jackson comes back with three new films that tell the tale of how Bilbo Baggins, Frodo's uncle, was hired as a burglar in Thorin Oakshield's Company, and set out on a quest to reclaim Eresbor, the last great dwarf kingdom of Middle Earth, from the dragon Smaug. The story is set 60 years before the events of Lord of the Rings, and is a prequel to that story, setting the scene from some very important plot points.

As always with Peter Jackson, the cast is superb:

Martin Freeman .......... Young Bilbo Baggins

Ian McKellan .............. Gandalf the Grey

Richard Armitage ....... Thorin Oakshield

Ken Stott .................... Balin

Aidan Turner .............. Kili

Dean O'Gorman ......... Fili

Hugo Weaving .......... Lord Elrond

Cate Blanchett ........... Lady Galadriel

Christopher Lee ......... Saruman the White

Sylvester McCoy........ Radagast the Brown

Andy Serkis ............... Gollum

I don't think I have seen such a perfect fit as Armitage in the role of Thorin in a long time - the voice, the bearing,  the frown, everything fits perfectly. Kili and Fili are delightful, and really, all the company as a group have great chemistry (even if I have a soft spot for Kili and his bow). The opening scenes in Bilbo's house are truly terrific - between the comedy of the kitchen raid, and the aching melancholy of the dwarves singing Mysty Mountain  in front of the fire - they set the tone for the quest perfectly.

The rest of the film continues much as a quest would - there are amazing location shots, and very good fight scenes (the running battle against the Goblins under the mountain is particularly good). The plot advances at a brisk pace, with new enemies and old foes appearing at regular intervals. 

Don't take this the wrong way - the film was great. Even knowing what was going to happen in advance (and isn't that a bittersweet thing!) I was still bitting my nails off when Thorin jumped from his tree to confront Azog, and cheering Bilbo when he followed (on a side note, isn't Bilbo a much more engaging hero than Frodo? I certainly think so!). It was a long movie, and some scenes dragged a bit but most did not. In fact the only thing I found really longwinded was the meeting with Gollum - it is an extremely important scene, in terms of longterm plot-lines, but a couple of times I got tired of dealing with Gollum's multiple personalities and just wanted everything to move on and to go back to the characters I actually care about.

Still, to feel that only once in a movie that is nearly 3 hours long is something. All in all, it was a great film.

A few more points for the Golden Gentlemen Challenge:

- 1 film + 1 actor = 2 points + 3 points from before for a total of 5 points in the challenge so far.

Brave

I have been a fan of Pixar since their very first movie, Toy Story, came out in 1995. Indeed, much like Harry Potter, they were an integral part of my childhood and I believe the only films from them I haven't seen are Cars 1 and 2 (talking cars creep me out). 

As I grew older, I realized there was a reason for that - there was something special about Pixar movies that eluded the more traditional Disney animations: their stories were designed to please not only children, but adults as well. That is particularly visible in The Incredibles (2004), WALL-E (2008) and Up (2009) which have important plot points designed to speak to a mature audience. With that in mind, I didn't hesitate to go see Brave, their latest animation which won a Golden Globe for best animated feature film.

Brave follows the heroic journey of Merida, a skilled archer and headstrong daughter of King Fergus (voice of Billy Connolly) and Queen Elinor (voice of Emma Thompson). Determined to carve her own path in life, Merida defies an age-old custom sacred to the unruly and uproarious lords of the land: surly Lord Macintosh (voice of Craig Ferguson), massive Lord MacGuffin (voice of Kevin McKidd) and cantankerous Lord Dingwall (voice of Robbie Coltrane). Merida's actions inadvertently unleash chaos and fury in the kingdom, and when she turns to an eccentric Witch (voice of Julie Walters) for help, she is granted an ill-fated wish. The ensuing peril forces Merida to harness all of her skills and resources - including her clever and mischievous triplet brothers - to undo a beastly curse before it's too late, discovering the meaning of true bravery.

As always with Pixar, the animation was superbly done - the scottish highlands are beautifully drawn, and the characters are great (did you see Merida's hair? Isn't that just great?). The music as well is amazing (Mumford and Sons anyone?) and sets the tone for the story perfectly.

This was the first time Pixar ventured into the fairytale realm, and gave us a Disneylike princess. I wasn't very worried about that, being somewhat fond of the genre, but I was very glad that Brave was closer to Mulan than to Cinderella, with a strong leading female character, who isn't afraid to fight for what she wants.

The plot is a little more complex than we might be used to in an animation, and I've heard people who didn't enjoy the movie call it everything from "patchy" to "nonsensical" - and my response is that if you are unable to follow two or three different plotlines that come together in the end, you should try watching it again, in slow motion so you catch all the dialogue.

On the contrary, I thought that the film had surprising depth considering the audience it was intended to attract, as well as a lot of humour. It wasn't as original as Up or WALL-E, I agree, mostly because it draws very heavily from both the traditional stories of the young girl fighting an unwanted marriage and defying tradition, and the one of the girl warrior taking up arms in place of a man.

But despite all that, I absolutely loved it. Everything came together perfectly, and even if it isn't as groundbreaking as some of Pixar's previous works, it is a very pleasant movie, of the kind you can watch again and again without ever getting tired.

I watched this again for the Golden Ladies 2013 challenge, and so here are my current scores:

1 actress + 1 film = 2 point + 2 from before = 4 points 

A little snippet of what awaits you (check out the scottish accents, och!):

A Game Of Thrones - George R. R. Martin

In a land where summers can last decades and winters a lifetime, trouble is brewing. The cold is returning, and in the frozen wastes to the north of Winterfell, sinister and supernatural forces are massing beyond the kingdom's protective Wall. At the center of the conflict lie the Starks of Winterfell, a family as harsh and unyielding as the land they were born to. Sweeping from a land of brutal cold to a distant summertime kingdom of epicurean plenty, here is a tale of lords and ladies, soldiers and sorcerers, assassins and bastards, who come together in a time of grim omens. Amid plots and counterplots, tragedy and betrayal, victory and terror, the fate of the Starks, their allies, and their enemies hangs perilously in the balance, as each endeavors to win the deadliest of conflicts: the game of thrones.

Three days, 807 pages, and I finished A Game of Thrones. It’s been quite a ride – I can’t deny that George R. R. Martin is a brilliant storyteller. He grabbed me with the simple premise of his book – the struggle of an honorable family to survive in the midst of the pitfalls of political intrigue. I got hooked because of the new HBO series (for once I started with the film and then moved on to the book) and wasn’t disappointed. Either by the book, or the adaptation – I found the photography simply beautiful, the cast is very faithful to their descriptions in the book, and from what I could glean from online chatter, the writers plan to follow the plot very closely. I couldn’t be happier.

As for the book - the characters the author creates are very compelling. One can’t help falling in love with honorable Ned Stark, Robb and Bran, little Arya who is simply a joy, and Jon Snow (my favorite, I think). I took a strong dislike from the first to Catlyn Stark (probably because I love Jon so much and she treats him so very poorly, but also because she is the cause of much grief – some of her decisions are so very, very stupid) and some of the other character we follow aren’t so easy to empathize with (I could throttle Sansa with my bare hands), but they are all extremely human – struggling with fear and duty and having to grow up in the midst of a war. It’s brilliant character development, and very good writing.

Indeed, it’s amazing how Martin manages to communicate so much with so few words – Bran, when talking about his sister says “She lost her wolf.” And that wolf was so much more than a mere puppy: it’s that, but also symbolic of a proper respect for her origins, loyalty to family, duty and honor. Sansa, in her naïve awe for the court and all its dazzling lights as well as a mindless adherence to courtly ways, ends up being the unwitting pawn for the destruction of a lot of good things. The author makes all that fit into just four words – and for us to immediately grasp what these four words mean, there is a whole lot of work involved in the creation of a universe and a code of behavior that we can understand and immerse ourselves in. By the time Sansa looses her way, the reader knows that the Dyrewolf is the symbol of House Stark, and most of all, we know what being a Stark means. When she stops acting like one, her wolf dies.

There is much tragedy and sadness in the book as well – what good fantasy series doesn’t? – and the consequence is that the villains are truly horrid. As the plot develops and more details of their characters are made clear, we end up absolutely hating them (I cannot say “I hope Jeoffrey dies a slow and painful death” enough times) – and yet also understanding their motives and behavior somehow, particularly when we see them through Tyrion’s eyes. He is a very interesting character – theoretically a villain, attached to his horrid family, and yet, despised and humiliated by them and more conscious of their shortcomings than anyone else. I can’t wait to see what will become of him!

As for the plot – it’s complex, but not convoluted – I guessed the great revelation about the royal children by page 200, and in the scene with Bran and Rykon in the crypt, I think I also guessed the great secret about Jon Snow’s birth that Eddard never got to tell him (since the answer was not in book one, I won’t know for sure until I finish reading the rest). So if you read carefully, the clues are all there, and you can glimpse how things will turn out. But there are so many parallel storylines, different geographical areas (have I mentioned how detailed is this universe? I love the different societies, different orders, different places) that one has to wonder how it will all come together. I have a few guesses, but since I am only a quarter of the way through what is published of the series, I guess I should carry on, and find out for sure.

So – taking a deep breath and diving into the next volume, A Clash of Kings.

And another clip, because the series is SO awesome:

The Chronicles of King Rolen's Kin - Rowena Cory Daniells

Only seven minutes younger than Rolencia’s heir, Byren has never hungered for the throne. He laughs when a seer predicts that he will kill his twin. But the royal heir resents Byren’s growing popularity. Across the land the untamed magic of the gods wells up out of the earth’s heart. It sends exotic creatures to stalk the wintry nights and it twists men’s minds, granting them terrible visions. Those so touched are sent to the Abbey to control their gift, or die. At King Rolen’s court, enemies plot to take the throne, even as secrets within his own household threaten to tear his family apart.

High Fantasy is a complicated genre – I find it incredibly appealing (all that magic, political intrigue, warriors, quests – it’s just about irresistible) but at the same time very easy to spoil. A little too much gore, a plot that is too complex to follow, too many characters to try to like, writing that starts to turn stale, and I might lose interest (I’ve had it happen with Robin Hobb and Terry Goodkind, for example).

My latest foray into the genre was with Rowena Cory Daniells’ The Chronicles of King Rolen’s Kin and it was not a disappointment. I had never heard about her before I saw the beautiful cover art in the bookstore (I find the second tome particularly pretty), and as a complete bookaholic, I had to have them.

The main story revolves around a battle for succession in the kingdom of Rolencia – it is a tale of political intrigue and complicated familial relations (a newly acknowledged bastard, some healthy sibling rivalry, a few dangerous secrets, and the scene is set). I love political mayhem and I found that the plot of this book had the perfect balance of complexity and just plain misinformation (innocent situations that turn into something else, to our despair as readers actively engaged in the fate of our favourite characters). This balance is the key to a plot that keeps us immersed in the story (I must have read the three tomes in four or five days) but never confuses the reader with too many fiddly details.

The universe where the action takes place is also very well developed – the author pays attention to small details that give it life in our eyes – my favourite was the favourite transportation method – skating the frozen canals during the winter (I found that so refreshingly original!). The system of magic – called Affinity here – is well construed, and well thought out – I loved all the ‘Affinity beasts’ that can cause problems but also be favoured companions and have an important role to play in the novels.

The magic is also the source of many of the problems in the world – not only because it attracts dangerous animals, but also because it is extremely restricted in its use – a person with affinity has two choices, either devote his or her life to the abbeys and learn to use it ‘for the greater good’ or risk death as a Renegade Practitioner. So there is not much freedom to chose, as the King rules with a heavy hand. The price one pays to live with secrets is an interesting leitmotiv in the series – particularly with Piro, the young princess who is actively trying to hide her powers. But with the other characters as well, in smaller measures, and this makes them vulnerable, but also extremely engaging.

The second volumes is basically a follow-up to the first – a continual building of tension that picks up after the near destruction of the kingdom and the escape or capture of most of the characters. The relief from tension arrives with the third volume, that resolves most of the previous volumes story-arcs, while also opening up to the rest of the universe imagined – particularly the rival kingdom of Merofynia, from whence most of the villains come.

As for the denouement – I am almost afraid to say. My reaction was something like: “What??? No, no, no, no, no, no – I want mooooooore!!! There has to be mooooore!!! Where is the fourth volume???”

Because the truth is, while much has been resolved (most of the political intrigue, for example, is completely settled), much is also left in suspense – particularly relating to personal relationships and romantic entanglements, but also the reclaiming of a whole occupied kingdom. I found the ending abrupt – there really is no other word. It does not take away from all that came before – it is a very good series – but it is the major problem in my opinion: I don’t much like to be left hanging after becoming so very enmeshed in a story. So I certainly recommend the books – but beware the sudden fall that comes right after the end of the action. No awkward epilogues here!

Addendum: I was very happy to learn that there will be three more books, sometime in the distant, distant future. Apparently the author has one more trilogy planned, but wants to finish a new series she is working on before tackling the project.

The Adjustment Bureau

Do we control our destiny, or do unseen forces manipulate us? Matt Damon stars in the thriller The Adjustment Bureau as a man who glimpses the future Fate has planned for him and realizes he wants something else. To get it, he must pursue the only woman he's ever loved across, under and through the streets of modern-day New York. On the brink of winning a seat in the U.S. Senate, ambitious politician David Norris (Damon) meets beautiful contemporary ballet dancer Elise Sellas (Emily Blunt)-a woman like none he's ever known. But just as he realizes he's falling for her, mysterious men conspire to keep the two apart. David learns he is up against the agents of Fate itself-the men of The Adjustment Bureau-who will do everything in their considerable power to prevent David and Elise from being together. In the face of overwhelming odds, he must either let her go and accept a predetermined path...or risk everything to defy Fate and be with her.

Director...............................George Nolfi

Matt Damon........................David Norris

Emily Blunt.........................Elise Sellas

John Slattery.......................Richardson

Anthony Mackie.................Henry Mitchell

Michael Kelly......................Charlie Traynor

I enjoy going to the movies, so when my friends invite me, I don’t usually bother to check what we are going to see. This has led me astray a few times, but I’m not a difficult customer – and I have reasonable friends – so mostly, I can’t complain. My last experience was with The Adjustment Bureau, a delightful little gem. They translated the title here in France as L’Agence, so, when I was told we were going to see a film called The Agency I was more or less certain I would be enjoying two hours of secret agents, foreign operatives, and everything else you can expect from a spy thriller. I could not possibly have been more wrong!

The Adjustment Bureau is adapted from a short story by Philip K. Dick, published in 1954 as The Adjustment Team. It's not the first movie to have originated from the mind of this author – Blade Runner and Minority Report are only two of the most well known. In this instance, the story was transformed into a modern day dark comedy that touches upon such hefty subjects as fate, free will, and the active presence of a divine force interfering in the day to day running of our lives.

The film centers on the life of David Norris, an up and coming politician, who is obviously meant for more than the seat in the Senate he is going for – young, a self-made man from a difficult background, confident but also conflicted by what his role is supposed to be - he is everything a voter could hope for in a candidate. Enter Elise, wild, free, a contemporary Ballet dancer. It’s love at first sight. Except, that love is apparently not part of The Plan. So, exit the happily ever after and enter The Adjustment Team, to correct all deviations and put History back on track.

I appreciated the light feel of the film – it could easily have become maudlin or overly emotional – the hero’s fight against an unforgiving destiny is a dramatic ploy we see often enough. But here there is laughter, and there is style – I simply adored the jaunty little hats on all the operatives of the Bureau. The fantastic elements are also incredibly appropriate – note, the doors. How I love the endless possibilities of analysis and interpretations that little piece of imagery allows – and very well integrated to the reality of the movie.

I am not saying this is a very serious movie – I don’t think that is the purpose at all. But it is believable. It is interesting. It is funny and thrilling. What more can you wish for when you sit down to the dark delights of the cinema?

The Glass Books of the Dream Eaters - Gordon Dahlquist

It starts with a simple note. Roger Bascombe regretfully wishes to inform Celeste Temple that their engagement is forthwith terminated. Determined to find out why, Miss Temple takes the first step in a journey that will propel her into a dizzyingly seductive, utterly shocking world beyond her imagining – and set her on a collision course with a killer and a spy – in a bodice-ripping, action-packed roller coaster ride of suspense, betrayal and richly fevered dreams.

  

I learned, after getting about halfway through this double-volume monstrosity that the author of The Glass Books of the Dream Eaters was actually a playwright, and suddenly things became much clearer for me. There is a very interesting aspect to this novel, and that is the importance of movement – characters walk along hallways, cross each other without acknowledging it, climb up stairs, ride on trains and carriages, hide behind couches and peek through spy-holes in the walls… The list can go on. These are not the kinds of artifices one is used to seeing in books – but they are very common in the theatre, where entries and exits, and the spectator knowing something the character on scene does not (like the fact that there is someone hiding in the closet) adds to the tension, or creates comedy. At first, the slightly long-winded nature of the book had been slightly off-putting. But suddenly, with this new information, I had a whole new layer of literary delight to explore. And I could just picture all the near-misses, the chases through mysterious, winding corridors, the fighting, the posturing, and the mysteriously satisfying trail of death.

Yes, I say trail because even though there is a certain lightness to the author’s style as the plot progresses in its meandering, leisurely pace, the tale is nothing if not dark – evil alliances, mind-control, murder, rape and cold-blooded experimentation. The whole interspersed with sweet tea, warm scones and cute little green boots (you’ll have to read the book to understand this particular allusion!). It is a strange and violent universe that is created here – it is London in the 19^th century, in the midst of the industrial revolution, but also a bizarre and slightly surreal place, where time seems to stand still, and anything is possible. This London that is not London is strangely compelling – it is extremely easy to get lost in the different streets and establishments, the different levels of society to which each place cater, the colourful inhabitants of each locale.

The third thing of note is the strength of the characters. We follow three main characters – Miss Celeste Temple, the young heiress to a plantation fortune, Cardinal Chang, a scholar cum assassin and Abelard Svenson, a doctor who works as a spy. They are strong, well-developed, and believable. I wish there had been more interaction between the three – they do not meet until the fourth chapter and are quickly separated again – but I can’t argue that they are not engaging. The set of villains is also impressive – the mad scientist about to destroy the world with his creation, the femme fatale, unafraid to use all the guns in her arsenal to achieve her goals (in this instance world domination), and a long list of lackeys who have been brainwashed into thinking this plan is the grandest thing that could possibly happen.

This is not an easy book, and there are some obvious flaws – it is too long, certainly, and we are always waiting for it to get to the point already, but in the end, when you actually find yourself in the midst of the final confrontation, you discover the waiting was not so bad, after all.

Ps: I don’t know who edited this book, but the cover art is simply wonderful – totally caught my eye in the bookstore, and actually made me buy the book. I’m a sucker for pretty things!

Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell - Susanna Clarke

It's 1808 and that Corsican upstart Napoleon is battering the English army and navy. Enter Mr. Norrell, a fusty but ambitious scholar from the Yorkshire countryside and the first practical magician in hundreds of years. What better way to demonstrate his revival of British magic than to change the course of the Napoleonic wars? Mr. Norrell moves to London to establish his influence in government circles, devising such powerful illusions as an 11-day blockade of French ports by English ships fabricated from rainwater. But however skillful his magic, his vanity provides an Achilles heel, and the differing ambitions of his more glamorous apprentice, Jonathan Strange, threaten to topple all that Mr. Norrell has achieved. 

This book, by Susanna Clarke, was my travelling companion during a month-long jaunt through the Argentinean Patagonia. I was with a friend, and we got as far as Ushuaia, the southernmost city in the world. It was one of – if not the best – trips I ever took, complete with amazing animals and plants, hilarious adventures brought about mostly by our shortage of cash and hours spent on a bus through the most amazing landscapes.

It’s always strange how the circumstances surrounding the reading of a book end up colouring our view of it – I only have to glimpse at my copy of Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell to conjure up in my mind the empty planes, the amazing pinks and blues and greys that were so present in Patagonia. And I also believe the opposite is true – the magical atmosphere of this book, the strange plot, the bizarre world that is depicted, all of it contributed to my perceptions of the trip.

I do believe this book is above all a fantasy novel – its extremely well developed theories on magic (there are actually footnotes along the way, that reference an entire fictional corpus on the theory and history of English magic) as well as the dark and unsettling faery kingdom of Lost Hope – all of that is fantasy of the highest quality.

But there is also a second aspect to the novel, that falls neatly into the historical genre. A fictional history, during the Napoleonic wars, with battles, ministers and a society to accompany it. That might be one of the more original and appealing traits of the book, for me. Urban fiction– bringing magic to our everyday life – is common. But I do believe Susanna Clarke was one of the first to bring magic to our past – a fairy-tale like comedy of manners. I’ve since read other books that have a similar plan, but she was my first. I love that she tried to be precise and for the most part historically accurate in her renditions of Regency England and its accompanying society. The whole atmosphere of the novel, is a sort of jaunty wink to that period, with glimpses of gothic novels and romantic heroes aplenty. In fact, Jonathan Strange is quite the romantic character, with his tempestuous character and his devotion to his love(s).

But the central relationship in the novel is between the two practicing magicians, Mr Norell and Strange. It is a strained bond, that starts as a Master/Apprentice relationship, but devolves as the apprentice gains in popularity, and theoretic discussions and disagreements gain strength. The most important of those centres around the figure of the Raven King, a mythic being whose importance to English magic - or even its actual existence - is never agreed upon. The figure is quite mysterious, and the slightly metaphysical ending draws heavily on that basis – but I will say no more.

What I will say is that this is an original, very particular book. It is hard to categorise, and perhaps harder to be attached to than the more traditional staples of high fantasy. But it is also deeper than most common fantasy novels, and extremely well thought-out and written. I can’t recommend it enough.

The Magicians - Lev Grossman

Like everyone else, precocious high school senior Quentin Coldwater assumes that magic isn't real, until he finds himself unexpectedly admitted to a very secretive and exclusive college of magic in upstate New York. There he indulges in the joys of college - friendship, love, sex, and booze - and receives a rigorous education in the craft of modern sorcery. Magic, though, doesn't bring Quentin the happiness and adventure he thought it would. After graduation, he and his friends stumble upon a secret that sets them on a remarkable journey, sure to finally fulfill Quentin's yearning. But their journey turns out to be darker and more dangerous than they'd imagined.

The Magicians is one of these books that leaves a hole in your life once you’re done – what a friend of mine used to call Post-Book Depression. It is a sort of adult Harry Potter, certainly, but only in a very minor way. There is none of the wonder and black-and-white morality of Harry Potter here. This is a gritty, shades-of-gray universe, where magic doesn’t change the basics of human nature, and the solution to all the world’s problems isn’t at the end of a wand.

The technical aspects of the novel are excellent – the writing is incisive, the characters well developed, the workings and system of magic well thought out and explained. But there is more to the book than just another urban fantasy novel – it is a coming of age, a realistic approach to what would happen if you let loose a bunch of troubled, over-achieving twenty somethings in a very original college, and endowed them all with magical powers. There is the usual love and lust, the loneliness that comes with that part of your life where you aren’t sure where you’re going and the world seems a difficult mess to unravel. There are mistakes and questionings, parties and heavy drinking, and through it all budding friendships and love shot through with sorrow and suffering.

I loved all the references to other literary sources – most obviously C.S. Lewis’ Narnia that is at the origin of Fillory, but also Rowling and LeGuin. But I loved even more that which is particular to this book, and that is clearly the character’s journey. I was simply amazed at how rich, complex, human, are the secondary characters, that seem to leap out of the page with fully formed personalities, flaws and secrets. Quentin takes a little longer to form, reacting to those around him, and the new world he was trust into – and it is through his eyes that we discover this new universe.

I picked this up thinking it was a normal fantasy book, but believe me, it is much, much more. If you haven’t yet, go find it. It isn’t to be missed. And , even though this book is complete on its own - there is an ending, and it is a good ending - a sequel is expected soon and I can’t wait to see where it leads.

Warbreaker - Brandon Sanderson

To keep a treaty made long ago, the king of Idris must send his daughter to marry Susebron, the God King of Hallandren. Loath to part with his eldest daughter, Vivenna, King Dedelin instead sends his youngest daughter, tomboyish 17-year-old Siri, who struggles to make sense of the schemers and spies in Susebron's court. Hoping to rescue her sister, Vivenna joins a group of Idrian operatives with questionable motives. As Vivenna comes to terms with her magical abilities, resurrected hero Lightsong questions the role of the undead Returned Gods, who command Hallandren's mighty army of zombie soldiers.

Warbreaker was the first book by Brandon Sanderson that I read – before I tackled the mighty Mistborn trilogy (more on that later) or Elantris. I found it refreshingly original.

The world he creates is both bizarre and complex – a whole magical system based on colour, and two opposing kingdoms with vastly different views on just what that element represents and how it should be used. The plot is extremely convoluted, with many characters doing many different things, and never communicating with each other, so that things only get more complicated.

But through it all, there are a few recurring themes that give unity to the book – the difficult to grasp and even more difficult to fulfil concept of duty, the importance of familial obligation, respect of traditions, cultural tensions. At its hearth, this book is about opening your eyes to a wider world, and accepting that there are people who live with different sets of values.

The two leads are great characters – and strong women active in a complex and dangerous world. The most amazing transformation is in the character of Vivenna, who starts the book as a self-contained, self-assured – and ultimately self-centred – princess, bred to do her duty, who ends up escaping these chains and running away to an uncertain – and probably much more exiting – future. Hers is the more developed character, but I must admit to a certain fondness for light-hearted Siri, whose intrinsic joy and marvel at the world around her was simply a delight to read. She faces the worst challenges, and still sees the good in the world and the people around her.

And in the end, that is what I enjoyed the most about this book – even in the midst of tragedy (or more accurately, at its cusp) the dialogues are hilarious, the text has a sharp edge of dark humour, and the very world described is a continuous fête, the colours, the music, the art, hiding the deeper injustices of the world.

This is one of the things I love about Sanderson – he never falls back on the tried and true (wizards, elfs, goblins, etc.) but keeps us guessing and plays the reader against his own expectations. You never know what will happen next, or if you do, chances are you’re wrong. He also isn’t afraid to tackle difficult and potentially explosive subjects – and his take on the nature of religion is both interesting and imaginative, enough to invite reflection and discussion without being needlessly inflammatory.

This is the kind of book that doesn’t start with a bang, but slowly grows on you, so that by the last 50 or 60 pages, you’re up till tree in the morning to finish the story.

This is a great read for anyone who likes fantasy, particularly considering it is available for free at the author’s webpage – I’m posting a link for the final version here, but if you want to check the progression of the writing, there are numerous previous versions available as well as deleted scenes and comments by the author. Check it out!