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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wonderful Storytelling, Wonderful Setting, September 5, 2011
Superb.
That about sums up my description of Odalisque. The first volume of McIntosh's The Percheron Saga, this book brings together well-developed characters, logic and consistency with then setting, an interesting storyline, and true wordsmithing. The book is a joy to read.
This book is only nominally your typical sword-and-sorcery. Yes, the setting is where swords may be the weapon of choice, and magic is a part of the landscape, but this novel goes far beyond the typical fare. McIntosh's Percheron is not the typical pseudo-European medieval environment. Percheron is more of an Ottoman-inspired setting, which opens up intriguing political and social situations to explore, such as that of harems, eunuchs, palace guards, justice, and the like which are not available in standard sword-and-sorcery tales. (Although not in Odalisque but rather in the second volume of the saga, Emmissary, the conflict between the Percherons and a more Arab-influence group of the same overall religious beliefs who feel the Percherons have drifted off the true path can be taken as a deep commentary on current Persian/Arab differences.)
The story centers on some main characters as they deal with a religious conflict. The Goddess Lyana is resurrected every thousand years or so, and she is fought by Zarab, a male god. Over the last few millennium, Zarab has triumphed, and the worship of Lyana has faded throughout Percheron in favor of the worship of Zarab. The story begins as events unfold to start this cycle once more.
The cast of characters include Lazar, a former slave who has risen to be the head of Percheron's military, Ana, a young girl brought into the harem for the new 15-year-old Zar, Boaz. Boaz's mother, Herazah, works to influence her son and try and maintain her own power. Her ally/nemesis is a huge eunuch, Salmeo, the Grand Master of the harem. Boaz and Lazar rely on Pez, a dwarf who fakes insanity to everyone else.
As Lyana prepares for her appearance, her allies start to maneuver to assist her ascendancy. Zarab, meanwhile, sends in the immortal Maliz, a demon who can take over someone's persona, to be ready to destroy Lyana.
What makes this story work so well is McIntosh's ability to weave a logical and believable storyline in a colorful and clever universe. Her characters are very well fleshed out, and all of them have degrees of both "good" and "evil." None of them are one-dimensional. And as in her Quickening trilogy, being a main character in a McIntosh tale does not assure one's survival.
Percheron is an often violent place. Some of the scenes are horrifying, such as a castration of a young slave. People are readily tortured and executed. That the violence never seems gratuitous is a tribute to Mcintosh's skill in writing. These actions are a normal part of the society.
One thing that is so rewarding to me is to observe McIntosh's evolution from being a fantastic wordsmith to a fantastic writer. In the Quickening trilogy, McIntosh's way with words was very evident. She was and is a true master. But while that and her story landscape were outstanding, her characterizations and storylines were a little more standard for fantasy novels, in my opinion. Don't get me wrong. I loved that trilogy. But with The Percheron Saga, McIntosh has upped her game to join the very top echelon of writers. Not just fantasy writers, but all writers.
The Percheron Saga is selling quite well worldwide, but not as well in the US (her Quickening trilogy sold very well in the US). The author was told by some US booksellers that this might be the Middle-Eastern setting which turns some Americans away. This is a travesty. No current political leanings should keep people away from this series, and even if political leanings were evident, so what? This is a fictional novel, for goodness' sake! It is not a treatise on Al Qaeda or the Taliban. It is just a book set in an Ottoman-like setting. As a Marine vet who served in Iraq, I can write with 100% conviction that there is absolutely nothing in the trilogy which is offensive or should turn anyone away.
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21 of 30 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Read something else, June 19, 2007
This review is from: Odalisque: Book One of The Percheron Saga (Paperback)
Odalisque is a tease that starts strong but fizzles into a formulaic, predictable novel. The only redeemable feature is the unique, Ottoman-inspired setting, with its emphasis on the harem. Unfortunately, the setting barely influences the story. Any setting could have been used without altering the storyline.
This novel has a lot of faults, in my opinion. First, the characters are bland and absolute, without any ambiguity: The good characters are wholly good and distinguishable by their simplicity, whereas the bad characters are wholly bad and distinguishable by their extravagance and ambition. Why is ambition a bad trait? Lazar would have been a more interesting and complex character if he had ambition. He is the best warrior and has the support of the army. Why doesn't he take steps to remove the bad guys or secure his position? And what is his position? Although he commands the army, Percheron does not seem to be at war with anyone. If there is no one to fight, why is he so important? Second, we know events before the characters do, thereby ruining any suspense and mystery. For example, we know about Tariq while none of the characters knows. Wouldn't the novel be more fun if we had to guess who Maliz would corrupt? Third, there is a lack of action and conflict. If this novel were made into a film, it would be a "talkie" because very little happens besides talking. Fourth, everyone notices that Pez and later Tariq are more than what they seem, but no one does anything about it. How stupid are these people? Fifth, the harem has all of these rules that are routinely broken for the sake of the story. For example, no men are allowed in the harem, except for Pez. How convenient considering his role in the novel is to take messages to everyone. Once Zoreb dies, why is Pez allowed to run free in the harem? He should have been eliminated as soon as Zoreb drew his last breath. Sixth, the involvement of the gods is superfluous and insensible, considering that religion never plays much of a role. Where are the zealous priests and religious ceremonies? Religion was a significant part of Ottoman culture, but it barely makes a ripple here.
The novel's overall fault is that it suffers from "volume-itis." Instead of being a compelling, stand-alone work, it is the first volume in a trilogy. It provides the setup. The problem is that it is all setup and no progress. For example, a Galinsea invasion is implied but never develops. How can Galinsea be considered a danger if we do not see one Galinsea soldier? I believe that every novel, whether part of a series or not, should stand alone as a whole and satisfying work. Odalisque does not.
Let me tell you how Odalisque could have been better. Forget everything about the gods because they are unnecessary. Imagine this: While Percheron is on the cusp of war with Galinsea, the Zar dies unexpectedly. While the Zar lived there was balance between the rival officials; once he dies, a power struggle ensues. The heir is just a boy; someone must guide him to power. Who will it be? Through intrigues, plots, alliances, and deviousness, someone among Lazar, Salmeo, Tariq, and Herezah will emerge as Boaz's regent. At the same time, a young girl joins the harem, and we get to experience that strange world through her eyes. Will she also be a player in this power struggle? I would read that novel.
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8 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A fantastic take on a culture and community reminiscent of Constantinople, May 30, 2007
This review is from: Odalisque: Book One of The Percheron Saga (Paperback)
Let it never be said that Fiona McIntosh is not daring. Having established herself quite firmly with the solid work of the Quickening Trilogy, involving readers in more tried-and-true fantasy climes with castles and familiar settings, this time she takes a gamble. Rather than hold steady and go through the motions, she plots a new course and opens up an array of excitement and intrigue in Percheron, her fantastic take on a culture and community reminiscent of Constantinople.
Lazar, when we meet him, is a slave, brought for trade to the city. The law of the Zar dictates that a slave may fight for his freedom against a professional soldier. Zar Joreb is witness to the fight, amazed that this slave could best a dozen men, refusing to kill them as is customary. Joreb makes Lazar his Spur, protector of the Zar and of the city, from both without and within.
When Joreb dies, one of his many wives, Herezah, seeks to place her son, Boaz, upon the throne. To do so, she must eliminate the other children, for they could be potential assassins and enemies of the Zar. Her intentions are purely personal, seeking the power that comes with being the mother of the Zar and thus enabling her to bend the will of the world to her whims.
Lazar does not trust her and is bound to Boaz through more than just title. Boaz, only 15, trusts and respects Lazar. His only other friend is the mysterious and troublesome jester, a twisted dwarf by the name of Pez. They fear for the young Zar because those who would seek him the most harm are actually the ones who are the closest to him, and Lazar may not be capable of protecting him from all angles. It is more worrisome when Herezah sends Lazar away to seek odalisques for the new Zar, separating the young man from his protector and leaving only the mad dwarf to aid him.
Yet even more powerful machinations are at play, and powers greater than could have been imagined begin to awaken and put their pawns into play. All of Percheron hangs in the balance.
As in her previous works, McIntosh has a deft way with a story; she rushes you along, never slowing for you to become bored but never too fast for you to struggle to keep up. The details of the various plots and schemes web across one another, and intensity builds until the very end when you are left waiting for the follow-up title that will answer your questions and no doubt open up greater pitfalls.
The characters in ODALISQUE are exquisite and interesting. The beauty of them is their mystery, for they all seem to hold secrets that we never really know up front. It is as if you are meeting them and have to learn about them over time. Lazar is nearly superhuman in his warrior abilities, but something lies within him that needs to be learned. Pez, for all of his peculiarities, is far more than he appears. In fact, he may be more than even he realizes. Herezah and her minions are simply foul individuals but are so nicely drawn that they have their own allure.
Percheron itself is wonderful. With McIntosh's descriptions of the city and its surroundings, you get a deep sense of love that the author felt for the project. It is vibrant and beautiful, savage and deadly --- a backdrop not often utilized in the fantasy world. In this case it is a welcome and well-presented change of pace.
Fantasy fans should be so lucky as to find a larger palette of worlds to discover --- and luckier still if they were as astonishingly well-written as this. It is refreshing to see an author challenge herself and spread out into a new realm so vastly different, alluring and seductive as to capture the imagination instantly. Yes, Fiona McIntosh took a gamble.
It paid off very, very well.
--- Reviewed by Stephen Hubbard
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