Thief's Covenant (A Widdershins Adventure) [Hardcover]

Ari Marmell (Author)

Book Description

Release date: February 21, 2012 | Series: Widdershins Adventure

Once she was Adrienne Satti. An orphan of Davillon, she had somehow escaped destitution and climbed to the ranks of the city's aristocracy in a rags-to-riches story straight from an ancient fairy tale. Until one horrid night, when a conspiracy of forces—human and other—stole it all away in a flurry of blood and murder.

Today she is Widdershins, a thief making her way through Davillon's underbelly with a sharp blade, a sharper wit, and the mystical aid of Olgun, a foreign god with no other worshippers but Widdershins herself. It's not a great life, certainly nothing compared to the one she once had, but it's hers.

But now, in the midst of Davillon's political turmoil, an array of hands are once again rising up against her, prepared to tear down all that she's built. The City Guard wants her in prison. Members of her own Guild want her dead. And something horrid, something dark, something ancient is reaching out for her, a past that refuses to let her go. Widdershins and Olgun are going to find answers, and justice, for what happened to her—but only if those who almost destroyed her in those years gone by don't finish the job first.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Praise for Ari Marmell:

"Ari Marmell has a remarkable flair for the sinister." --Scott Lynch

"Readers seeking out a strong heroine in a well-crafted fantasy world will enjoy this title and look forward to the second." --School Library Journal

"What this debut fantasy novel lacks in worldbuilding it most certainly makes up for in adventure... Widdershins is not your average heroine. Adept with her blade and her wits, sassy and sensitive, she should appeal to older teens both male and female." --RT Book Reviews, THREE STARS (ENJOYABLE- Pleasant Read)

About the Author

The author of The Goblin Corps, Ari Marmell is a fantasy and horror writer, with novels and short stories published through Spectra (Random House), Pyr, Wizards of the Coast, and others. He has also worked as an author of role-playing game materials for games such as Dungeons & Dragons and the World of Darkness line. His earliest novels were written as tie-in fiction for the games Vampire: The Masquerade and Magic: The Gathering. His first original (that is, non-tie-in) published novel was The Conqueror's Shadow, followed by a sequel, The Warlord's Legacy. Although born in New York, Ari has lived the vast majority of his life in Texas—first Houston (where he earned a BA in creative writing at the University of Houston)and then Austin. He lives with his wife, George; two cats; and a variety of neuroses.

Product Details

• Age Range: 12 and up
  
• Hardcover: 273 pages
• Publisher: Pyr; First Edition edition (February 21, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1616145471
• ISBN-13: 978-1616145477
• Product Dimensions: 6 x 1.1 x 9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (34 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #692,390 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

On March 22, 1974, Ari Marmell was hatched out of an egg laid by a rooster on the night of the full moon. Due a mix-up, he wound up in the infant ward at a hospital in New York, where he was claimed as a (relatively) normal human and taken home. He and his family fled New York barely a year later, either because his father received a job offer in Houston, or because they were chased by angry mobs with pitchforks; reports are unclear.

For the next 27 years, Ari lived in Houston. His father told him bedtime stories when he was in preschool and kindergarten, stories without which he might never have become a writer. He received his first roleplaying game--the red Dungeons & Dragons boxed set--at age 9, and the AD&D Players Handbook followed less than a year later. He spent very little time on class work or studies for the next, oh, 13 years, instead spending his efforts on far more important things like fighting orcs, riding dragons, and rescuing extremely beautiful princesses.

Ari went to college at the University of Houston. He began in the Psychology program, but quickly changed his major to Creative Writing. It was in the first week of class that he met his wife-to-be, who goes by the name of George. (No, it's not short for Georgia, Georgette, Georgiana, or anything else that could possibly make sense.) It was also in college that he wrote his first novel, one that he is now determined will never see the light of day, and charitably calls a "learning experience."

In short, Ari graduated in late '96, married George in March of 1997, honeymooned in New Orleans, worked several jobs he hated for the next several years, and quit the last of them in 2000 due to ongoing health issues. During this time, he wrote four more novels, two of which are actually pretty decent. It was also during this time that he managed to break into the roleplaying industry, having attracted the attention of Justin Achilli (developer of Vampire: The Masquerade) with a project submission inspired by his trip to New Orleans.

He and George moved to Austin in mid-2001 so George could attend graduate school while Ari continued to work as a freelance writer. They live there today, along with a large orange cat named Leloo and a smaller gray cat named Pippin who seems unable to grasp the notion that strings, ribbons, and plastic bags do not make up a viable part of the food chain. His first published novel, Gehenna: The Final Night, appeared on shelves in January of 2004.

Today, Ari is shifting his focus from freelancing to more fiction and novel-writing. His second novel, Agents of Artifice, was released by Wizards of the Coast in February of '09. His third novel, The Conqueror's Shadow, was released by Spectra in February 2010. (This was his first published non-tie-in novel.)

Ari's forthcoming novels include The Warlord's Legacy (Spectra, early 2011), the Goblin Corps (Pyr Books mid- to late 2011), and Household Gods (Pyr Books, 2012). You can learn more about him, and keep up with his news and release schedule, at www.mouseferatu.com.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Crazy-cool New Fantasy February 25, 2012

By K. Coombs VINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

I'm a Megan Whalen Turner fan, so maybe I just like stories about clever thieves, but Thief's Covenant is a good book in its own right. I will caution you that the author makes extensive use of flashbacks, which adds to the suspense but might irritate some readers a tad. The other caution I have is that the book has a rather high level of violence and gore. It's definitely meant for teens (and adults)!

On page 1 of the Prologue we discover a young woman named Adrienne Sati clinging to the rafters high above a room filled with people being slaughtered. Tears run down her face, but she keeps silent even after the murderers depart and the city guardsmen arrive. It seems they don't see her up there in the shadows. And Adrienne is about to reinvent herself once more, this time as a thief named Widdershins.

The Prologue takes place "Two years ago" and Chapter One starts off "Eight years ago." How did Adrienne come to be in that room, and how did she get out? More important, how did she wind up carrying her own pocket god named Olgun around the city?

Now Widdershins is trying to carry out a bit of honest theft undisturbed, but the city thieves' guild is after her, and so is the city guard, along with a couple of far more ominous villains. Somebody isn't happy that Adrienne escaped the carnage that terrible day. Couple all of this with a visit to the city from the high priest of the land's number one religion, and Widdershins is up to her neck in trouble.

The book is also pretty darn funny. And even though you'll find some recognizable fantasy tropes, Marmell's world and his tapestry of plot threads are plenty intriguing, especially thanks to his creative use of gods. Widdershins herself has dash worthy of the Scarlet Pimpernel and a bit of Gen's whininess and self-doubt (from Turner's Queen's Thief books). We even get a few city guardsmen who may remind you of characters from Pierce or Pratchett. I'm pretty sure you'll be cheering for Widdershins and her buddies every step of the way. I know I'm looking forward very much to Book 2.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Inklings Read Reviews: Thief's Covenant May 10, 2012

By Sarah

Format:Kindle Edition

Ok.. so here's the deal: In theory, this book is fantastic! In reality, however, Thief's Covenant didn't live up to my expectations. I was in love with the idea of the book versus in love with the book itself.

My main issue with this book lies in the fact that I felt a constant disconnect between myself and Widdershins. She was spunky, witty, strong, and intelligent - all qualities I look for in heroines. I just never felt dedicated to her cause. I lacked that passion for her character. I didn't feel a push or drive to care what happened to her. That, for me, is what made this book fall apart.

On top of my issues with the main character, I also had some major problems with the pacing. While there was plenty of action in Thief's Covenant, I felt the book moved very slow for some reason. I didn't feel like all that much was happening. I was also confused by the use of flashbacks. They hindered my understanding of the story rather than helping it. I've seen the value of flashbacks in other books, but when they range from two to six years back, it can be rather distracting.

Overall, I think that there are readers who will find this book enjoyable, however it wasn't for me. I had an incredibly hard time getting into it despite my enthusiasm at the start.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Devilish Rogue March 20, 2012

By Nickolas X. P. Sharps VINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover

Well it took me far longer than it should have, but I have now finished Thief's Covenant by Ari Marmell. Thief's Covenant is a short (and satisfyingly) breezy read but finishing up final projects for school has really cut into my reading time. I am pleased to say that I have been having relatively good luck with my reading endeavors lately, and the debut of Widdershins does not disappoint. In a YA market saturated with dystopian settings it's nice to read one set in a fantasy setting.

Meet Adrienne Satti, also known as Widdershins. Street urchin, turned aristocrat, turned thief, Widdershins has led a rough life. Orphaned at a young age, Widdershins has known both poverty and high class. Having returned to the shady alleys from whence she came, Widdershins has established herself as a daring thief but will her street smarts be enough to save her from the dark conspiracy brewing in the depths of Davillon?

First I must commend Ari on his choice of setting. The city of Davillon and Galice as a whole (though the story never strays past the city limits) is familiar enough not to shock any fantasy fans, yet diverse enough not to just be the same old song and dance. Yes the setting still has a European vibe but rather than Medieval England, Galice is closer to an early - gunpowder age France. It's funny what a difference French names can make for setting the scenery. Then of course Ari throws in the Pact, an alliance of one hundred and some gods that ensures peace and stability. Thief's Covenant takes a much different approach with the existence of "gods" than most fantasy and I have to say it is quite intriguing.

The aristocrats of Davillon worship separate gods, dictated by their affiliation. Even the law enforcers and thieves pay reverence to distinctive entities. The actual "powers" of the gods seem to be a lot more tame than the high magic and sorcery you will find in most fantasy. The gods of Thief's Covenant are better equipped for granting small miracles and luck, than stupendous feats of supernatural force. I like that these gods have such a subtle influence, I only wish that more details were provided on the Pact and the various gods that it consists of. Of course this is the first Widdershins Adventure so there is plenty of room for exploration in later entries.

And this of course brings us to Widdershins. Too often I find myself unable to relate to the protagonists of YA fiction. Even in a lot of the YA fiction I like, I have trouble relating to the main character. And then of course even when I can relate, it doesn't necessarily mean I like them. It's difficult to cheer for a character you are unable to bond with. Widdershins is perhaps one of the most likable characters I have come across in quite some time. Like is probably an understatement. Widdershins is fun. She is a devilish rogue with rapier sharp sarcasm and no shortage of sheer daring. She is vulnerable too, in exactly the way you would expect from a girl orphaned as young as she. She makes some very foolhardy mistakes and though her confidence can be one of her greatest weapons it is also one of her deepest flaws. Widdershins does undergo some very traumatic events but you won't find any teen angst here, even at her most susceptible.

Another great aspect of Widdershins is Olgun, the pagan god that resides in her head. Being not one of the Pact, Olgun survival depends on Widdershins just as her survival depends on him. The relationship between the two is unique, communication is more than just conversation. As lovable as the dynamic duo is, I did feel as though the supporting cast was rather underdeveloped. I will have to see more of Renard and Robin and the rest before I will be able to care about them even a quarter as much as I do Widdershins, but with such a strong lead I find this pretty forgivable for the debut novel.

The writing of Thief's Covenant is filled with beautiful descriptions but it is the wry wit that ultimately won me over. There is a good deal of humor to be found here, though I wouldn't go so far as to call it comedy. Very droll, very tongue in cheek, Ari delivers punchlines with excellent timing and all without sacrificing the tone of the novel. Dialogue is especially clever, and exchanges between Widdershins and Olgun are even occasionally laugh out loud funny.

With a dark, conspiracy laden plot, a lovable protagonist, and copious amounts of smirk inducing intellect, Thief's Covenant is a wonderful start to a new YA series that can be read and enjoyed by teens and adults alike.

*Nick Sharps
Goatfairy Review Blog