Customer Reviews

This Rough Magic (Lackey, Mercedes)

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

First, it really doesn't read like the sequel it is...it can be read standalone quite well. Second, it reads like a terrifically well realized alternate history, rather than another of the ubiquitous elves-dwarves-and-orcs fantasies we are inundated with. Third, it actually has some closure at the end, so it isn't like certain other fantasy series which are apparently never going to go anywhere, and never end either.

Mercedes Lackey, Eric Flint, and Dave Freer are a perfectly matched writing trio...and a tripod is the strongest seat. They seamlessly craft this rich, colorful, and highly complex story, filled with historical in-jokes (Eneko Lopez and his friends are the original seven members of the Jesuit order) and even a few Baen Barfly in-jokes ("It was enough to give Erik the mutters.")

Even the little, passing-through characters are very vividly realized, and are real people, not spearcarriers. Spiro, the Corfiote fisherman, for example, and his buddy, Taki the fisher captain, are human beings caught in the flash of the story's eye.

I'm halfway through my third read of this book, and it is holding my attention so well that I have been sneaking off to read another couple of pages all day long.

This is what alternate worlds fantasy should be. Kim Stanley Robinson, Harry Turtledove, and other practitioners, please take note. This is the reigning champion of the field.

Walt Boyes

Lackey, Flint and Freer continue the fantastic weaving of characters that they started in Shadow of the Lion. The authors bring back most of our favourite characters, add in very interesting new characters, weave a plot that is gripping from beginning to end, have evil characters that are really evil and the authors make you cry yet leave you wanting the next book the minute you finish.

I cannot say it enough. Buy this book. You will find yourself reading it again and again just to enjoy the rich tapestry that Lackey, Flint and Freer have created.

This Rough Magic is an alternate-history where the great library in Alexandria was not destroyed. History as we know it branched from there. Magic and Christianity exist together, with black magic a very real danger to both body and soul.

Incorporating, mixing and mashing well known myths the story grips you to the very end. You find yourself still reading it at 3 am in the morning with a 7 am start knowing you just have to finish the book - who needs to sleep - you can snooze at work.

The main setting is the Island of Corfu where the Mother Goddess still rules and affects the magics of both good and evil. There are demons, nonhumans (both good and bad), good friends and family, all of whom become very real.

We see how much friends care about each, the enormous affect love has on people and what they will go through for their loved ones. We watch Benito Valdosta grow from a young lout of a noble to a mature young man, shouldering responsibilites that he would have avoided before. We see Maria grow from an kernal into a mighty tree (read the book - you'll see what I mean). Eric has to choose between love and duty, then has Manfred save him that horrible choice out of his friendship for Eric. Lackey, Flint and Freer write a scene where you believe you can see what's happening, then hit you with a ninety degree turn that you just didn't see coming.

We watch as King Emeric shows what a monster he is however he pales beside both his great aunt, Elizabeth Batholdy and Jagellion/Chernobog as they continue to work their great evil.

There are fascinating minor characters scattered and interwoven throughout the book and you find yourself looking for them again and again.

As you read, the characters become real people. Buy it, you'll enjoy it.

"This Rough Magic" is an excellent sequel to "Shadow of the Lion;" it is a seamless collaboration between three fine authors, Dave Freer, Eric Flint and Mercedes Lackey, and uses their best points of great characterization and fast-moving plotlines to good advantage.

The best thing about "This Rough Magic" is that there's no lost time; instead, it picks up where "Shadow" left off. Benito Valdosta (the mischievous brother in "Shadow"), who keeps finding new ways to get himself in trouble, was jilted by his love, Maria, who married another at the end of the last book. Consequently, the first thing he does in this book is engage in some rather public coitus to try to forget her (or at least have a good time in the process) and manages to get banished from Venice, unfortunately being sent to where Maria and her new husband have landed -- the island of Corfu.

There, the cruel Emeric of Hungary (egged on by his great-great-aunt, Elizabeth Bartholdy, who's even worse than Emeric) has plans to take over the island; he wants to take over Corfu as a military staging point, and expends many men and much effort into that purpose. And he nearly succeeds in doing so.

But Corfu itself resists him; the island is magical, and that slows Emeric's advance down long enough for word to be sent to Venice. Benito, of course, is the only messenger who has the street smarts and the upper class credentials to be believed, so despite his banishment, he goes anyway.

And after Benito returns, the sparks really start to fly, because y'see, Emeric didn't reckon on Benito, Maria and their friends . . . .

How Benito, Maria and the others thwart Emeric, along the way figuring out the mystery of Corfu and finding a way for Benito and Maria to reunite, is way too much fun for me to spoil.

Just go buy the book already, will you?

Five stars. Highly recommended.

Barb Caffrey

P.S. I hope there's another sequel planned; this world is way too rich and meaty to leave after only two books.

Can a sequel ever outshine the original? If you thought not then THIS ROUGH MAGIC may prove the exception. Maybe to say outshine is a bit much, SHADOW OF THE LION was good, very good, and now ROUGH MAGIC has taken that great story and built upon it, not only furthering the story but expanding it to truly epic proportions.

Characters were and are the strongest part of this tale. In RM the focus shifts away from Venice and Marco to Corfu and Benito. Although his life is in taters little Benito begins, with a great deal of help, to pull it together. We also have the pleasure of again traveling with Manfred, Eric, and Francesca and a number of our old favorites along with and new slew of goodies and baddies.

Although I believe characters really make this story you can't belittle the plot and storyline either. These three veterans authors have taken a slice of old world history and spliced in a touch of fantasy creating an alternate history that is at once vibrant and believable.

Keeping it from being darn near perfect is it's ending. Once again proving that the hardest part of any story is how to tie up the loose threads. Aside from the fact that this particular conclusion is nothing of the kind, the story begs, no, demands more, the finale certainly left me with a slight gamy taste. It could very well be that this ending is required for what comes in the future, but only time and the authors will tell. As it is it left me a bit flat.

All in all a truly great piece of work which I would unhesitatingly HIGHLY RECOMMEND. Be aware though, reading THE SHADOW OF THE LION is an absolute must. No two ways about it, you have to do your homework to fully, or even partially enjoy this book.

For writing such excellent books, so far apart, more please!! This may just be the best book I've read this year, and is now firmly entrenched in my top ten. I was for some reason surprised to like this better than the first book in the series, which was possibly the best book of the year when it came out. How it never won either a Hugo or Nebula is beyond me, any one who reads either of these books is guaranteed to be drawn in by one of the richest and best crafted worlds I've ever seen. This book pick up not long after the first with Maria and husband heading off to the back of beyond, Erik and Manfred traveling, and Benito getting into even more trouble. This book has all of the strengths of the first and all the rough edges polished off by familiarity.

This Rough Magic is a successful blend of fantasy magic, political maneuvering, and action writing that harkens to the separate strengths of the three authors: Lackey, Flint, and Freer. The details of the novel weave together to create a believable set of characters moving through a realistically conceived world. The book is a very enjoyable read and kept me engaged and reading to the detriment of my normal sleep cycle.

My only niggles with the work are the pacing of the last few chapters (which felt rushed) and the feeling of missing confrontation. At least I did not feel that I'd been left dangling since all critical story threads had been acceptably resolved by the end of the novel.

The most enjoyable part of the work is having the characters come to life as you read. By the end of the work, you really feel that you've gotten to know the characters and they seem real in your mind (which can be very uncomfortable with the evil characters). Even the minor characters have enough meat on them to create a believable mental image as you read.

Overall, a highly recommended read. Actual score I would give it is a 4.5 star.

This is my favorite fantasy book this year.
The book is a fresh read, in a fantasy type world that does not feel overdone. The Italian renaissance period is not one where I have found many good fantasies set. There is no constant melodrama, and the characters are likable (or hateable as the case may warrant), feeling real.
If you liked the first book, you'll like this one better.

I read this book without reading the first one.

Very very good, quick paced, with enough background that you can read it without reading the first.

I have been a long time Mercedes Lackey fan, this book just confirms and renews my faith in her:)

Defeated in his attempt to capture Venice (see our review of THE SHADOW OF THE LION) the demon Jagiellon hasn't given up on his plans to destroy the empire and his temporary ally, Emerick, King of Hungary is the perfect tool. Using Jagiellon's money and Byzantine ships, Emerick attacks the Venitian island of Corfu. Emerick hopes to weaken Venice, but Jagiellon has a darker motive. Corfu swarms with an ancient magic--a magic that, harnested by Jagiellon, could tip the balance of power between good and evil.

Unfortunately for Jagiellon and Emerick, Benito Valdosta, Prince Manfred, and Manfred's fearsome bodyguard Erik, along with a large group of martial monks, are on their way to Corfu. But Emerick doesn't give up easily and he has plenty of assistance, both magical, treacherous, and from his own cannons, to make sure that his conquest succeeds. Best of all, between his Byzantine allies and Jagiellon's sea-monster shaman, Venice remains in complete ignorance of the fate of its critical colony.

Authors Mercedes Lackey, Eric Flint and Dave Freer combine to deliver an emotionally satisfying and militarilly adventurous tale. The combination of alternate history and fantasy is strengthened by strong emotional ties and romantic entanglements amongst the characters. If the first novel in the series belonged to Kat and Marco, this one belongs to Benito and Maria--separated by Maria's stubornness and Benito's youthful mistakes.

THIS ROUGH MAGIC should be read as part of the series. Much of the story only makes sense in the context of THE SHADOW OF THE LION. Both of these are substantial books and require a significant investment in terms of reader time. In my opinion, they are well worth it and, if anything, THIS ROUGH MAGIC is even better than SHADOW.

This Rough Magic (2003) is the second novel in the Heirs of Alexandria series, following The Shadow of the Lion. In the previous volume, Manfred and Eric thwarted a coup within the Knights of the Holy Trinity and, with the help of Eneko Lopez and his companions, caught Sister Ursula and her escorts before the Woden demon could be used against the Polestine forts; Eric destroyed the body of Sister Ursula and then Eric and Manfred destroyed the Woden demon itself.

Maria aroused the Arsenalotti to defend the Doge's palace and Benito led them in an attack on the Casa Dandelo which freed the slaves and defeated the hidden Milano troops. Dottore Luciano initiated the ritual to allow Marco to assume the Crown of the Lion of Saint Mark. When Lucrezia Brunelli tried to interrupt this ritual, Kat destroyed her with shot and silver. After completing the ritual, Marco flew over Venice and the shadow of the lion drove all of Chernobog's minions out of Venice and its environs.

Maria had learned that she is pregnant, probably by Benito. Although he was not aware that the child might be his, Benito proposed marriage to Maria, but Maria was too distressed at Benito's recklessness and love of danger to accept his proposal. Marco has come to love Kat, but he was still bound by his pro forma marriage to Angelina Dorma. Manfred was content with just having Francesca as his mistress.

In this novel, Maria marries Umberto Verrier, a cousin and caulker foreman in the Arsenal. After the wedding, they leave Venice for Istria, where Umberto will become the chief forester, replacing a man who was caught selling Venice's timber to other parties. Immediately after their arrival, Maria stumbles upon a continuation of the scheme and breaks up a treasonous conspiracy.

Angelina Dorma has agreed to an annulment of her marriage to Marco and to take up a novitiate in the Carmelite sisterhood. However, she keeps changing her mind. In the meantime, Marco's marriage to Katerina is coming closer. Finally, Petro presents his younger sister with a offer that she cannot refuse and the wedding will be held on time.

Maria returns to Venice to be the Matron of Honor at Kat's wedding, with Francesca as the other attendant. But first she has her daughter christened by Brother Mascoli at St. Raphaella, the canalers' church; unknown to Maria, Marco also arranges for Juliette the undine to be a special godmother for Alessia. The wedding between Marco and Katerina is held at the Basilica di San Marco, with Eneko Lopez as the officiating priest. The banquet afterward is held in the Doge's palace as well as outside on the Piazza San Marco.

After the wedding, Benito is arrested for unseemly acts and sentenced to exile for five years; Petro sends him to Corfu with the Atlantic fleet. Umberto is assigned as assistant foreman to the Little Arsenal on Corfu and the family will also be sailing with the fleet. Prince Manfred, Eric and two hundred of the Knights of the Holy Trinity will be sailing a short while later on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, but will stop off at Corfu on the way.

Other persons have plans for Corfu. Chernobog sends his new shaman to search for magical sites there. King Emeric of Hungary has obtained ships from the Byzantines and is prepared to invade Corfu. Elizabeth Bartholdy has already planted agents on Corfu. Major forces are now converging on this island.

While Princes and demons are playing realpolitik, Eric Hakkonsen has found true love. Svanhild Thordardottar has traveled from Vinland to Venice with her brothers to arrange a trading alliance with Casa Montescue. There she meets Eric and is impressed, but assumes that he is a lowly bodyguard and tries to put him out of her mind. Eric also tries to ignore his feelings for Svanhild so as to concentrate on his duties. Then Svanhild leaves Venice with the Atlantic fleet, but enroute she learns from Maria that Eric is considerably more than a bodyguard, so she and her brothers leave the fleet at Corfu. Then comes the invasion and Svanhild is cut off from Eric by thousands of enemy troops.

This story also involves the ancient pagan fertility magic of Corfu as embodied in the religion of the Goddess. While less sophisticated than Christian or Strega magic, the Goddess wields enormous raw power. But this power can only be used defensively until some woman becomes the Bride, the incarnate focus of this power.

The plotline is complex and diverse, with more than a dozen separate major threads. The action ranges from Scandinavia to Constantinople and involves courts in Mainz, Vilna, and Buda. However, the heavy action occurs on Corfu.

Highly recommended for fans of this series and for anyone else who enjoys tales of individuals trying to find personal happiness amidst war and international intrigue among the great powers of the time.

-Arthur W. Jordin