8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Very surprising book that deserves to sell lots of copies, June 22, 2003
This review is from: Vengeance of Masks (Hardcover)
"Vengeance of Masks" once again proves that Rosemary Edghill can write anything, and do it with flair.
The story is written in two different styles, which befits the two almost diametrically opposed characters. The first is written in an epic, almost melodramatic style. This is befitting, as the first character, Childeric, has an almost luckless existence. He's God-emperor of the Eidolon Empire, but realizes he has no real power at the ripe old age of eight. His uncle, Prince-Regent Dabaoth, wants to kill him, but can't due to politics and the unusual power the Emperor holds.
Simply put, the Emperor holds a demon enchained; to be Emperor, you must surrender your will to a mask, which is supposed to give you control over the demon -- and thus, everyone else as well.
However, this isn't quite true. If you use the mask too soon, the demon can bind you -- and that's what happens to the luckless Childeric.
As his horrific story unfolds, we meet our second character, Arcadia. She's a writer, producer, and film maker from our world, but isn't famous and perhaps doesn't even want to be. Yet, as we meet her, fleeing from a party where her would-be boyfriend basically hit her up for a "if you give me what I want (entry into film school), I'll give you what you want (sex)" deal, she's very upset, nervous, strung out, and half-drunk. Her car goes off the road . . . problem is, she wakes up in the Eidolon Empire.
Yet, it might not be, because she's stuck where she is. She can't really go anywhere. Then, she meets Childeric, and realizes he's the character she wrote about years ago . . . someone who's had too much doom follow him, and now believes in almost nothing, yet is more noble than not despite doing unspeakable, savage things in the name of survival.
The ending is a major cliffhanger; I'm not even going to try and get into that. Suffice it to say that I read this book in one sitting, and can barely wait to find out the ending (revealed, I hope, in book two).
Ms. Edghill outdid herself with the characterization of Childeric. He's noble, caustic, self-absorbed, abusive, and lovable despite himself by turns -- a do-gooder fully aware his deeds might not amount to much, yet compelled to do it anyway. Oh, and every so often, Childeric does something totally shocking and seemingly out of character, almost as if he's saying to the reader, "I don't want to be lovable. Leave me alone."
Sorry, doesn't work that way. :)
Arcadia is closer to most of Ms. Edghill's heroines. She's smart, tough, can take care of herself, very witty, and more than a little shell-shocked about the situation in which she finds herself. And Arcadia, whenever she shows up, is written in a very straightforward prose style (similar to most of Ms. Edghill's other s/f and fantasy writing); Childeric, while he's onstage, talks in near-Shakespearean overtones and cadences, as if he's a character in an epic melodrama (which, indeed, he is).
This is a terrific, multi-layered book, with lots of surprises, suspense, and mystery. Also an intriguing hint of romance (which isn't quite as expected, either, by the heroine).
If I could give this book over five stars, I would. Definitely the best book of the year so far, hands down. Buy this book!
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
fabulous fantasy, June 14, 2003
This review is from: Vengeance of Masks (Hardcover)
The eight-year-old Eidolon Emperor-elect Childeric learns that his uncle plans to kill him at the Ascension Ceremony when he turns sixteen. In desperation, he turns to the demon Malvisage for help. The evil demon provides Childeric with the mindmask that will allegedly keep him safe. However, after being held in check for centuries, Malvisage seizes the opportunity that the naive egocentric Childeric has given him. He betrays the emperor via the mask that turns Childeric into a murdering machine.
Following a Hollywood gala, Cady McCauley crashes her car. When she awakens she finds herself in a strange castle. Even weirder she recognizes some of the people she meets at the castle as being characters in a series of fantasy novels she wrote in the 1960s. Unbeknownst to her, Malvisage has opened a gate between the two realms so he can implement plans for both of them. For only she, tied to the "imprisoned" Childeric in ways no one can understand except perhaps the demon, may be able to set the born to be emperor free.
This opening tale is a fabulous fantasy that showcases the talent of Rosemary Edghill in creating a realistic universe. The story line is exciting, fast-paced and filled with twists not normally seen in this genre. The cast seems genuine as they make the tale work to the point that readers will want to start the next novel now. Perhaps the only drawback to this geriatric is the small size of the print, but fans will risk the eyestrain to read a strong novel.
Harriet Klausner
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