This third YA novel starring the young thief Widdershins combines the angst and vulnerability of any teenage girl with the high action of the best fantasy adventures. *source* Pyr
Young Adult Fantasy Book Review by Mulluane
In the midst of all of her angst and high adventure, Shins learns a valuable lesson. Geographic cures do not work; you always carry your problems with you... And then find new ones.
The Basics
Worldbuilding: As Widdershin's attempts to run away from her nightmares, we get to view some different types of landscapes. First up is Lourveaux, the home of the Basilica of the Waking Choir, the seat of power for the Hollowed Pact of 147 gods. And as Widdershins observes, it is much like Davillon only richer and more pretentious.
Next up is the ostentatious estate of the aristocratic House of Delacourt, ruled over by a no nonsense, extremely protective matriarch.
From there her adventures take her to Aubier, which Shins describes as either a town bloated to the size of a small city or a small city that nostalgically called itself a town. Either way she wasn't very impressed. Not that much impresses our dear thief or her god.
Magic: There isn't much in the way of "new" magic in this tale of horror, adventure and mayhem. There are some things going on that nobody can explain and the source makes for an interesting switch. Plus there is always Olgun, Widdershin's personal god, who often grants her some amazing abilities that are just plain fun to watch.
New Characters:
- Cyrille Delacourt is a distant relative of Alexandre Delacourt, Widdershin's deceased adoptive father and mentor. Young, naive and hopelessly enamoured of Widdershins.
- Jourdain, guard captain for Cyrille's large dysfunction family.
- Ivon Maline, leader of the Thousand Crows, the top gang of thieves in Aubier, a town near the Delacourt estate.
- Fingerbone, Ivon's insane sidekick.
- Lazare Carnot, head of Carnot House. Rivals to House of Delacourt.
- Jose Tremont, slippery and not just a little creepy, servant of the Carnot family.
- Rosselin Veroche, Reeve of Aubier and my favorite (though relatively minor) new character.
And of course, there are plenty of other characters, both major and minor. Some of which I'm not going to mention. You'll have to read the book to see who else pops up.
My Synopsis
The Story: After wandering the countryside for 6 months, Widdershins finds herself heading to Lourveaux to visit the tomb of her friend, William de Laurent, deceased archbishop of Chevareaux, in a desperate search for solace.
But Shins can't even find peace in a cemetery. She is found by the archbishop's former assistant and it appears that once again, the church needs Widdershin's help.
To make matters worse, there also appear to be people who are after Shins herself! But how did they know to watch for her in Lourveaux when she didn't even know she was going to visit there herself? And why is anybody looking for her in the first place?
The search for answers will spin Widdershins straight into another adventure of epic proportion.
Meanwhile, something sinister is going on in Davillion, Shin's hometown, and the friends that she abandoned in her grief are in serious danger.
My Opinions
Thoughts: There are two storylines going on here but they are so distinctly different that there is no problem in following them both. The confusing part (atleast for me) is that there really started out being three, only one was pretty much dropped before it even got started.
Yeah I know. Kinda cryptic. But I don't want to give away too many plot details. Just suffice it to say don't be surprised when the story takes off in one direction, takes a left turn and never circles back around.
There is also a cliffhanger ending to this tale so it could be that the circle will be completed that way. I can't wait and find out.
Those two things aside, I thoroughly enjoyed this book! What a perfect Halloween read. Flawless mix of humor, adventure, horror and teen angst. There are thrills, chills, betrayal and sinister plots. There are twists, turns and switchbacks which will leave you breathless. That is if you have any breath left after laughing until it hurts.
There are characters to love, characters to hate, characters to feel sympathy for and through it all, events that keep you endlessly entertained.
Even the writing itself is entertaining. Ari Marmell paints wonderful pictures with his words. The horror is horrible and leaves nothing to the imagination. The scene descriptions are flawless. And he allows Widdershin's to put her unique perspective on every vista. Not sure if there is a stronger word for immersive but if there is, it would describe this book.
Favorite Scene
""Hey Cyrille."
The resulting sound wasn't quite a squawk, wasn't quite a yelp, wasn't quite a gasp. As best as she could describe it, it sounded like an angry chicken slapping a puppy with a fish.
"Could you repeat that?" Widdershins asked. "Define it? Possibly spell it for me?"
Conclusion
Summary: If you are into the Halloween spirit and like a dose of chilling horror in your fantasy, I can't think of a better series. Like Halloween it is full of both humor and villains. High adventure and danger lurks around every corner. You'll experience daring escapes and close calls. Insanity and cold logic. And in the background, the most dysfunctional family I've ever had the pleasure to dislike.
Now if you will excuse me, I must go read the fourth Widdershin's adventure, Covenant's End. There is a promise of more horror, danger and mayhem to come and I can't wait to see what is going to jump out of its pages and scare the pajamas off of me. In between giggles of course.
Ratings, Reviews, Similar Reads, Buy Books, Affiliate Links
Cover Art: Jason Chan
Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult, Sword and Sorcery
Content: Magic, Gods, Mystery, Horror
ISBN 13: 9781616148119
ASIN: B00DACWB02
Publisher: Pyr (December 3, 2013)
Print Length: 280 pages
Kindle: Lost Covenant: A Widdershins Adventure
Interactive List of Dragon Books
What Should I Read Next?
Rating: 5/5 Stars
Young Adult Fantasy Review of Lost Covenant by Ari Marmell - Reviewed by Mulluane
on October 19 2015 - Rating: of 5
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