The Virtu
Mélusine Book 2
by Sarah Monette
This is the sequel to Melusine, the powerful debut that brought Sarah Monette to the attention of fantasy
readers. Felix Harrogate and Mildmay the Fox have a job to do: restore the Virtu to its former state as protector
of the city. Felix, more or less sane again, wants to return to being the dashing wizard he once was before his
master, evil Malker Gennadion, destroyed him. Mildmay wants a cure for the curse which damaged his leg. They must
return to the city to do this, beard Malker and repair the orb. But Melusine is a city with its own secrets;
nothing and no one are what they seem.
I like idea of having two narrators in this novel, a great way of having a narrator telling the story in his
own words while providing more than one viewpoint. More than this might have been even better, but there is the
baroque splendor and squalor of Melusine to enjoy, and a tortuous plot. There is also some further character
development to heighten the sense of this being a class act, and the now sane Felix is more interesting, although
it is Mildmay who makes the story sparkle. Anybody wanting a squeaky clean read may not like this novel, as there
is sex galore and not much of the type found in romances (not that this is one). Usually there is more violence
than sex in fantasy, and if it does occur it is invariably of the "straight" variety. Here the tables are very
much turned. If you want a truly imaginative novel that is a change from the Tolkeinesque you will find it here.
There is sure to be a sequel sometime soon with all those loose ends. |
The Book |
Ace (Berkley Publishing Group) |
July 2006 |
Hardcover |
0441014046 |
Fantasy |
More
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Excerpt |
NOTE: Sexual shenanigans |
The Reviewer |
Rachel A Hyde |
Reviewed 2006 |
NOTE: |
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