What happens when three of the best writers in the business get together and write a novel? Magic. Mercedes Lackey, Eric Flint, and Dave Freer are individually formidable, together they are indomitable.
In "The Shadow of the Lion”, we encounter a story that is half alternate history, half fantasy, and all quality. At its core we have a pair of young brothers who have lost their mother and been driven into crushing poverty; a young woman who's family fortune rests on her slim shoulders; the nephew of the man who is arguably the most powerful man on earth; and his companion, mentor and body guard who is almost certainly the most dangerous swordsman in the world. Among the other characters are someone who's evil enough to make Darth Vader look like a Girl Scout; a priest-mage whose life very closely resembles that of the founder of the largest Roman Catholic order; and the usual assortment of fighters, rouges, and mercenaries one might have found running about medieval Europe at this time.
The basics:
Benito and Marco need to prove their mettle before certain possible protectors will cover them with their mantle.
Manfred needs to grow up. Erik for his sins is assigned to help him.
Francesca is a hooker with ambition.
This is a deep, thick, rich world that is set in Italy. The story stretches all across the known world and is not a BFF (Big Fat Fantasy) but a BBF (Big Boned Fantasy). You couldn't construct a story this good and this wide ranging and make it any smaller if you tried. It avoids handily the pitfalls of other large tomes, and is simply an incredible book. It is followed in the series by "This Rough Magic" and the soon to be released "A Mankind Witch".
On my double five star scale this book gets 4.75 for execution and 4.75 for originality, and texture.
Its great strengths are in its characters and in keeping this quarter million word volume moving and having the plot lines stay straight.
Sample chapters are available at
www.baen.com
Authors Websites:
Dave Freer http://www.doctormonkey.com
Eric Flint http://www.ericflint.net
Mercedes Lackey http://www.mercedeslackey.com
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1 - Bryce Eddings
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