Nights of Villjamur by Mark Charan Newton

[Corporal Blues]

Well said Erf.

I hadn't really thought of it like that. I agree that there seems to be an overwhelming lust for the "next big thing" among fans of this genre. I know I've been guilty of that a few times. The problem is, that search often leads to some pretty bad reading experiences.

Save yourself the effort and don't give this one a read.

 

[Loerwyn]

I will be honest. Mark is a good writer, but like many authors, he doesn't live up to all of the praise he gets. I mean no offence to him by that, but I think he falls prey to his praise more than most authors. I personally didn't get on too well with his latest, but I enjoyed the previous two.

I don't agree with that conclusion though, CB. I think his books are well worth at least a go, if just for how they might make you think and consider ideas and views you otherwise wouldn't. I would never really advise anyone to not read a book unless it claims or appears to be something it isn't, which NoV never does.

 

[Corporal Blues]

I don't agree with that conclusion though, CB. I think his books are well worth at least a go, if just for how they might make you think and consider ideas and views you otherwise wouldn't. I would never really advise anyone to not read a book unless it claims or appears to be something it isn't, which NoV never does.

That's fair, and I respect your opinion. Maybe I was too rash... Hell, plenty of people here, yourself, and many others in this thread whose opinions I put a lot of stock in, have given NoV high praise. I just don't think it is deserving. In fact, I was quite shocked at just how much I disagreed with many of the reviews I've read regarding this book. The SFFWorld review blurb in my copy of the book states: "This will be a 'best of the year' novel, unless I'm much mistaken."

For me, this was not even close to a 'best of the year' novel. I personally wouldn't feel comfortable recommending it to anyone, given the amount of problems I felt were prevalent in the novel.

 

[Loerwyn]

That's fair enough, but my point still stands. There are very few books that should simply not be read, but NoV isn't one of them.

The Wind-Up Girl got a lot of praise, but I put it down in sheer disgust at one scene. That something-Thousand Kingdoms was also highly praised, but I put it down as I couldn't get past the bad intro. Heck, I actually finished Lawrence's Prince of Thorns and I found it a book I didn't like, but I still think people should read it because I'm sure many will enjoy it.

That said, I'm the person who would encourage people to read Goodkind.

 

[Corporal Blues]

The Wind-Up Girl got a lot of praise, but I put it down in sheer disgust at one scene.

What scene was that? I wasn't a fan of that novel either. For some of the same reasons I wasn't a fan of NoV.

I also want to add that I do think Newton has some strong writing qualities. I thought the plot of NoV was interesting, and I like that he can get "weird", so I can definitely see myself picking up something of his a few years down the road once he's had a chance to develop as a writer. I'm certainly not willing to write him off completely.

 

[Loerwyn]

What scene was that? I wasn't a fan of that novel either.

The very first sexual scene, with the beer and stuff. I read a bit further but that scene killed it for me.

I also want to add that I do think Newton has some strong writing qualities. I thought the plot of NoV was interesting, and I like that he can get "weird", so I can definitely see myself picking up something of his a few years down the road once he's had a chance to develop as a writer. I'm certainly not willing to write him off completely.

Excellent to hear, CB. His next series will be much less 'weird', going by his blog, so it's just a case of waiting and seeing.

 

[Werthead]

His first novel, The Reef, was a highly enjoyable novel and a strong debut. It's a shame it was small-press only as I think it's a good book that people who have problems with other elements of his writing would enjoy, but Mark doesn't seem keen on it getting a wider audience.

For his main series, Nights of Villjamur was solid but a little underwhelming. City of Ruins was excellent, a very strong novel that showed him developing very well. I just finished Book of Transformations and it didn't entirely gel for me. It started off superbly but by the end it was feeling a little uninspired. I'm not sure what was going on there, maybe a little series fatigue?

 

[Mithfânion]

I haven't read this one yet, but it seems like there's a lot of everybody-rush-to-the-next-great-thing mob effect with some of the "bigger" epic fantasy debuts over the last two years or so. They're the absolute greatest thing ever for a month or two until the next one happens, then a few negative reviews trickle in, but by then everyone has moved on.

Totally agree with this, Erfael. Just my sentiments exactly as I review the last few years of buying and reading Fantasy releases. It's funny now to go back to some of the "big new releases" from some of the last few years and see how they have done, not so much in sales, but in critical response from fans, and quite a few of those debuts with buzz or hype simply haven't caught on. Sometimes not for me either. There is this real buzz to try and get that new author, that maybe that book is the book that you've been searching for, but it rarely turns out to be that great.

And on a related note I have the same feelings as Loerwyn has about the disappointment felt by Wind Up girl, Jemisin and Lawrence. None of them worked for me, despite a lot of promise in premise.

 

[Werthead]

Publishers have been pushing that angle very hard as well. Now we can't just have a fantasy book coming out, it's got to be the "Best fantasy debut of the year/decade/century!" or "since Pat Rothfuss/George R.R. Martin/J.R.R. Tolkien/Homer". This has led to some reasonably okay mid-listing, entertaining fantasy novels getting hyped up way out of proportion.

What's self-defeating about this is that books then tend to get put down for not living up to the hype, rather than on their own merits, and no-one gets excited about anything any more, having been burned too many times.

Ironically, of course, it's the books no-one has been talking about that generally end up impressing. For example, I've just started a fantasy series debut called The Emperor's Knife by Mazarkis Williams and, coming at it with no preconceptions driven by hype or reviews, it's turned out to be an excellent Asian-tinged fantasy novel (shades of Chris Wooding's enjoyable Braided Path trilogy). Yet I haven't heard a single thing about it, due to other publishers shouting about the likes of The Unremembered (haven't read, but it's not had a great reception), Songs of the Earth (pleasant MOR fantasy, nothing more) and Prince of Thorns (which I thought was excellent but perhaps a tad mismarketed: more of a dark, short swords-and-sorcery book than the ASoIaF-beater the marketing suggested).

Of course, now I've said that, it will be proclaimed as overhyped

 

[Erfael]

I agree, Wert. I've read much more unknown (or at least rarely talked-about) stuff over the last 5 years that I like far more than the "big" releases that are being talked about all over.

 

[Corporal Blues]

@ Loerwyn- yeah, that part was pretty brutal.

@ Wert- your initial review of NoV gave it a score of 4.5 stars, but now in retrospect, you describe it as 'solid, but a little underwhelming'. As a reviewer, do you feel like it is sometimes hard to separate yourself from the hype and write a review that you feel does justice to the novel, and the man who wrote it? (Who, from what I've seen of Newton's interactions here and there, seems to be a totally great guy.)

Also, do you find that your perspective on a novel changes given time and distance from the piece of writing?

 

[Werthead]

your initial review of NoV gave it a score of 4.5 stars, but now in retrospect, you describe it as 'solid, but a little underwhelming'. As a reviewer, do you feel like it is sometimes hard to separate yourself from the hype and write a review that you feel does justice to the novel, and the man who wrote it? (Who, from what I've seen of Newton's interactions here and there, seems to be a totally great guy.)

I think most of my review stands. The underwhelming elements are the ones I noted - maybe not very well - in the review (most notably, the book has an important political subplot which is not very-well depicted in the novel, leading to the ending feeling a little random). 4.5 is a strong score, but not a perfect one (if it was, I'd have given 5 ). I also didn't know MCN at all at the time I reviewed the first book (I have met him since - somewhat randomly in a dwarven-themed bar! - but I try not to let personal interactions with authors influence reviews).

Also, do you find that your perspective on a novel changes given time and distance from the piece of writing?

Indeed. To the point where now I tend to stew over reviews for a few days before posting them, rather than releasing them immediately after finishing a book. However, the distance of months or years can change things, as can re-reads.

 

[Loerwyn]

@ Loerwyn- yeah, that part was pretty brutal.

It was early on, too, and I didn't want to see if it gets worse.

@ Wert- your initial review of NoV gave it a score of 4.5 stars, but now in retrospect, you describe it as 'solid, but a little underwhelming'. As a reviewer, do you feel like it is sometimes hard to separate yourself from the hype and write a review that you feel does justice to the novel, and the man who wrote it? (Who, from what I've seen of Newton's interactions here and there, seems to be a totally great guy.)

Also, do you find that your perspective on a novel changes given time and distance from the piece of writing?

Can I also chime in with uneducated tripe? Going back to Lawrence, I could see where the hype was coming from, but I couldn't like it. It wasn't the feedback I got that hit me, it was the fact I couldn't really enjoy the work of a great guy. Mark has been very pleasant to me, and someone good to talk to, but I felt bad for how I felt for his book. The same went for Newton's The Book of Transformations, which stung more because I was so self-hyped about it.

The infamous example of late would be Hoffman's The Left Hand of God. A highly hyped book that divided the community. Some, like me, didn't care in the slightest for it and never even finished it. Some really liked it. I think the hype counted against it in most reviews I've seen, so I suppose that book alone is proof that hype can be a problem as much as it is a help.

As for the looking back, it's much easier to look back and think you were wrong. Prince of Thorns? In retrospect, very harsh, and I should probably give it another go in the future. Book of Transformations? Again. But you get things like The Hitchhiker's Guide... which is a book I don't think I care for any more after these years. Some people can do the same sort of thing better, and I don't think I can hold the Guide in such high regard anymore.

 

[Corporal Blues]

I think most of my review stands. The underwhelming elements are the ones I noted - maybe not very well - in the review (most notably, the book has an important political subplot which is not very-well depicted in the novel, leading to the ending feeling a little random). 4.5 is a strong score, but not a perfect one (if it was, I'd have given 5 ). I also didn't know MCN at all at the time I reviewed the first book (I have met him since - somewhat randomly in a dwarven-themed bar! - but I try not to let personal interactions with authors influence reviews).

I personally feel that you are an honest and fair reviewer, and didn't intend to question that aspect of your review.

I know from personal experience, that I'm generally pulling for every writer in the genre to write awesome stuff. I love fantasy, and I want nothing more for it to be filled with great works. However, as a reviewer, I sometimes struggle with my wish for each writer to succeed, and to be an honest critical voice when discussing how I feel about the novel/comic/album or whatever I happen to be reviewing.

Indeed. To the point where now I tend to stew over reviews for a few days before posting them, rather than releasing them immediately after finishing a book. However, the distance of months or years can change things, as can re-reads.

Interesting. I've had similar experiences.

That dwarven themed bar sounds like a cool place to get a drink.

MOD EDIT: Fixed quote tags

 

[Loerwyn]

somewhat randomly in a dwarven-themed bar!

Is it in Nottingham, by any chance?

 

[Mark Lawrence]

Publishers have been pushing that angle very hard as well. Now we can't just have a fantasy book coming out, it's got to be the "Best fantasy debut of the year/decade/century!" or "since Pat Rothfuss/George R.R. Martin/J.R.R. Tolkien/Homer". This has led to some reasonably okay mid-listing, entertaining fantasy novels getting hyped up way out of proportion.

What's self-defeating about this is that books then tend to get put down for not living up to the hype, rather than on their own merits, and no-one gets excited about anything any more, having been burned too many times.

Ironically, of course, it's the books no-one has been talking about that generally end up impressing. For example, I've just started a fantasy series debut called The Emperor's Knife by Mazarkis Williams and, coming at it with no preconceptions driven by hype or reviews, it's turned out to be an excellent Asian-tinged fantasy novel (shades of Chris Wooding's enjoyable Braided Path trilogy). Yet I haven't heard a single thing about it, due to other publishers shouting about the likes of The Unremembered (haven't read, but it's not had a great reception), Songs of the Earth (pleasant MOR fantasy, nothing more) and Prince of Thorns (which I thought was excellent but perhaps a tad mismarketed: more of a dark, short swords-and-sorcery book than the ASoIaF-beater the marketing suggested).

Of course, now I've said that, it will be proclaimed as overhyped

I reached out for the nearest book to me. Lord Foul's Bane (purchased late 70's) front cover has the title, the author, & then 'Comparable to Tolkien at his best'. So t'aint a new thing.

Moreover, there has to be at least one 'best fantasy debut of the year' every single year ... and if just one publisher claimed it then that would be a remarkable display of restraint, so seeing three or four, or five or six claims to that relatively modest title isn't so bad?

And yes, it's entirely possible, likely even, that when viewed over one's shoulder after a few years have rolled by the best &/or most enduring books of 2011 (debuts certainly) may be sleeper hits that we hardly noticed at the time.

 

[Werthead]

My review of the third book:

Emperor Urtica rules over a nation threatened from within and without. Hordes of invading creatures are threatening the northern islands, where the city of Villiren is commanded to hold out against impossible odds. However, with most of the imperial armies dispatched to Villiren, political intrigue and anarchic violence are taking hold of the streets of Villjamur, the capital. To combat the threat, Urtica recruits three individuals and transforms them into super-powered warriors, the Villjamur Knights, but must use a mixture of threats and promises of rewards to keep them in line.

Meanwhile, a priest arrives in Villjamur on a quest that has already seen him marked for death by the region's dominant religion. He seeks to expose a lie that has defined the history of the Boreal Archipelago, but in doing so may trigger events that he and the world are unprepared for. Far to the north, Dartun Sur and his band of cultists have returned from the invading creatures' homeworld and rush back to the capital to reveal their findings...in a manner that no-one is expecting.

The Book of Transformations is the third and penultimate volume in The Legends of the Red Sun, following on from Nights of Villjamur and City of Ruin. Like the earlier books in the series, it places a number of self-contained narratives in the context of a longer, more epic story. This time around Newton gives us the story of Lan, a woman born in a man's body, who undergoes a sex-change operation fuelled by magic (or, more accurately, relic technology) only to find herself pressganged into the Knights and kept in service by blackmail.

It's unusual to see transgenderism raised as an issue in a secondary world fantasy novel, but Newton ties it in expertly with the book's overall theme of personal transformation, whether it's physical, spiritual or ideological. Almost every character is undergoing a metamorphosis of some kind, some voluntary, others not, and Lan's transformation is handled sensitively and fits in with the overall theme of the book very well.

Elsewhere, Newton's skills with atmosphere remain strong, with the snow-shrouded streets and rooftops of Villjamur remaining an evocative setting for the action. Character-wise, he gives us some memorable newcomers and brings back a couple of older hands (though not many; the book takes place simultaneously with much of City of Ruin, so the characters from that book are not present) to keep the plot ticking over. This is where the book starts to run into problems: there are a lot of characters doing a lot of things that need to converge for a grand, world-shaking finale that is undoubtedly meant to be epic, jaw-dropping and leave you on the edge of your seat until the final book is released next year. Unfortunately, this doesn't really happen.

The narrative seems to run out of drive some distance before the end. The problem is that Newton is at his best when engaging with interesting issues in a manner that is thoughtful and based in characters' emotions. That's not to say he can't do great mayhem - City of Ruin had some splendid battle sequences - but to do so he needs to root scenes of chaos and combat with characters we've become emotionally invested in. Book of Transformation's key weakness is that there's so much going on we haven't really had time to get really acquainted with the characters to make the huge scenes at the end of the novel come to life. In particular, whilst Lan is well-written, her two fellow Knights are much more lightly-sketched with only hints at depth rather than real exploration of their characters. Hinging so much of the climactic action sequences on their exploits thus falls flat. Similarly, the priest Ulryk is an interesting character with great potential, but he never really comes to life, and Inquisitor Fulcrom's desire to help him feels a bit random, something that has to happen for the plot to work regardless of whether or not it makes sense in terms of character motivation.

The cumulative effect of this is that instead of a vast, awe-inspiring and grand climax, we get something that is, at best, perfunctory. On an intellectual level, lots of interesting things happen at the end, but there is little emotional power to them. Newton's prose, which can be richly atmospheric, feels flat and rushed as he moves to the climax. Scenes featuring huge amounts of devastation in which hundreds of people die feel distant and unengaging, whilst the arrival of what is apparently a major new character at the end passes by with little impact. The problems with the climax are in fact highlighted by how good the first half of the book is, particularly the success Newton initially experiences in exploring these themes of transformation and alteration.

The Book of Transformation (***½) starts off promisingly with some well-realised characters and ideas being explored, but then it tails off as the climax approaches. The ending of the book feels rushed and under-written in comparison to what has come before, but Newton manages to hold things together just well enough to make the final novel an interesting prospect, provided he can avoid the same issues next time around. The novel is available now in the UK and on import in the USA.

 

[Jussi]

Interesting. Other reviewers are saying that this is the best book in the series so far:

LEC Book Reviews

Civilian Reader

Pornokitsch

 

[suciul]

Personally I quite liked Book of Transformations - my favorite is still Nights of Viljamur in many ways, while the best characters are in this one, but I liked all three a lot and I am looking forward to the completion of the series.

 

[Loerwyn]

My favourite is the second. It built on NoV rather well and was one of the few books where I've felt the author improving.

TBoT is a bit of an odd one. I loved Lan, don't get me wrong, but the book just didn't scratch an itch for me. I didn't feel like it improved on CoR, and part of that might be the expansion of the cast, meaning less screen time per character. I liked the way Brynd and... uh... That Rumel guy (I've forgotten his name) played off each other. I don't feel that TBoT had that sort of thing going, and it was the 'weirdest' volume yet.