swedeheadchris
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A Cavern of Black Ice
JV Jones
Orbit/Tor Books
With the recent publication of A Sword From Red Ice, the third part in J.V Jones' fantasy series, Sword of Shadows (originally a trilogy, but now something much larger), I decided it was time I got around to reading this exciting series, especially after her earlier trilogy, The Book of Words.
When a hunting party for the clan Bludd is viciously attacked, Raif Sevrance and his older brother, Drey, survive. They alone know of the treachery that went on, and that a fellow survivor -- Mace Blackhail -- was responsible. He is now chief, and is doing everything possible to quell their suspicions. Raif alone challenges his lies, and ends up fleeing the clan (with the help of his uncle, Angus Lok, member of a mysterious society, the Phage), breaking a sacred oath -- he is now an outcast ... and worse, he will later be held responsible for the cruelties the new chief inflicts upon the other clans, the atrocities that force them into an all-consuming war.
Some, though, remember that darker days than night lie ahead... In the city of Spire Vanis, the surlord, Penthero Iss keeps his adopted daughter (or, as he calls her, his almost-daughter), Ash March, in virtual -- if comfortable -- house arrest. Lately though he seems to be taking an unnatural amount of interest in her, and, learning of one of his machinations, she also flees. And so, the fate of a world is changed. For every thousand years, one is born with the power to free the Endlords from their prison, the Blind. If they escape, vast hordes of hellish creatures will be unleashed upon an unprepared world...
At 804 pages, A Cavern of Black Ice is so much vaster in story, characterisation and world-building than any book I've read by Jones before, and any book I've read this year. Of the multiple Point of View characters, almost all are sufficiently fleshed out, and J.V Jones clearly put a great deal of thought into the various "back-drops" for her story. Vaylo Bludd, the Dog Lord, has definitely got to be one of my favourite characters in any book; also, at the very end, we learn the true identity of one of the characters, in a scene which will have anyone who's read the Book of Words trilogy thrilled. I hadn't actually realised the two series were related, so it'll be interesting to see whether that link is emphasised in book 2, A Fortress of Grey Ice.
"Boy running away with uncle, meeting mysterious girl", will hardly sound the most original of set-ups, but with a solid, believable plot, A Cavern of Black Ice avoids most of the clichés associated with typical Fantasy. One tiny exception, I felt, in maintaining the believability was that the one with the power to free the Endlords is born every 1000 years. It just seems a bit contrived, that's all! Minor niggle aside, I greatly enjoyed this book. The first to reach the hallowed 10/10?! Yes!
Though I enjoyed the Book of Words trilogy, J.V. Jones has grown considerably as a writer since then, and this book is proof of it.
--
The Book Swede
JV Jones
Orbit/Tor Books
With the recent publication of A Sword From Red Ice, the third part in J.V Jones' fantasy series, Sword of Shadows (originally a trilogy, but now something much larger), I decided it was time I got around to reading this exciting series, especially after her earlier trilogy, The Book of Words.
When a hunting party for the clan Bludd is viciously attacked, Raif Sevrance and his older brother, Drey, survive. They alone know of the treachery that went on, and that a fellow survivor -- Mace Blackhail -- was responsible. He is now chief, and is doing everything possible to quell their suspicions. Raif alone challenges his lies, and ends up fleeing the clan (with the help of his uncle, Angus Lok, member of a mysterious society, the Phage), breaking a sacred oath -- he is now an outcast ... and worse, he will later be held responsible for the cruelties the new chief inflicts upon the other clans, the atrocities that force them into an all-consuming war.
Some, though, remember that darker days than night lie ahead... In the city of Spire Vanis, the surlord, Penthero Iss keeps his adopted daughter (or, as he calls her, his almost-daughter), Ash March, in virtual -- if comfortable -- house arrest. Lately though he seems to be taking an unnatural amount of interest in her, and, learning of one of his machinations, she also flees. And so, the fate of a world is changed. For every thousand years, one is born with the power to free the Endlords from their prison, the Blind. If they escape, vast hordes of hellish creatures will be unleashed upon an unprepared world...
At 804 pages, A Cavern of Black Ice is so much vaster in story, characterisation and world-building than any book I've read by Jones before, and any book I've read this year. Of the multiple Point of View characters, almost all are sufficiently fleshed out, and J.V Jones clearly put a great deal of thought into the various "back-drops" for her story. Vaylo Bludd, the Dog Lord, has definitely got to be one of my favourite characters in any book; also, at the very end, we learn the true identity of one of the characters, in a scene which will have anyone who's read the Book of Words trilogy thrilled. I hadn't actually realised the two series were related, so it'll be interesting to see whether that link is emphasised in book 2, A Fortress of Grey Ice.
"Boy running away with uncle, meeting mysterious girl", will hardly sound the most original of set-ups, but with a solid, believable plot, A Cavern of Black Ice avoids most of the clichés associated with typical Fantasy. One tiny exception, I felt, in maintaining the believability was that the one with the power to free the Endlords is born every 1000 years. It just seems a bit contrived, that's all! Minor niggle aside, I greatly enjoyed this book. The first to reach the hallowed 10/10?! Yes!
Though I enjoyed the Book of Words trilogy, J.V. Jones has grown considerably as a writer since then, and this book is proof of it.
--
The Book Swede
