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3.42 AVERAGE
3.42 AVERAGE
Heraclix and Pomp is a genuinely fun read, mixing up elements of fantasy, historical fiction, and the occult into a heady brew that gallops along at a brisk pace. The titular characters are richly developed, and the contrast between them gives the book much of its comedic edge. Which is not to say that this is solely a work of comedy, but rather that Forrest Aguirre uses humor to prevent the darker aspects of his story (including a trip to Hell) from taking over completely.
In many ways, this novel reminds me of Susanna Clarke's excellent Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, given that both works are set a few centuries back in grand European locations, and both works assume that magic is very real. Even better, both works feature members of the fair folk amongst their cast of characters, and traffic between our human world and the worlds of fairy is key to both narratives. This is not to suggest that Aguirre copied anything from Clarke, but rather that a reader who enjoyed one of these two books will almost certainly like them both.
In many ways, this novel reminds me of Susanna Clarke's excellent Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, given that both works are set a few centuries back in grand European locations, and both works assume that magic is very real. Even better, both works feature members of the fair folk amongst their cast of characters, and traffic between our human world and the worlds of fairy is key to both narratives. This is not to suggest that Aguirre copied anything from Clarke, but rather that a reader who enjoyed one of these two books will almost certainly like them both.
***I won a copy of this book through a Goodreads Giveaway***
Wow, Heraclix & Pomp... such great timing reading this book, just when I though I had no Hallowe'en type books to read this year!
Heraclix is a golem. A creature with body parts from different people sown together, and magically reanimated. Pomp is a fairy of the tallest definition; she likes pranks and doesn't really understand wrong from right, or even what the concept of being mortal means.
They are brought together by a wizard, who requires Pomp for a complicated spell. Heraclix, freshly reborn, and terrified of his maker, seizes his chance when the wizard is most vulnerable, and rescues Pomp. The wizards wayward spell attracts a lot of attention from the public outside, and soon Heraclix and Pomp are running for their lives.
The new friends set off on an adventure; where does Heraclix come from? Well, where do parts of Heralix come from? They managed to save a few of the wizards documents that gets them going on this little adventure, which takes us across middle Europe and even to the depths of Hell itself. (That chapter, not gonna lie, made me lose my appetite for a bit. And want to sleep with the lights on....)
I loved this book! Both Heraclix and Pomp are great characters that you love right from the get-go, something that doesn't happen to me all that much. Even though both of them have a lot of growing to do (ahem, mostly Pomp) their loyalty to one another is so endearing, you almost forget why they are together.
There are not a lot of books like this out there, and that's a shame. Books of this particular style usually end up being a little too intense for me, and little too Olde English. For me this book was a great story, beautifully written, and everyone needs to check it out!
Wow, Heraclix & Pomp... such great timing reading this book, just when I though I had no Hallowe'en type books to read this year!
Heraclix is a golem. A creature with body parts from different people sown together, and magically reanimated. Pomp is a fairy of the tallest definition; she likes pranks and doesn't really understand wrong from right, or even what the concept of being mortal means.
They are brought together by a wizard, who requires Pomp for a complicated spell. Heraclix, freshly reborn, and terrified of his maker, seizes his chance when the wizard is most vulnerable, and rescues Pomp. The wizards wayward spell attracts a lot of attention from the public outside, and soon Heraclix and Pomp are running for their lives.
The new friends set off on an adventure; where does Heraclix come from? Well, where do parts of Heralix come from? They managed to save a few of the wizards documents that gets them going on this little adventure, which takes us across middle Europe and even to the depths of Hell itself. (That chapter, not gonna lie, made me lose my appetite for a bit. And want to sleep with the lights on....)
I loved this book! Both Heraclix and Pomp are great characters that you love right from the get-go, something that doesn't happen to me all that much. Even though both of them have a lot of growing to do (ahem, mostly Pomp) their loyalty to one another is so endearing, you almost forget why they are together.
There are not a lot of books like this out there, and that's a shame. Books of this particular style usually end up being a little too intense for me, and little too Olde English. For me this book was a great story, beautifully written, and everyone needs to check it out!
Rating: 6* of five, 2015's very best read
2017 UPDATE! The Kindle edition is a measly $4.61, worth it at three times the price! Go forth and procure!
My review is live at Medium. Much musing, copious soul-searching, some vows to amend my prejudices...you were warned.
2017 UPDATE! The Kindle edition is a measly $4.61, worth it at three times the price! Go forth and procure!
My review is live at Medium. Much musing, copious soul-searching, some vows to amend my prejudices...you were warned.