Book Log 5/2013 - Robert V S Redick: The Red Wolf Conspiracy – Chathrand Voyages #1

[jacey]

Pazel Pethkendle's mother gifted him with the magical ability to instantly learn languages, but after his country was invaded and his mother and sister disappeared, he ends up as a 'tar boy', the lowest of the low, on a sailing ship, living life from day to day. Abandoned in a strange port he ends up as tar boy aboard the Chathrand, the massive, seven deck leviathan sailing ship heading out on a diplomatic mission with an ambassador and his daughter, Thasha, a treaty bride.

But the mission isn't all that it seems. There's more than one nefarious plan about to disrupt the voyage and plenty of people who are not what they seem to be, including 'woken' (sentient) animals, ixchels (tiny humanoid creatures trying to stay out of sight) and at least two sorcerers, one from another dimension who comes and goes via a clock and one who's supposed to be dead.

The world-building is detailed and thoughtful with many imaginative touches that work really well. This first part of a trilogy is a sprawling complex book focusing mainly on Pazel and his talent for languages and Thasha who does not go to her wedding willingly. If it were just those two viewpoints I think I'd get on well with this book, but one person's 'luxuriant detail' is another person's 'bloat' and I find that there are too many side trips into viewpoints that don't really drive the story forward (though they may add the occasional significant detail).

While I enjoyed reading this on one level I chafed at the time taken for (for instance) letters from the sadistic Chathrand captain, Nilus Rose, to his parents (who turn out to be dead anyway), or the arrival of the ixchel on to the Chathrand, or the several adventures of the 'woken' rat who, granted, helps to unravel part of the conspiracy, but in a very long-winded way. I'd have liked to read a more pared down version of the story concentrating on the two main characters.

Admittedly I'm curious to see were the story goes from here, because, this being the first book in a trilogy it reaches an ending but sadly not a satisfactory conclusion. On balance, however, I'm not sure I want to read on if the next two books are more of the same. I've got them on the Kindle. I may change my mind if this stays in my mind beyond the next book or two that I read.

Comments

[kgbooklog.livejournal.com]

helps to unravel part of the conspiracy

Actually, the conspiracy isn't formed until the end of this book/beginning of next book. And it's a quartet (http://robertvsredick.com/chathrand-voyage/), not a trilogy.

[birdsedge.livejournal.com]

Ah, I only have three so far - but obviously haven't got to the end of them. There may be _another_ conspiracy but there's certainly one running all the way through the first volume - in that the captain of the Chathrand and his various co-conspirators are out to achieve a different (and secret) end to their stated mission.

[birdsedge.livejournal.com]

Ah - apparently the fourth volume is out this week.