Book Log 14/2013 - Kari Sperring: The Grass King's Concubine

[jacey]

Set a few hundred years after the beautifully written 'Living with Ghosts' and in the same world, but a different part of it, Kari Sperring's second novel is a delight. Aude is from a wealthy family in the Silver City, rich on the proceeds of the sweat of the workers in the Brass City which has a very steampunky feel to it and is almost on the brink of revolution. She meets Jehan, a guard in the city torn between his duty and the just cause of the oppressed workers. He sets her straight on a few of the social aspects of how the city and wealth works. When Aude decides to escape an arranged marriage and go on a quest to discover the source of her family's wealth it's Jehan who accompanies her, now more than just a guard. The action goes from the grease and sweat of the Brass City to the arid Steppes, dying to dust for lack of water because Something is Broken in the WorldAbove.

In WorldBelow the Grass King reigns with his terrifying Cadre of elementals, each with their own hidden agenda. Something  is out of balance and both worlds are suffering for it. Aude and Jehan are parted and both swept into the WorldBelow separately with echoes of the Persephone legend coming to the fore

There are two different timelines, one with added shapeshifting ferret-women, who are absolutely charming characters, searching for their lover Marcellan, in WorldBelow.

The world building in this book is superb, with grimy cities and sweeping vistas above and the creepiness and danger of below. The plot unfurls at a leisurely pace and the writing is elegant.

I read some of this in manuscript form while it was still being written as I've done a few weeks at various Milford Writers Conferences (www.milfordSF.co.uk) with the author and it's lovely to see it at last in printed form. I do happen to know that there is a sequel to look forward to.

Comments

[cmcmck.livejournal.com]

I'm sure Kari will be pleased with your review :o)

[birdsedge.livejournal.com]

Kari knows I love her writing.
:-)

[http://users.livejournal.com/la_marquise_de_/]

Kari is embarrassed, but so glad you liked it.