Sakura of DOOM

I got briefly confused, because I thought for a little that this book might be set in the same world as Goblin Moon. It isn't, although it feels extremely similar, given that they're both set in a fantasy world that is circa the Age of Enlightenment (powdered wigs and patches!) and that they both have goblins.

Only in this world, the Maglore goblins ruled for millennia until in the past thousand years, humans managed to overthrow them. Now, strange things are happening, and the rather rogue-ish Wilrowan Blackheart must save the world by finding an ancient goblin artifact. Oh plot coupons, how I love you.

There are three strands of plot: one involves Will and his wife Lili, one involves a king debating an unwise marriage, and the third involves another king in an insane asylum. I got a little confused midway through, largely because the Will-Lili plot is taking place in the present, while the unwise-marriage plot taking place eight months ago, and the insane king plot taking place two (?) months ago.

This would have been ok, were it not for chapter titles like: "Two weeks later."

Eight months ago and two weeks later? Just two weeks later? Two months ago and two weeks later? What?

Other than that, this was a fairly enjoyable read, with the "man decides he is in love with his wife" trope, which my id greatly approved of. On the other hand, I keep not completely falling for the book because some of it is court intrigue and fantasy of manners, and the other parts are giant epic fantasy to save the world. The tones didn't quite match up for me.

Also, wow did the resolution come quickly. I wanted to know a lot more, like why the goblin creations were so important and how they could cause earthquakes and other natural disasters, but after the plot coupon has been recovered, the book abruptly ends.

I am too lazy to give good plot summary, and the plot is too complicated to be summarized anyway. Suffice to say, this is one of the rare fantasies that seems to be set in a non-medieval Europe. There is intrigue and alchemy/science, powdered wigs and secret societies, as well as trolls, homunculi, drowned island empires, and all that good stuff.

Of course I loved it.

I suspect that this fits into what most people call "fantasy of manners" (which I've never been able to wrap my head around) and I just slot into my random lumpy category of "intriguey sort-of historical book with much opportunity for spies and other good stuff."

I just read some reviews around LJ and on Amazon, and it looks like opinion varies as to what era the book is set in -- so far I've seen Regency, Victorian, Gothic and Age of Reason. I'm throwing my hat in with Age of Reason, given the combination of alchemy and science, the existence of the seramarias stone (seems to be this universe's equivalent of the philosopher's stone), powdered hair, foppish clothing, snuff and face patches. I adore the Age of Reason.

It was a little difficult slipping into the book, since the narration is very visible (and there were "In which..." chapter headings! I love those!) and a bit wry and distant. But once I did, I had much fun. I didn't connect much with any of the characters, but given the distance from them via the narrator, I wasn't that surprised or put-off. I did end up liking Miss Sera Vorder for her straight-forwardness, although she hasn't bowled me over with coolness. My problem with straight forward characters is that I tend to not like them in intriguey things because they are by nature anti-intrigue.

Francis Skelbrooke is very Lymond-esque and may have bowled me over, but I refuse to admit it.

The book does suffer from having a little too much plot; it ends rather abruptly, and I'm not sure if it was planned as a duology or if the sequel just sort of sprung up (The Gnome's Engine, which I have already started. Thank you, rachelmanija, for making me buy both at the same time!). Also, the two main plotlines never quite converge satisfactorily. And despite the book being called Goblin Moon, there is very little evidence of goblins and other such creatures, except on the side.

However, this is all completely made up for by the existence of aforementioned powdered wigs and alchemy and such! I now have a hankering to rewatch Dangerous Liaisions.

Any recs on more books like this one? I absolutely adore court intrigue, especially when there are spies and disguises involved.