Blood of Ambrose

James Enge's BLOOD OF AMBROSE tells of Ambrosia, accused of witchcraft and put to trial by combat where she's forced to call on her brother for help - a magic swordsman and drunk. Change and adventure mark a fantasy hard to put down.

Having already read through all the other reviews of BLOOD OF AMBROSE, I think it's been covered already: this is an amazing book. I'm not a fantasy reader, but read it because a friend wanted my opinion, and really enjoyed it. Seriously. I started reading it in the morning, and didn't put it down except to use the bathroom; finished it in 1.3 days. I was about to do a detailed review, but it appears that many people have already done that so I'll leave it at this: Enge is a brilliant writer who manages to insert humor into an otherwise edge-of-your-seat - sometimes horrifying - ride. This book is about real people, with real flaws, who happen to exist in an extraordinary world. Not your typical fantasy book; it's much more than that.

If you're in any way a fan of the sort of witty, pulpy fantasy that was all the rage before the era of the 600 page, muti-volume epic fantasy doorstopper, you're going to love this book. It's strongly reminiscent of Fritz Lieber's best work, with an undercurrent of weird horror and occasional bursts of laugh-out-loud humor. You'll love it.

Blood of Ambrose follows Lathmar VII's securing of and ascent to his throne, aided by his ancestress Ambrosia Viviana and her brother, Morlock Ambrosius. Five books comprise the novel, separated by periods of time of varying lengths, some encompassing weeks, some years. Much of the conflict (and the overarching plot) arises from Lathmar trying to reclaim his throne from the Lord Protector, Urdhven; more problems arise when it becomes apparent that there are inimical forces behind and beyond Urdhven. Several characters from Ambrosia and Morlock's past appear to help and/or complicate the situation. It's written in omniscient, with the deepest dip into a character's point of view going to Lathmar. Many other characters get scenes from their PsOV, but their emotions are mostly left for the reader to infer from their actions, which accomplishes (at least) two things: the older, more powerful characters at first feel enigmatic, as they must to Lathmar, and Lathmar himself seems younger (which he is: twelve at the beginning of the book) since his emotions are more on display. The omniscient POV is a change of pace from the more prevalent tight third person, and requires a little more work from the reader, but it's well worth it. There's quite a bit to admire about Enge's writing. Many parts of the world are referenced that I hope Morlock visits in future books, so I get to see them. Enge has a wonderfully inventive mind, as evidenced by the magic system and the world building. The writing is crisp and stylistically unusual, with a number of parenthetical asides that will be familiar to readers of the short stories. The dialogue is enjoyably witty. The last chapter had me both laughing and choking up. I'm very much looking forward to the second book.

This is a great fantasy. I'd not read any of the author's work in short form when I got this but had heard great things about where he sold his shorts. When i did read it, I was surprised to like something that while not horror, is certainly dark and dangerouns. Morlock is a Master Maker, some say the best in the world and is a known drunk. His apprentice is a dwarf with a mouth that might still be too big if he were eight feet tall. His sister is the King's many-times-great Grandmother, and he is called to help save Lathmar's kingdom from a usurper. Like any good writing things are not exactly as they seem and when the characters discover that the mystery of who is doing what and how is both deep and wrought with strokes Morlock himself would envy. Great book, I can't wait for more.