This Rough Magic

"This Rough Magic" is an excellent sequel to "Shadow of the Lion;" it is a seamless collaboration between three fine authors, Dave Freer, Eric Flint and Mercedes Lackey, and uses their best points of great characterization and fast-moving plotlines to good advantage.The best thing about "This Rough Magic" is that there's no lost time; instead, it picks up where "Shadow" left off. Benito Valdosta (the mischievous brother in "Shadow"), who keeps finding new ways to get himself in trouble, was jilted by his love, Maria, who married another at the end of the last book. Consequently, the first thing he does in this book is engage in some rather public coitus to try to forget her (or at least have a good time in the process) and manages to get banished from Venice, unfortunately being sent to where Maria and her new husband have landed -- the island of Corfu.There, the cruel Emeric of Hungary (egged on by his great-great-aunt, Elizabeth Bartholdy, who's even worse than Emeric) has plans to take over the island; he wants to take over Corfu as a military staging point, and expends many men and much effort into that purpose. And he nearly succeeds in doing so.But Corfu itself resists him; the island is magical, and that slows Emeric's advance down long enough for word to be sent to Venice. Benito, of course, is the only messenger who has the street smarts and the upper class credentials to be believed, so despite his banishment, he goes anyway.And after Benito returns, the sparks really start to fly, because y'see, Emeric didn't reckon on Benito, Maria and their friends . . . . How Benito, Maria and the others thwart Emeric, along the way figuring out the mystery of Corfu and finding a way for Benito and Maria to reunite, is way too much fun for me to spoil.Just go buy the book already, will you?Five stars. Highly recommended.Barb CaffreyP.S. I hope there's another sequel planned; this world is way too rich and meaty to leave after only two books.

For writing such excellent books, so far apart, more please!! This may just be the best book I've read this year, and is now firmly entrenched in my top ten. I was for some reason surprised to like this better than the first book in the series, which was possibly the best book of the year when it came out. How it never won either a Hugo or Nebula is beyond me, any one who reads either of these books is guaranteed to be drawn in by one of the richest and best crafted worlds I've ever seen. This book pick up not long after the first with Maria and husband heading off to the back of beyond, Erik and Manfred traveling, and Benito getting into even more trouble. This book has all of the strengths of the first and all the rough edges polished off by familiarity.

This is my favorite fantasy book this year.The book is a fresh read, in a fantasy type world that does not feel overdone. The Italian renaissance period is not one where I have found many good fantasies set. There is no constant melodrama, and the characters are likable (or hateable as the case may warrant), feeling real.If you liked the first book, you'll like this one better.

First, it really doesn't read like the sequel it is...it can be read standalone quite well. Second, it reads like a terrifically well realized alternate history, rather than another of the ubiquitous elves-dwarves-and-orcs fantasies we are inundated with. Third, it actually has some closure at the end, so it isn't like certain other fantasy series which are apparently never going to go anywhere, and never end either.Mercedes Lackey, Eric Flint, and Dave Freer are a perfectly matched writing trio...and a tripod is the strongest seat. They seamlessly craft this rich, colorful, and highly complex story, filled with historical in-jokes (Eneko Lopez and his friends are the original seven members of the Jesuit order) and even a few Baen Barfly in-jokes ("It was enough to give Erik the mutters.")Even the little, passing-through characters are very vividly realized, and are real people, not spearcarriers. Spiro, the Corfiote fisherman, for example, and his buddy, Taki the fisher captain, are human beings caught in the flash of the story's eye.I'm halfway through my third read of this book, and it is holding my attention so well that I have been sneaking off to read another couple of pages all day long.This is what alternate worlds fantasy should be. Kim Stanley Robinson, Harry Turtledove, and other practitioners, please take note. This is the reigning champion of the field.Walt Boyes

Lackey, Flint and Freer continue the fantastic weaving of characters that they started in Shadow of the Lion. The authors bring back most of our favourite characters, add in very interesting new characters, weave a plot that is gripping from beginning to end, have evil characters that are really evil and the authors make you cry yet leave you wanting the next book the minute you finish.I cannot say it enough. Buy this book. You will find yourself reading it again and again just to enjoy the rich tapestry that Lackey, Flint and Freer have created. This Rough Magic is an alternate-history where the great library in Alexandria was not destroyed. History as we know it branched from there. Magic and Christianity exist together, with black magic a very real danger to both body and soul.Incorporating, mixing and mashing well known myths the story grips you to the very end. You find yourself still reading it at 3 am in the morning with a 7 am start knowing you just have to finish the book - who needs to sleep - you can snooze at work.The main setting is the Island of Corfu where the Mother Goddess still rules and affects the magics of both good and evil. There are demons, nonhumans (both good and bad), good friends and family, all of whom become very real. We see how much friends care about each, the enormous affect love has on people and what they will go through for their loved ones. We watch Benito Valdosta grow from a young lout of a noble to a mature young man, shouldering responsibilites that he would have avoided before. We see Maria grow from an kernal into a mighty tree (read the book - you'll see what I mean). Eric has to choose between love and duty, then has Manfred save him that horrible choice out of his friendship for Eric. Lackey, Flint and Freer write a scene where you believe you can see what's happening, then hit you with a ninety degree turn that you just didn't see coming.We watch as King Emeric shows what a monster he is however he pales beside both his great aunt, Elizabeth Batholdy and Jagellion/Chernobog as they continue to work their great evil. There are fascinating minor characters scattered and interwoven throughout the book and you find yourself looking for them again and again. As you read, the characters become real people. Buy it, you'll enjoy it.