| Book Discussion: "Throne of the Crescent Moon" by Saladin Ahmed |
[Jan. 22nd, 2013|09:20 pm]
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The next book discussion for the January releases is the paperback release of Saladin Ahmed, Throne of the Crescent Moon. This is the first book in the Crescent Moon Kingdoms series, and I've been anticipating its arrival. Who out there has already read it? What did you think?
As usual, the cover art and cover copy:
Cover Copy: From Saladin Ahmed, finalist for the Nebula and Campbell awards, comes one of the year's most anticipated fantasy debuts: Throne of the Crescent Moon, a fantasy adventure with all the magic of The Arabian Nights.
The Crescent Moon Kingdoms, home to djenn and ghuls, holy warriors and heretics, are at the boiling point of a power struggle between the iron-fisted Khalif and the mysterious master thief known as the Falcon Prince. In the midst of this brewing rebellion a series of brutal supernatural murders strikes at the heart of the Kingdoms. It is up to a handful of heroes to learn the truth behind these killings:
Doctor Adoulla Makhslood, "the last real ghul hunter in the great city of Dhamsawaat," just wants a quiet cup of tea. Three score and more years old, he has grown weary of hunting monsters and saving lives, and is more than ready to retire from his dangerous and demanding vocation. But when an old flame's family is murdered, Adoulla is drawn back to the hunter's path.
Raseed bas Raseed, Adoulla's young assistant, is a hidebound holy warrior whose prowess is matched only by his piety. But even as Raseed's sword is tested by ghuls and manjackals, his soul is tested when he and Adoulla cross paths with the tribeswoman Zamia.
Zamia Badawi, Protector of the Band, has been gifted with the near-mythical power of the lionshape, but shunned by her people for daring to take up a man's title. She lives only to avenge her father's death. Until she learns that Adoulla and his allies also hunt her father's killer. Until she meets Raseed.
When they learn that the murders and the Falcon Prince's brewing revolution are connected, the companions must race against time--and struggle against their own misgivings--to save the life of a vicious despot. In so doing they discover a plot for the Throne of the Crescent Moon that threatens to turn Dhamsawaat, and the world itself, into a blood-soaked ruin. |
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| Comments: |
I just picked this up last week, on the day of its release in the UK! I'm really looking forward to reading it and having more to say than "ooh I like the pretty purple cover."
Had a chance to read it yet? If so, what did you think?
I have read it! I gave it 3 stars on Goodreads. It was a mixed bag for me -- there was stuff I liked and stuff I didn't like, but the main problem for me (besides some pacing issues) was that in spite of it being a multiple PoV novel, everyone's PoV shores up and justifies Adoulla's perspective. There are things I would've liked to see as more complicated, interactions I wished had been more foregrounded, characters I wish had had more development. There were some stock phrases I got a little tired of seeing repeated, too. But after a slightly clunky beginning I thought it picked up and became engaging, and I appreciated having protagonists dealing with natural and accelerated aging. The plot twist toward the end also struck me as pretty ballsy, and I'll be curious to see the next installment. I could be more specific, but not sure if you've read it yet!
I read it last year when it came out in hardcover, and I pretty much agree with your thoughts on it. I also gave it 3 stars, if I remember correctly. It had some interesting bits, but there were parts I thought needed more work. Especially in terms of character. And I heartily agree that there were pacing problems. I remember it slowing down tremendously after a good start, then picking up again at the end. | |
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