Friday Flash Fiction

Amy C at Romance Book Wyrm and Dottie atTink's Place have come up with the idea for a Monday Morning Flash Fiction challenge. Each Monday a new picture prompt will be posted and if you choose to participate - you publish your Fiction Flash  on Friday - 350 words, give or take. Below you can find the picture posted last Monday:

Let's rescue Mark from his predicament, described here. I felt like returning to him and continue his story although I admit that pic made it a bit tricky (but I persevered ;-)).

Mark woke up in complete darkness. He had to. Somebody was slapping his cheeks time and again. He lay on a flagstone floor, very hard, cold and uncomfortable, feeling as if a herd of elephants had stomped on him and left him trodded into the ground. His head was one big hot ache, his limbs just tangles of sore muscles and his neck...a throbbing pain radiated from it, a pain very difficult to locate but also very disturbing. Overall not one of his better mornings. Was it a morning, though? It was difficult to say.

"Mark, boy, wake up, speak to me."

Mark jerked. It was lord Dreane's voice, a deep, low rumble he would recognize everywhere. After some more slapping he finally managed to groan something unintelligible - with his mouth completely dry, he couldn't pronounce a word. Lord Dreane guessed what his problem was; he left his poor head in peace for a moment, disappeared into the darkness and returned with a cup full of cold water.

"Drink boy, slowly..."

The water was like a balm for his parched lips and throat. It tasted a bit metallic but still felt like heavenly bliss. Mark drank all of it greedily.

"Can you speak now?"

"Yeah, I suppose...thank you, sir."

"What were you doing here, all alone? Why did you look for me at all?"

Mark head was still throbbing like mad but the questions made him remember his mission and Lilian and the secret library...he braced himself, winced and tried to catch lord Dreane's eyes to gauge his mood.

"You...won't like it sir."

A short, stiffled laugh was the last reaction he would expect.

"Do you think I am enjoying myself here, Mark? Being a guest in a house infested by the worst bunch of vampires I've seen in the whole century? Come on, spill it, nothing can be worse than that. We are wasting time."

"Aye, we are, I am sorry, sir. Your daughter...your youngest daughter, Lilian disappeared yesterday."

Lord Dreane became still and Mark knew that he got his fullest attention. After a moment of uncomfortable silence he plucked up the courage to continue.

"She disappeared after...after entering your secret library, sir. I am also very sorry to admit I helped her."

"Oh, really.You helped her how exactly?"

"I...picked the lock for her, sir."

"You did what?" Lord Dreane sounded utterly perplexed and even a bit awed.

"She...I was forced to pick the lock, sir. It was difficult but I managed to do so. No damage done, though. Sorry, I...she made me. I deserve to be punished, sir."

For some time neither of them said a word. Mark was grateful for the darkness around him for the first time because his master couldn't see him blush. Finally lord Dreane started to talk.

"So my youngest daughter finally made her first move. With your rather unwilling help. I am impressed that you managed to pick my lock, I really am. It bodes well. Very well."

Mark didn't know how to react but no reaction was expected - Lord Dreane just continued his quiet musings:

"Lilian...I did expect it a bit earlier but I think 22 is not bad, not bad at all. I do not intend to punish you, Mark; in fact I should thank you and I hate to say you punished yourself in the most severe manner by coming here and falling into the clutches of that vampiress. Brave but reckless, even stupid of you. I suppose you are still unaware of the consequences of your meeting but I'm afraid the fate of my daughter is more important right now, if you would forgive me for saying so...wait a moment...I need my orb...such unplanned trips can end up in a disaster...we must act right now...here it is..."

Mark noticed a ball of faint light, undoubtedly held by his lordship, which started to twinkle and spin. Then two creatures emerged from it, one bigger and one smaller. Both of them were winged and sparky like faeries. The bigger creature, emitting soft, white light, sat on the floor peacefully; because of her Mark was able to see his surroundings clearer. It was a grim view - he was undoubtedly lying in the dungeons. Lord Dreane inclined his head politely and the fae curtsied.

"What's your wish today,  my lord?" asked the smaller one.

"I need you to track my youngest daughter, free her, transport to my library and report immediately back unless I am busy."

"As you order, my lord."

The small fae, cocked her head, twittered something to the bigger one softly and they both laughed like mad. The sound was simply spellbinding - like a peal of the finest crystal pendants, struck with a golden spoon. Mark would love to listen to it forever but it ended pretty quickly; the bigger fairy took the ball from lord Dreane's hand and both of them disappeared in a little cloud of smoke.

"Stupid, cheeky fae", muttered lord Dreane.

Mark wanted to ask what the fairies told each other when he sensed somebody's presence. It was like  sweet, aromatic perfume drifting from one direction, a scent so enticing that it was impossible not to follow. Despite his pains and aches Mark got up and went toward the source of the scent immediately, his arms outstretched, his mouth grinning.

"Mark!"

Lord Dreane's shout did nothing to slow him down because slowing down was simply out of the question. The most wonderful person was waiting for him in the darkness and he know perfectly well where, even though he couldn't see a thing. After a while a pair of arms found and embraced him, making him feel good, warm and secure, envelopping him in the best scents he'd ever smelt...a melodious voice murmured his name...He recognized the voice. It was her. He snuggled into her body covered by the familiar velour dress, welcoming those soft, feminine curves. Finally something went the way it should. She came to rescue him. She came to make him feel better. He wanted to thank her but he didn't know her name. Feeling rather uncouth, he decided to ask.

"What's your name?" he whispered into her ear, blushing profusely.

The answer came from behind, uttered in the rumbling, angry tones of lord Dreane:

"Lara, you monster! Release him right now! Leave him alone, you bad vampire!"

Lara hissed and closed her arms around Mark even thighter, really binding him to her. She was freakishly strong and it hurt a bit but he didn't mind. She answered back but so quietly that only Mark was able to hear it. One single word which made his heart jump with joy.

"Never."

Review: Frostbite: A Werewolf Tale by David Wellington

Book info:

Book form: e-book mobi format

Genre: paranormal fiction, dystopia

Target audience: adults

I stumbled upon this book (but with slightly different title - Cursed) on Mel’sRandom Reviews blog, featured as her Throwback Thursday meme which proves that when you want to find new good books it’s worth visiting around. Thanks Mel!

Synopsis:

A young woman, Cheyenne Clark, is heli-hiking in an underpopulated area of the northern part of Canada, apparently looking for some traces of a strange animal. Although she is well prepared for such rough conditions still she gets lost, falls into a river and almost drowns. Half alive, with most of her possessions either destroyed or gone, she tries to find a shelter, not an easy thing in the Canadian wilderness. When the night falls the animal she was tracking finds her. And scratches her leg with its fangs.

From that point the life of Cheyenne changes dramatically – yes, she becomes a werewolf herself, no surprises here taking into account the title. Now she must face not only the werewolf who turned her against her will into a monster (well, he hasn’t planned that much either) and now wants to kill her for her own good but also her associates who hadn’t taken such a turn of events into account. Or perhaps they had. Anyway they are as dangerous to her as to her prey now, having some silver bullets at their disposal and a lot of experience under their belt...

What side will her boyfriend take – a man who has been actively hunting a werewolf half his life? What will Cheyenne do with her little furry problem- will she be able to accept her new, very limited life? Or maybe a silver bullet in the head will seem a far nicer solution?

What I liked:

Although I managed to cram the whole story into a very short synopsis it doesn’t mean that the book is short or simplistic. Quite the opposite in fact. And I enjoyed it immensely.

First of all the narration is full of surprises. Werewolf’s life was made a tad more difficult than usually in PNR books– here such a creature must change into a monster whenever the Moon rises, no matter what phase, so practically most of the nights. The characters’ stories are also a bit more complicated – no easy falling in love, plenty of problems, no slick solutions. As soon as you think you know everything there is to be known about the trio of main heroes: Cheyenne, her boyfriend, Bobby Fenech, and Montgomery Powell, the werewolf who turned Chey into a monster, the author adds some more info making you scratch your head and wonder. I did like it very much – scratching, thinking and reading :-).

The characters are well-rounded indeed and their actions – always psychologically viable and fully justified...of course when you get the whole picture. So no sooner than by the end of the book. I really sympathized with Cheyenne and Powell (but for different reasons) and even enjoyed a more rough, cruel and blood-dripping image of a werewolf. If you are (like yours truly) dead tired and bored stiff with those fluffy, pinky, cloying romances featuring unvaryingly handsome and well-muscled guys who just happen to have a bit more beast inside than an average human being but otherwise are simply loving and cuddly try this one. I am sure you will find it refreshingly scary.

I also liked the ending but I must mention there is a lot of violence in this one. Although the scenes are not overly graphic, they do sound real enough to make you cringe. It has a point, though, a very good point, showing that a monster is as monster does. Add to it some political background (like the real reason why the Canadian government were so interested in seeing all werewolves dead) and you get a surprisingly intricate and original story. One you would like to continue (yes, it is a series as far as I know).


Finally the cover - I find it very appropriate. Simple and scary.

What I didn’t like:

There was just one minor detail – I really couldn't figure out what the role of Dzo was. If you haven't read the book - Dzo is a magical entity, a musquash/muskrat spirit, looking like any human male (with some quirks but who doesn't have them, after all) but  being anything but human. First difference - he can hang out with shape-shifters without being considered by them a prey, even when they change their form. He follows Powell and helps him from time to time but we are not told why or to what end. Just because both are lonely? Secondly Dzo claims he has been living for not mere years or centuries but rather millenia - allegedly he saw Neandertals (yes, the author apparently believes in evolution) and Paleo-Indians, inhabiting Canada. Thirdly he is a vegetarian...but actually I am  surprised he has to eat anything. He also can appear and disappear at will, having strong affiliation with running water. Perhaps after reading the second installment this character will be made clearer to me.


Final verdict:

Definitely a kind of paranormal story I like and appreciate: honest, perhaps a bit closer to some classic fairy tales about werewolves ( I really sometimes saw Chey as the Little Red Ridding Hood of a kind) but also gritty and real. I am really looking forward to the second part, entitled Overwinter!

Review: The River of Time series (Waterfall, Cascade, Torrent) by Lisa T.Bergren

Book info: 
Source: borrowed from a friend
Genre: historical fiction, fantasy, romance, christian fiction
Target audience: YA


Synopsis:

Gabriella (Gabi) and Evangelia (Lia) Betarrini are two American teenagers who are leading truly exceptional lives. Not only their mother is an archeologist, specializing in Etruscan culture and history like their late father, but also the girls have an opportunity to spend almost every summer in Tuscany, Italy. Are they happy? Not at all. In fact they hate most of it. Why? No company of peers, let them be Americans or Italians, no funny parties or discos, getting up early in the morning just to go to another excavation site…little money…hard life for any teenager.

One day, however, everything changes. Their mother discovers an old Etruscan tomb called tumulus (or rather several tumuli but one really special) with some strange frescoes. The girls go secretly inside, place their hands on the walls in places strangely shaped like their own palms and bam – they time travel together to the fourteenth-century Italy. They land in the middle of a skirmish because at that time Italy was a country torn by civil unrests; they are forced by circumstances to join a little local war between two cities, Firenze and Siena. It only reflects of course a larger power struggle between Ghibellines and Guelphs, two factions that kept Italy divided and devastated during the greater part of the later Middle Ages…

Soon enough they fall in love with handsome knights, the cousins Forelli, Marcello and Luca (ok, Lia starts falling for Luca only in the second part but still) but they can't help asking themselves whether such an infatuation makes sense at all. Will the medieval times satisfy them? Will they want return to their mother and contemporary America after some time? Will they decide to stay and lead a totally different style of living?

What I liked:

I agree it was a nice, pleasurable read, full of adventures from the very beginning. Each chapter holds new surprises, daring twists and serious decisions.


If you like Christian fiction, then I think you'll be pleased with the progression of Gabi's faith. If you don't  like elements of Christian fiction then I don't think you'll be bothered at all because the whole God issue is hardly overly pushy. The presence of Christian elements is very subtle in all three parts and we even get one defrocked priest who doesn't belong to any church. While Gabi slowly comes around to embracing the idea of God and God's plan, the story stands just fine on its own. Taking into account the fact that the narration takes place in a very religious era in Italy it worked for me.

What's more...the romance was well written for YA novels although I really wasn't impressed by either Marcello or Luca; I am just content we were spared these obnoxious love triangles. I liked the fact that the author presented the dark beauty of the castle as well as the color and vitality of Siena and Firenze. We even have some glimpses of the contrast between the wealthy and poor but the whole difference wasn't pronounced enough in my opinion. 

Finally I enjoyed the fact that Ms Bergren didn't skimp over the violence and danger of that era. Gabi and Lia have to adopt very quickly and luckily both girls are no saints - they are willing to kill, maim, and impart mob justice that would be unimaginable in modern times. On the other hand both girls are subjected to terrifying, dangerous experiences straight from any Robin Hood movie (like being locked in a cage and left to starve to death in public) - small wonder they strike back without compunction.

What I didn’t like:

Ok, I’ve been accused time and again that I overanalyze YA books (and other books as well) and I think too much about quite unimportant issues. Such unfounded accusations, I know ;-) overanalyzing, who, me?

 I did have issues with the series, mainly stemming from the time-travel narration twist. I admit, time travel is a very difficult plot device to pull together; only few sci-fi authors managed to present it in a way that persuaded me. Unfortunately Mrs Bergren is not one of them. Instead of listing my grievances this time I decided to ask some questions and let my readers answer them or not (of course providing they’ve read the series) as they wish and judge my own approach. Here are the issues that bugged me most while reading this series:

· Gabi and Lia need each other to travel in time but they never ask why it works only for them – why not for their mum or anybody else? How come they are so special? How come they never question it?


· Gabriella arrives to the medieval Italy alone, without a horse, dressed like an ordinary contemporary teenanger – jeans, t-shirt etc. so hardly donning a  proper attire of a high-born Italian female of that time but Marcello immediately assumes she is a lady of noble birth. Why not a peasant or a merchant girl, though? What exactly made him think she was a lady? Her pretty face? Her demeanour?


· Gabi choses her side of the conflict very quickly just because a certain young man caught her fancy (Marcello) and the opponents are led by an old sadist with bad teeth and even worse breath. She never tries to find out more about the Ghibellines or Ghuelphs – what their aim is, who they represent, who is their real leader, what politics they want to implement etc. Isn’t it a bit naïve, even for a YA book? Neither her parents, scientists after all, nor her younger sister question her choice either…


· Gabi and Lia can communicate with the medieval Italians almost instantly; it is explained that their parents made them read Dante in original version some time ago…isn’t it a bit improbable, though? Similarly their own language (American English) is indentified by some nobles after a while...well, didn't 14th century Britons speak rather differently than contemporary Americans?


· How come Gabi and Lia knew how to return to their medieval beaux without any clear indicator of which era you are traveling to, just counting seconds? Similarly how did they manage to get back to modern times America without missing some years or even decades? Pure luck?

· Why Marcello or Luca never asked their beloved Gabi and Lia to tell them more or even show them their times and their country, so modern America ? Too busy? Not curious enough? A bit afraid?


· Both girls seemed to miss comforts of life while camping in modern-day Italy with their mum but they rarely mention lack of current water, electricity, Internet, sewage system, toothbrushes, antibiotics and such while living in the medieval times. Too busy? Too infatuated to notice?

· Gabi decides to return to save her father, killed in a road accident, but never really ponder over the long-term consequences of her deed (like creating a second reality or disturbing the time continuum) – neither her nor other members of her family. Why? Too busy saving Siena? 


· Marcello has suffered several painful losses too – for example his older brother died prematurely as a result of torture and long imprisonment– but somehow he never suggest  saving anybody in the same way his fiancee brought back her dead father…so go back in time, grab him and run. Why?

Final verdict:


A nice series but one I am left conflicted about. There were some fragments which I truly enjoyed but I must admit it was also a bit too shallow from time to time. I suppose younger readers (like in their teens) might like it better than adults - it is definitely YA stuff.


What I discovered:

Yes, this series made me dig for some history tidbits I didn't know and I am grateful - grazie!. Here is the result:

"Where do the names  "Guelph" and "Ghibelline" come from?

Image via Wikipedia

The names "Guelph" and "Ghibelline" appear to have originated in Germany, in the rivalry between the house of Welf (Dukes of Bavaria) and the house of Hohenstaufen (Dukes of Swabia), whose ancestral castle was Waiblingen in Franconia. Agnes, daughter of Henry IV and sister of Henry V, married Duke Frederick of Swabia. "Welf" and "Waiblingen" were first used as rallying cries at the battle of Weinsberg (1140), where Frederick's son, Emperor Conrad III (1138-1152), defeated Welf, the brother of the rebellious Duke of Bavaria, Henry the Proud. Conrad's nephew and successor, Frederick I "Barbarossa" (1152-1190), attempted to reassert the imperial authority over the Italian cities, and to exercise supremacy over the papacy itself. He recognized an antipope, Victor, in opposition to the legitimate sovereign pontiff, Alexander III (1159), and destroyed Milan (1162), but was thoroughly defeated by the forces of the Lombard League at the battle of Legnano (1176) and compelled to agree to the peace of Constance (1183), by which the liberties of the Italian communes were secured. The mutual jealousies of the Italian cities themselves, however, prevented the treaty from having permanent results for the independence and unity of the nation. After the death of Frederick's son and successor, Henry VI (1197), a struggle ensued in Germany and in Italy between the rival claimants for the Empire, Henry's brother, Philip of Swabia (d. 1208), and Otho of Bavaria. According to the more probable theory, it was then that the names of the factions were introduced into Italy. "Guelfo" and "Ghibellino" being the Italian forms of "Welf" and "Waiblingen". The princes of the house of Hohenstaufen, being the constant opponents of the papacy,  "Guelph" and "Ghibelline" were taken to denote adherents of Church and Empire, respectively. The popes having favoured and fostered the growth of the communes, the Guelphs were in the main the republican, commercial, burgher party; the Ghibellines represented the old feudal aristocracy of Italy. For the most part the latter were descended from Teutonic families planted in the peninsula by the Germanic invasions of the past, and they naturally looked to the emperors as their protectors against the growing power and pretensions of the cities. It is, however, clear that these names were merely adopted to designate parties that, in one form or another, had existed from the end of the 11 C."

Source: http://www.san-miniato.com/guelphs.htm

Silent Saturday

Friday Flash Fiction

Amy C at Romance Book Wyrm and Dottie atTink's Place have come up with the idea for a Monday Morning Flash Fiction challenge. Each Monday a new picture prompt will be posted and if you choose to participate - you publish your Fiction Flash  on Friday - 350 words, give or take. Below you can find the picture posted last Monday:

This pic actually made me willing to continue the story of Lilian, a girl who liked reading too much and was as curious as a cat. It means I am leaving poor Mark from the last week flash in the clutches of that vampiress for the time being. I might return to him, I might not - we'll see.


Lilian was reading about a girl completely lost  in an alien word. A girl whose only defence was her pentagram amulet and who could talk only with butterflies. A girl who came from a country where she could walk around  naked undisturbed and landed in a country where being naked was the wretched fate of the lowest of low. Nobody understood her anguish, nobody cared. Lilian felt wetness on her cheeks - tears of that unknown creature who couldn't even introduce herself so nobody could call her a proper name. So lonely, so homesick it hurt.

Lilian wanted to stop reading, the whole story being too depressive to suit her vivacious character, but she couldn't do it, trapped in a compulsive urge to turn one page after another. She felt some danger approaching but even then she couldn't put her book down. The girl she was reading about felt some danger too but she at least could face it. Somebody was looking for her, asking strange questions in a barbaric language she didn't understand. She stopped breathing and Lilian did the same.

A woman envelopped in a long, voluminous cloak was standing before them both. The unknown girl pressed her hands to her chest with the pentagram clutched between them on a long chain. She was afraid but she was also curious and desperate for any help. The woman eyed her in a calculating manner and then took her elbow and led her along a dark, shiny river. The girl followed her meekly and her butterfiles were circling around them as if checking the route. The girl asked the butterflies if it was safe and some of them answered it was too dark to tell anything. One, however, a moth with large wings, told her they were going toward a building with many lights so perhaps it was not safe but certainly exciting. The girl didn't understand what 'exciting' meant.

Lilian felt her ache, insecurity and determination to break free and return home. She could relate - she also wanted to break free from that horrible book but she couldn't find a way out. When the girl with the cloaked woman were entering the building and the butterflies were flying madly around Lilian felt a sudden pain and the enchanted book flew out of her hands. She gasped, half in surprise, half in relief.

Mini review: Vampire Empire Book Two: The Rift Walker by Clay Griffith and Susan Griffith

Book info:

• Paperback: 300 pages
• Publisher: Pyr (September 6, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1616145234
• ISBN-13: 978-1616145231
• Genre: steampunk, pulp action
• Target audience: YA

Synopsis (from Goodreads):

Princess Adele struggles with a life of marriage and obligation as her Equatorian Empire and their American Republic allies stand on the brink of war against the vampire clans of the north. However, the alliance's horrific strategy for total victory drives Adele to abandon her duty and embark on a desperate quest to keep her nation from staining its hands with genocide. Reunited with her great love, the mysterious adventurer known to the world as the Greyfriar, Adele is pursued by her own people as well as her vengeful almost-husband, senator Clark who wants to be emperor at all costs. With the human alliance in disarrray, Prince Cesare, lord of the British vampire clan, seizes the initiative and strikes at the very heart of Equatoria.

As Adele labors to bring order to her world, she learns more about the strange powers she exhibited in the north. Her teacher, Mamoru, leads a secret cabal of geomancers who believe Adele is the one who can touch the vast power of the Earth that surges through ley lines and wells up at the rifts where the lines meet. These energies are the key to defeating the enemy of mankind, and if Princess Adele could ever bring this power under her command, she could be death to vampires. But such a victory will also cost the life of Adele's beloved Greyfriar.

The Rift Walker is the second book in a trilogy of high adventure and alternative history. Combining rousing pulp action with steampunk style, the Vampire Empire series brings epic politcal themes to life within a story of heartbreaking romance, sacrifice, and heroism.

What I liked:

Adele is getting more mature and she learns to make her own choices – always a good thing in any novel. Vampires change their tactics (ok, prince Cesare changes them to tell you the truth and he has some brilliant ideas despite being a monster so overall I warmed up to him despite his murder at the end) and make alliances previously unheard-of. Characters who were supposed to be white hats in the first part got gray hats or even black hats this time – I liked that very much, especially as it concerned some of court politicians. Good moves.

The world building was exquisite although this time we see more of Africa and less of Scotland or London. Still it was a nice trip, especially as it featured the Abu-Simbel temple of Ramsesses and Amun – I would love to visit that site myself. The steampunk factor was not as pronounced as in the first part but it was felt there nevertheless. Farenheit blades are great. ;D I would fancy one.

The plot was fast-paced with some really nice scenes (the meetings between Adele and senator Clark were actually my favourites), the narration smooth and interesting although not to the very end. Why not ? Read the next section to find out.

What I didn’t like:

The closer the plot drifted to those cheesy Zorro movies and indeed, pulp fiction, the less enjoyable it became to me. Rescuing Adele right from the altar at the last possible moment, right after vows? Oh dear, please, it was done to death; it’s enough to remind that fabulous scene from Shrek 01 where the Donkey flies through a big glass window (exactly like our Greyfriar) on a she-dragon (not exactly like Greyfriar who is a vampire and can fly on his own) and shouts: “I have a dragon and I won’t hesitate to use it!” As an ironic, tongue-in-cheek pastiche it worked perfectly well for me; as a serious, big, fat and romantic plot device – not at all. In fact, in my very humble opinion, it was an insult to Adele’s and Gareth’s intelligence and their ability of strategic planning – they could have orchestrated the whole kindnapping a lot better. 


Unfortunately after that scene everything went pretty much downhill. Greyfriar proves time and again that the South is not for vampires and the second part of this book is not for more demanding audience. It is heartbreaking to write it  but so I felt. Not even Flay who, next to Cesare, is indeed my favourite black character of this series (if you haven't read the first part - she is a powerful vampiress in love with Gareth and also a woman spurned by him), could rescue it. Not really. I also hated the fact that Gareth was so weak while travelling in the South. I liked him better while in Scotland.

What I found downright funny (beware: spoilers and some nasty PG remarks ahead – highlight and read at your own risk!):

Ok, so we have this big, teary romance between the princess and her vampiric beloved. They  missed each other terribly and they finally meet after a long time in extremely romantic circumstances – he saves her from being married to an American brute she doesn’t love, right? After that they run away together and spend a lot of time alone. Aaaaaaaaaaaaand...he kisses her. Only. Oh, wait, they also cuddle a bit on the same bed and yes, he treats her as his private emergency food storage so he drinks her blood. Still, nothing untoward passes between them because…well, the authors seem very inclined to tiptoeing around that issue as if it was one big hot piece of coal, to be treated with utmost care, preferably to be avoided completely. Honestly... I know it is an YA book but even in such novels these things are at least mentioned, if not vaguely described. At the very end Gareth is princess Adele’s official consort and still they only cuddle…and kiss…and cuddle some more... and drink deeply.

My conclusions? Gareth must be homosexual or a saint or he simply cannot perform. Maybe all these three are true who knowns...anyway I found it silly and spurious.Poor Adele. Poor series. Poor eunuch vampires. Sigh. Strangely enough this books are  written by a husband-and-wife team...
Final verdict:


A good YA novel but also, in my opinion, one definitely worse than the first part which I truly enjoyed.  I am still willing to read the third and the final one but I must admit I am a bit wary now. The Rift Walker fell a bit short of my expectations so I wonder what solutions the authors will chose to finish the series.

Image via Wikipedia

A brief history of alchemy - part one

Photo Credit: Gerik Zayatz, Creative Commons
Toth with the head of an ibis

Everything begins in Africa...

I love alchemy. To my own surprise I found out not so long ago, writing a review of a book with alchemy elements, that I haven't tackled this subject yet. I was thinking about changing that as soon as possible and here you go: this essay starts a series in which I will try to explain my infatuation - why alchemy, mentioned  in scientific or fictional books, makes me always very interested and excited.

Alchemy is a very old art and/or science but its origins are, surprisingly, traceable. I love etymology so please, bear with me. The word “alchemy” itself offers an explanation too good to omit. It found its way to English from the Old French “alquimie” and the Medieval Latin’s “alchimia” but its real source is Arabic and ancient Greek. Both languages renders it respectively as al-kimia (الكيمياء) and chemia (χημία). It might be derived from a version of the Egyptian name of that African country, which was, in turn, based on the Ancient Egyptian word kēme (hieroglyphic Khmi, black earth, so a fertile ground of the Nile plains as opposed to deadly bare desert sands). There is another school of thought, deriving the word from the Greek chumeia meaning “mixture” and clearly referring to the act of mixing drugs so a kind of ancient pharmaceutical industry or the word khumos, meaning 'fluid'. Of course, as it is often with such ancient terms, the etymology problem still remains open. Personally I would incline towards the Egyptian derivation. Let me explain why.

As every student learning ancient history knows, Egyptians used to mummify their deceased in order to ensure them an eternal afterlife. They were very proficient in these techniques and I believe such practices gave rise to chemical knowledge far surpassing our wildest guesses. What's more, there was a great Egyptian adept king, named by the Greeks “Hermes Trismegistus” (so Hermes the Thrice Great) who is supposed to be the very founder of alchemy. We know preciously little about him – he seems to be a Hellenistic Egyptian mix of Hermes the Greek god guiding the souls to the Underworld (called also a psychopompos, conveyor of souls) and Thoth the Egyptian god of record keeping, wisdom and scripture. Toth was one interesiting character by the way - he served as the vizier (prime minister) to Re or Ra, King of the gods, being  Mr. Science, the Answer Man, and divine Secretary-in-Chief of the Egyptian pantheon. A nerd but also a trickster (his other animal symbol was a baboon) and a god of magic (professor Dumbledore from "Harry Potter" would seem like just a local amateur conjurer compared to him).

Hermes leading Euridice back to Hades

Small wonder Hermes Trismegistus was considered a deity of its own. Reputedly he lived about 1900 B.C. and he was highly celebrated in the ancient word for his wisdome and skill in the operation of nature (thus such a grand name). Unfortunately, from the works attributed to him, only a few fragments survived to our time. Everything because of one Roman emperor.

 The third century A.D. seems to have been a period when alchemy was widely practiced, but also during that century, in the year 296, Emperor Diocletian (a very bad guy for early Christians too) sought out and burnt all the Egyptian books on alchemy and the other Hermetic sciences, and in so doing destroyed all evidence of any progress made up to that date. I am not sure why he did it. We do have some pieces and excerpts from the Emerald Tablet , the Asclepian Dialogues and the Divine Pymander. They were preserved in the Latin language by Fianus (?) and translate into other languages in the sixteenth century.

The famous Emerald Tablet (Tabula Smaragdina) of Hermes is the primary document of alchemy. There have been various stories of the origin of the tract, one being that the original emerald slab upon which the precepts were said to be inscribed in Phoenician characters was discovered in the tomb of Hermes by Alexander the Great. I assume the adjective “emerald” concerns the colour, not the material. Most likely the tabled was etched on a sheet of green glass (also a very costly thing at that times) or perhaps a slab of jade or other green semi-precious stone. Real emeralds simply never come that big and ancient people didn't know how to identify them in a fault-proof way. Of course that fact never prevented spreading the "real emerald" legend. In the Berne edition (1545) of the Summa Perfectionis, the Latin version is printed under the heading: "The Emerald Tables of Hermes the Thrice Great Concerning Chymistry, Translator unknown. The words of the secrets of Hermes, which were written on the Tablet of Emerald found between his hands in a dark cave wherein his body was discovered buried."

From that document comes the famous alchemical rule, saying “That which is above is from that which is below, and that which is below is from that which is above, working the miracles of one.” The other rule states that “all things were from one” so “the structure of the microcosm is in accordance with the structure of the macrocosm”. Taking into account our current state of science you must admit these were quite revolutionary, truly modern ideas. I should also mention the fact that there are many versions of this short document: Isaac Newton, Georgio Beato, Sigismund Bacstrom, Madame Blavatsky, Idres Shah, Dennis W. Hauck each of them rendered it a bit differently; if you want to compare these just follow this link.

Artist's impression of the Emerald Tablet

The goals alchemists are universally famous for were the transmutation of common metals into Gold or Silver and the creation of a “panacea” or remedies that supposedly would cure all diseases and prolong life indefinitely. Some of alchemists also tried to find a universal solvent but often such goals were intertwined. Of course these were not the only uses for the discipline they remain the ones most documented and well-known. Many fiction authors used the quest for the Philosopher’s Stone, a legendary substance that was believed to be an essential ingredient for either or all of those goals, as a linchpin of their stories. They also popularized the picture of an aged, slightly sinister, black-robed wizard, brooding over the crucibles and alembics to discover the formula for the Elixir of Life. However, alchemy has been something far more than an outlet for a few eccentrics who liked to play with occult in their dotage. Men and women who proclaimed themselves alchemists were concerned with things spiritual rather than temporal such as riches and gold. Their writings and the accounts of their lives prove that they were inspired by a vision of perfect human society, freed from disease and the limitations of warring faculties, both mental and physical. To appreciate and understand their visions, it is necessary to trace the history of their philosophy. I will try to give you a rough guide in the next part and I promise to keep it as short as possible. I hope you will enjoy it!

My sources:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alchemy

http://www.alchemylab.com/history_of_alchemy.htm

http://www.sibyllineorder.org/magical_studies/ms_alc_history.htm

http://www.economist.com/node/18226821

http://www.experiment-resources.com/islamic-alchemy.html

http://www.3rd1000.com/history/alchemy.htm

http://www.alchemywebsite.com/timelin2.html