THE EYE OF ZOLTAR
By Jasper Fforde. Hodder. 403pp. $19.99.
Jasper Fforde continues his bestselling Jennifer Strange series, which began with The Last Dragonslayer and The Song of the Quarkbeast. Jennifer, who is 16 and head of the Kazam magic collective, can only appease the Mighty Wizard Shandar by finding a lost precious pink ruby, the Eye of Zoltar. Jennifer’s quest has a "50 per cent Fatality Index”, but then finds she can't even call it a quest. To do so, she'd “need to register with the International Questing Federation, adhere to their Code of Conduct and pay them two thousand moolah into the bargain”. Fforde, as ever, mixes his brand of delightful and quirky humour with an engaging narrative.
SON OF THE MORNING
By Mark Alder. Gollancz. 731pp. $32.95
George R.R. Martin used the War of the Roses as his template for Game of Thrones. British author Mark Alder, beginning his Banners of Blood series, has used The Hundred Years War as his sounding board. In the 14th century, Edward the Third is at war with Philip of France, but, in this war, both sides have access to supernatural forces. Philip can rely on Angels, but Angels far removed from the traditional mould, as indeed are the Devils/Demons that Edward may have to summon. Son of the Morning is an historical fantasy on a grand scale with a resounding mix of religion, war and the supernatural.
THIEF’S MAGIC
By Trudi Canavan. Orbit. 553pp. $29.99.
Australian best selling author Trudi Canavan begins a new trilogy with Thief’s Magic, which juxtaposes the separate stories of the two main characters, Tyen and Rielle. Tyen is an student and embryonic magician in a world where magic underpins society. Rielle also has magical potential but, in her society, women are forbidden to practice magic. Both rebel against their environments, embarking on a long journey of self-discovery. Arguably, the most interesting character is Vella, a woman imprisoned for centuries within a book, that Tyen discovers. Thief’s Magic will not disappoint Canavan’s many fans, although others will hope she quickens the narrative pace in the next book.
