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Fiona McIntosh
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Book
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Publisher | Orbit | ||
ISBN | 9781841494609 | ||
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Reviewer
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Vicky
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Synopsis
Fifteen-year-old Boaz is the new Zar, freshly ascended to his throne. In the turmoil following the old Zar's death, courtiers jostle and conspire to secure their positions - not least his scheming mother, the new Valide. It seems his only genuine friends are his late father's mad jester; Spur Lazar, head of Percheron's security; and a golden beauty - a new odalisque purchased in the foothills as a slave for the harem. But can a madman, a soldier and a concubine be trusted to keep him safe from the Byzantine manoeuvres of his father's ambitious entourage? Pleasure and politics collide in Fiona McIntosh's exotic new fantasy trilogy, set in the harem of the great Stone Palace of Percheron.
Review
Fiona McIntosh has written a book that I just couldn't put down with overtones of magic, folk lore and a huge influence of Greek and Egyption mythology.
I loved the interplay between the new Zar Boaz and his mother the Valide Herezah who is both very beautiful and cruel - she was both his friend and enemy. Tariq the Vizier who had been taken over by Maliz the evil warlock/demigod and Salmeo the Grand Master Eunuch of the harem are in competion with each other as to who has the ear of the new Zar.
But the good people in the form of Pez the dwarf, Odalisque Ana, Spur Lazar who took the punishment for Ana's escape and last but not least the Zafira priestess of the Sea Temple of Lyana are in the fight of their lives to not only discover who they are but to start the fight to save Percheron.
Fiona has a very light touch on the fantasy side which took me to places such as Pompeii and Amalfi in Italy and the harbour giants Ezram and Beloch reminded me of Jason and the Argonauts on their journey to find the Golden Fleece.
Odalisque is a multi layer book which can be taken on any level, but for me the influence of Greek and Egyption mythology makes it far more interesting because there could be hidden meanings and allergories in the story.
If you've never read scifi/fantasy this is an excellent place to start because it is so gentle with well rounded characters with real emotions which I felt.
I most definitely highly recommend this book and it's sequels.
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