The Red Wolf Conspiracy by Robert VS Redick
Regular visitors will know that when pushed to identify a favourite genre I am often torn between fantasy and crime fiction. After finishing this book from a new young author, I’ll admit that fantasy is currently ahead.
As with many first volumes of a fantasy trilogy, much of this book is spent identifying the leading characters. There is Pazel, a young boy who was cursed with the ability to speak and understand any language he hears. The curse comes upon him for days at a time, and any new language he hears during those days will be retained in his memory forever. His best friend Neeps seems a normal boy, but fortunately, he is an experienced pearl diver. Also there is Thasha, the beautiful daughter of a retired admiral. She has been schooled to become an obedient bride, but a strong independent streak threatens disaster at every turn. Her tutor Herol is an experienced warrior, and shares these fighting skills with his pupil. And then there is the Lilliputian leader Dri.
The world invented by Redick is incredible. Essentially there are two great empires and many small independent islands. Gradually these islands are being absorbed into one or another of the empires who are themselves permanently at war with each other. Both empires appear evil, resorting to whatever means necessary to gain advantage over the other. In this book Thasha is being offered as a bribe/bride to a prince of the opposing realm. With the marraige there is a prophecy that unspeakable evil will be released on the world.
Action in the book takes place on the high seas. The sailing ship, the Chathrand is impossibly huge and powerful, carrying over 800 people in relative comfort. But within this community our heroes discover a plot to instigate a global war and attempt to thwart the plans.
This book is essentially a quest novel. But it is far outside the normal formula. Yes it sticks with the familiar medieval weaponry and there are liberal lashings of magic and mages. But many of the allies are animals. Woken animals who are able to speak and communicate with himans. The heroes are all fallible and often internal bickering threatens to destroy their alliance.
The climax is excellent. Certainly there was no putting the book down for anything once the red wolf was found. Be warned, you will need an uninterrupted block of time for the final 100+ pages.
This is the best book the Buzz editor has provided in a while. Thanks boss, and please put me down next year for book two.
