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A review by tomasthanes
In Ashes Lie by Marie Brennan
5.0
This is the second book in the Onyx Court series by [a:Marie Brennan|105839|Marie Brennan|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1277921611p2/105839.jpg] except that now I find that there's a book ([b:Deeds of Men|9186976|Deeds of Men (Onyx Court, #1.5)|Marie Brennan|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1375469450s/9186976.jpg|14066353]) that falls between the first and second books which I haven't read. Never fear: I shall remedy this.
The first book dealt with the realm of Queen Elizabeth I who lived from 1533 through 1603.
This books deals with King Charles I (1600 - 1649), the Great Fire of London (1666), and the Great Plague of London (1665-1666). Note that the Fire and the Plague overlap. Coincidence? I have no clue but given the construction practices (wood and plaster) and the living conditions of the time, it's just unfortunate.
Evangelical Christians are used to thinking that there is a spiritual realm that overlays the physical world that we see and that angelic and demonic powers are contending with the people who govern to affect the affairs of the world. This book (and all of the books in the Onyx Court series) take a similar view of the world, substituting the Fae for angels and demons.
The Onyx Court is intrinsically tied to the monarchy in London and tries to protect England and its people, but Fae courts in Ireland and Scotland (and their human leadership) contend for control. It's a political mess (sound familiar?).
Queen Lune is brought forward into the story from the first book. Her human Prince (of Stone) from book one, Michael Deven, is long dead, replaced by Sir Antony Ware who himself is followed by Dr. Jack Ellin. Poor King Charles lost his head; the Puritans of the time, seeking to remake society in their strict but graceless interpretation of the Bible, reminded me a lot of the "Christians" who support President Trump (they don't show a lot of compassion or grace). The story and the characters and the interactions between the distant Fae courts is wonderfully woven together.
The only thing that I found a bit confusing was the timeline. The events in the book (the Fire and the Plague) weren't strictly chronological.
Now back to Book 1.5.
The first book dealt with the realm of Queen Elizabeth I who lived from 1533 through 1603.
This books deals with King Charles I (1600 - 1649), the Great Fire of London (1666), and the Great Plague of London (1665-1666). Note that the Fire and the Plague overlap. Coincidence? I have no clue but given the construction practices (wood and plaster) and the living conditions of the time, it's just unfortunate.
Evangelical Christians are used to thinking that there is a spiritual realm that overlays the physical world that we see and that angelic and demonic powers are contending with the people who govern to affect the affairs of the world. This book (and all of the books in the Onyx Court series) take a similar view of the world, substituting the Fae for angels and demons.
The Onyx Court is intrinsically tied to the monarchy in London and tries to protect England and its people, but Fae courts in Ireland and Scotland (and their human leadership) contend for control. It's a political mess (sound familiar?).
Queen Lune is brought forward into the story from the first book. Her human Prince (of Stone) from book one, Michael Deven, is long dead, replaced by Sir Antony Ware who himself is followed by Dr. Jack Ellin. Poor King Charles lost his head; the Puritans of the time, seeking to remake society in their strict but graceless interpretation of the Bible, reminded me a lot of the "Christians" who support President Trump (they don't show a lot of compassion or grace). The story and the characters and the interactions between the distant Fae courts is wonderfully woven together.
The only thing that I found a bit confusing was the timeline. The events in the book (the Fire and the Plague) weren't strictly chronological.
Now back to Book 1.5.