Scan barcode
A review by ericbuscemi
The Lion of Senet by Jennifer Fallon
5.0
This book caught my attention when I opened the cover flap and saw praise for it from one of my favorite fantasy authors, Robin Hobb. One of the reasons I really like Hobb is that her style is cerebral, with the focus being on the political intrigue and emotional relationships between the characters, rather than hacking and slashing of an evil horde of underdeveloped minions.
Jennifer Fallon's Lion of Senet fit that style and pushed it even further. Where most fantasy involves magic spells, mythical creatures, epic battle sequences and objects of power (even Robin Hobb's to some degree), not a single one of those elements were present in Lion of Senet -- a refreshing departure from a mostly formulaic genre.
Instead, there was an incredibly rich story, many believable characters, all with different individual motivations, and a detailed, complex view of court life. That, combined with the political and religious undertones that shaped the story, was enough to make this book down impossible to put down.
Another interesting note about Fallon's style is her ability to seamlessly switch points of view in each chapter without harming the overarching narrative. In fact, seeing the world through each of the characters -- protagonists and antagonists alike -- helped to give the story more depth.
Jennifer Fallon's Lion of Senet fit that style and pushed it even further. Where most fantasy involves magic spells, mythical creatures, epic battle sequences and objects of power (even Robin Hobb's to some degree), not a single one of those elements were present in Lion of Senet -- a refreshing departure from a mostly formulaic genre.
Instead, there was an incredibly rich story, many believable characters, all with different individual motivations, and a detailed, complex view of court life. That, combined with the political and religious undertones that shaped the story, was enough to make this book down impossible to put down.
Another interesting note about Fallon's style is her ability to seamlessly switch points of view in each chapter without harming the overarching narrative. In fact, seeing the world through each of the characters -- protagonists and antagonists alike -- helped to give the story more depth.