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A review by bellisk
The Red Man and Others by Remco van Straten, Angeline B. Adams
5.0
I really loved this book. The three linked tales, with three unconventional lead characters, pick a deft path through questions of what family members owe to one another, the relationship between religion and the truth, and how much of our lives are determined from birth. They’re also funny and lively, with unpredictable twists!
Kaila and Sebastien’s story begins in the first part of the book, a romp that turns serious when their plan for revenge is successful. The next story, the eponymous ‘The Red Man’, introduces Ymke; it’s a beautiful character study of a family scraping a living on the borders of a war between nobles, a conflict that could destroy their lives without even noticing. I loved the natural way Ymke’s disability and its consequences were threaded through the story.
By the third and final tale, when all three characters meet up and work together, it’s a joy to see how they’ve grown and developed. Of course, two con artists (one with a longsword) and a mistreated professional scribe can concoct an even bigger scheme than two of them alone... but who are they hurting, who are they helping, and will they lose control of what they’ve created?
The final treat of the book is the afterword, in which the writers describe their process of coming up with the stories and—my favourite part—the influences on the cultural geography they created for Kaila, Ymke and Sebastien to roam around. Yoon Ha Lee’s Hexarchate Stories also had detailed author’s notes for each piece. I hope this is a trend we’ll see continuing.
Recommended for anyone who loves unlikely heroes, girls with swords, found family and just desserts.
Kaila and Sebastien’s story begins in the first part of the book, a romp that turns serious when their plan for revenge is successful. The next story, the eponymous ‘The Red Man’, introduces Ymke; it’s a beautiful character study of a family scraping a living on the borders of a war between nobles, a conflict that could destroy their lives without even noticing. I loved the natural way Ymke’s disability and its consequences were threaded through the story.
By the third and final tale, when all three characters meet up and work together, it’s a joy to see how they’ve grown and developed. Of course, two con artists (one with a longsword) and a mistreated professional scribe can concoct an even bigger scheme than two of them alone... but who are they hurting, who are they helping, and will they lose control of what they’ve created?
The final treat of the book is the afterword, in which the writers describe their process of coming up with the stories and—my favourite part—the influences on the cultural geography they created for Kaila, Ymke and Sebastien to roam around. Yoon Ha Lee’s Hexarchate Stories also had detailed author’s notes for each piece. I hope this is a trend we’ll see continuing.
Recommended for anyone who loves unlikely heroes, girls with swords, found family and just desserts.