Scan barcode
A review by lexlingua
Plenilune by Carlos Quevedo, Jennifer Freitag
3.0
Cross-posted from my more detailed review at Lexlingua.co
Margaret Coventry is having a small bout of rebellion against her match-making family, when she is kidnapped and taken by force into the alternate universe of Plenilune. You see, Rupert de la Mare, soon-to-be Plenilune’s overlord, has been challenged whether he can take a human wife, and the nefarious Rupert doesn’t let challenges slide.
This is only a small part of the plot (the blurb doesn’t do the book any justice). Margaret is a fish out of water as she begins to learn – and love – the magical landscape and history of Plenilune and its people. Along the way, Margaret breaks a curse with the help of a dragon, hunts down a wild boar (not intentionally), and rescues a kingdom. Oh, and she meets Dammerung, the War-wolf.
Together, Dammerung and Margaret were a delightful surprise. Freitag has given him a marvelous characterization, as this noble, wise, brave, sad, inspiring leader who is also full of mocking wit and who loves his clothes. Margaret is an equally powerful protagonist: her temper gives her courage, and her courage makes her a force to reckon with.
My primary complaint about this book was that this world just seems like a mirror world to England -- so it really wasn't necessary to make this book a portal fantasy. Additionally, it’s a fairly long book and several chunks at the start and near the tail are inconsistent in pace and depth.
But all said, the writing too is simply splendid. The "medieval" imagery of the new world really stands out. It reminded me of the feud between Richard the Lionheart and the wicked King John. If you're looking for medieval literature, well worth a shot.
Margaret Coventry is having a small bout of rebellion against her match-making family, when she is kidnapped and taken by force into the alternate universe of Plenilune. You see, Rupert de la Mare, soon-to-be Plenilune’s overlord, has been challenged whether he can take a human wife, and the nefarious Rupert doesn’t let challenges slide.
This is only a small part of the plot (the blurb doesn’t do the book any justice). Margaret is a fish out of water as she begins to learn – and love – the magical landscape and history of Plenilune and its people. Along the way, Margaret breaks a curse with the help of a dragon, hunts down a wild boar (not intentionally), and rescues a kingdom. Oh, and she meets Dammerung, the War-wolf.
Together, Dammerung and Margaret were a delightful surprise. Freitag has given him a marvelous characterization, as this noble, wise, brave, sad, inspiring leader who is also full of mocking wit and who loves his clothes. Margaret is an equally powerful protagonist: her temper gives her courage, and her courage makes her a force to reckon with.
My primary complaint about this book was that this world just seems like a mirror world to England -- so it really wasn't necessary to make this book a portal fantasy. Additionally, it’s a fairly long book and several chunks at the start and near the tail are inconsistent in pace and depth.
But all said, the writing too is simply splendid. The "medieval" imagery of the new world really stands out. It reminded me of the feud between Richard the Lionheart and the wicked King John. If you're looking for medieval literature, well worth a shot.