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The Virtu
Mélusine Book 2

by Sarah Monette



      This is the sequel to Melusine, the powerful debut that brought Sarah Monette to the attention of fantasy readers. Felix Harrogate and Mildmay the Fox have a job to do: restore the Virtu to its former state as protector of the city. Felix, more or less sane again, wants to return to being the dashing wizard he once was before his master, evil Malker Gennadion, destroyed him. Mildmay wants a cure for the curse which damaged his leg. They must return to the city to do this, beard Malker and repair the orb. But Melusine is a city with its own secrets; nothing and no one are what they seem.

I like idea of having two narrators in this novel, a great way of having a narrator telling the story in his own words while providing more than one viewpoint. More than this might have been even better, but there is the baroque splendor and squalor of Melusine to enjoy, and a tortuous plot. There is also some further character development to heighten the sense of this being a class act, and the now sane Felix is more interesting, although it is Mildmay who makes the story sparkle. Anybody wanting a squeaky clean read may not like this novel, as there is sex galore and not much of the type found in romances (not that this is one). Usually there is more violence than sex in fantasy, and if it does occur it is invariably of the "straight" variety. Here the tables are very much turned. If you want a truly imaginative novel that is a change from the Tolkeinesque you will find it here. There is sure to be a sequel sometime soon with all those loose ends.

The Book

Ace (Berkley Publishing Group)
July 2006
Hardcover
0441014046
Fantasy
More at Amazon.com US || UK
Excerpt
NOTE: Sexual shenanigans

The Reviewer

Rachel A Hyde
Reviewed 2006
NOTE:
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