Review of 'Those Brave, Foolish Souls from the City of Swords' on 'Goodreads'
5 stars
I love Benedict Patrick's Yarnsworld setting. It has such a great fairy-tale feel that doesn't quite match what you usually get in fantasy, particularly in fantasy aimed at adults. City of Swords is a classic tale -- farm boy seeks a life of adventure -- but the spark of life Patrick brings in his characterization mixes beautifully with a brilliantly original world of magic.
Every other chapter is a myth from the setting. As the farm boy's story progresses, you're also drawn deeper and deeper into the lore of this corner of Yarnsworld. It's a bit of meso-American adventure, reminding me vaguely of Zorro, but steeped in a strange mythology. Patrick masterfully mixes legendary and mythic layers in this series. In the cities there is swashbuckling heroics, but always surrounded by the terrifying magic of the wilderness. I start the book out knowing that they're all going to come together …
I love Benedict Patrick's Yarnsworld setting. It has such a great fairy-tale feel that doesn't quite match what you usually get in fantasy, particularly in fantasy aimed at adults. City of Swords is a classic tale -- farm boy seeks a life of adventure -- but the spark of life Patrick brings in his characterization mixes beautifully with a brilliantly original world of magic.
Every other chapter is a myth from the setting. As the farm boy's story progresses, you're also drawn deeper and deeper into the lore of this corner of Yarnsworld. It's a bit of meso-American adventure, reminding me vaguely of Zorro, but steeped in a strange mythology. Patrick masterfully mixes legendary and mythic layers in this series. In the cities there is swashbuckling heroics, but always surrounded by the terrifying magic of the wilderness. I start the book out knowing that they're all going to come together somehow, and yet when they do, it's still unexpectedly awesome.