Read: 12 March, 2009When Ainvar's grandmother gives her life to save her tribe from starvation, he begins his journey to learn the true meaning of sacrifice. Along with his "soul friend," the warrior Vercingetorix, Ainvar must find a way to end Caesar's conquest of Gaul.
POSITIVE: Great plot and a fantastic pace. After a painful beginning, this novel quickly became an exciting page-turner.
NEGATIVE: Unfortunately, this great story was burdened with several narrative issues. Right from the start, the reader is met with page after page of unnecessary exposition. Exciting scenes would be broken up by dull interludes explaining the meaning of this or that ritual or detail. The choice of the first person narrative may also have been a mistake as there is no clear perspective or reason for the telling of the story (at one point, Ainvar says "I must remember to ask Menua," despite the fact that Menua has already died from the narrator's perspective). Finally, I have to mention the scene where Ainvar looks into a mirror. He describes the "young man staring back at me" as:
"He had an elegant narrow head with a long skull suitable for storing knowledge. The eye sockets were deeply carved, the cheekbones high, the nose prominent and thrusting. It was a strong clear timeless face full of contradictions, brooding yet mischievous, reserved yet involved. Fathomless eyes and curving lips spoke of intense passions carefully suppressed, concentrated in stillness."
Who, I ask, would ever write in this way about themselves? It's just silly.
Overall, I would say that this book is worth the read, especially for people with an interest in historical battles or the history of Gaul. That being said, readers should be prepared for a less-than-fabulous writing style and an incomplete mastery of the first person narrative.
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