Wereworld:
Rage of Lions
Curtis
Jobling
Puffin
2011
Rage of Lions is the second in Curtis Jobling's Wereworld series. If you haven't read the first book then this review WILL CONTAIN SPOILERS so in the nicest possible way, er, go away.
After
the dramatic and life changing events of Rise of The Wolf,
Drew of the Dyrewood is adjusting to his new position as future
monarch of Lyssia by mastering his inner lycanthrope and brushing up
his swordplay. He's also learning a lot about court politics
courtesy of a self appointed Wolf's Council, let by the Bearlord
Bergan, running the place while Drew himself trains up, so to speak.
While Drew and the honourable amongst the Werelords emerged
triumphant at the end of Rise of The Wolf and now reside in
the capital of Westlands, Highcliff, there is still much work to be
done. The disposed Werelion, Leopold has barricaded himself in
Highcliff Keep and his less than stable son (not to mention Drew's
half brother) Lucas is teetering on the edge of insanity having
kidnapped the Werefox Lady Gretchen and spirited her away. As Drew
sets off to save Gretchen and the Wolf's Council struggle to unite
the Seven Realms none are aware of the greater danger that fast
approaches...
The
Drew that readers encounter in this installment of the Wereworld
series is at once entirely different and also awfully similar to the
boy who ran off to live wild in the Dyrewood. On one hand, he has
learnt to live more peaceably with his inner animal, no longer
fearing the Wolf and has grown up considerably. However, at heart he
is still the country boy who grew up a farmer and cared nothing for
the politics of his homeland and this aspect of his personality
leaves him discontent in his new role and ill at ease with his
heritage. When Gretchen is kidnapped he is quick to strike out alone
and it is clear that he relishes the freedom from the expectations
and traditions that weigh so heavily on his soldiers. While he is
clearly no longer a boy, he is still a very young man and there are
some lighter moments when he is faced with the determined Gretchen
and the timid Whitely who have him besieged by feelings that he's not
really had to think about until now, the most inappropriate of times.
He is an extremely likable character and his development over the
course of the book is, while often brutally forced by circumstance,
entirely believable.
Other
characters are equally interesting. Gretchen and Whitely are almost
the only women to appear and are extremely different.
Gretchen...well... pah to Gretchen. She's scarily focused when it
comes to Drew and I generally found her pretty annoying. Saying
that, she doesn't get much face time and there are a couple of
instances where her bravery is truly impressive and her determined
stance fun to read. Whitely is a far easier character to root for
and her friendship with Drew seems, while confused, more honest than
his relationship with Gretchen. I can't wait to see more of her –
and it would appear that she's going to have quite a lot to deal with
in the future so I'm sure that we shall. Of Drew's close friends,
Hector is by far the most fascinating. He has little backbone and
is, overall, rather pathetic although always willing to stick his
neck out for his friend he does seems to spend an awful lot of time
blubbing in the face of danger. However, this is absolutely what
makes him so interesting – writing a character so blatantly
spineless is a brave move on Jobling's part and a weak mind opens
itself to many a temptation, which is exactly why Hector is going to
be one to watch from this point on.
Once
more, the attendant Werelords of Lyssia are a glorious lot. From
brave Bergan and temper-some Mikkel, to the fabulous Vega, the Wolf's
Council are a formidable group. It is, however, the many enemies that
appear who rather steal the show. To say more would be to spoil the
enjoyment but some are truly... devilish. A special mention for the
crazed Prince Lucas who, when he appears, is really quite frightening
in his madness. He truly is an, er, screwed up little lion.
The
plot itself is fast moving and gripping. While Gretchen's kidnapping
would at first appear to be the main storyline, it quickly expands to
encompass an ambitious tale of a realm on the verge of civil war.
Rage of Lions climaxes two concurrent and hugely exciting
battles and be warned, Curtis Jobling takes no prisoners, killing off
characters left, right and centre and presenting readers with some
scenes with scenes of real brutality (the phrase “it's all fun and
games until somebody loses an _____” could have been written for
this series, just fill in the blank with any appropriate limb).
However, the violence never seems out of place and always sits well
within the plot. As with Rise of The Wolf, the land of Lyssia is
beautifully realised, the original idea of Werelords excellently
executed and the characters well drawn and carefully nuanced. Lovers
of high fantasy (adult or young adult) will adore these titles and
those who don't think they love high fantasy should pick up the
Wereworld series and have their minds quickly changed. Great
stuff.
Rage of Lions is available now. Thank you to Puffin for providing me with this title to review.
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