Synopsis
It is winter in the Empire of the Wolf, and the town of Eisbrück burns with plague.
Whilst physicians struggle to contain the pox, the atmosphere thickens with recrimination and rumour: talk of inauspicious constellations, and a demonic witch filling the streets with bodies and black magick. Amongst the chaos, Sir Konrad Vonvalt must recover a dangerous fugitive-a child murderer who has escaped from Blackmarsh Insane Asylum.
But with winter’s bite closing and plague spreading like wildfire, finding the killer may be the least of his problems…
Quick Thoughts
For it’s seemingly straightforward nature, Grimdark fantasy comes in all sorts of variations and flavors. There are so many interesting places you can take the subgenre, but a plague stricken town under the alleged curse of a witch is definitely a solid choice of destination. The atmosphere The Anguished Earth creates is top notch, melding the horror tinged, Dark Age setting with the backdrop of an active outbreak of a deadly disease. As you follow a state appointed Justice on the trail of escaped child murderer, you feel the unsettling sensation of darkness lurking in every corner. As the investigation trudges on and things begin to ramp up, the intensity and supernatural elements move to the forefront, blending fantasy, horror, and mystery into something that had me flying through pages to get to the end.
I have had Richard Swan on my radar for some time now, and so when I was offered an ARC for The Anguished Earth it seemed like the perfect time to dive into this author. Without knowing anything about this world or the series that takes place in it, I found my way through this novella with surprisingly little issue. While there were a few moments where I could tell I was missing some sort of context, the overall experience was engaging and I can confidently say that Swan has moved up the old TBR List. If you’re looking to try out Swan’s writing and you’re in the mood for a solid little read with a bit of fantasy, a dash of mystery, and a whole lot of dead bodies, this is a pretty good place to start.
Full Review
The Anguished Earth starts off in a setting that feels historical to our own world yet just fantastical enough to be compelling. The semi-medieval European setting is nothing new to fantasy, and Swan’s usage of a religious practice that is heavily reminiscent of the period only reinforces that familiarity. But the book uses this to its advantage, playing off the inherent religious tensions associated with the real-world time period, infusing the story with a sense of paranoia. Accusations of witchcraft and heresy abound as our central character investigates a grisly mystery which may prove to have darker supernatural elements.
Building on this solid foundation, Swan does an excellent job of maintaining tension and a sense of unease throughout the story. This story takes several twists and turns which are unexpected and keep the reader engaged throughout, constantly guessing as to the final outcome and whether or not otherworldly elements are at play and to what extent. This tension is exacerbated by elements like harrowing visions and dreams suffered by our main character, Sir Konrad Vonvalt, who’s roll as an Imperial Justice makes him a target of both suspicion and interest for many.
Novella’s work best with a tight focus, and without doubt, this is Vonvalt’s story. He leads the investigation, however unwillingly, and it is focused on his personal journey navigating the murky waters of accusations, false leads, unreliable witnesses, and his personal, guilt laced reasoning. Vonvalt is a compelling character who’s role as someone entrusted with being judge, jury, and executioner by the State adds considerable weight to every decision he makes. While this book only gives passing attention to the other characters, the depth of attention it gives to our main protagonist helps it feel like a work with far more development than many similar short works.
Being a novella, this story is a bit thin in some parts. The world is stylish and interesting, but left largely unexplored. There are several unanswered questions raised, including one major twist near the end that is most definitely something that is answered in installments in the series. The magic system as it is explored here is soft and very lightly sketched, leaving plenty of questions as to how it works and the extent of different characters abilities. Similarly, the larger political picture at play in this world is almost entirely untouched on in this book.
But, again, this being a novella set in the world of a larger series, it is more or less to be expected. I for one was not hampered at all in my enjoyment of the book by these minor issues. Rather, I was enticed to keep reading and learning more of Swan’s world. I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a dark fantasy with strong horror elements and anyone interested in checking out Swan’s work.
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