Title: Strange Fortune
Author: Josh Lanyon
Publisher: Blind Eye Books
Genre: Paranormal, Fantasy
Length: Novel (Paperback 320 pages)
Rating: 5+ stars out of 5
THE BLURB
Dashing soldier of fortune Valentine Strange, late of his Majesty’s 21st Benhali Lancers needs money. Happily, the wealthy Holy Orders of Harappu are desperate to retrieve the diadem of the Goddess Purya from an ancient temple deep in the White Mountains–a dangerous territory Strange knows well. The pay is too good and the job sounds too easy, but Strange is not in position to refuse.
When Master Aleister Grimshaw, a dangerous witch with a traitorous lineage joins the expedition, Strange begins to suspect that more is at stake than the retrieval of a mere symbolic relic. Grimshaw knows an ancient evil surrounds the diadem. The same evil once hunted him–and still haunts his dreams. However, experience has taught him to keep his suspicions to himself or risk being denounced as a madman. Again. Harried by curses, bandits, and unnatural creatures, Strange and Grimshaw plunge onward. But when a demonic power wakes and the civilized world descends into revolution, their tenuous friendship is threatened as each man must face the destruction of the life he has known.
THE REVIEW
Major Valentine Strange is a soldier of fortune and a gambler. Strange’s gambling debts at the tables and polo are quite considerable and he knows he must find a way to repay them before his creditors make an example of him. Things are so bad that he’s even considering marriage to the lovely Lady Isabella Hyde, his major creditor, as a way out of his difficulties, but Brahman Ehimay Warrick makes him a proposition in the nick of time that he can’t refuse. His quest? Find and return the diadem of the Goddess Purya, thought to be in a monastery in the Benhali Mountains aka the White Mountains, and the Church would pay him, in advance, a prince’s ransom for his troubles. Strange, who is barely one step ahead of his creditors, is only too happy to take the job despite the dangerous trip to find the diadem.
Strange’s main problem is he has been assigned a companion on his trek into the wilds – a true blood witch by the name of Master Aleister Grimshaw, the youngest son of a once noble family that had been disgraced when his father and grandfather supported the Inborn Mutiny against those in positions of power, and they were executed as traitors. Aleister is also not pleased to be told that he would be accompanying Strange as he is still smarting over the fact that his former lover Ehimay had chosen the priesthood over him, and it seemed that Ehimay had now decided to get rid of him by sending him on the expedition with Strange.
Once on the road to the White Mountains it soon becomes clear that rather than being of assistance to Strange, Aleister is more of a burden because his mind is fractured by memories of his childhood. To complicate things, because Aleister is a witch he can see past events through scrying and he doesn’t trust Strange. Aleister spooks the marls (or bearers) who were hired by Strange for the trip, which causes trouble in the camp. Strange and Aleister have to fight off all kinds of danger, including bands of marauders who seem to know instinctively where to find them, and they are also betrayed, so they had to band together during the perilous journey in order to stay alive.
Eventually they arrive at the monastery and gain entrance a few days later by using guile but Strange soon realized that the Crux or head of the Order, and Stork another monk, are rivals, which could play into their hands. The power struggle between these two factions does play a crucial role in recovering the diadem, but not before Aleister succumbs to the white spice, a powerful narcotic which makes him almost catatonic.
On the return journey the danger accelerates and Strange wonders whether he will die in the mountains since there did not appear to be a way out. Aleister is in his own world, seemingly taken over by a strange demonic possession. Just when things were getting interesting their luck takes a turn for the worse and Strange is fast coming to the conclusion that their journey may be for nothing. To compound his troubles, he is also becoming attached to Aleister which doesn’t please him because it would spoil his plans to marry if he can’t find another way out of his financial difficulties. And this is only half way through the story ……..
Strange Fortune is a tour de force that demonstrates this author’s superb writing skills and imagination in a story that is so engrossing and layered that it reminds me of such fantasy classics as Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert A. Heinlein which, although flawed, remains fresh today almost 50 years after it was released. Lanyon was able to get this reader to care about his two flawed protagonists, one of whom is not exactly the kind of character that would endear himself to me, but Aleister is so sensitively drawn, so delicate, losing his mind right before my eyes, that it was impossible not to care about him. The other protagonist, Strange, is charming, resourceful, someone with an eye to the main chance who is not above manipulation to achieve his objectives, yet he too sneaked into my heart . Josh Lanyon built an incredible alien world in such wonderful detail and proportions in this book that it seemed real and I wondered at times if the magic that wove through the story was being used to seduce me.
In Strange Fortune the reader enters a civilization steeped in tradition where the past is as relevant as the present. Some of the action sequences, especially towards the end, are horrific and involve powerful dieties who have their own agendas and are blinded by power. You will have to have a strong stomach for the big ending, but if you love adventures, especially of the epic variety, you will definitely love Strange Fortune. As always, even though the plot is complex, Lanyon’s strength is in his characterizations and he excels here as the characters are all well drawn – from his two protagonists, Valentine Strange and Aleister Grimshaw to Aleister’s faithful old retainers Priti and Jishu, to crafty Brahman Ehimay Warrick and everyone else in between.
This book is definitely a huge risk for Lanyon as it’s the first fantasy novel that he has ever written, and many of his fans may not “get” Strange Fortune because the logical mind that’s attracted to detective stories is not necessarily open to imaginary worlds and the strange creatures that inhabit them. Would some of Lanyon’s more traditional fans enjoy Strange Fortune? My answer to that question is, it depends … on the extent to which they want to remain earth bound. Fantasies are all about letting your imagination soar with no safety net.
Strange Fortune is not perfect. There are a few small flaws and the pace slowed to a crawl a couple of times, particularly during Strange’s and Aleister’s stay in the monastery, but this is a small criticism for such a brilliantly written book and I’m amazed that Lanyon was able to do such a great job in an area where he was previously a neophyte. My opinion is, of course, coloured somewhat by the fact that I’m a long time lover of fantasies.
The wonderful characterizations, excellent prose and world building in Strange Fortune made me wonder why it took Mr. Lanyon so long to enter this new realm. Highly recommended!
I love fantasy and Lanyon is without the doubt my favorite m/m and one of my favorite mystery writers. So, one of my favorite genres & my favorite writer combined? Delicious. I just can’t wait to read this book. I’m waiting the late payment check to place an order on the Amazon. Hopefully, it will arrive before November 20th (Adrien & Jake interview, yum!). ~_^ On the other hand, overdrawn account for Lanyon’s book? Not a problem. XD Especially after reading your review. I’m predicting a few sleepless nights.
Lady M
If you like fantasy at all you will be blown away with some of the world building and the characterizations. I think that Lanyon had to really stretch some new muscles on this one and I applaud his editor, Nicole Kimberling of Blind Eye Books, who did a great job on the book.
**
This is a l-o-n-g book almost 90K and it took me a few days because I’m a slow reader, but the journey was worth it. When you do finish the book let me know what you think.
Thank you very much, Wave. I’m braced for my regular readers to shake their heads over this one–and I’m not going to abandon mystery or crime novels–but it feels really good to try something new, to really stretch different writing muscles.
*
So I’m relieved–and pleased–you like SF. Especially given that Fantasy is your first love. *g* (Come on, admit it. You’re just two-timing us with the mysteries.)
Josh
Books and men are different flavours to me. I don’t consider it two timing if I select a new flavour on different days – they are equally sweet. Damn I should be a writer! 😀
**
This review took a long time to write and someone should be sending me new glasses.:)
As you know, Wave, spec/fantasy is not my favorite genre, so I will need to think about this one for a while before making the decision of whether or not to get it. But the review is excellent and I suspect readers of the genre and fans of his will love it muchly. We’ll see, yeah?
Lynn
Your reservations are perfectly understandable. I have always known that spec fiction is not an area that you particularly love. I thought the author would do a good job but since this was his first time I really was a bit leery, however he exceeded my expectations.
Great review, Wave! This sounds like a complex book so it couldn’t have been an easy review to write. What’s the level of technology in this one? Medieval? Steampunk?
It’s probably closest to steampunk, Val. 1800s AU historical fantasy, but it’s very loose.
Josh, I was hoping you’d say steampunk. 🙂
Aunt Lynn, I’m sure that much of what my readers like about my work is in there, but it really was written for the spec fiction market, so I wouldn’t want to make any guarantees. I appreciate that you’re tempted! *g*
Josh and Wave, I must have been living in a cold-induced hole this last week because I am just now learning about the big ol’ package that comes with SF. I reeeaaaalllly want the Adrien/Jake interview, so even though I was/am on the fence with this, it looks like I’m getting it — in PRINT, no less! 🙂
I’m not a huge fantasy fan but I don’t dislike it either and some I really like so based on the author’s abilities I will likely check this one out. I just have to remember to order before the deadline so I get all the loot. 🙂 Greedy me.
Hi Tam
I’m a huge fantasy fan so to me this book was manna from heaven, despite its length (I really hate very long books and wish all novels were no more than 200 pages) 😀
**
If you do get it, this is the type of book you need to set aside time to read because it’s a very complex story. The goodies are great and BEB is offering free S & H plus a tote bag.:)
Great review Wave!
I love when authors try different genre. And from what you’re saying Josh did a very good job with strange fortune. Can’t wait to get my copy. And thanks to Josh for all the goodies that came with the book.
Elyane
It’s definitely different from anything Lanyon has ever written before. The environment and the characters are all alien (not aliens, although there are lots of those):) and you have to totally immerse yourself in the story. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
You know you would be envied by many who are waiting for the book to arrive in snail mail! 🙂
thanks so much for review, I love the excerpt and always believe a good story is a good story, no matter what genre it is, that Josh will transfer his strengths to a new genre. I am glad you confirmed this.
Eve
If you’re a fan of his writing you will enjoy this book. If you’re a fan of the AE series, I’m not sure because the writing, though just as excellent, is not focused on banter. Even though AE are murder mysteries they are very funny, and I don’t think this is the focus of Strange Fortune. There is more concentration in this book on the prose and world building and different characters and the alien environment than dialogue, although there’s a lot of that. I hope this comment is helpful.:)
Wave – If you didn’t know Lanyon wrote this book, would you still have been able to recognize the witty banter and clever observations characteristic of his previous stuff? Or is SF a wholesale departure in both genre and writing style?
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I ordered this book mostly out of curiosity. I’m a fan of Lanyon’s and even though I am not a fantasy reader, I figured he is not a fantasy writer, so it evens out. I thought even if it is a total train wreck, it would still be amusing, just not in the way the author intended. Your good review has raised my expectations… now I just have to wait for the damn book to arrive in the mail. 😉
Diane
SF is totally different to Lanyon’s other books. The great writing and characterizations are there, but as I told Eve, there is not as much of what fans of the AE series have come to expect, i.e. funny banter.
**
The reason I love Lanyon’s stuff is the characters. Personally that’s where I think his main strength lies. As I said in this review, I really don’t know if fans of his AE and other series will appreciate this new world. In addition, this book is set in Hindush, another word for India, and if you don’t like that type of culture the story may be difficult for you to appreciate.
**
Even though I love other genres I am first of all a fantasy reader, so Strange Fortune was an easy “sell” to me, and the exotic world of Hindush made it even more appealing. To the general reader it’s going to be strictly a matter of personal taste whether or not you like the story.
**
In addition, the story is much longer than those M/M readers who like novellas are accustomed to. Although the majority of the book went by very fast, as I said in the review, there are two areas where I found the action to be slower than I personally liked.
As I said when I signed the guestbook, I LOVE M/M fiction and Josh. I do OK with S-F as long as there isn’t too much hard science but I can do with or without fantasy. However, JOSH wrote it, so I bought it! BTW, I review ebooks for JERR (Just Erotic Romance Reviews) so I’m hoping to find more authors to love and pester (not really!) I’m one of the few reviewers who regularly reviews M/M. Head over there sometime and check out my reviews. Unfortunately, I took the summer off, after almost three years, and JERR opened a new website. That is fine but somehow my 400+ older reviews haven’t gotten posted yet. Then I found out that I have thyroid cancer and am dealing with that. Just goes to show that one shouldn’t take time off. marcy
Marcy
first of all I’m so sorry about your very serious illness. I hope that things work out positively for you. We often take our health for granted until something like this makes us stop and think. Take care of yourself!
**
Science fiction and fantasy have a lot of hard core followers of the genre and I’m one of them, so this book was easy for me to love. Although I review M/M I would love to get more excellent spec fiction to read; most of my fantasy books are not M/M so I can’t review them here.
**
I hope you come back to visit and I wish you all the best.
Thank you for the good wishes. I will definitely be back often!