Necropolis

Xina Marie Uhl

Average Rating 9/10 (1 Review)

Eretria. Crossroad of Civilization, Home to a Hundred Gods, Jewel of the Desert... City of the Dead. Necropolis! Will four people brought together by circumstance survive her deadly secrets? Conyr, a prison guard haunted by the betrayals and destruction of a past war. He finds himself embroiled in a conflict that threatens not only the city he fought for, but also his very soul. Dru, a young holy warrior sent to Eretria on a mission that has been wiped from his mind after a brutal assassination attempt. Now, hurt and confused in an enemy land, he must search for his past amid continual danger. Gilas, an ex-councilman and priestly initiate, he schemes to restore his power and punish the man who caused his imprisonment. Val. Desperate for a better life, this young mischief-maker finds herself surrounded by awakening legends and the fulfillment of prophecies.

Review by Bryn (260104) Rating (9/10)

Review by Bryn
Rating 9/10
When prison guard Conyr first sees Dru, the young man is about to be beaten to death for some unknown crime, but imprisoned councilman Gilas has other plans, and calls in a favour. In no time at all, Conyr finds his dwelling overrun by an invalid, the daughter of the woman he adores, and a very strange dog called Echo.

As Dru returns to health, it soon becomes clear that there is more afoot, and that the fate of a city may well rest upon his shoulders. The answers seem to lie in the mysterious Necropolis, a city of the dead that lies somewhere beneath the city of the living.

Initially, I found myself wondering if Necropolis was fantasy or historical. Uhl weaves together elements of historical language and culture with the products of her own imagination to create a rich, and eerily familiar, world. Unlike many fantasy tales, she does not try to create a whole new reality, but instead offers an almost familiar place with unfamiliar figures.

The addition of various snippets of historical information - in much the same way as Dune and The Handmaiden's Tale use such content - gives weight to the sense of this being an historical piece happening within the context of a far larger reality than the one we are able to see.

The tale itself is riveting, and not easily predictable. The characters are given depth and motivation, their interactions are fascinating and their fates compelling. The fantastical story is almost a backdrop to a tale of loyalty, love, and friendship. Magic is handled well within the text - dealt with rationally and expressed within the context of a philosophy that lends it credence. There is mystery aplenty, action, romance, magic, and political plotting. The threads of plot are woven tightly together in a tale that develops in very satisfying ways.

This book is certainly an enjoyable read - habitual readers of fantasy will undoubtedly love it, and those who do not normally enjoy this genre may well find that this book offers an exception to the rule.
Bryn (26th January 2004)