Jon Courtenay Grimwood has spent just over a decade writing science fiction, but his debut fantasy novel, The Fallen Blade, has several elements in common with his previous work: it's the first in a series, it's an alternate history, and it's filled with intrigue and action from one end to the other.
The story opens in early 15th-century Venice, with a naked teenager shackled in irons in a darkened room. He does not remember who he is or what has brought him to this place, and then, suddenly, the wall breaks and he is freed. But Grimwood immediately circles back and retraces the path to this moment from the perspective of the characters who broke into this prison. We find ourselves in a version of Venice presided over by the descendants of Marco Polo; his great-grandson is the city-state's ostensible ruler, but because of his mental illness the real power is held by his (Chinese) mother, Alexa, and his uncle, Alonzo--many of Venice's other elite citizens do their best to avoid committing to one side or the other of the implicit power struggle. Their niece, Giulietta, however, is caught in the middle, about to be forced into a marriage to the king of Cyprus, until she is abducted from the royal chapel.
What do we learn about the boy when he returns to the story? Water and sunlight make him ill, ordinary food and water do nothing to quell his hunger, and his reflexes are stunningly fast. (There are also recurring flashes of a brutal former life in a Viking settlement called Bjornvin.) Alexa recognizes Tycho (as she names him) for what he is, and the head of Venice's covert death squads, the Assassini, is charged with training him to become a professional killer. Meanwhile, there's also a werewolf who's also the illegitimate son of the German emperor, and he has his own designs on Giulietta....
At times, the interlocking power plays can be hard to keep track of, and the story's magical elements are often treated obliquely--reflecting their mysteriousness to the characters who witness it. Because this is only the first volume in a trilogy, moreover, there are lots of strings left dangling, particularly with respect to Tycho's background and the origins of his vampiric curse. When everything does click into place, though, the rich potential of Grimwood's moody, atmospheric setting may convince many readers to hold out for further answers.--Ron Hogan
Shelf Talker: Though not as complexly layered or masterfully written as George R.R. Martin's Song of Ice and Fire series, Grimwood's latest could hold similar appeal for readers who like political intrigues in archaic settings with more than a hint of supernatural elements.