Something Red by Douglas Nicholas

Something Red by Douglas Nicholas

 Release Date: September 18th, 2012

From debut author Douglas Nicholas comes a haunting story of love, murder, and sorcery. During the thirteenth century in northwest England, in one of the coldest winters in living memory, a formidable yet charming Irish healer, Molly, and the troupe she leads are driving their three wagons, hoping to cross the Pennine Mountains before the heavy snows set in. Molly, her lover Jack, granddaughter Nemain, and young apprentice Hob become aware that they are being stalked by something terrible. The refuge they seek in a monastery, then an inn, and finally a Norman castle proves to be an illusion. As danger continues to rise, it becomes clear that the creature must be faced and defeated—or else they will all surely die. It is then that Hob discovers how much more there is to his adopted family than he had realized.

An intoxicating blend of fantasy and mythology, Something Red presents an enchanting world full of mysterious and fascinating characters— shapeshifters, sorceresses, warrior monks, and knights—where no one is safe from the terrible being that lurks in the darkness. In this extraordinary, fantastical world, nothing is as it seems, and the journey for survival is as magical as it is perilous.

(From the publisher)

Something Red is a story that I was drawn to for its historical fantasy elements. One of my favourite all time authors is Canadian Guy Gavriel Kay who writes with a wonderfully unique blend of real history hidden beneath worlds touched with fantasy. Douglas Nicholas's novel promised to be similar, a blend of history and folklore.

As it was, the story was slow to start and I wasn't sure if I would be drawn into the book or not after the first fifty pages.  The world of thirteenth century England did come alive as we are slowly introduced to the main character of Hob. I didn't feel an immediate connection with Hob, who doesn't seem to fit in among the more interesting and clearly magical Molly and Nemain, and the mysterious Jack, all of whom are initially more intriguing secondary characters. By the time the characters are attacked at the ford, the first real excitement in the story, Hob's heroic nature begins to be revealed.  It's also around this point in the story that you realize the author is building up momentum to an epic ending.

Nicholas does two things exceptionally well in this book. Firstly he does a marvelous job at making you feel trapped in the castle, with an epic snow storm raging outside. You can almost feel the sense of dread along with the characters that something is ensnaring you like prey. The second aspect that is well executed is all the very subtle little clues that were being left along the way that points to the ending. It took me by surprise, and that made it a wonderful read. Something Red also has two quite love stories that are magical in their trusting, simplicity. In the end, its a charming coming of age story for Hob as he grows up to be someone that even he doesn't expect.