Book review: The Hermetica of Elysium by Annemarie Banks
The Hermetica of Elysium by Annemarie Banks
Published by Knox Robinson
Kindle eBook - 400 pages
Published December 2011
Review copy received from publisher
Read the official blurb for The Hermetica of Elysium
The Hermetica of Elysium doesn't beat around the bush when it comes to pacing. From page one, you're throw in to Nadira's world and hit the ground running. Banks has a definite flair for the flow of her story, and there are never any dull moments.
Possibly because I'm a big fan of the Assassin's Creed series, but I kept finding parallels between the video games and this novel, mostly in the world building and time period in which the story is set. Banks has managed to fully capture the feel of 15th/16th century Europe and you can tell she has done her homework. There aren't any actual assassins though. That would have made it far too similar.
I really liked Nadira. Her circumstances were typical for this kind of story i.e. always being captured and used by powerful men, but her developing reactions to these circumstances is what makes her an excellent character. Unlike novels with similar themes, where the female lead resigns herself to her fate with a cry of pity and 'Oh, why me?' every five pages, Nadira resists, escapes and learns pretty quickly which men she can trust. It was refreshing to read of a female lead in this time period with a decent head on her shoulders. I found that the romantic elements of the story were a bit rushed, and that Nadira's relationship with her love interest happened a bit suddenly. One minute there's a mutual respect, the next she's full blown head over heels besotted.
The magical elements are very subtle, and only really come into play towards the end of the story. I felt that there wasn't enough exposition with the magic in the story - it was treated with suspicion and persecution in the right ways (given the time period) but there wasn't really anything to explain a bit of the fundamentals of the magic system. I might just be a fantasy book purist here, but I like to have some groundwork laid out about how magic in the world works.
The Hermetica of Elysium is a well written story set in a brilliantly crafted world with genuine characters that extol the virtues of honour and righteous defiance. It's not a magic-heavy story, so it makes for a good transition between traditional fiction and fantasy. A very good read.
I'll add to my list!
ReplyDeleteA good choice :) Enjoy!
DeleteSigh. The title got me all excited. What a great title! But the blurb left me cold.
ReplyDeleteI agree that the blurb isn't all that, but it's a good read :)
DeleteSounds like a great historical with a touch of fantasy. Assassins will always be cool in my book.
ReplyDeleteIt'd be awesome if there were assassins in this; sadly the only similarities between this and assassin's creed was the time and place.
DeleteThis one's going on my list... but I'm hoping that romance element isn't too pants or it's likely to stop me in my tracks!
ReplyDeleteGreat review
Lx
If you don't hold much stock in romance then it won't bother you at all. Just sit back and enjoy the plot :)
DeleteI do like a good assassin and a fast-paced novel. Thanks for the review and its officially on my TBR list!
ReplyDeleteHope you enjoy, Stephen! Just to warn you that there aren't any assassins in the book; the similarities between the book and Assassin's Creed are just the time and the place in which the stories are set.
DeleteI've read a few assassin series I've really liked so I might try this. I'm always on the lookout for new authors especially from publishers I'm unfamiliar with.
ReplyDeleteIt was a surprisingly good read; I'm not too big a fan of historical fiction, but this worked really well. Just a heads up that there are no assassins in the book, though.
DeleteSo, are there assassins in this book? Just kidding, sounds like a good read :-)
ReplyDeleteHehe, I think some folk got the wrong end of the stick. That'll teach me for slipping in video game references into a book review :)
DeleteSurprisingly enough, there are Assassins in the third book, "The Chaldean Codex." The secret remnants of both the Assassins and the Knights Templar join forces to try to stop the European powers from instigating another crusade. Nadira is involved, of course.
DeleteWith a promise like that, sign me up for the rest of the series :) Thanks for stopping by, Annemarie :)
Deletesounds interesting, Jamie! Glad you enjoyed the book.
ReplyDeleteIf Medieval/Renaissance history is your thing, then it's a good read.
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