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A review by archergal
The High House by James Stoddard
3.0
I liked this book the way I remember liking some William Morris (e.g., The Well at the World's Inn) or William Hope Hodgson books. The writing is rather baroque, more reminiscent of late 19th century than current 21st century.
The book takes place in a house, Evenmere, that may be the world, or it may affect the world, or something. It has endless rooms and corridors. It's full of marvels, both wondrous, and fearsome. It seems to contain whole countries, oceans, peoples.
Carter Anderson, son of the old Master of the house, was sent away for his own safety years ago. But now he's back! He's battling the forces of chaos that are embodied in the anarchists. The anarchists are led by the Bobby, who in appearance is an English policeman (a bobby, hence the cover illustration.) Carter's father vanished ten years ago, and no one know what became of him.
Can Carter become the new Master of the house? Can he mend fences with his step-mother and step-brother? Can he keep the stars burning and save the far-flung areas of the House?
If you like books like Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell, or Morris or Hodgson, you might like this book. I happen to like both real Victorian and pseudo-Victorian prose stylings, so I liked that about the book. The endless tramping through corridors of the house got a bit tedious sometimes. But balance that with lavish descriptions of decorations, clothing, foods, etc.
It's not bad. I read it in smallish chunks. That worked for me.
The book takes place in a house, Evenmere, that may be the world, or it may affect the world, or something. It has endless rooms and corridors. It's full of marvels, both wondrous, and fearsome. It seems to contain whole countries, oceans, peoples.
Carter Anderson, son of the old Master of the house, was sent away for his own safety years ago. But now he's back! He's battling the forces of chaos that are embodied in the anarchists. The anarchists are led by the Bobby, who in appearance is an English policeman (a bobby, hence the cover illustration.) Carter's father vanished ten years ago, and no one know what became of him.
Can Carter become the new Master of the house? Can he mend fences with his step-mother and step-brother? Can he keep the stars burning and save the far-flung areas of the House?
If you like books like Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell, or Morris or Hodgson, you might like this book. I happen to like both real Victorian and pseudo-Victorian prose stylings, so I liked that about the book. The endless tramping through corridors of the house got a bit tedious sometimes. But balance that with lavish descriptions of decorations, clothing, foods, etc.
It's not bad. I read it in smallish chunks. That worked for me.