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A review by ziwxbhld
Freax and Rejex by Robin Jarvis
5.0
I've been a fan of Robin Jarvis since someone nudged me in the direction of his Wyrd Museum series. I also remember how, starting around 2001, promising beginnings like Deathscent (so far the only one of the series 'Intrigues Of The Reflected Realm') and The Thorn Ogres Of Hagwood (similarly, the only one to appear) gave way to an interminable space which stretched out to getting on for a decade. Then, suddenly - Dancing Jax. Transported back a decade, ready for another go, I read it and was strangely impressed with how much older the themes were, how much more modern the feel of the book was, and how bitingly satirical it was about a world which, as I myself age, I find increasingly worthy of such satire: the Ismus does have a knack for great speeches. My greatest worry, upon finishing it, was that the promised sequel was merely so much hot air. But it's okay: it's safe to breathe a sigh of relief - Freax And Rejex exists, and it's an absolute stormer of a sequel.
This time the scope of the Ismus' ambition is worldwide, though the book itself focuses more on a mixed bag of the aforementioned freaks and rejects - those immune to the power of the Dancing Jax. It's a wickedly unpleasant read, and while the social commentary has shifted somewhat, it's still there, both in the way the events mirror the Nazi's final solution (expanding the rivalry between Austerly Fellows and Hitler rather neatly), and in the way the characters range from the totally dislikable to the totally sympathetic. They're full, developing, well-described characters, and I'm glad my feelings changed towards them as I read the book, as to begin with I was worried we had stepped into a camp full of cardboard cut-out clichés. Not so - the masterful character work is full of twists and turns, damnation and redemption, and the reader is free to love, hate or slowly despise characters as events unfold.
There is a hint of possible resolution, but no-one's going to be guessing the ending quite yet. There are revelations aplenty regarding the origins of Dancing Jax, the nature of the Dawn Prince, and one jaw-droppingly stunning revelation about the Bad Shepherd, which got me a little too excited perhaps, reminding me of Philip Pullman in his anti-establishment glory days. Indeed, there is plenty to provoke the more philosophical, and enough horrific squirmings to satisfy any true fan of the macabre.
A thoroughly good read, and I have to say I'm very, very keen to see where this leads: you may be able to tell. Roll on Fighting Pax!
This time the scope of the Ismus' ambition is worldwide, though the book itself focuses more on a mixed bag of the aforementioned freaks and rejects - those immune to the power of the Dancing Jax. It's a wickedly unpleasant read, and while the social commentary has shifted somewhat, it's still there, both in the way the events mirror the Nazi's final solution (expanding the rivalry between Austerly Fellows and Hitler rather neatly), and in the way the characters range from the totally dislikable to the totally sympathetic. They're full, developing, well-described characters, and I'm glad my feelings changed towards them as I read the book, as to begin with I was worried we had stepped into a camp full of cardboard cut-out clichés. Not so - the masterful character work is full of twists and turns, damnation and redemption, and the reader is free to love, hate or slowly despise characters as events unfold.
There is a hint of possible resolution, but no-one's going to be guessing the ending quite yet. There are revelations aplenty regarding the origins of Dancing Jax, the nature of the Dawn Prince, and one jaw-droppingly stunning revelation about the Bad Shepherd, which got me a little too excited perhaps, reminding me of Philip Pullman in his anti-establishment glory days. Indeed, there is plenty to provoke the more philosophical, and enough horrific squirmings to satisfy any true fan of the macabre.
A thoroughly good read, and I have to say I'm very, very keen to see where this leads: you may be able to tell. Roll on Fighting Pax!