A. J. Hartley

Great narration by Alan Cumming on this expanded version of the "Scottish Play"

I completely enjoyed this in any case, but having Alan Cumming narrate it with a Scottish burr kicked it into 5 star territory for me. Some may not see the point of a novel-sized expansion to Shakespeare's "Scottish Play," but I found Hartley's & Hewson's to be both respectful of the original material and inventive in its enhancements.

There is a whole long prelude of the war with Norwegian King Sweno (actually show more Svein Knutsson in history) before we even get to Act 1 Scene 1 with the witches on the heath. The witches are portrayed as three very different types ranging from young teenager to crone. Lady Macbeth gets her own name at last ("Skena") and is less the villainess. King Duncan is more of a hideous depraved lecher who is rather deserving of his fate. The porter (with much fewer jokes) doubles as the lead murderer (which is a nice nod to how the actual Shakespearean actor probably had to double up on roles), Banquo's and Fleance's tie in to the later Stewart kings of Scotland is greatly expanded on. etc. etc. Most of the best lines of the play are quoted in their original context, but the borrowing is kept to a minimum.

It all had me researching the historical basis for the characters, cross-checking against the play, and greatly adding to my enjoyment. A very well done job! show less

I really enjoyed this sequel to STEEPLEJACK. Ang has another mystery to solve. Plans for a new weapon are stolen and her boss Josiah Willinghouse sets her on the path to find them. Along the way, she pretends to be a foreign princess to gain entry to an exclusive club with links to the theft and finds herself becoming involved with the refugee problem in her city.

Ang is a fascinating character. She is an ethnic minority in a city which gives minorities less value. In fact, a new movement in show more Parliament, which her boss is fighting, wants to remove all ethnic minorities from the city. She has been exiled from her community as a result of actions in the first book and is feeling something like a refugee herself. She is also getting used to being a peripheral part of the ruling class. She is a savvy detective who would never be hired by the white police force. She has friends and contacts throughout the different classes in her city.

This story has a steampunk feel. Its setting is an engaging world based on South Africa. I liked the descriptions of the lands outside the city and I liked how uncomfortable Ang was with them. I thought the dangers presented by hippos and lions added to the atmosphere.

I recommend this series highly because Ang is such an interesting character and the world building is so well done. show less

This is Shakespeare's play retold as a well-written blood and thunder historical novel; it has the feel of Bernard Cornwell about it. It's great stuff, full of battles, murder and treachery, of course, but the novel format allows for much greater depth of character, Macbeth emerging as a man of stark contrasts, for much of the novel regarded as humane and too soft by Highland standards. His wife (here called Skena) emerges much more sympathetically than in the play. Duncan is here a dirty show more old man and his sons feckless. Banquo is a loyal, betrayed companion in arms. The real villain of the piece is the porter, Fergus, who carries out all the murders except that of Duncan himself. The three witches are much more individuals than a trio, and there is even a backstory for each of them. The novel is as historically inaccurate as the play, but this is great stuff. 5/5 show less

Dear Mr Hartley,
Please accept my humble apology. I am unable at this time to write a review of Firebrand, for reasons which I don't want to go into. I really wanted to have written a stellar one, since, in all likelihood, I'll be meeting you at JordanCon next week. (In theory I'd be the one wearing the sign that says "Sorry I didn't get to review your book before meeting you" -- though more likely I'll just be wearing a sheepish grin on my face.)

However, thank you for giving me the show more opportunity to grow out my nails, as I seemed to have bitten them down. In Ang, you have created a great character, and keep unfolding a world that fascinates me. My unease with some of the political situations were because they rang a little truer than they might have when you were penning the story, but please don't mistake unease for complacency. Ang isn't the only female who can do some shit-kicking. Some of us have to do it land based or behind a computer, rather than from a rooftop or crane. And I know a cos-player or two who could use Madam Nahreem's guidance to help pull off a role realistically.

As to the question raised at the end of the book, unless Willinghouse really steps up his game, I hope it's Daria over her stuffed-shirt brother. I suspect life would be a lot more colorful, exciting, and passionate with that choice.

Many thanks to friends at Tor Books for sending me this ARC. My only complaint is that now I have to wait extra long for the next Alternative Detective book to make it into my hands. show less