The Duke in His Castle

Vera Nazarian's The Duke in His Castle is a short but fascinating read about dark impulses and dark magic. The Duke of Violet is trapped in his castle by a spall, and is placid enough with his situation until a strange woman forces her way past his borders. Together they explore the castle and the boundaries of the magic that ensnares him.

The language and imagery are luscious; more than a story, this book is an exploration of the desires and constraints of humanity, with a supernatural twist. While not for everyone, if you enjoy the dense, luxurious prose of HP Lovecraft or Catherynne Valente, I highly recommend it.

An interesting tale of power and corruption, "The Duke in His Castle," explores some of the ways power can ensnare us and corrupt us. The Duke, though, is able to overcome the subtle temptations and corruptions and in doing so finds freedom in bondage and salvation in sacrifice. This book explores a peculiar world and the peculiar people who inhabit it. Nazarian's writing style emphasizes the peculiar nature of their world, and though the story moves a bit slowly in places, she twists the plot enough to keep the reader off balance, as though exploring a castle and finding one's self lost among the turns and towers. I must say I was a bit disappointed in the ending, but otherwise a pretty good read.

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