Deep Water

This has tremendous confidence, even conviction. My impression is that the conventions of the genre are being put to very complex use. Sue Bursztynski recently wrote on her blog, 'I’m not crazy about most fantasy being published these days. I loathe the multi-volume sagas in which the long-lost heir or the Chosen One is chased by the minions of the Dark Lord.' Well, in this trilogy there are a number of characters who think of themselves as The Chosen One, and a number of contenders for the Dark Lord position, all of whom have our sympathy to some degree. As for the minions, quite a few of them get to tell their own stories in short, one-off chapters, and so -- I guess -- they cease to be just minions. And while I know vengeful undead show more are just vengeful undead, not a symbol of something, the vengeful undead of the definitely northern hemisphere Domains, with their history of genocide and dispossession, resonate wonderfully with the Australian zeitgeist; in part of the beautifully integrated flashback history, one invader actually echoes our ifamous concept of terra nullius: 'Can't you see the opportunity we have here? This country is empty.' Impending climate change -- a mini ice age? -- likewise resonates with our preoccupations out here in the real world. The main pleasure of the book, though, lies not in spotting such resonances, but in inhabiting the richly realised world of the book. Scenes between some women characters and the unnamed god who inhabits the ritual fire are as intensely erotic as any I've read, while remaining remarkably chaste.

My impression is that the middle volume of a trilogy is often a bit flat: we know the characters and the world so there's little thrill of discovery, but we don't reach the major climax, so there's no thrill of resolution. I'm happy to report that Deep Water doesn't run flat. Each of the four or five narrative threads reaches a satisfying moment of poise, and it looks as if all hell is about to be unleashed when the third volume materialises next year. show less

After finishing Deep Water this series is fast becoming one of my favourites...ever! And that says a lot! In spite of similar literary tropes found in most fantasy writing, the distinction in the credo underlying this story-line resides in the particularly well-constructed ‘otherworld’, the innovative and original concepts, and the many and varied characters scattered amidst the complexity of this most imaginative premise. Outstanding characters in truth, who evoke an immediate attachment to the reader - and as the tale evolves, form a very strong bond with all. It is simply very good!

This second book continues immediately from the first - but now the main protagonists and their subsequent plot-lines become more fleshed out; their show more peculiar talents delicately unveiled chapter by chapter, ultimately dictating their inevitable pathways, just as their gods decreed. Understanding the cause of the dangers now destroying their world, Bramble, Ash, Martine, and their travelling companions must split into separate groups, and begin diverse journeys in the hope of obtaining the necessary information to resist the abominations Saker is raising, and cease the destruction of all they hold dear. Subsequently the import of water in this tale unfolds: as the waters wash the past, literally, through Bramble and into her every being; as the secrets of the Deep are revealed to Flax, and consequently to us, along with the true revelations of Ash and his powers; as Martine identifies the disparities in the powers of her world - all are swept up and augmented by the waters, and the enveloping strength and succour of the Lady of the Lake. What her end game will be supplies a very intriguing middle part to this epic’s totality.

And make no mistake, this is an account of epic proportions. Ms Freeman is crafting a colossus - a mesmerising, mind-boggling marathon of a journey. But in a succinct and appropriate manner - no extra-padded, overly-extended chronicles to be found here. The regular ebb and flow of the chapters between individual players, and their selective point-of-view continues anon, at times even more rapidly, as each character reveals more and more of the whole. Yet, despite these constant fluctuations amidst the slow unravelling of important plot devices, the occupants of this tale are easy to associate with: holding similar personality inconsistencies to us, displaying inherent biases we all hold, and again and again needing to reassess their rudimentary understanding of the true reality of the past; in relation to their present, in relation to how the future may be shaped. What resonates even more in this clever chronicle is the rich tapestry of fantasy the author has woven amongst the easily ascribed attributes of today - the ice ages or climate change; the illegitimate invasion of a nation already inhabited by an indigenous populace; remarkable culture disdained and destroyed, noble lives subjugated and repressed into their oppressors’ terms and conditions - Australia anyone? Somehow it all seems so real!

I am overjoyed to finally read these books - and quite abashed I took so long. Nonetheless, I never expected to find such a masterpiece, such a mellifluous timbre to a tale and such an engrossing read. Minus the usual, dare I say, boring fantasy conventions and embellishments, this story is, in essence, a breath of fresh air in an overcrowded market-place. How good is that? Read it and see for yourself!

(Mar 6, 2011) show less

Review by Stuart Mayne

I'm a fan of Pamela Freeman's fantasy series, The Castings Trilogy. I'm sick of epic fantasy that deals with kings and the powerful and The Castings Trilogy gives me exactly what I want: ordinary people thrust into circumstances that are bewildering and unsettling. It is in these circumstances that we all change and it is reassuring that there are writers such as Pamela out there who want to write about the ordinary lives that are extraordinary.

The second book begins directly where the first ends, and I struggled for a time to remember what had befallen Ash, Martine and Bramble in Blood Ties. But Freeman deftly inserts any back-story explanations that are needed.

The middle novel in a trilogy can sometimes fail from show more lack of dramatic impetus. It can take on the aspect of the middle half of a standalone novel, developing character and plot without thought for the reader. Freeman shows her mastery of her craft by giving the reader a fully developed standalone story inside the wider work. The reader is given their fill of dramatic story and left panting, watching the author's website (castingstrilogy.com) expectantly for the Full Circle to be completed. show less

As a reader, I found that the first two books of the trilogy spoke to me. I enjoyed the characters, especially their depth, and I related to their stories. I also enjoyed finding out what made them tick by reading their “mini stories”. Often we accept traits of characters on face value, but the author of these books offered reasons and circumstances that made me feel sorry for even the nasty characters. As I said in my review of Blood Ties (Book 1), this trilogy is the best adult writing I’ve read in a while.

As a writer, I found the “mini stories” worked well in captivating my interest, yet we are told time and time again that flashbacks should be kept to a minimum. I believe these books prove that rules are meant to be show more broken, if it is done well. I also took note that the flow of the writing was easy to follow. There were no strange words that stopped me in my tracks because I didn’t know what they meant. The character names and the names of places were easily pronounced, which again didn’t divert my attention away from the storyline. And…there were no long descriptions and no weather reports, which are two of my pet hates.

I think the only real criticism I have about this trilogy is the fact that the story is continuous from one book to the next. I’ve never like books that do that – especially when I have to wait almost a year before the next book is available to continue to read – as my memory isn’t the best anymore. But even when my memory was great, I didn’t like it. I prefer each book of a trilogy to have a main story that starts and ends in that book, even if there is a thread that stretches over all three books (which there should always be, in my opinion).

I enjoyed both books a great deal and they are highly recommended. show less

Second book curse. Definitely a better "bridge" book than most, and still very enjoyable. I still have issues with pacing.

Continuation of the first book, Blood Ties. There is a no lag between the stories in these books, and I really like that. This one picked up immediately after the first. And it was not boring like a middle story can be.

All the characters have learned something very important during this book: Bramble about the past, Ash about himself, and many of the side tales throughout are coming together. It is all starting to connect, and I really want to know how it ends.

A good solid suite into the world of the Travellers. I loved the way we delved deeper into the bases of this world and how it came to be.