by Catherine Fisher
(March 18th 2014, Dial)
The uneasy alliance between
Jake, Oberon Venn, and Sarah has, seemingly, ended. Sarah has gone off alone to
London to research Mortimer Dee, and find a way to destroy to Chronoptika.
Oberon Venn works feverishly on the mirror, trying to bring back his wife and
Jake’s father. But when Jake becomes traps in the London Blitz of 1940, Sarah,
Oberon, and the mysterious Maskelyne must work together to save him before it’s
too late.
Pros:
The Slanted Worlds is a fun and
unique read. It starts, quite literally, with a bang – an explosion during the
Blitz – and doesn’t let off until the end. Fisher’s writing is, as ever,
evocative, atmospheric, and stylish, and its fluidity keeps it streamlined and
easy to read.
The plot is action-packed and
intriguing, and alternating chapters from different points-of-view keep the
pages turning. The blending of genres here is seamless in that different parts
of the story, though really quite different (the Shee, the obsidian mirror and
time travel, the future of Earth, etc.), never feel disparate. The concept of
the mirror is already a great one, but Fisher adds more complexity this time
around, cementing the idea that the mirror has a will of its own – and the
ability to make sure that will is done.
Improved character development
is really in evidence here. The moral ambiguity of the cast grounds the
fantastical tale and makes it all the more impressive when characters act
honorably or selflessly.
Cons:
There’s some really messy
recapping in the Slanted Worlds. The cast will often transparently state what
they should already know and are unlikely to forget (“You told him you
were . . . would be . . . his granddaughter. Even
though his wife is dead and he has no children. You tell him that not only is
it possible for him to change the past, but that in your time he’s already done
it!”), going so far as telling each other who certain characters are (“But
she—Summer, that beautiful, deadly, faery creature—she’ll say yes, Sarah, you
know she will, just to trap him, and God knows what he’ll have to promise her
in return.”). This makes some of the dialogue, especially in the beginning,
sound completely ludicrous!
Another problem I had was
Fisher’s tendency to melodrama. As the story is already quite a fantastical,
this can sometimes take it over the edge into ridiculous, and consequently pull
you out of the story.
Janus, the main antagonist,
feels flat and unintimidating because he’s so overused and accessible. Sarah literally has a hotline straight to him,
and they often chat about the mirror, yet we’re supposed to fear him as the
possible bringer of the end of the world.
The ending’s also an issue. It
brings some characters full circle – literally and metaphorically – and for
less credulous readers, this is bound to be frustrating.
Verdict:
Despite its faults, the Slanted
Worlds is an intriguing, entertaining yarn that blends distinct genres to good
effect. This is recommended for fans of fantasy, action/adventure, historical
fiction, and/or time travel.
Rating:
(7/10)
Get it at Book Depository.
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