Author: Dennis McKiernan
Publisher: ROC
Cover Artist: Scott Schomburg
Binding: Hardcover
Publication Date: October 2008
In the book City of Jade, McKiernan takes us once more on a journey into the epic land of his creation called Mithgar. This world was brought to life in McKiernan’s previous work, The Iron Tower Trilogy, which won the hearts of many fantasy fans. The idea of returning to the world that many hailed as a return to great storytelling in the likes of J.R.R. Tolkien, would seem to be just what any good fantasy reader could desire. McKiernan’s work once ushered in a new age of epic fantasy writing, but now it seems he has lost his way, and intent upon taking the reader with him.
City of Jade is made up of two smaller plots, tied together by a single villainous thread. The first part being concerned with Aravan, the elf and his love Aylis, and their travels to Aravan’s ship, they also meet with old friends from earlier books, and engage in a battle in another dimension. Through all of this there is no mention or view of the City of Jade. That part will come later, much later, which proves to be a bit frustrating since the book is named, City of Jade. I found the tale of Aravan rather plain and a bit drawn out to say the least. This part of the book was filled with overdone fantasy characters and a particular scene involving several male trolls that was quite unnecessary. Why McKiernan went down that “trollish” road we may never know.
The next tale involves Binkton and Pipper, two warrows, who very much remind the reader of “hobbits”. This part of the story was a bit better even though it also had that overdone fantasy “B” movie feel. The warrows are performers, who have a traveling show until their gear is stolen, and they revert to a life of crime, no one saw that coming. While reading about these two practicing their act, I sarcastically thought, these skills could never be used for thievery. Their adventures eventually lead them to Aravan’s ship, and to the discovery of the City of Jade.
These very different tales are woven together by a Black Mage seeking revenge for the death of his beloved god. He wants to make Aravan pay for his heroic ways, and through his plotting and revenge the smaller tales are tied together. It seems that McKiernan was trying to tie up some loose ends from previous works with this book, and while that sounds good, the result is not executed well. The book’s overall pace seemed to drag with chapters of traveling and sometimes what seemed pointless conversation between characters. Sometimes it is okay to let endings go unanswered; to allow the villain brood and the heroes bask in glory. Fantasy fans accepted the end of the Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings, and we had accepted the end of McKiernan’s Iron Tower Trilogy.
Most McKiernan fans will openly admit to heavy a Tolkien influence upon his work. Yet while reading this new book, I almost felt I was reading a poor rendition of The Silmarillion, and that was sad, because McKiernan is a great writer. I wanted to find something wonderful and exciting about the return to Mithgar, but it did not happen. My journey to the City of Jade was unsatisfying and was very trying to complete. I felt, I was reading a very overdone and drawn out epic fantasy that would have been better served as a collection of short stories, rather than a poor novel. The worst part of this story is the eventual climax that comes and goes with a silent roar, which will leave most readers feeling a bit cheated after drudging through so many pages of filler to reach a finale that is very bland.
I would like to say this book might appeal to true and unwavering McKiernan fans, but that might be a stretch. McKiernan has done some great work; this book is just not one of them. Many authors have done a successful return to their most beloved worlds and characters, while some like McKiernan’s City of Jade saw a return most unexpected and disappointing. I would however recommend that a reader go back enjoy some of the author’s earlier works that take place in Mithgar, for they are done well and make for very good reading. I came into this book with high expectations, for my previous travels in Mithgar bring back so many fond memories of curling up with a great fantasy book. That did not happen here; I felt a bit cheated and really wanted this book to be so much better. Mithgar is a big place with a lot of history, perhaps one day McKiernan can take us there once more with a new story and a detour around the City of Jade.
