Science Fiction and Fantasy Association of New Zealand

Grossbart The Sad Tale Of The Brothers Grossbart
by Jesse Bullington
Orbit

Supplied for review by Hachette New Zealand

Reviewed By: Jacqui Smith

I have to say that I found myself reading this book with a sort of grim fascination, watching the vile brothers and their misadventures, and wondering what sort of sticky end the author was planning to inflict on them. It is rare that you encounter a book where it seems that all the characters are either mad or bad, and anyone you can truly sympathise with gets killed remarkably quickly – and yet you still keep reading! Part of the reason I kept reading is that this novel is truly unique. Most medieval fantasy is just that – pure fantasy, and far removed from the realities of medieval life and belief. This novel places you right there, where the plague still lurks in dark corners, and there really are monsters on the edges of the maps. Many of the things found in modern horror stories have their roots in medieval legends – and here they are, beasts and demons both. The brothers themselves are a pair of grave-robbing murderous brutes – careless of killing or wanton destruction, in the entirely selfish interests of their own survival and their determination to find and rob the golden tombs of Gyptland…
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