Geoff Gillian, Envious Gods

Envious Gods

Geoff Gillian

Five Star, December 2006, $25.95, 347 pp.

ISBN 1594144591

In a world where the use of magic is considered normal, actor, playwright, and booking agent for Sambasso's Wandering Dramaturgicals, Nicholas Rakehell is a person who believes in taking shortcuts through life. When he gets into a fight with Vostak Archangel he uses trickery, sleight of hand and magic to escape her, but the sorcerer follows Nicholas to Little Scratching where he is to meet up with his troupe. When Archangel confronts him again, Nicholas once again escapes and steals his coach, where he finds a poster offering a reward for the stolen artifacts of the god Lordk Skymark in Skyhaven.

With his troupe and his elemental Evangeline that turns into a sword Bloodthorn, Nicholas travels to Skyhaven to claim the reward for the stolen artifacts. He and his company walk into a middle of a war, and the high priestess of the god wants Nicholas to find him and bring him back so that the enemy at their gates can be defeated. Using trickery, Rakehell convinces the enemy that Skymark is alive and well, but an old adversary captures him and sends him into hell; he causes an insurrection and escapes. Once he is free, he must find Skymark and put an end to his old enemy or he will never know another moment's peace.

The protagonist is a man who is out for himself and takes the shortest road to achieving his goal, not caring that his way might harm others. In spite of all his faults, he is elusive, witty, and when the chips are down, he is loyal to his friends, even when he knows it will make extra work for him; work is something he abhors more than Maynard Krebs. He is a likeable near do well who gets into and out of more trouble than any hundred people. Geoff Gillian has written an entertaining fantasy filled with intrigue and action.