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Book Review: Pan’s Labyrinth: The Labyrinth of the Faun by Guillermo del Toro and Cornelia Funke, illustrated by Allen Williams

Pan’s Labyrinth: The Labyrinth of the Faun by Guillermo del Toro and Cornelia Funke, illustrated by Allen Williams.

Katherine Tegen Books, 2019

ISBN-13: 978-0062414465

Available: Hardcover, paperback, Kindle edition, audiobook, audio CD

 

 

Who better to take Pan’s Labyrinth, Spanish filmmaker Guillermo del Toro’s critically acclaimed dark, surrealist fairytale of a film and translate it into a children’s book than German children’s fantasy author Cornelia Funke? Ofelia isn’t your ordinary princess in a tower with a life under the control of a vicious, dictatorial stepfather: she is a child caught in the middle of a revolution in Fascist Spain, who discovers she is also the main character in a mythical story.  Although she is the protagonist, the film was not a children’s movie, and the story is framed by adults’ actions and points of view (specifically, the sadistic Captain Vidal, who is Ofelia’s stepfather, and Mercedes, their housekeeper, who is a rebel spy).

The book alternates between Ofelia’s view of the world as a magical place; the story of her family (including mother, stepfather, and new brother) and the battle between the soldiers (headed by Captain Vidal) and the rebels; and intertwined fairytales that touch on their reality. All three of these together lead Ofelia to take on a magical quest at the entrance to an ancient labyrinth on their property at the urging of the elemental, Pan, a faun who tells her that she is really a princess, the daughter of the king of the underworld.  The faun tells her she will have to undertake three tasks in order to rejoin her parents in the underworld. The obstacles presented by dinner parties, a sick mother, a baby brother, an angry stepfather, the violence of the Fascists toward the rebels, and Mercedes the housekeeper’s subterfuges, all must be navigated in order for Ofelia to sneak off and try the terrifying tasks for a faun she isn’t exactly sure she can even trust.

Cornelia Funke’s poetic and fantastical language and style of writing perfectly suits the fairytale nature of the story.  Yes, Ofelia’s story takes place in a specific historical setting, but the reader doesn’t have to know the history of the Spanish Civil War to fall in love with this tale (although I wouldn’t have been averse to a historical note). Due to its being based on a film targeted to adults, however, there are some disturbing moments of violence and implied torture and cannibalism, as well as a significant amount of bloodletting. There is plenty of foreboding and horror in play here, even presented as a children’s book.

Allen Williams’ illustrations really make the book work. Many pages are framed with bending tree branches around the text, giving the reader a feeling of really traveling through a portal into an ancient forest. The individual fairytales are printed on gray paper and have a full page black-and-white pencil illustration facing them, bringing the fantastical to life. The drawing opposite the story “When The Faun Came To Life” is strikingly similar to the creature in the film. I strongly recommend that if you choose to purchase this, you spend the extra few dollars for a hardback for the pleasure you’ll get from the combination of text with illustration.

This isn’t a simple novelization. Cornelia Funke has created something special here, making del Toro’s darkly magical film and narrative accessible to young people.  Highly recommended, especially for del Toro and Funke fans, for ages 12+.

 

Contains: violence, blood, murder, brief scenes of torture, implied torture, death in childbirth, implied cannibalism

Book Review: The Monster of Elendhaven by Jennifer Giesbrecht

The Monster of Elendhaven by Jennifer Giesbrecht

Tor.com, 2019

ISBN-13: 978-1250225689

Available: Hardcover, Kindle edition, audiobook

 

Elendhaven is a decaying city on the edge of the far north, rife with poverty, crime, violence, and despair, surrounded with dark waters poisoned with magic. It is here that, abandoned and nameless, Johann acquired his name and vocation as a criminal and murderer, and learned he was invulnerable– not quite human. Tall, skeletal, and pale, Johann somehow escapes the notice of the people around him– until it’s too late. Johann has been stalking fussy, nonthreatening Florian Leickenbloom, the last member of one of the great houses of Elendhaven, after his family all died from a mysterious plague. He suspects Florian is a sorcerer, and convinces Florian to hire him. On the pretense of bringing Elendhaven prosperity once again, Florian has been undermining any chances developers and businessmen offer to the city in an attempt to destroy what is left of the city. Johann is the Monster of Elendhaven, but while Florian, with his devious plans and black sorcery, may not look the part, he is equally monstrous.

Imagine the worst, most impoverished parts of Dickens’ London, populated with vengeful mages with black sorcery, and deathless, monstrous killers from myth, and pour a dark wash over it all, and you will have a pretty good picture of Elendhaven. Imagine a monster, in thrall to a sorcerer, seeking agency to pursue its desires, but thwarted again and again in the face of Florian’s need for vengeance for his sister. Johann has flashes of humor and empathy that provide occasional light moments, and there are a few moments of sadness and regret on Florian’s part. But none of it, nor the twisted love and desire that underlie the story redeem either character.

Giesbrecht’s worldbuilding is  vivid and fascinating, and I would love to see further exploration of it either in additional novellas or a longer book. My hat is off to her for creating a powerfully descriptive, memorable and fascinating story around two completely irredemable characters who somehow manage to connect with both each other and the reader. It’s a book the reader won’t soon forget.

Book Review: A Midnight Dreary: The DeChance Chronicles Volume 5 by David Niall Wilson


A Midnight Dreary: The DeChance Chronicles Volume Five by David Niall Wilson

Mystique Press, 2018

ISBN-13: 978-1949914399

Available: Hardcover, paperback, Kindle edition, audiobook

 

A novel that features Edgar Allan Poe is always worth reading; in Wilson’s book, he is a larger-than-life character, shedding light onto his mysterious past and sad fate. With dimensional and time travel, creatures of all sorts, the Brothers Grimm, and classic mythology integrated into the story, the reader is in for a treat.

David Niall Wilson concludes his DeChance Chronicles with a tale that whisks the reader from the Great Dismal Swamp, to New Orleans, to the Black Forest of Germany. His writing is sheer poetry, invoking visions of many great adventures of thrillers, horror novels, and classics. Be prepared to lose a few hours, as the entrancing story has a rhythm and melody to it that seduces as much as it darkens the mood.

Wilson suggests reading Nevermore, the novel prior to A Midnight Dreary, a great read as well.  While it helps with some backstory, it’s not necessary at all, though.

The skinny on the plot: Donovan DeChance takes his strange team (and the reader) on yet another adventure. He’s a sorcerer of sorts, who teams up with Poe (who also has some skills that readers never knew about, resulting in a fine camaraderie that’s a bit mindbending for fans). The storyline begins similarly to a Poe tale, drawn out and full of atmosphere, allowing the characters to breathe and develop before Wilson launches them on a wild ride that doesn’t relent until the final page.

The storyline varies in time and dimension as he travels back to retrieve Poe for the sake of rescuing Lenore, who has been trapped in a tree via an evil spell. The stories of Poe come to life here, with Grimm as a real-life raven, and nods to other famous tales, In the present day, Thomas Bulfinch (author of the famed book on Greek mythology) seeks to aid the mission with a pair of beautiful vampires. Bulfinch has quite the backstory himself, which further darkens the story, but also gives the novel a bit of levity.

For those who have followed Wilson’s writing, A Midnight Dreary encompasses the O.C.L.T., and other stories and characters, which lends itself to some great Easter eggs.  It’s a great read, recommended for readers who love Poe, dark fantasy, or just a tale well-told.  Pick up the other volumes in this series– they are worth the read.

 

Reviewed by David Simms