While Simon R. Green’s latest novel, For Love of Magic, is as violent as some of his earlier books, he conjures up a bewitching past for England in this new adventure. And, some of Green’s statements are just enchanting.
Jack Daemon is the latest Outsider. It’s a job that runs in his family. One person in each generation has the Sight, and takes over the job. “London is a city haunted by its past, by the cold facts of history and the hot fever dreams of legend. A city built on bones and ghosts, dreams and myths, and all the other things that refuse to be forgotten.” It’s Jack’s job to deal with the monsters that refuse to be forgotten. He’s a supernatural troubleshooter.
Jack’s called to the Tate when twenty-two visitors go missing. That only happened after two pieces by Victorian artist Richard Dadd were added to the collection. That’s where he meets art expert Amanda Fielding. But, after Jack banishes the monster in one of Dadd’s paintings, he learns Amanda has her own abilities. She insists the past was overwritten, not destroyed. And, it was overwritten because the secret masters want to get rid of all of the magic in the world.
Together, Jack and Amanda travel to AD 60, to meet the actual Boudicca in ancient Londinium. In 8th Century England, they encounter the monster Grendel. Jack is in awe when he gets to meet Kind Arthur and see Camelot. Robin Hood’s Sherwood Forest comes as a surprise. But, every time Jack and Amanda enter a place where magic is still alive, representatives of the secret masters oppose them, and Jack must find a way to be a hero.
For Love of Magic is probably a standalone. It’s a fascinating look at the legends of England. Knowing that the victors write history, it makes sense to say that the past has been overwritten by those who want no traces of magic in the world. Just my opinion, but it certainly felt as if it could be a theory today – let’s erase all the magic in the world.
It is one of my favorite books by Simon R. Green, magic and history rolled up together.
For Love of Magic by Simon R. Green. Baen, 2023. ISBN 9781982192617 (hardcover), 240p.
FTC Full Disclosure – I bought a Kindle copy.
I’ll have to see if the library can get this. I like his early books but have been hit or miss on his later ones.
I’m hit or miss on some of his series, Sandy, but liked this book.
Sounds good! I am a fan of some of his series, like you, but not all of them.
Well that was interesting. I went to the library website and they said they had one digital copy, available to check out. Of course, I am in the middle of something (Anne Hillerman), but you get three weeks, so what the heck, right? OK, check me out. Wrong! “Somebody beat you to it.” So now I am #1 on the wait list and can read my other book at leisure (20% so far and it is a pretty quick read.)
Well. As you said, you can read Hillerman at your leisure, Jeff, and probably even a short story or two.
Oh! This sounds good!!
It was fun, Kaye.