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Deathscent (Intrigues of the reflected realm)
 
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Deathscent (Intrigues of the reflected realm) [Audiobook] (Audio Cassette)

by Robin Jarvis (Author), Tim Piggott-Smith (Reader)
4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (19 customer reviews)

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Product details

  • Audio Cassette
  • Publisher: Collins Audio (5 Nov 2001)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 0007118376
  • ISBN-13: 978-0007118373
  • Product Dimensions: 13.4 x 10.6 x 1.6 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 776,311 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Product Description

Amazon.co.uk Review
In Deathscent: Intrigues of the Reflected Realm Robin Jarvis has created an endearing and yet dark tale which encompasses historical adventure, fantastical visitors from other worlds and political intrigue. "Englandia" is the familiar Renaissance England of history and literature yet also full of unfamiliar practices and characters--Elizabeth has been on the throne for 178 years, but is still at war with Catholic Spain; one's class within society is still determined by one's noble status and favour with the queen (and indicated by how frilly one's ruff is or how flamboyant one's doublet and hose), but that archaic society exists in 93 beatified floating isles, which were "raised" many years before; and the only living animals which exist are humans. This last conceit is brilliantly elaborated upon to great comic and sentimental effect--the mechanical animals which exist instead (and whose "proudflesh" is eaten after being harvested and flavoured with essence of beef, venison, pork or lamb) become characters in their own right. Suet, the mechanical piglet who is blessed with being given one of the most sophisticated cordials or humours to make him work, is a devoted pet that any reader would like to adopt for themselves.

Adam o' the Cogs is the young apprentice who is adored by Suet the piglet, and it is partly through his eyes that we follow the story. His life in a literal backwater in Suffolk working as a repairer of these mechanical animals is disturbed greatly when Brindle, a visitor from another world, comes crashing down to their floating isle in his alien vehicle. By focusing also on Brindle's experience of this strange world Jarvis very successfully explains the alien and the familiar to the 21st-century reader. Jarvis's ear for authentic 16th-century language, and his insistence on retaining Renaissance authenticity despite the fantastical setting and conceits, ensures that the genuine excitement of Elizabethan politics is conveyed to the reader as clearly as the mundane of everyday life.

In Deathscent, Jarvis packs in many events within a short time span, though never letting the pace of the story detract from the detailed description and character development. The ending is hinted at in the last third of the book, and the quick-witted who follow Adam and his thoughts carefully will not be too surprised at the outcome. However, the nature of that outcome cannot be truly anticipated, and it fits satisfyingly into the twisting and turning plot that has been so lovingly created. --Olivia Dickinson --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review
About The Raven's Knot: This book is mind-blowing, shocking and pretty darn good! Firstly I would just like to say that I love Robin Jarvis anyway, he is great it was full of suspense and surprises. Jarvo rocks, may he write books for ever! Reader from Chester, Amazon.co.uk

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Customer Reviews

19 Reviews
5 star:
 (11)
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 (7)
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Average Customer Review
4.5 out of 5 stars (19 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Deathscent, 27 Aug 2002
By Hayz (England) - See all my reviews
At first i was slightly sceptical about reading this book, but when i'd got past the first three chapters i was hooked and couldn't put it down! I thaught the chareacters were believable and you could relate to them and because the stranger, Brindle arrives suddenly into an unknown world he has to have things explained to him, also helping us, the readers to understand what is going on by learning with him, which is a nice effect.

I would reccomend this book to anyone who likes fantasy and a tiny bit off horror.

I hope Robin Jarvis writes the next one soon.

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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant construct - shame abut the alien, 22 Jul 2004
By R. Lloyd "richardhlloyd" (Surrey, England) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
Well, it wasn't until I read some of these reviews that I realised that perhaps this was aimed at young people. If so, I'm surprised, because it was certainly pretty sophisticated in places, although unfortunately rather obvious in others - see below. However, I thought the early parts of this book were absolutely wonderful. Not just the marvellous inventiveness of the core construct - an entire 'uplifted' Elizabethan world with its ichor-fuelled mechanical creatures, and sky galleons (well, not terribly original, the sky galleons, but you can't have everything) - but in particular, the wonderfully evocative way in which the author has captured and conveyed the parochial and insular little world of a Tudor estate (quite literally now reduced to a whole series of claustrophobic little worlds), each with all its own characters - where middle class gentry get drawn into the great affairs of court, and where life is on one hand pleasant and bucolic in the pastoral countryside of an England in miniature, and on the other hand cheap and sordid once helpless pawns become enmeshed in the politics of state. To be honest, given the author's obvious and superb grasp of the period detail, and flair for conveying the feel of the nitty gritty of this Elizabethan world, I would almost have preferred this to have been a straight historical novel. As it is, what seems to start out as an intriguing, beguiling and wonderfully inventive alternative history, transplanted to a different universe, regrettably ends up in pretty familiar territory with the advent of the Iribian Alien, complete with his uncontrollable bloodlust (see Alien) and very PC self awareness of the cross he has to bear (see Mr Spock), most of which amounts to a far from new proposition. I really felt that the subplot of the alien interloper (which manages to supplant what seemed to start out as the main plot), with its entirely predictable ending, was both uneccesary and disappointing, and kind of spoiled for me, what would otherwise have been a wonderful work of imagination and escapism. One can only imagine the fantastic things that Robin Jarvis could bring to pass in this wonderful new world he has created, and I look forward to reading a sequel, or preferably several - but please - no more aliens getting-off-on-point-of-death. Stick to the intrigues of the uplifted Elizabethans and their mechanical companions - that's perfectly compelling on its own.
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5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Complex, complicated but wondeful, 16 Nov 2001
Deathscent by Robin Jarvis is a fantasy novel set two hundred years ago when Elizabeth Tudor, daughter of Henry VIII and Anne Bolyn is celebrating her 178th year on the throne of Englandia.
It is about a 'vistor' from the skys, named Brindle who crashes on Malmes-Wuton, one of the ninety-three isles of Englandia. Brindle befriends two boys called Adam and Henry, Adam being mature, quiet but smart and Henry being the complete opposite, immature loud and hyperactive. Despite this they are the best of friends.
The Queen soon hears of his arrival and invites him to London, to the palace. Brindle appears to be the nicest of people but his race has a terrible secret, they slaughter entire races just for the scent that is given off at the moment of death, hence the title of the book 'Deathscent'. Adam was the only person that realised that Brindle was not who he appeared to be but everyone dismissed. Unfortunately when they all realise that Adam was right it was a bit too late, as Brindle went on a killing spree in London killing tones of people. In a way you kind of knew this was going to happen because the author uses foreboding part way through the book. In the end Brindle dies and Adam stays in London while Henry and his master return to Malmes-Wuton.
I personaly believe that the book was a bit complicated at times due to the new vocabulary that was introduced. It is written from the third person narrative and is structured in chapter form, split into three different parts. I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to people with a wide imagination and a heart for fantasy novels.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Captivating
This is one of my favourite books of all time (apart from Wuthering Heights - could not get more different!). Read more
Published 8 months ago by J9

5.0 out of 5 stars Deathscent - a tour-de-force
This book is fascinating. Jarvis introduces the concept of alien visitations to Tudor England, investigates the probable reactions, and still makes this a cracking yarn. Read more
Published on 5 Feb 2004 by haddockhants

5.0 out of 5 stars Deathscent.
I have only recently discoverd the Robin Jarvis books at the age of 31, but have really enjoyed the ones I've read. Read more
Published on 19 Oct 2003 by Mrs. K. J. Griffiths

5.0 out of 5 stars Robin Does It Again
At 23, I am a HUGE fan of Robin Jarvis - I first got hooked on him whilst at school and still eagerly await any of his new releases now. Read more
Published on 1 Dec 2002 by Mrs. Cara Richards

4.0 out of 5 stars Deathscent
This book is a great novel. The thrill of Brindel's madness is almost within you as you read the last few chapters. Read more
Published on 31 Jul 2002 by A Specialist

5.0 out of 5 stars Rich storytelling
I read almost all the time, and most books are okay, a few are terrible, but some stand out as being brilliant. For me, Deathscent was one of the latter. Read more
Published on 4 April 2002

5.0 out of 5 stars A Wonderfully Chilling Image Making Bl***y Effort, Robin
Having read through the FarawayTree books on to Brian Jaques and his deeper than ever pies to the Deptford Mice stories my young lads were not ready for this "gothic"... Read more
Published on 4 April 2002 by awdl22787@blueyonder.co.uk

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic!
I have loved Robin Jarvis for many years now. This book is no worse than any of his other wonderful novels. Read more
Published on 29 Mar 2002

5.0 out of 5 stars Purity and Absolution
I will never look at (or smell) a rose in the same way I have previously. This book is more glorious and radiant than Glorianna, Queen Elizabeth herself with so much heart and... Read more
Published on 17 Mar 2002 by Katharine Peebles (suppi@coolg...

4.0 out of 5 stars Extremely interesting , hard to grasp at first.
Before you read the book you need to understand that the genre of the book is fantasy, so you don't get confused ,like me,in thinking the book is set in one country. Read more
Published on 8 Nov 2001

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