Customer Reviews

Blackstone & Brenwen: The Mirror & The Meretrix

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book is one of those rare treasures, the ones you can spend ages looking for but when you do will stay with you forever. I was hooked from the first chapter and did not wish to put it down. The author draws you in from the beginning into this compelling and enchanted story full of twists and turns and magical intresting worlds and their equally fantastic and varied diffrent fantasy and fairy tale characters and creatures. The thing I love most about this book is the refreshinglly diffrent take on fairy tales not only does it take you back to all your faveourite childhood characters but the author sheds a diffrent light to them and i think that is wonderfull as we never grow up fully just grow older.
The combination of fantasy, law and fairy tale is creative, diffrent and very imaginative and i think works fantastically.
I think the book is well written and very descriptive that you can picture every detail of characters and surroundings as you read which i love as it makes it more real and fun to me. I could see this series as a tv show or film series and i would be first inline to watch The characters are all intresting, diffrent and relatable in their own ways.Elliot makes a great main character although i have to admit some of the more sidelining characters i enjoyed equally and have soft spots for. There is many laugh out loud moments through the book and you will not be dissapointed with this book i cant wait to join them on future cases and see the series develop into hopefully many more books. A enjoyable read and already have reccomended to many family members and friendsBlackstone & Brenwen: The Mirror & The Meretrix

Lewis, Tolkein, Brown, Rowling and introducing Mellusco. It may seem a bit early to add this author to the greats already mentioned but like many of these authors books I was also unable to do very little else other than read this book. I could not put it down, once I had started to read it. What other comparisons can I draw? Well accept maybe for Brown we are introduced to a new world of fantasy; exciting, creative and interesting worlds and characters. For the future, could this be the next big film franchise?
Using the stories we have all known and loved growing up as children the author brings them to life in a new refreshing way. From the first chapter when we meet the lead character I was enchanted and was hooked. This chapter is probably one of the most memorable first chapters I have ever read. The mix of fantasy, law and fairy tale is imaginative and I look forward to getting to know the characters even more as they take on more cases. Please release the next book soon and I look forward to hearing your name mentioned with these other greats in the future.

I've always hated the word 'unputdownable' in book reviews...seemed like a bit of a lazy and unimaginative description to me. However, it really is appropriate for 'Blackstone & Brenwen'. I read it on the metro, between classes, while I ate, on the toilet :-D, when I was going to sleep, when I woke up...etc.

It is an enchanting tale that will draw you deep into this fantastical world of truly believable characters. From Jack (Jack and the Beanstalk) to Snow White, fire nymphs to centaurs, the author has created a gripping read that really is a fairytale for adults.

I can't wait for the sequel!!

This one is certainly worth reading. It has the feel of a well constructed universe in which anyone who has ever been read a fairytale, watched a pantomime or read aesops fables will recognise the themes and welcome the characters.

This topsy-turvy world where the angels hold humanity in contempt and their only protectors who fight for justice are the fallen angels rivals discworld in its feel for authenticity as a real place.

In the genre of alternate universes with familiar characters, this stands out as potentially as one of the best.

Before I even start this review, I need to confess that I am a stickler for correct grammar, punctuation and spelling. It would, however, do this book a great injustice for me to pick it apart based on what essentially is a codification of expression, so I won't. It wouldn't be a fair or honest review either if I didn't critique the book just a little but I'll keep it brief.

The writing would have benefited from some fine tuning and, dare I say, a little less description at the start. The first few chapters were slightly overwritten but you do get the sense that the author is setting the scene for another sequel or two. At least there was no sense that the writing was overindulgent, as could be said about a number of the author's more famous peers.

In fact, a lot of the issues I had with this book were at the beginning. The phrasing at times was a little curious and there were perhaps a few too many innuendoes for my liking but, when it comes to character development, this author cannot be faulted.

Let's get down to what this book is really like. It's about an intricate and wonderfully clever story told by a man whose imagination reaches beyond anything (I'm certain) even his close friends could think him capable.

I must admit, whilst I expected an interesting story, I very much underestimated this author. Although there were times when his writing style clashed with my own reading preference, the tale was so intriguing that I could hardly believe it when I found myself sneaking away from my demanding day job to read a few more chapters.

If you have read the other reviews, you will know that this book has been described as a fairy tale. To call it that would be, in my opinion, too narrow in description as it contains everything from ancient mythical beasts to fabled characters to animated stationery (and, incidentally, there are no fairies!) but perhaps my suggestion of describing it as a fantasy fabmyth is a little ridiculous so we will just have to wait until a clever wordsmith can come up with a more appropriate genre name.

I am conscious that I have given very little, if anything, away in terms of the content of this story so I conclude by saying that this is a delightful book, though dark at times, and I would thoroughly recommend anyone who wants to be transported to another world (or anyone who wants to know a bit more about the legal system or the world of insurance law) to read it.

The saying goes that everyone has one book in them. On the basis of his debut, this author has only just flexed his writing hand! Andrew D. Mellusco is one to watch and I for one am very much looking forward to getting my hands on the sequel "Blackstone & Brenwen - Swansong for a Sibling"!

I have put my name forward to authors for a completely honest review of their books. I normally read thrillers and action stories, of late I have been reading fantasy novels. I did not think I would like them, but the imagination of this particular author has blown me away! Strange lands, dwarf giants, magic mirrors, centaurs, fire-nymphs and many more. Our hero, Elliot, a womanising drinker who you just can't help but like, all put together in this very entertaining book. Once I got half way through I found I could not put it down, I needed to find out what happens to poor Abigail (Red Riding) Hood. I finally finished at 3.30 this morning. It was fun, action packed and took me back to my childhood.

Elliot was a lawyer for Blackstone and Brenwen and he was in court representing Jack. Elliot portrayed Jack as being a moron, trading his prize bull for a handfull of magic beans. He made it seem as if Jack was tricked into believing the castle belonged to him and it was an elaborate ruse by the harp, so it could escape. When the goose jumped into Jack's arms as he was running for his life, it wasn't theft because Jack believed it was his. If he was really stealing it for the golden eggs, then why did Jack cook it and eat it? Elliot and Jack laughed at tricking the jury into finding him not guilty. I laughed out loud when the giant fell on Jack and crushed him. Talk about poetic justice. That alone kept me reading.

As Red Riding Hood ran through the woods, her sparkling eyes were dancing. More than once she had been accused of being a siren and a slut. When she reached the river, she waited. Even though she was being chased and running for her life, she was in no hurry to escape from the Wolven chasing her. When he caught her, she ripped off her dress and jumped him. After they were done making love, she ripped off his mask and then ripped off his face.

Blackstones had come about because of the need to protect humans. Each lawyer at Blackstone's had some unique quality-a spirit, a demon, a sandman, a fire-nymph, a centaur, a minotaur, a harpie, and more. Amodeus was a senior partner and interviewed Epona Brenwen. She was to be teamed up with Elliot.

Elliot was half-human and half-angel and hid his wings underneath his suit. He was in his office and watching his labor-saving devices hard at work-a snapping staple remover, a hole punch that emptied its own tray when full and a stapler that never needed refilling. When Elliot found out he was to be teamed up with Epona, he wondered what it would be like to have a trainee. He thought it might not be so bad and had to work to cover his surprise when he found she was a centaur.

When Abigail awoke she was unable to remember what had happened or why she was in the forest. She heard voices and pretended to be asleep as the Queen, Rose Red and Snow White talked about potions and taking care of Abigail if it became necessary. When she was found by the woodsman, she was naked and wearing only a Wolven head. The mutilated corpse had its head ripped off, his face eaten off and was wearing a Wolven costume.

Abigail was Elliot's childhood sweetheart and when he heard about her being arrested for murder, he was determined to be the one to defend her. When Elliot and Epona visited her in her cell, he could see she was terrified. They did not talk about what happened because Red Rose was there and they knew she was spying for someone.

Were they role-playing? Who was the victim? Is there a conspiracy?

The story is full of laughter, suspense and mystery. When I first started reading it, I thought it was just a play on different fairy tales, but it all comes together in the end. It kept me off balance, just when I thought I knew what would happen, the story would take a turn. The characters were well developed, both lovable and heroic, evil and hateful. The fact that they live in the tree, where money is the World-Tree of all evil, somehow seemed to me to fit the story. When Andrew talks about the massacre that happens when the labor-saving office devices are bored, I couldn't help but laugh out loud. I could, at times, picture the characters in my mind, like a movie unwinding. When I visualized some of the scenes it had me smiling. As Andrew describes Epona, her clothes, her home and her office, I just can't help but wonder how do people dream up these great ideas? What a vivid imagination and I was looking forward the the many more wonderful and funny things that would be coming.

Blackstone and Brenwen-The Mirror and the Meretrix answers questions you never thought to ask but will take delight in knowing, all the while leading you through a compelling mystery stocked with characters you never thought to imagine. The book turns preconceptions "topsy-turvy" and the reader never knows what manner of character may turn up next. The author blends action and intellect to alchemical perfection, balancing psychological suspense and outright mystery with a deft hand. The characters, their individual quirks, and storylines are relatable and immediately draw you in. The world building in this novel is artfully detailed and logically consistent within a realm where the authors imagination has used myth, muse, and legend to create a highly entertaining read that never feels forced. The storyline itself is full-bodied and rich. Read carefully or you will miss the opportunity to relish wordplay and sly allusions from beginning to end. This book is the first in a series, and in the tradition of magical realism has created an entertaining world filled with unique characters that will make the reader hanker for the next.

I was told about this book by a person in our family who is a friend of the author, so I thought I would give it a go. Well what can I say but WOW it is brilliant Fantasy, Law and Fairy Tale all in one book. Once I had read the first chapter I was hooked could not put it down and every moment that I had spare I was reading it.I felt like I could imagine what everybody looked like in the book and you find yourself wanting it all to work out for them. Anyone who likes Fantasy/Fairy Tale but with Law in it wants to give it a go. You will love it. Can't wait now for the next one to be released.

This is not normally my genre of fiction, but it certainly was worth the read.
As others have said, once I started I couldn't stop.
A very funny, intelligent, dramatic and unforgettable story.
Can't wait until the sequel!