Havemercy – Debut Novel Book Review

Jaida Jones and Danielle Bennett Debut Fantasy Co-Write, Reviewed

Sep 4, 2009

In this novel by two talented newcomers, war, mechanical dragons, and powerful sorcery serve as a backdrop to a beautifully written, intensely character-driven work.

Considering how large a staple dragons are in fantasy, it's something of a shame how little creativity often goes into writing them. That's why Havemercy (Spectra, 2008, ISBN-13: 978-0553806960), the debut co-write by Jaida Jones and Danielle Bennett, comes as such a welcome surprise. Set in a world torn apart by war and politics, the story of four men and the ways in which they navigate their very different lives would be poignant in and of itself. The mechanical dragons are something of a bonus.

Living in a Time of War

The kingdom of Volstov has been at war with its neighbors, the Ke-Han, for upwards of a century, and finally the tides have turned decisively in their favor. The Dragon Corps, Volstov's elite group of men who pilot its magical, mechanical dragons serve as a devastating vanguard for the army. With their help, Volstov rules the skies, and finally it seems as if a victory is at hand.

However, all is not as it seems. Even as Volstov celebrates its seemingly inevitable victory, whispers of disquiet begin to sweep the upper ranks of the city. Something is rotten in the state of Volstov, and no one, not even the Dragon Corps, seems to know what's wrong.

The plot of Havemercy does not center on the war, however. Instead, it follows the intertwining lives of four very different men, whose lives have been summarily upended by it: Royston, the middle-aged magician whose very royal indiscretions leave him exiled; Hal, the bright young tutor working for the family who takes Royston in; Rook, the daredevil pilot of the Dragon Corps' greatest mechanical masterpiece, Havemercy; and Thom, the scholar with a spine of steel who's been asked to reform said Corps after one peccadillo too many. Their relationships, rather than their century-long war, form the heart of this novel.

Faults and Foibles

Havemercy's largest failing, if it can be called that, is the extent to which it sacrifices plot for character. Its pace cannot be called anything but languorous. For the first half of the novel, very little in the way of plot development actually occurs; so much so that when events finally begin to pick up in the latter third of its pages, the transition is almost jarring. In addition, the book's largest twist is one of the most overdone in fiction. It works for the novel; Jones and Bennett take careful care to shy away from melodrama or unnecessary angst. Nevertheless, it seems excessive in a novel that has taken careful effort to ignore tropes where possible, and toss them on their heads otherwise.

Havermercy's lack of strong female characters is also difficult to get past. Women seem to have some sort of place in the war-torn kingdom; mentions of female magicians abound. However, there is so little actual female presence in this novel -- whether as combatants, sorceresses, strategists, or significant others -- that the end result is almost unnerving.

The Cast of Havemercy

The strength of Havemercy, however, unquestionably lies in its cast of gorgeously detailed characters. Royston is utterly believable in the way he uses words to shield against uncomfortable situations. Hal is charming, innocent, and possessed of an almost obsessive thirst for knowledge that makes his relationship with Royston -- Royston, who hails from the city and who seems omniscient to a boy who's lived in the country all his life -- endearing and absolutely credible.

Thom is a joy; his strength of will and persistent desire to understand, if not reform, the Dragon Corps is as satisfying as it is triumphant. Even misogynistic, misanthropic Rook is something of a dubious pleasure to read: grating and cruel, the exultation he feels every time he climbs onto Havemercy and rides for war is nonetheless almost heart-wrenching in its authenticity.

Summary

Jones and Bennett write like dream, and the care they pour into Havemercy is obvious. It has its flaws, of course. A stronger plot would have done wonders for this already lovely book, and Rook's misogyny might have been easier to bear if there was a larger female presence to balance him out. However, the product is more than satisfying enough to make Havemercy well worth the effort.

The copyright of the article Havemercy – Debut Novel Book Review in Sci-Fi/Fantasy Fiction is owned by Maria Perales. Permission to republish Havemercy – Debut Novel Book Review in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.