Court Of Wanderers (Silver Under Nightfall book 2) by Rin Chupeco (book review).
There are times when a book should be labelled ‘don’t start from here’. Usually, this occurs in long series with a distinct story arc, where characters undergo significant development and change. Understanding the earlier events that led them to this point is crucial for understanding the subsequent events. Occasionally, a book will have the cautionary note: don’t start from here!
Unless the publishers have pointedly cut one volume into two or more, this rarely happens with Book 2. David Eddings exemplifies a situation where a book ends abruptly and the next volume begins with nearly the same sentence. Recently, though, publishers have been more willing to issue a very large volume rather than cut it in half.
‘Court of Wanderers’ is a follow-up volume that would have benefited greatly from prior knowledge. The blurb tells us that the main character, Remy Pendergast, is a vampire hunter, yet, from the start of the volume, he is hanging out with vampires. In fact, he seems to be the lover of both Zidan Malekh and Xiaodan Song, who are royalty of their respective vampire clans. They are also betrayed to each other. We don’t reveal how this transformation occurred here, but volume one, ‘Silver Under Nightfall,’ likely focuses on it.
At the beginning of this novel, two vampire horses pull a carriage that the three are fleeing in. Xiaodan appears to be experiencing psychic pain, yet it remains unclear what they are fleeing from or their destination. Running into an ambush seems almost inevitable and a means of beginning with direct action.
The politics in this novel are complex and confusing. There are several courts of vampires. Some of them want to wipe out and/or subjugate humans; others, including the Court of Wanderers that Zidan presides over, believe that vampires and humans can live cooperatively. The two factions are at war with each other. Remy’s father, leading the human contingent, aims to eradicate the vampires. He has created mutants that fight in his armies. Also lurking in the wings is the Night Empress. She is a formidable vampire who also serves as Remy’s mother, although it remains unclear if her transformation occurred before Remy’s birth or after.
Leaders of the various courts agree to meet at the Allpriory, a neutral vampire stronghold beneath a lake, in order to negotiate a truce between the factions. Remy can only go if he takes on the role of being familiar with his lovers. Essentially, this implies that they will view him as a subservient food source, but it also allows him to stay under their protection.
Rumor has it that the perpetually burning Godsflame in the Allpriory is the source of vampirism. The Night Empress believes that walking into it will convey godhood to her by giving her extra powers. To this end, she intends to attack and capture the Allpriory.
Remy’s dilemma permeates everything: if he remains human, he will age and his vampire lovers may no longer desire him, but if he transforms into a vampire, the same might be true as his status changes. At the moment, the three of them indulge in copious sex.
In addition to the confusing narrative, there are other issues that need attention. Despite the early jump into action, the prose is ponderous, and it takes a long time before the arc of the plot begins to show itself. Although volume one provides an explanation, the rules governing vampirism in this world remain unclear. There are many novels written that involve vampires. Each has a different take on the species, but, usually, the rules that the author has for them are clear and internally consistent. Although the author expounded on them in volume one, the rules they operate under here are confusing and unclear, including unexplained anomalies.
It would have been useful to have a glossary of terms and the relationships between the different types. Overall, this is a book that does not live up to its promises.
Pauline Morgan
October 2024
(pub: Saga Press/Simon and Schuster, New York, 2024. 436 page hardback. Price: $29.99 (US), $39.99 (CAN), £20.00 (UK). ISBN: 978-1-9821-9574-8)
check out website: www.simonandschuster.com/books/Court-of-Wanderers/Rin-Chupeco/Silver-Under-Nightfall/9781982195748