Odalisque — Percheron Book One

Author: Fiona McIntosh
Publisher: Orbit
Classification: Percheron

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Odalisque is the first book in Fiona McIntosh’s new fantasy series. It’s set in Percheron, which draws parrallels with (certainly Western views) of ancient arab cultures with all powerful leaders, woman who must remain covered and of course the Harem.

Boaz at the tender age of 15 is now the new Zar, due to the untimely death of his father. But his mother, the new Valide, sees this as her opportunity to gain power and rule the kingdom with her son has her mouth peace. She’s aided by the schemes of the other courtiers such as the head Eunuch, who also see this as an opportunity to increase their own power.

Boaz’s closest friends are the mad dwarf Pez who was his father’s jester and the head of security, Spur Lazar.

Everyone’s plans are turned on their heads though as the head-strong obalisque Ana enters the young Zar’s new harem. She’s a true beauty who has impresed everyone, including Boaz’s mother, the Valide. But her youthful willfullness, and her determination to be free causes grief for everyone. And firmly sets her in opposition to the Valide and her powerful ally the head Eunuch.

The first book in a series is always a hard one to judge. Firstly, I’ve normally got around to starting the second book by the time I get to review it — so it’s hard to remember what happened in which book. But also, my laziness aside, there tends to be a lot of story set-up work that needs to happen so they tend not to be the best in the series. (I’m generalising, so there’s no point in listing the millions of times this isn’t true!)

My sights weren’t set particularly high because I’ve read the first book in her new series, and although I enjoyed it, it didn’t wow me. And it’s true that the characters, in this series, can be more than a little one dimentional and there are a lot cliches.

That aside, I enjoyed Odalisque more than the first book of the latest series. It’s not the sort of book that you can’t wait to tell your friends about (like I was about the A Song of Ice and Fire series), but I did enjoy it. And I’ve now gone on to read the second and third books (Emissary and Goddess, reviews to follow), so give it a go.

If anyone has read the book, please rate it below and drop me a comment saying what you thought…

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