Author John Spearman offers a whip-smart installment to his sword-swinging series with FitzDuncan’s Enlightenment, a savagely clever and entertaining adventure.
Still reeling from his last adventure with the broken nose and bruises to show for it, Casimir FitzDuncan plunges directly into his next job, one that will also involve Lucy, his “betrothed and beloved.” Caz’s reputation as a finder of lost things and a messenger of unusual retribution has spread to the highest halls of power in Aquileia, including the king, queen, and crown prince. Far superseding the status of his birth, they royally task him to accompany the queen and solve a worrying problem in Eatonford: the growing threat of a dark arts practitioner named Esme seizing power. Investigating and undermining the schemes of a grimoire-toting witch will require all of his cunning, and powers he is only beginning to understand.
Being thrown out of two inns within a day of arriving in town doesn’t bode well, but his tactics, as usual, are roundabout and wildly unpredictable. Caz also continues his journey of self-discovery, exploring his “affinity” – the supernatural surge of strength and energy that has proven life-saving in multiple conflicts. Gaining insight to unique skills from various priests at different shrines, he grows even closer to his full potential, and more pre-nuptially aligned with Lucy, who wields her own affinities of divination to assist in the royal quest. Along the course of this sharply penned tale, friends and enemies alike will cross their path, whether demanding duels for past wrongs, or offering much-welcomed aid in moments of dire need.
As has been firmly established in Spearman’s previous FitzDuncan novels, Caz is a rakish, eccentric, and incorrigible protagonist, quick with a witty turn of phrase in both his dialogue and narrative reflection. Bouncing gaily from comedic asides to intense exchanges, this chivalrous hero exists as naturally in sword-and-sorcery scenes as he does in a bawdy barroom. In other moments, however, his kindness and compassion shine through – his defense of the less fortunate, his unwavering love for his partner, and his flashes of selfless generosity. Spearman also casually notes his protagonist’s potency and passion as a lover, without spelling out those erotic scenes.
The technical aspects of the writing are impressive and neatly polished, with few grammatical or syntactical errors, which had been present in the previous installments. In an effort to progress the plot, however, Spearman sometimes jumps ahead quickly, such as passing a seventeen-day journey in the course of two paragraphs. While this demands that a reader consume every line, for fear of missing a leap in the story, it can also feel like the narrative flow is cutting corners. There is also some repetition of expositional elements, such as multiple mentions of Lucy’s abilities and references to his exploits in previous novels.
Overall, Spearman does a remarkable job of bringing this new chapter of his series to vibrant life, deftly handling a plethora of tangled storytelling knots. Combining elements of mystery, fantasy, romance, and action genres, this installment is endlessly creative and refreshingly self-aware, spinning out a wonderful story with vivid detail, and its tongue firmly in cheek.
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