Review of Sorrow, by John Lawson

Sorrow
By John Lawson
Drollerie Press
Fantasy

Lawson’s novel begins with a mysterious traveller who is on a mission, secretly carrying a box which contains a precious, powerful weapon.

Then the story moves to Vestiga Gaesi, where we meet Faina, the seductive yet naive fourteen-year old girl with a mysterious past who is staying at the Viscount’s luxurious home—where the story mainly takes place. Then, that night, an important Bishop is murdered, and Lord Ash is called to solve the case. It appears this isn’t the first crime committed against members of the clergy in the past few months. Thus begins his investigation. Soon, he has a suspect: Sorrow. Unfortunately, no one knows who this Sorrow really is, for this killer appears to be a supernatural creature that sheds black tears while killing. Who is Sorrow? Why are victims clergymen? What is Faina’s real identity and why is she in Vestiga Gaesi?

I have many good things to say about this book. The author has created a very real, dark fantasy world and I was able to picture the setting vividly in my mind. The descriptions, mood, and dialogue all help bring Lawson’s detailed world to life. The characters are deftly drawn and come across as genuine people. The prose sparkles with beautifully crafted language. So I would say that this author’s strength lies in characterization and his skill in creating his imaginative, dark world.

That said, there is an aspect of the novel that troubled me, and that is that I wasn’t able to identify with any of the main characters because they share almost equal levels of importance. For instance, at first I thought Phindol, the unfortunate traveller we encounter in the beginning, was the protagonist. Then Lord Ash came along, playing detective and trying to solve the murder, and I changed my mind. Then, of course, there’s Faina, the Lolita-like protagonist who seems to unwillingly seduce all men who set eyes on her. Then Lord Ash disappears for a while and Phindol makes a come back. For me, this was an obstacle in my fully connecting with the story. Because of Faina’s nature, I wasn’t able to identify with her either. Though she’s certainly an alluring character, I found her too shrouded in mystery and too distant to be fully sympathetic.

Another thing I found a bit disturbing was the sensual scenes between fourteen-year old Faina and Lord Ash and Phintol, both adult males. While the scenes are handled with tact, and all is kept in the context of the story, this may bother a few sensitive readers.

I should also note that this is the first time I have read this author’s work, so I’m not familiar with the series. I understand this is the third book.

If you like dark fantasy worlds with a touch of mystery, you might consider giving this one a try.