Another review for Craccum. This time for Santa Olivia.
Jacqueline Carey is best known for writing the Kushiel’s Legacy books, a series of beautifully-wrought and complicated fantasy epics that were bestsellers in the United States. Santa Olivia has little in common with them. While there are still certain elements (such as the importance of religion, and a continually frank depiction of sexuality) that link this book to the rest of her writing, there are many more that set it apart. It is so different, in fact, the publisher initially planned to publish it under a pseudonym.
The blurb on the back suggests that this novel is Jacqueline Carey’s take on comic book superheroes and the classic werewolf myth; and I suppose the description is, technically, true. The main character is little Loup Garron: a spirited orphan who inherited the superhuman senses of her father. French speakers might notice that her name comes from French word for werewolf, loup-garou (and is therefore pronounced ‘Lou’). Her father was a ‘Wolf-Man’ - genetically engineered by the government to have herculean strength and absolutely no fear, he was the perfect solider before going AWOL and spawning a child. However there are few other references to werewolves in the text and although Loup does use her ‘powers’ from time to time, their use is low-key and controlled. In short, she is nothing like a traditional comic-book heroine.
Most of the narrative takes place in the small town of Santa Olivia. War has broken out between Mexico and America, and the two countries separated by a desolate military cordon. Santa Olivia - now known as Outpost No. 12 - is located in this buffer zone. Residents have lost their American citizenship and have no formal rights. Nobody can leave, although General Argyle, the area’s commander, has promised two tickets north for any resident who beats one of his champion boxers in the ring. This is the goal that Loup’s stepbrother, and later Loup, strive for throughout most of the novel.
This book is nothing like urban fantasy it was marketed as. Rather it is an unusual coming-of-age novel, centred on hard work, boxing, and unexpected romance in a harsh and often hopeless environment. Like all Carey’s work, it is elegantly written - but perhaps too elegantly, given the dystopian setting: it’s hard to focus on the frustrations of everyday life when you keep getting caught up in sweeping prose. And while some readers might appreciate the way Carey favours character development over worldbuilding, the minimalistic detail ultimately detracts from the many plot twists that rely on knowledge of her altered world. However Santa Olivia is still a decent novel, one that is easy to read and well crafted. Plus, if you like it, there’ll definitely be a sequel to look forward to in the next couple of years.
Verdict: A good book, but I'd recommend trying her other novels first. 3 out of 5 stars.
The blurb on the back suggests that this novel is Jacqueline Carey’s take on comic book superheroes and the classic werewolf myth; and I suppose the description is, technically, true. The main character is little Loup Garron: a spirited orphan who inherited the superhuman senses of her father. French speakers might notice that her name comes from French word for werewolf, loup-garou (and is therefore pronounced ‘Lou’). Her father was a ‘Wolf-Man’ - genetically engineered by the government to have herculean strength and absolutely no fear, he was the perfect solider before going AWOL and spawning a child. However there are few other references to werewolves in the text and although Loup does use her ‘powers’ from time to time, their use is low-key and controlled. In short, she is nothing like a traditional comic-book heroine.
Most of the narrative takes place in the small town of Santa Olivia. War has broken out between Mexico and America, and the two countries separated by a desolate military cordon. Santa Olivia - now known as Outpost No. 12 - is located in this buffer zone. Residents have lost their American citizenship and have no formal rights. Nobody can leave, although General Argyle, the area’s commander, has promised two tickets north for any resident who beats one of his champion boxers in the ring. This is the goal that Loup’s stepbrother, and later Loup, strive for throughout most of the novel.
This book is nothing like urban fantasy it was marketed as. Rather it is an unusual coming-of-age novel, centred on hard work, boxing, and unexpected romance in a harsh and often hopeless environment. Like all Carey’s work, it is elegantly written - but perhaps too elegantly, given the dystopian setting: it’s hard to focus on the frustrations of everyday life when you keep getting caught up in sweeping prose. And while some readers might appreciate the way Carey favours character development over worldbuilding, the minimalistic detail ultimately detracts from the many plot twists that rely on knowledge of her altered world. However Santa Olivia is still a decent novel, one that is easy to read and well crafted. Plus, if you like it, there’ll definitely be a sequel to look forward to in the next couple of years.
Verdict: A good book, but I'd recommend trying her other novels first. 3 out of 5 stars.