Just Finished Reading: The Scar-Crow Men by Mark Chadbourn (FP: 2011)

England – 1593. Queen Elizabeth’s great spymaster Frances Walsingham has been in his grave for two years, yet still the twin wars England is fighting rage on. One is known to the general population and the other is known only to those who fight it in the shadows. England’s greatest spy – Will Swyfte – fights both wars with equal vigour protecting England from its enemies both Catholic and Inhuman. When his best friend, the playwright Christopher Marlowe, is apparently killed in a senseless pub brawl Will is determined to get to the bottom of things and bring his friends killers to justice – Swyfte justice! But when he begins to dig deeper he stumbles upon a plot to overthrow not only the English crown but the dominion of man itself. After their defeat years ago the Fey are finally moving in response and their plan is audacious in both its scale and ambition. But with powerful enemies accumulating both within the government and in the Unseelie Court can Swyfte and his diminishing band of fellow spies stay alive and one step ahead long enough to break the conspiracy and save the world from annihilation. Only Swyfte’s skill with his sword and his well-deserved reputation for daring stand in the way of the most powerful and dangerous enemy England has ever faced – but will it be enough this time?

After enjoying the first book in this series so much – after buying it by ‘accident’ not realising it was a fantasy novel wrapped in a historical novels cover – I did worry a little that the authors couldn’t possibly entertain me that much again. I mean, I now knew about Swyfte, his methods, his uncanny ability to beat odds heavily set against him and the way the opposite sex fell over themselves to be with him. I imagined him in my mind as an Elizabethan James Bond – with the gadgets (supplied by Dr John Dee who fitted neatly into the role of Q). So what more could the author show me? The answer: LOTS! In this book we learn much more about the overall plans of the Fey and the political response of the British and other governments – particularly the French – as well as the desperation of the Irish to throw off their supernatural enemies. We learn more about the character of Swyfte and delve a little more into his past. We are introduced to a host of new characters, both of this world and beyond, who are both the heroes and villains of the piece. We are also presented with the living, breathing, stinking cess pit that is late 16^th century London at the mercy of the plague. There are scenes that turn your stomach, scenes that make you shudder in horror and disgust and scenes that make you laugh out loud. Finally there is a new woman in Will’s life, a fiery Irish buccaneer determined to gain knowledge that could save her country from the depredations of the Unseelie Court no matter the cost or consequence. The equal to Will in almost every respect I imagine that she will return in the next instalment – at least I do hope that she does. This is another non-stop, ballsy action-packed adventure full of daring action, nail-biting escapes and enemies worthy of Will Swyfte’s skills. Highly recommended.