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The Barrow by Mark Smylie

Genre: Fantasy

Series: Book 1

Publisher: Pyr (March 4, 2014)

Mogsy’s Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Before we begin, I feel I should make it known that this book is not for the faint of heart. If you know you’ll feel uncomfortable with things like brutal violence, ear-bendingly foul language, and extremely graphic sex, then you may wish to reconsider having a go at this … especially when it comes to that last one. In general, I am not the kind to be bothered by lewd and explicit acts in books, and yet there were still certainly no shortages of eyebrow raises from me with this one! Anyway, it was enough that I feel I should say something. Fair warning!

And now with that out of the way, let’s get down to the reasons why this book totally rocks. If you’re the kind of person who likes the combination of a good adventure story with the dark and gritty aspects of fantasy (of course, keeping in mind the caveats mentioned above) then you’ll love The Barrow! Incidentally, this is exactly the kind of mix I enjoy. The fact that it was even darker than I expected was a nice surprise, though I don’t know if I would call it full-out grimdark. In an interview with The BiblioSanctum, Mark Smylie described the book as more of an “archetypal Dungeons & Dragons adventure as run through the filter of Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels” … and well, yes, actually I suppose that description would do nicely!

Furthermore, the book also takes place in the world of Mark Smylie’s Artesia graphic novels. I won’t deny that an emotional attachment to the setting was a factor for me, but if you are not familiar with the comics, do not fret! This is a brand new self-contained story, no previous knowledge of the world or characters required — which is actually great for me too, since I’d only read the first volume and it was quite a while ago. However, you can still tell that writing a story within a setting that has already been established works well in the novel’s favor; the world-building is phenomenally robust and very deep, with many layers to the descriptions of the people and places.

As the reader, I felt like I was transported right there — and that is both a wonderful and terrifying experience, considering the type of world we’re thrown into, one filled with dark magics, shady politics, and disreputable characters. Scoundrels and perverts lurk at every corner, and if you’re really unlucky, you might even run afoul of demonic horrors and evil gods. The main plot is actually quite simple, deceptively so perhaps; on a routine tomb-robbing operation, Stjepan Black-Heart and his crew stumble upon an ancient map which details the final resting place of a long-dead wizard, who was said to have been buried with a priceless legendary sword.

Here’s where the adventure narrative comes in. To find the sword, our protagonists must first gather their allies and go forth to locate this tomb. Of course, epic quests are never so easy or straightforward. But even when a curse placed on the map kills one of the essential members of the crew and ends up transcribing itself onto the skin of a young noblewoman, you think that would stop the Black-Heart? Nope! Whether it’s wealth, fame, freedom, or absolution, everyone on this journey has a reason to find this fabled Barrow, which makes this story a riveting one filled with secrets and unexpected twists.

Among these colorful personalities, some of the characters are so disturbing it will make you sick to your stomach, while others are so crazy it will make you laugh; but there’s definitely no accusing any of them for being boring. Out of everyone, I think I like Erim the best. A young woman masquerading as a man, Erim is Stjepan’s protege, and despite her skill with the blade, in many ways she is as sheltered as her mentor is well-traveled. It’s ironic that she doesn’t find herself to be very interesting, because she was my favorite with her quiet introspection and fierce loyalty. That pretty much also makes her the most honorable of the lot; we’re talking about some rather grim and nasty characters here, after all.

This is a book that pulls you in immediately, starting with an explosive intro that sets the tone and mood of the story quite nicely. It also contains possibly one of the most heart-pounding prologues that has ever graced the pages of a fantasy novel, and my head is still reeling from the events at the end of that chapter. However, the pacing of the novel is a bit uneven, which is probably the only quibble I have about this book. After the introduction comes a middle that slows down considerably as the characters travel towards their destination. There are frequent stops along the way, but the good news is that something interesting happens at every one of them. These encounters often added to the depth of the lore and setting, giving me more of a sense of the world’s vastness. 

But while it took me several days to read the first three-quarters of this book, I think I devoured the last 150 or so pages in one exhilaratingly intense sitting. Everything that happens after they find the Barrow is pure insanity. Also, I just love twists and surprises! It’s a climax and conclusion that goes beyond just being an ending, because more importantly it reveals how all the themes and undercurrents of the novel come together. It speaks much about Mark Smylie’s skills as a storyteller. He marks his transition to full-length novels with this incredible debut, and I’m glad to hear we will be seeing more from him following The Barrow.

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