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Malarkoi

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Malarkoi

By: Alex Pheby
Narrated by: Kobna Holdbrook-Smith
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NATHAN TREEVES is dead, murdered by the Master of Mordew, his remains used to create the powerful occult weapon known as the Tinderbox.

His companions, scattered, are making for Malarkoi - the city of the Mistress, the Master’s most powerful enemy. Hoping to find welcome there, or at least safety, they find neither... and instead become embroiled in a life and death struggle against assassins, demi-gods, and the cunning plans of the Mistress.

Only Sirius, Nathan’s faithful dog, has not forgotten the boy. Bent on revenge, he returns to the shattered remains of Mordew, newly deformed into an impossible mountain, swarming with monsters. He senses something in the Manse at its pinnacle – the Master is there, grieving the loss of his manservant, Bellows – and in the ruins of the slums he finds a power capable of destroying his foe, if only he has the strength to use it.©2022 Alex Pheby (P)2022 W. F. Howes Ltd Biographical Fiction Dark Fantasy Fantasy Fiction Genre Fiction Paranormal
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In this second instalment, we learn the complex metaphysical properties and structures of this multiverse, reviewing key events from the first book and so learning more about their significance and the principle characters. Like Tolkein some will find this impedes narrative, but without this information none of what happens will make sense. Yes, it is challenging in parts because the rules are only clarified layer by layer and are so different from ours. And as an audiobook there are a few pages that one may need to concentrate on, or re play. But after this retelling, the author maintains five lines of narrative as they weave together and apart, compellingly. Think Whovian Time and Relative Dimensions in Space meets Philip Pullman meets Tolkein level saga only more gruesome. And after all that the seeds are sown for book 3, revenge and the final epic battle(s).
Cannot wait!

An exquisitely detailed multiverse ‘weftverse’

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nothing like the previous book this sequal is all set up for the next book and no story narrative or plot and then ends with lecturing the audience on the abuse of others.

disappointing mess

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Kobnah is the king of narration but the text is just a description all the way through, literally like the bible - nearly impossible to find the characters and relate to them as this is done unto them etc. I loved the world and the characters but can’t deal with the delivery. It will suit those who love to go deep into lore, so long as they can take it all in.

Sounds like a bible reading

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The audio lacks the book’s prefatory material (pp.9-26) and the substantial appendices (pp.457-519). These are part of the book and should be here, although given what I feel about this sequel to the much better _Mordew_ I was happy to do without them. Without the ever excellent Kobna Holdbrook-Smith I would never have got through the main text. He deserves a medal.

Incomplete but enough?

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I really wanted to like this after finishing Mordew but I just couldn’t find myself enjoying any part of the story. It picks up straight after the events of Mordew but some how the characters you were rooting for in book #1 feel flat and boring.
I feel like the main problem with this book is that the book is about about 75% mechanics of the weft and backstory and 25% of actual story progression.
Kobna Holdbrook-Smiths performance as to be expected is fantastic and he does capture the feel of the story but unfortunately it doesn’t go much further than that.

Not great but Kobna makes it bearable

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