Book Review: Thraxas and the Ice Dragon

You know what I haven't done in a while? A book review. Coincidentally, what I'm reviewing has been on hiastus for a while, and now is coming back. So let us talk about Martin Scott's / Martin Millar's returning series of Thraxas, with his latest novel, Thraxas and the Ice Dragon.

In that I'll talk (or write) at you for a bit. There isn't really a back and forth here. Sorry.

Scroll to the bottom where I bitch about this cover!

So Thraxas was a series that I've been reading off and on in my early teens to late teens, often nicking the books from my dad. The titular character, Thraxas, is one of those typical British character we all love - utterly full of horrendous character flaws with buried potential and gems. He's overweight, a poor gambler, rude, liable to run his mouth, and a serious over-indulger of food and drink but he's got a solid moral core, a vicious experienced fighting style and won't abandon his clients. He's an admitted failed sorcerer, with just enough power to kinda justify the title on his office door: Sorcerorous Investigator. Thraxas lives in the city-state of Turai, a city of monarchy and Roman inspired politics, with drugs and crime running rampant in the streets and hostile humans and Orcs on every body. Sometimes I think of it like an independent medieval Bristol where the politicians wear togas, and are slightly less corrupt.

However, you'll only go Thraxas with a problem because his rates are cheap, you're hopelessly up to your neck in trouble and no one respectable will take you, and once again, his rates are very cheap. Over the course of the series he's tangled with many enemies, including returning villains such as Sarin the Merciless and Horm of The Dead, with assistance for ex-gladiator barbarian Makri (who only wears her chainmail bikini for tips as it's a really fucking stupid garment to fight in) and occasionally back up from a motley crew of sorcerers, retired barbarian's and criminals.

The Thraxas series has been on hiatus for a while in what I strongly suspect can be summarized as 'publisher shenanigans.' You know: series stopped abruptly, then re-surfaced later all self published on the Amazon store. Hmm. Yeah. Anyway, it was a real pity it stopped when it did - because after eight books of escalation, Thraxas under Siege ended with Thraxas dragging out Makri and Lisutaris, (head of the Sorceror's Guild) from Turai as it finally fell to the Orcs.

Yeah. That's where the series stopped. FOR SEVEN YEARS.

The. Utter. Hell?

And that's exactly where this latest book picks up again. It's good to be back.

Now Thraxas is in a brand new country, destitute and with two people who may have as low as status as can be. Samsarina is more rural and feudal than Turai, meaning that the political element is more complex than Turai's two party system. In terms of starting reputations, not only does Makri's Orc blood count against her, but Samsarina somehow finds ways to hold women in even less regard as Turai. And while Lisutaris is head of the Sorcerers Guild, Turai fell under her watch and Samsarina is home to her rival Lasat... whom didn't exactly lose to her on fair terms for head of the guild. And to top it off, Thraxas manages to insult everyone of any sort of political weight within his first introduction to them.

So the schemes get under way. First, they need to somehow convince those mortally offended people to back them with an army to re-take Turai. Second, they need Makri to win the current sword fighting championship to gain status for Lisutaris and more importantly enable them to raise much needed funds. Third, they need to investigate what the hell is up with said tournament as something seems suspicious. Third, they need to recover the stolen war machine plans before it's revealed that the trio are completely inept at everything. Forth, Thraxas gets involved in politics as he must investigate whether someone's lives is in danger. Fifth - supposing the forth is true - he's got to work out why and stop them.

All of this is the usual enjoyable clusterfuck of the typical Thraxas investigative procedure - but then you'll have to add in that Thraxas has to somehow cover up Lisutaris' crippling thaxis addiction and somehow find time for Makri to feed the baby ice dragon, and like that Thraxas's constant demands for ale seems more reasonable.

Also everyone of any importance hates their guts. Did I mention that?

I have to admit, while I am biased as fuck for this series, it was a blast to have it back. It came roaring back with amazing no drop off or ring rust for such a hiatus. Highlights include Thraxas actually having to cover up Lisutaris stoned out of her mind with a war meeting taking place, and when chrocichlly short of funds, Thraxas having to enter a pie eating competition. Yah. Readers of the series will know how much Thraxas can put away on a normal sitting, so the fun isn't whether he'll win - it  is the how he'll win. Another good point to this book is that we're finally visiting a place of Thraxas' past, and getting to see more of his character and seeing if his boasting meets reality. I'm also a sucker for moments when Thraxas winds down being a dolt for five minutes and acts like a genuine hope for humanity.

On characters, this book has a dearth of recurring characters compared to past books, because, duh, Turai fell, and the trio only just got out. While I miss this extended cast, it's made up by instead getting greater focus on Makri and Lisutaris, which is very welcome. Millar writes the two in very believable ways - like any decent writer, he knows how to play a flaw - and I enjoyed seeing Lisutaris behind the drugs and the assumed confidence. While we didn't get into Makri as much, we did get to see more of her interating with various members of society and her effect on them, including one memorable scene of Lisutaris worrying that Makri may have inadvertantly crushed the self-esteem of every women in the bathhouse.

The villains have a good lot to them - not only do the assorted barons get to scheme and be insulted by everything Thraxas can do, but Lasat is a good choice of villain in that he sort of isn't one. He feels he'd be better than Lisutaris, he was cheated out of the head of the guild, and now it's his time - but he's a bit of a prick and they need someone from Turai to head the army back, so back of the line with you! Where you can scheme in peace. Damn it.

This book makes me feel like Thraxas never left, and with news that there's a tenth novel on the way makes me eager to see what's next. I don't know how much of Thraxas is left in Millar - should they take back Turai, that's a hell of world changer (as was it's sacking) but this book showing Thraxas tackle bigger things makes me feel like there's plenty of life left. If any one my frantic gushing has interested you, please check out http://www.thraxas.com/ where you'll find more info and purchasing details. And as Thraxas is on the Kindle store, you'll find it pretty cheap. Thraxas and the Ice Dragon is only available on e-book, but you can find paperbacks out and about of the previous books of the series.

Cover rant: I loved the old art on the covers, and here we have a Makri who's pale, (not reddish) purple haired (not dark) and holding a katana skittishly (KATANA? SHE HOLDS A BITCHING SWORD AND AXE AND WILL FUCKING KILL YOU.) I would bitch about the chainmail bikini, as she doesn't like fighting in it, but she has done so in the past and the old covers had her wearing it so... meh.