Red and Dave are bound by a magical curse, and despite years of searching they are no closer to finding the solution than when they began. This is until they rescue a bard named Joaquin…
I was given an older copy of this piece, so some things might have changed since publication. This one was difficult to judge, and largely I can say my impression of it is “unpolished.” There are times when the prose wraps you up in a warm blanket, and you find yourself really setting in. Then there are confusing phrases such as:
“Anubis eyes narrowed as he sensed the stench of lie and fear from miles away. The messenger was telling the truth. “
The first sentence implies that he is sensing lies with the fellow, but the second contradicts (Also, “miles away” is superfluous). This sort of thing, compounded with a slight overuse of adjectives, breaks the reading flow.
On the narrative as a whole I actually rather enjoyed what Julkin was trying to do. There certainly were points where things seemed a bit formulaic, but overall it was different enough of a storyline. the problem was the characters weren’t strong enough to pull it through weak spots by themselves. Dramatic dialogue was, at times, weak. Yet, more lighthearted banter and regular discourse felt more solid. I also did not have any difficulty telling who was who, but I simultaneously can’t really say any of them stood out. The classical double-edged sword.
The Witch and The Wolf – Bond of the Ancients (man, that is a mouthful) is decidedly in the middle. The plot is fine, though formulaic at certain points. The writing style is a bit unpolished, and the characters are unmemorable. I do not regret reading it, however, and if you find yourself in the mood for something that leans into the campy, I would recommend it.
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