Before I go on, I should say that I will try not to spoil the story. I don’t want to give away too much, or you might not end up reading it at all. And believe me, you want to read this book. With that said, when I first picked up this book (which was a little over 2 years ago) I glanced over it, read a few pages, and gave up on it. I scold myself every time I see this book in my bookshelf for having done that. It must have been because I wasn’t mature enough 2 years ago. Maybe. But it sure does attest to the fact that this book is clearly aimed at experienced readers and adults.

The story starts off with a little boy, around maybe seven (or was it 10?) years of age. The boy is indeed Clothar, and he learns a truth that makes the reader automatically like him. He learns it fairly early too. The king, his father, tells him that he is actually not his father, and that he is his uncle instead. His real father and mother are dead. They died shortly after Clothar was brought into the world. The person that killed them was Clodas who sits on his father’s throne even now. Choking back on the tears and recognizing the situation enough, Clothar, still a young boy, vows to kill Clodas with the help of his uncle and rightfully become king – some day. For now, his uncle, Ban of Benwick, sends him off with Bishop Germanus to a school for young boys.

The real story starts here, I guess. One thing you will notice while reading is that this isn’t your typical story. It doesn’t have the rising action – climax – falling action template that everyone is taught in elementary school. It just kind of goes on. That’s the best way I can describe it. It just goes on. Try to imagine yourself sitting by a camp fire listening to a storyteller. It’s kind of like that.

The most memorable thing from this book (and keeping in mind that I read it almost 3 months ago) is that Clothar is so damn real. He isn’t just a character. He is right there with you while he tells you his story. It’s really quite amazing. All the characters are pretty colourful, and realistic. They are all historically plausible, and the history major in you will squeal with joy at the minor characters in Clothar The Frank that lived once long ago. All in all, if you like Arthurian legends, historic Gaul, the Franks, and just history in general, this book is for you.

This book is a testament that history isn’t boring!

I’ll be honest. I don’t know how I bought this book. I mean, for starters, I haven’t even heard of the author before. It would have been different had someone recommended him to me, but no. I just bought it on a whim. I guess it just looked cool. Probably one of the best cover’s I’ve seen on a book. It’s important to note that the author actually designed the cover too. The mini picture up there really doesn’t do it justice.

But anyways, now when I think about it, I know exactly why I bought this book. The story interested me. God and Lucifer make a bet, the same bet they’ve made in the past. However, this time, creation – you, me and everything else – hang in the balance. Interesting for two reasons, and probably more. Firstly, I always wanted to hear a conversation between God and Lucifer. Secondly, you actually get to see them go at it. Yeah, yeah, I know you can read the bible for that kind of stuff, but this is much more interesting than that 2000 page sleeping pill.

The story starts off with a little boy. And damn, is he full of energy! He kind of reminded me of me. He was all over the place. He never stayed in one place for too long. He climbed trees, pretended he was a knight (something I still do), ran all over the place and had a big grin on his face at all times. It almost made me wish I was a child again. But where we differ is that this boy had an enemy. And not just any enemy! Think about all the kinds of enemies you can have. It couldn’t compare to this boy’s enemy. He, had the devil himself breathing down his neck at all times.

And he did nothing to deserve it! It’s only because God had faith in this boy that he would win the bet for him. Before I go on, I should mention that this boy’s name is Joby. It’s a biblical allusion to the story of Job in the bible. No other apparent connections other than the name. Also, that the bet God and Lucifer had was that God was to choose a candidate, and if Lucifer could make that candidate do something really evil, he would win. Well, Lucifer is given 40 years to do just that.

Needless to say, Joby’s entire journey is very entertaining. The characters are colourful, and God and Lucifer are witty. The angels are awesome too, as are hell’s little helpers. It almost made me wish I wasn’t an atheist, because if God really was this witty, then I would convert like that, just so I can have a conversation with him. The story is just so clever in the way it handles our cosmological friends. But there is a different reason this is in fantasy. Sure, it deals with God, but king Arthur is in it too! You’re probably giving me a “huh?” Well, I don’t want to ruin anything, so I won’t say anything. But it’s quite amazing as to how Arthur, God, Lancelot, Joby, Joby’s friends, angels and normal townsfolk come to together. I love the unity. And I love this book!