Something Red: A NovelDouglas Nicholas
Atria/Emily Bestler Books, September 2012
ISBN: 978-1451660074
From debut author Douglas Nicholas comes a haunting story of love, murder, and sorcery.
Set in thirteenth century England during an especially harsh winter, Molly and her group of friends are trying to cross a mountain pass with their wagons ahead of the impending heavy snows. Molly is an Irish healer who brews potions and is able to communicate with crows. Her traveling companions are granddaughter Nemain, a young girl who helps Molly make her concoctions and is able to sense danger; Jack, Molly’s lover and protector, a mysterious and silent man who is not able to speak but is a strong and passionate defender; and Hob, Molly’s thirteen-year-old apprentice whose main job is caring for the ox that pulls Molly’s wagon.
Something Red is told in third person mostly from Hob’s point of view and takes place in a monastery, an inn, and a castle, as the troupe battles their way from place to place in the terrible winter snows that are gradually getting worse. As they make their way through the dark and snowy woods between each location, the feeling that something is stalking them is keenly felt by everyone in the troupe. And when the danger becomes real and horribly mutilated bodies begin to turn up, Molly and Jack come up with a dangerous plan to save those who are still alive.
Something Red takes readers on a mysterious and absorbing journey. Douglas Nicholas writes beautifully and pays a lot of attention to minor details. The prose flows effortlessly and the descriptions are amazingly beautiful. The author's background as a poet has given him an ability to write lyrical and evocative prose. The medieval setting and the different locations for the action are all deftly handled. Something Red combines compelling narrative and historical realism with intriguing fantasy elements and a memorable cast of characters to create an unforgettable reading experience.
DOUGLAS NICHOLAS is an award-winning poet whose work has appeared in numerous poetry journals, and the author of four previous books including Iron Rose, a collection of poems inspired by New York City. He lives in New York’s Hudson Valley.
ISBN: 978-1451660074; ISBN10: 1451660073; Imprint: Atria/Emily Bestler Books; On Sale: 9/18/2012; Format: Hardcover; Pages: 336; $25.00
