Talons, sharpened
Jen Williams' conclusion to her Talon duology is sharper, darker, and more moving than the first book. You should go get it.... from a library
There aren’t many duologies around, really1. Maybe authors or film-makers just want to pad out their worlds so much that only three installments would suffice, but there’s often a rhythm to these series- a first installment that introduces the characters, a second that noodles around, introduces some jeapordy but ultimately is just setting up for the third. Jen Williams’ duology, Talonsister and Titanchild, is an excellent advert for, essentially, skipping the middle bit.
Titanchild has all of the virtues of the first book, which I reviewed a couple of years ago. Vividly drawn characters barrel around a richly imagined universe which spins off from Roman Britain into an alternate description where the Old Magic of the land is powerful, and ancient creatures, some of myth, some of Williams’ own invention, lurk at the fringes of human politics and society.
In fact the main thrust of the novel concerns an invasion of Britain (Brittletain, in the novel) by a rampaging army of flying, insectoid Othanim, led by the monstrous Icaraine and her deeply creepy son, Malakin. Williams has skipped the narrative 2 years forward, so we have quite some catching up to do- in fact I will admit to a sly Google to remind myself of exactly who was who at the beginning.
It’s terrific- whereas the first book veers relatively close to cosy, this one is darker, more informed by the mysterious and often grisly folklore of ancient Britain, and by the end really quite moving, as (no spoilers) agonising choices are made, and sacrifice ensues.
I think part of the reason I found the book so moving in the end is that it foregrounds the power of personal connection, love, and tradition in a deeply satisfying and, yes, progressive way. Williams’ characters are flawed, headstrong but consistently sympathetic in a way that had me rooting for them all till the end. The dialogue is modern, vibrant and often very funny, with none of the solemnity often associated with fantasy.
I talked last time about how Talonsister is progressive fantasy, and Titanchild leaning into the ancient traditions of Britain might be thought to push against that, but she reaches back beyond our ‘traditional’ roles of patriarchy and heteronormativity to something wilder, more primal and more rooted in the survival of the land.
I don’t want to either over-interpret here or spoil the ending, but suffice to say Britain (ok, Brittletain) does not like to be fucked with, exploited or despoiled. And that stirs what patriotism I still have in these confusing, disunited times.
So this duology is a tremendous achievement and a good old time. Is it perfect? No, at times the narrative is a little over-stuffed and the characterisations can bleed into each other; and I still think the renaming (Brittletain, Broudicca, Londus) is a little corny. But if you have any curiosity about modern fantasy writing, these are a must-read.
Readers may have noticed that the world is spinning rapidly into somewhere very dark, and it can be difficult to know what we as mere bystanders can even do. So can I make a tiny suggestion related to the above?
Public libraries seem to me to be the quintessential embodiment of everything the nasty, ignorant forces swirling round Britain and the world right now hate and wish to destroy. Collectivism, learning, community and diversity are all there, and all we need to do to support these institutions, which are more embattled every year, is stroll through the doors and ask the (usually) charming staff for a book.
If you’re stuck for ideas… well, the Talon duology is widely available. And the author benefits too!
See you at the library!
Some googling tells me that YA novels are fond of the duology. Good for them.