Review of Anne Lesley Groell’s "Anvil of the Sun"

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Roc (Penguin Books), mass-market paperback

Anvil of the Sun is the first book of Groell’s ‘Cloak and Dagger’ fantasy series (Bridge of Valor and Cauldron of Iniquity being the other two, so far.) The series is named for two young assassins, Jennifleur Radineax (wealthy noble) and her partner Thibault Lescevre (peasant carpenter’s apprentice.) The unlikely duo were raised together, and trained, by Jen’s aunt Vera, who is the Guild’s top assassin. In Anvil of the Sun, Vera takes a very dangerous job and ends up in big trouble. Jen and Thibault must travel to the deserts of far away Ashkharon to save her life.

Jen is a free-spirit, an outrageous, mischievous, playful young woman who’s constant and various love affairs wreak havoc with Thibault, who’s had a secret crush on her for years. He’s the silent, steady, thinking half of the pair; the one who usually gets them out of whatever trouble they’re in.

Though primarily about the two young assassins, Vera is also a major character in the series, and in this book two other assassins also receive much page-time, along with peasant hero Andorian and evil Minister Pehndon. Through this the author manages to build a fantasy world where major magics are commonplace, and a sea voyage to far-away lands costs just a bit more than a two-way crystal ball ‘telephone call’ to the same place. Mage-lights light the homes (at least of the wealthy) and two-way radio listening/recording/video devices are one of Jen’s tools.

Since this is the first book of the series, many pains are taken to establish the characters; who they are, what they want, why he’s love-sick and depressed all the time, etc. Readers learn how much Jen needs Thibault as a steadying influence, and he needs her spark, her energy to pull him into action. But beyond establishing the characters, there is little character development here.

It’s a light fantasy – one never really feels the characters are in danger; we suspect everything will turn out all right in the end. When most characters believe a certain one to be dead, we already know of the late-night escape. One character gets brutally tortured for about half a page, but recovers completely by the next chapter.

Don’t look for epic world-shaking literature here. It’s a fun ride, with interesting people and sights to see. But it’s more of a vacation, rather than a quest to save the world.

A caution to fast readers – Groell takes about a year and a half between books. Steel yourself for a long wait.

‑‑ Scott Micheel