In Eric Griffin's Widow's Walk, the Tremere clan's clandestine triumph in post-Sabbat New York City takes center stage. Following the Camarilla's victory, the city teems with newcomers vying for power, creating a volatile landscape. Antigone Baines, a Tremere novice known as Novicia, navigates this treacherous environment, skillfully balancing her duties as Pyramid security—guarding the Chantry of the Five Boroughs—with the ever-present threat of unseen dangers. This thrilling installment of the Tremere Trilogy plunges into the heart of a newly liberated New York, where the true battle for control is only just beginning, and Antigone's cunning and resourcefulness will be tested to their limits.
Review Widow's Walk
Oh boy, "Widow's Walk," the second book in the Tremere Trilogy… it's a complicated one for me. I went into it with high hopes, honestly. The premise – the aftermath of the Camarilla's victory in New York, the influx of various factions, the Tremere struggling to maintain control – sounded fantastic. And I'm a sucker for a good urban fantasy setting, especially one as richly detailed as New York City. The description of the city, teeming with refugees and opportunists, really drew me in, painting a vivid picture of a place on the brink. I appreciated the focus on Antigone Baines, the Tremere novice, her internal conflict and the dangerous tightrope she walks between life and death. The idea of her as a "jackal," guarding the secrets of the Chantry, is fascinating.
However, the execution… well, that's where things get tricky. Several reviewers mention a weak plot, and I have to agree to some extent. While the world-building is strong, the actual narrative felt… scattered. The jumping between different scenes and characters, as others pointed out, created a disjointed feel instead of building suspense. It made it difficult to fully connect with the story's momentum, and I often found myself struggling to keep track of everything happening. The constant scene shifts felt more like a series of vignettes than a cohesive narrative.
Furthermore, the promise of significant blood magic and Thaumaturgy, a key element of the Tremere clan, unfortunately, felt unfulfilled. There were glimpses, moments where the magic hinted at its power, but it never quite reached the level I expected, or the level the book’s premise seemed to suggest. It felt like a missed opportunity to explore the rich lore and potential of this magical system within the context of the story. I wanted to see more of the Tremere's unique abilities in action, more of the intricate workings of their magic. This left me feeling a little cheated, as if a significant part of the Tremere experience was missing.
Despite these criticisms, I didn't entirely hate the book. The character of Antigone, for instance, held my interest. Her cynical outlook and her skill in navigating the dangerous political landscape of the Camarilla were compelling. The atmosphere of the book, the gritty feel of a city under pressure, was well-realized, and I found myself captivated by the descriptions of the Chantry and the various locations within New York. There were moments of genuine intrigue and suspense. But those moments were too few and far between to outweigh the narrative's shortcomings.
Ultimately, "Widow's Walk" is a frustrating read. It has potential – a great setting, intriguing characters, and a fascinating premise – but it falls short in its execution. It leaves you feeling like you've glimpsed something amazing, but the experience is ultimately overshadowed by a lack of a compelling and cohesive plot. It’s a case of style over substance, where the atmosphere and descriptive passages don't compensate for the weaknesses in the story itself.
Information
- Dimensions: 5.5 x 0.59 x 8.5 inches
- Language: English
- Print length: 233
- Publication date: 2024
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