Crusader

Andrew Smith
Mundania Press (2006)
ISBN 1594262306
Reviewed by Sondra Fowler for Reader Views (5/07)

Where else but in the Woven City can you have tea with Mary?  Did I mention Mary was the Queen of Scots, but she prefers to be called Mary?  She, a museum scientist who just graduated from Stanford, a fairy and other inhabitants of the Woven City meet for tea, conversation and intrigue at Mme. Rummella’s shop.  The tea shop exists in a place unlike any other.  There are ancient buildings next to English manors and modern skyscrapers side by side with buildings fresh from 18th century England.  This is a place where people, places and things from all times and places exist in a three dimensional collage of humanity and architecture.  Sorcery is the rule rather than the exception and 99 percent of life’s tasks are done by way of magic.  Just don’t let anyone hear you call it that.  Into this world of sorcery comes a mayoral candidate and big animated suit of armor.  The reason the Crusader or animated suit of armor is stomping around the Woven City is because a relic called the Standard of Ur has been stolen and he is on a quest to retrieve the standard.  The reason the mayoral candidate has thrown his hat in the ring is unknown to the patrons of Mme. Rummella’s shop.  The unlikely comrades set out to assist the Crusader in his quest and divert disaster should the standard fall into the wrong hands.

In his first novel, “Crusader,” Andrew Smith builds a world unlike any I have encountered and populated it with wonderfully interesting characters.  Unfortunately, the plot is thin and the quest too easily accomplished.  He says he is working on subsequent books, but I would rather he forgo the series and put more meat into this inviting world he has created.  It is an admirable first attempt and a nice set of bones on which to work.

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