C. Dale Brittain

These are very strange books (not in the way one might think--there are some pretty weird books out there!) Even my least favourite of them is worth reading, but they're all slightly off-kilter compared to the normal run of fantasy novels, so you should know what you're getting into.

First, these are gentle books. I read the first in the series the night my beloved dog died unexpectedly, and I scoured the internet for news of a fantasy series that wouldn't upset me. Daimbert & Company is essentially the rice pudding of fantasy books. It's not whimsical and twee, it's not violent and disturbing, it's a big warm hug of nice people trying their best, generally up against some kind of antagonist that wound up in that position either (a) by accident, or (b) because they meant well. So there's suspense and tension, but (until this book) about the same amount of suspense and tension as in an episode of Friends.

Second, there's a lot of Christian religion, but it's not really urban fantasy. Every single place mentioned is not in our Earth. It's your typical fantasy realm with kingdoms and castles and a fabulous quasi-Arabian bit down south, but for some reason they're all Christian there. (Oh, and I'm a total atheist/scientist, and this inclusion didn't bother me at all, it's not proselytizing any more than Lord of the Rings tried to talk us into worship the Valar, it's just background-setting and milieu). The protagonist's best friend is a Catholic priest. So that's interesting, but it's also sort of off-putting, because I don't think it's fully thought out, it doesn't make sense. It's essentially an Other Realm that's Christian.

Third, and this goes with the afore-mentioned gentleness, everyone's very nice, and they hem and haw a bit, and Daimbert's somewhat annoying (you want to yell "just get over it already" quite a few times), and (at least in the earlier books) I felt he ought to cut Elerius a bit of slack (Daimbert just really seems to hate the guy and never gives him the benefit of the doubt). And then in this last book, it's almost like Daimbert causes the bad stuff to happen by pushing his antagonist to the brink (over 30 years, really!) but doesn't recognize it (nor does the author, I think). It's like Homer Simpson driving Frank Grimes to his death, he's just oblivious.

And yet, what a marvelous read. This one's longer than the others (I think, it's hard to tell on Kindle sometimes), and epic in scope, and full of twists and turns, and enjoyable resolutions, and it all kind of works, even while you're wincing about how Christianity doesn't make sense, or how Elerius can just go flat-out Eeeeeeevil all of a sudden. If you've read the first 5, obviously, read this one too. If you're new, read 1, if you like it, keep going!

(Note: 5 stars = amazing, wonderful, 4 = very good book, 3 = decent read, 2 = disappointing, 1 = awful, just awful. I'm fairly good at picking for myself so end up with a lot of 4s). I feel a lot of readers automatically render any book they enjoy 5, but I grade on a curve… (mer)

The best book of the series so far, which means it's an average read. While about a Royal Wizard, these books are more mystery than fantasy. In this one Daimbert and friends do the equivalent of a Holy Land pilgrimage while trying to find a lost treasure, one other figures are trying to find -- and trying to stop Daimbert from finding. So the mystery involves not only where is the treasure but who is behind the plots against his group. Written from first person perspective, there is alot of "maybe it's this guy. No, maybe it's that guy" space wastage. And "Here comes so-and-so, aha! He did it! On wait, surprise, he's here to help us, not to stop us, cross him off the list, must be someone else" The author did accomplish this better than he did the first two books, yet here the final ending seemed unsatisfactory and unneeded.

Magic here is really a code word for science, and I get the feeling author is going for a "science vs. religion" theme throughout the series. While he is not displaying bias for either side, which is refreshing, so far I have not seen any profound observations from the author. Two more books to go so maybe they are still to come ...… (mer)

There's something so delicate and gentle about these books. I read the first in the series after my beloved dog had died, so was hoping for calmness, kindness, and optimism, and Brittain did not disappoint. I eagerly downloaded the second book in the series to my Kindle, and found it to be very much the same.

Not quite thrilling or emotionally-involving enough to excite me to a rare 5-star bestowing, but a very enjoyable book nonetheless. I am particular drawn to how the magic co-exists within a demonstrably Christian environment (I'm an atheist myself, but I appreciate the unusual decision for a fantasy series' setting)--the contrast between the workings of magic on one hand and religious faith on the other is particularly of note in this novel, which, as the title avows, contains an actual Saint.

Cosy without being twee, this is a perfect book for calming-down to at the end of the day.… (mer)

I really think these books are the rice pudding of fantasy series, if we imagine all series to have their culinary counterparts. Some are teppanyaki restaurants, full of flash and sizzle, some are vegetarian heart-healthy brunch places, earnest and good for you, and then there's Yurt, and it's just so very comforting.

This was not my favourite of the series, mostly because I'm not enthusiastic about the introduction of a plausible (i.e. not the Queen) love interest in a series that has survived nicely without one.

That said, these books are little treats for me, and I shall keep devouring them, especially when I'm in the mood for some comfort (I began the series when my dog died unexpectedly, and it's remarkable how helpful these kind-hearted gentle stories were in getting me through the first weeks!)… (mer)