Last Friday I posted about comfort reading—how we turn to certain books and authors just because they’re familiar and we know we’re not going to go wrongwith any of their stories.

The converse situation is when there are books and authors you’ve just taken far too long to get around to reading. Jennifer Fallon is one of those authors, Lion of Senet one of those books.

And yes, “I know”—Lion of Senet first came out in 2002, so I’m definitely behind the times. But better late than never, I say!

At any rate, I had the opportunity to read it recently and enjoyed the ride.  I liked the SciFi elements to what is essentially a Fantasy story, with the world that has two suns—one a dwarf, if I have understood the book correctly, orbiting a larger star. Plus the backstory of science versus religion. I also enjoyed the characters—well, except for Tia who really was a very annoying girl, but then, I think she was meant to be so I don’t think that can be held up as a criticism of the book!

The character I enjoyed most though, was Antonov Latanya, the “Lion of Senet” for whom the book is named—mainly because of the layers to his personality. He is a sincerely religious zealot who nonetheless uses religion to further his worldly political purposes; charming and generous when it pleases him, cruel and sadistic when it suits. Singleminded and ruthless, certainly; also clever. In many ways he is typical of princes of the renaissance era, but I enjoyed that duality being brought to the page of a fantasy novel where there is a tendency to paint characters in black and white.

And characters aside, I’m definitely interested enough in the twists and turns of the story to be hunting out the next book, which I think is Eye of the Labyrinth. Yes indeed, I want to know what happens next!