Review: Freedom & Necessity by Steven Brust and Emma Bull

Freedom & Necessity by Emma Bull and Steven Brust
Publication: Orb Books (April 17, 2007), Paperback, 443 pages / ISBN 9780765316806
Genre: Historical Fiction, Fantasy, Adventure/Action
Rating:
Find @ Amazon or IndieBound
Read: September 2009

Oh my GOD I love this book. Okay, don’t be fooled by the cover or the title: this is not, in fact, a horribly boring nonfiction book about some crappy European war. It’s actually a super interesting, super thrilling, super FANTASTIC historical fiction book with a smidgen of fantasy!

Summary from Indiebound:

An extraordinary novel of magic and mystery from two of fantasy’s most electrifying young authors. This wild romp leads readers through every corner of mid-nineteenth-century England, from the parlors of the intellectual elite to the dens of the underclass. Not since Wilkie Collins and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle has there been such a profusion of guns, sword fights, family intrigues, women disguised as men, secret societies, occult pursuits, philosophical discussions and sheer adventure!

I’m actually a really big fan of Emma Bull; I’ve previously read War For the Oaks and loved it, and so I was hoping to at least like Freedom and Necessity. I was initially a little put off by the package, but I had high hopes that it’d be really good on the inside. And it was! From the very first page it was interesting and funny and thrilling and though it took a big of work to get through it– it’s long– I can safely say that this is one of my favorite books I’ve read this year.

Okay, so what did I love best? Oh, merely everything. I love the characters, I love the writing, I love the time period and the setting and the plot. It does take a bit of getting used to the format– everything’s told through diary entries and letters and telegrams– but it actually makes for good “bites”, kind of like mini chapters?

Some elaboration: I thought the four main characters were a really good mix of personalities and types, and they meshed really well together. Even when they’re annoyed at one another, you can still tell how much they love each other and what a good family they are. Er, though it was a bit weird when they started have romances with each other, but since they’re all cousins it’s not as weird…maybe.

I did think the romance between Susan and James was a bit forced, though maybe that was because I thought James was gay because of something he did early on in the book (I must have just misinterpreted it). And once I got used to the idea I did think they were quite sweet, and their happy ending made me happy in return. Kitty and Richard were less of a struggle for me, and I thought they made an adorable couple as well.

Speaking of Susan: I really liked her! I thought she was really refreshing, and though maybe she’s a bit of an unusual person for the time period, I think she would have fitted right in with, say, Emma Goldman‘s circle. She’s fierce and tough and I love how she refuses to get married even when she’s in love because she wants to stick to her beliefs. She’s such a great character, and I wish she could be my friend.

Anyway, there actually isn’t much by the way of fantasy in Freedom and Necessity, and when it does spring up it can almost be taken as not being magic, but instead just some weird cult thing. Instead, the book is more about political intrigue and big thrilling scenes (lots of sword fights and things, very exciting) and trying to solve the mystery and so on. It’s all terribly exciting, even with German philosophers running around the narrative.

So, in conclusion: yay! Love this book! SO. MUCH.

If you like historical fiction, or historical fantasy, or both, get this book. And then we can talk about it together! Eee!

Get your own copy from Amazon or your favorite indie bookstore.

Other reviews: Curledup.com