My book review

Master and Fool (the Book of Words, 3) by J.V. Jones

M&F is an improvement on the second book in the series, A Man Betrayed, because a lot of the annoying things that tripped up that middle installment are no longer present. Bodger and Grift stop dispensing pointless advice and actually do something; in fact, in this book they're integral characters[1]. Tavalisk stops eating stuff, and although he doesn't really do much in this book (again), there are interesting developments in his relationship with Gamil. Maybor's character is redeemed somewhat by his daughter's pregnancy, and even Mistress Greal makes a return en-route to a surprisingly satisfying character development. Tawl and Jack finally meet, and the relationship between these two grows quite nicely.

Plot-wise, it's everything you'd expect having read the first two books. Melliandra's in trouble, and the baker's boy and the knight join forces to save her. Of course, in order to save her they have to destroy an ancient evil and stop a war that will tear a continent apart. Jack is fated for a confrontation with the mad King Kylock, and Tawl with the corrupt head of his order of knights. The story moves along at a fair old pace, and so much happens in this installment that you can't help but feel satisfied.

Unfortunately, there are a few weak points that'll stop this going onto my list of favourites. The whole plot line of Jack finding out about his past feels forced in. Given that we've known nothing about him for the past thousand-or-so pages and not been left wanting, the revelations, when they come, are bewildering. The explanations a little too convenient and unbelievable. The actions of Jack's mother, and the identity of his father (which you probably will have guessed anyway) could have been left out and the book would probably have been stronger for it. There might have been a few unanswered questions, but the links to the underlining prophecy are so weak that the resolution you do get feels oddly false.

An enjoyable read, and probably worth a look, just not great.

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You could argue, I suppose, that they started becoming characters rather than novelties in AMB, but there was still too much 'Leaches are good for a man's libido' and not enough action for my liking.