{"id":69,"date":"2013-12-21T21:39:48","date_gmt":"2013-12-21T21:39:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/swordandbarrow.com\/wp\/?page_id=69"},"modified":"2019-12-02T03:39:32","modified_gmt":"2019-12-02T03:39:32","slug":"reviews-for-the-barrow","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/swordandbarrow.com\/wp\/?page_id=69","title":{"rendered":"REVIEWS"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Barrow<\/em>\u00a0can be considered a prequel for the comic book series, but familiarity with the comics is not required to read The Barrow<\/em>; indeed, it was written to introduce the world and characters to fantasy readers who haven’t seen the comics. \u00a0Interview, reviews and author blurbs are listed and excerpted below as they come in, in chronological order (so oldest first and most recent last):<\/p>\n

[one_third]<\/p>\n

Interviews<\/h3>\n

Cover Lover: Behind the Scenes with The Barrow<\/em> at the BiblioSanctum<\/a><\/p>\n

Author Interview with Mark Smylie<\/em>\u00a0at\u00a0The Book Plank<\/a><\/p>\n

Interview with Mark Smylie<\/em>\u00a0at\u00a0The Qwillery<\/a><\/p>\n

Dig into the Barrow<\/em>\u00a0at\u00a0Sequential Tart<\/a><\/p>\n

Mark Smylie returns to the world of Artesia in prose novel<\/em> at CBR\/Robot 6<\/a><\/p>\n

Interview with Mark Smylie<\/em> at Civilian Reader<\/a><\/p>\n

Q&A: Mark Smylie Talks About ‘The Barrow’\u00a0<\/em>at Fantasy Review Barn<\/a><\/p>\n

Exploring The Known World with Mark Smylie\u00a0<\/em>at Bibliosanctum<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/h3>\n

Lists & Such<\/h3>\n

Runner-Up for Best Grimdark, Most Violent, Best Audiobook, Best Action<\/em> AND Most Disappointing<\/em> in Ben & Jon’s Best Fantasy 2014 Awards<\/strong> at BestFantasyBooks<\/a><\/p>\n

One of eleven titles on Mogsy’s Fantasy List<\/em> in her Best of 2014 and Year in Review<\/strong> at the BiblioSanctum<\/a><\/p>\n

#2 in the Sword and Sorcery<\/em> category on\u00a0Sarah Chorn’s Epic Best Books of 2014 List<\/strong> at BookwormBlues<\/a><\/p>\n

Katherine Keller’s Favorite Book on the Best Books We Read – 2014<\/strong> Lists at Sequential Tart<\/a><\/p>\n

#16 on the Best Anti-Hero Fantasy Books List<\/strong> at BestFantasyBooks<\/a><\/p>\n

#16 on the Best Grimdark Fantasy Books List<\/strong> at BestFantasyBooks<\/a><\/p>\n

[\/one_third]<\/p>\n

[two_thirds_last]<\/p>\n

Reviews<\/h3>\n

“The world that Mark Smylie creates here (the world of Artesia<\/em> and The Barrow<\/em>) is both lurid and gorgeous. It is an unforgiving realm full of dangerous secrets, fae sorcery, and scurrilous antiheroes. Smylie’s characters struggle beneath the iron weight of a history ripe with conquest, terror, and tragedy… The Barrow<\/em> blends the pulp thrills of sword-and-sorcery with epic sensibilities worthy of Tolkien and Martin. It is an unflinching look at the twisted and damaged souls of an ancient city’s underclass, a band of roguish treasure-hunters who live by the blade, the spell, and the pleasures of the flesh. Genuinely inspired, shockingly erotic, and completely fantastic, The Barrow<\/em> is an immersive read that grabs you in its own strange gravity and leaves you craving more: More secrets, more battles, more magic, more of your favorite characters–including the ones you love to hate. Definitely not for the squeamish or the faint-of-heart, The Barrow<\/em> puts the ‘adult’ back into Adult Fantasy. It is bloody beautiful.”<\/p>\n

— John R. Fultz
\nAuthor of Seven Sorcerers<\/em> and the Books of the Shaper<\/em> Trilogy<\/p>\n

“A gritty fantasy adventure set in a vivid and complex world. Fans of Joe Abercrombie and Scott\u00a0Lynch will love The Barrow<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n

— Mike Lee
\nAuthor of Fallen Angels<\/em> and The Rise of Nagash<\/em><\/p>\n

“I love Mark Smylie\u2019s world. Fans of deep, intricate settings with complex cultures and fascinating histories are in for a treat with\u00a0The Barrow<\/em>. Anyone who likes Steven Erikson should check this out.\u201d<\/p>\n

— Django Wexler
\nAuthor of\u00a0The Thousand Names<\/em><\/p>\n

“Thieves with high connections conspire to find a lost treasure in a grim quest fantasy that gradually heats to a satisfying boil… After a very slow start, the story hits its stride once the adventurers begin the trip to near-certain doom at the titular barrow. Plot twists and character work are the highlights, with Smylie doing a great job of developing individual personalities within the large cast. The novel shares a setting with Smylie’s Artesia graphic novels, but it’s entirely accessible to new readers. Despite the book’s pacing flaws and a preponderance of casual violence and sexism, fans of quest-centered stories will find this well worth their time.”<\/p>\n

—\u00a0Publishers Weekly<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cAs the reader, I felt like I was transported right there — and that is both a wonderful and terrifying experience, considering the type of world we’re thrown into, one filled with dark magics, shady politics, and disreputable characters…\u00a0This is a book that pulls you in immediately, starting with an explosive intro that sets the tone and mood of the story quite nicely…possibly one of the most heart-pounding prologues that has ever graced the pages of a fantasy novel… \u00a0Everything that happens after they find the\u00a0Barrow\u00a0is pure insanity.\u201d \u00a04.5\/5 stars<\/p>\n

— Mogsy at\u00a0the BiblioSanctum<\/a><\/p>\n

“Plot-wise, this is a story that’s as deceptive as its characters… There are curses and conspiracies, political schemes and criminal agendas, and plots and counterplots to be navigated…with the final act of the story tying everything together, and revealing just how significant and how connected those events are.\u00a0[The ending] pays off in every respect. Whereas many fantasy novels build up our expectations with hints, promises, and threats of monstrous violence, only to stop short, Smylie delivers on his promises. From monstrous to madness, from necromancy to necrophilia, the events of the climax goes far beyond what we might have anticipated. He allows the worst to happen…and then pushes the horror even farther. There are no close calls or near escapes here, just one crushing defeat after another, with a victorious twist.”<\/p>\n

— Bob Milne at Beauty in Ruins<\/a><\/p>\n

“Oh this book ain\u2019t going to be for everyone… Rough and creative uses of the more colorful aspects of the English language are only the beginning of the hedonism within… But this isn\u2019t a cheap dark fantasy relying on shock value and sex to keep a few teenage boys interested in what lies within the pages. This is a debut that stands out for its complexity and intelligence. I have been known to accuse a book of not knowing what kind of story it wants to tell but this did something different;\u00a0The Barrow<\/i>\u00a0knew damn well what kind of a story it was but refused to tell the reader until the end… No let down; just escalating action and twists and turns and stuff I want to go back and read all over. Everything I thought I knew was wrong, up to and including the entire purpose of the trip for almost everyone involved. As climaxes go it is one of the best I have read…\u00a0I love getting everything I hoped for in a new book.” \u00a05 stars<\/p>\n

— Nathan at Fantasy Review Barn<\/a><\/p>\n

“What The Barrow<\/em> really is, once it gets going, is a gonzo, turbo-charged epic fantasy played with full distortion on an amp turned up to 11.”<\/p>\n

— Two Dudes in an Attic<\/a><\/p>\n

From a mixed review, nonetheless: “If you’re in the mood for an epic quest story, this should be on your shopping list.”<\/p>\n

— Don D’Amassa<\/a><\/p>\n

From another mixed review (from the first reviewer to note the Player’s Handbook homage in the prologue): “On one hand it\u2019s a cracking story, populated with interesting (although not all entirely likeable) characters who give the plot enough twists and turns to surprise even the most cynical of readers who think they\u2019ve seen it all. It\u2019s well-written, with a final act that grips and refuses to let go until the last page is turned… [But w]e\u2019re given too much detail, too many times…a shame, as beneath all this there lurks a fresh and original fantasy story set in a unique and fascinating world.” \u00a06 out of 10<\/p>\n

— Alister Davison at\u00a0Starburst Magazine<\/a><\/p>\n

“The Barrow<\/em> is shockingly complex, full of family drama, political drama, and plenty of self-discovery. All of this, along with the main plot, really makes The Barrow<\/em> a novel that is just as deep as it is exciting. Somehow, some way, Smylie did the incredible. He made all of the book\u2019s flaws its many incredible strengths, and that\u2019s what makes The Barrow<\/em> so wonderful. This novel is intense, and gritty, and uncomfortable, and full of blood, cursing, and sex, with characters that are both wonderful and disgusting in the same breath. It is a book with an epic, well-realized, fantastic world so beautifully done, but also just as broken and battered as the people who inhabit it.” 5\/5 stars<\/p>\n

— Sarah Chorn at\u00a0Bookworm Blues<\/a><\/p>\n

“…[A]lthough this was a quest type story, it felt very fresh and it was enjoyable figuring out its complexities. It caused me to think; a lot, which some readers might find difficult but I found pleasurable. The lore and history are woven tightly into the plot and there is so that it could make up its own book. I thought it was wonderfully delivered as well. Sometimes in fantasy, lore can be placed a bit awkwardly but not here. If you love lore, as do I, this book has some of the richest I have ever read. The ending was excellent and sets up for what could be an even better second book…\u00a0I hope this book gets the recognition it deserves because I rank it with\u00a0George R.R. Martin, as well as the authors I already mentioned, Steven Erikson and Joe Abercrombie, in terms of quality, grittiness, and epic world building. If you enjoy grimdark, and those 3 authors, this is a must-read book.”\u00a05\/5 stars<\/p>\n

— Phil Witvleit at Grimdark Reader\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n

A somewhat snide review, but still: “…[T]his is high-octane epic fantasy in the modern vein, as complex as anything in Steve Erikson and as compulsively homicidal as anything in George R. R. Martin. Smylie\u2019s a long-time veteran of that fantasy vein, and although\u00a0The Barrow\u00a0<\/i>is his first novel, it\u2019s going to leave many, many readers fervently hoping it\u2019s not his last.”<\/p>\n

— Steve Donoghue at Open Letters Monthly<\/a><\/p>\n

“The other major strength of the novel is the diversity of the motley protagonists, often with unusual characteristics and traits. And everyone in this novel are juggling multiple secrets to go along with their natures. Far from being a set of adventurers of fortune from central casting, Stjepan and his colleagues are distinct and realized, each with hopes and goals of their own… \u00a0[I]t has been too long since the author has provided readers with new material in the world of Artesia<\/em>, and even if this is set before the timeline of the rise of Stjepan\u2019s sister and the events she is caught up in, the complicated plots, factions, action, and sensuality from the graphic novels are all here in written form. There\u2019s wide open spaces of room, physically and temporally for more novels set in the Known World and I would love to have a chance to read them if Smylie is inclined to write more of them.” 4\/5 stars<\/p>\n

— Paul Weimer at SF Signal<\/a><\/p>\n

“The Barrow<\/em>\u00a0contains one of the most well-drawn and vivid worlds that I\u2019ve read recently, though it wasn\u2019t without its issues… If you like your fantasy dark, your characters darker, and your worlds deep (dark) and full of terrors*,\u00a0Mark Smylie\u2019s debut\u00a0The Barrow<\/em>\u00a0will have you by the teeth by the end of one of the most exciting prologues I\u2019ve read and it will hold on all the way through the equally impressive finale.\u00a0*Please don\u2019t sue me GRRM\/HBO.” 4\/5 stars<\/p>\n

— Patrick Doherty (Patremagne) at A Bitter Draft<\/a><\/p>\n

From a mixed review, but still: “I haven\u2019t quite figured out how Mark Smylie pulled it off. The book has some obvious excellences, and some obvious failings, and some oddities that might be mistaken for one only to turn out to be the other… As the endgame of the novel came in sight, there were only three characters I cared about at all \u2014 the enigmatic hero Stjepan Black-Heart, the cross-dressing street fighter Erim, and the disgraced noblewoman Annwyn. I kept coming back to my two snarky rhetorical questions: How are these two women going to survive ten more minutes surrounded by all those sociopaths? And when is Stjepan going to have a male friend who does not suck?\u00a0Only it turns out those are the questions that matter most, and several of the glitches I had mistaken for goofs on the author\u2019s part ended up being the keys to the story\u2019s other puzzles… For all that this is a mixed review, I\u2019m rooting for Mark Smylie.”<\/p>\n

— Sarah Avery at Black Gate<\/a><\/p>\n

“There\u2019s more than a hint of the graphic novel that inspired it in this vividly depicted and beautifully detailed debut. Combining dark elements, action, sex, magic and violence\u00a0The Barrow\u00a0<\/em>instantly engages, dragging the reader deep into the earth in search of a map…\u00a0The barrow raids were far and away the best part of this novel; exciting, fast paced, nail-biting, terrifying at times and brutal with quick POV changes and tons of action. I read the final barrow raid in a rush, and from a hundred pages to the end the book is completely unputdownable.” 7\/10 lascivious dragons<\/p>\n

— Helen Petrovic at High Fantasy Addict<\/a><\/p>\n

“…I love all the characters, mainly because none of them are particularly likable and none of them are your typical fantasy heroes or even your typical fantasy anti-heroes. Let’s just say that I will be inviting none of them over for dinner… [The Barrow]\u00a0is a dark and unique gem within the fantasy genre.” 4\/5 stars<\/p>\n

— Wendy Browne at the BiblioSanctum<\/a><\/p>\n

“The Barrow<\/em> is a dark, epic fantasy full of magic, curses, violence, and sex. The characters in the book are not heroes… They are greedy, self-absorbed, and often have ulterior motives which helps make this book so entertaining. This is a world where everyone is hiding something, and trust is hard to come by… Certainly not a book for everyone, The Barrow<\/em> offers something dark and gritty woven around the traditional treasure hunting trope.” 5\/5 stars<\/span><\/p>\n

— Whitney Smyth at Portland Book Review<\/a><\/p>\n

“The story starts off with one the best prologues I\u2019ve ever read…\u00a0[W]hile the worldbuilding is near perfect, the characterbuilding is nothing short of sublime. All of Smylie\u2019s characters have their flaws and the author develops them as a true master of words…\u00a0Once you think you\u2019ve figured it all out, Smylie throws in another surprise, all perfectly plausible and explained and well developed. It reminded me sometimes of the movie The Usual Suspects<\/em>.\u00a0The Barrow<\/em> is…a good old quest fantasy with great characters in a great world and a superb storyline. It reminded me mostly of the Heroic Fantasy tales from the golden age of pulp magazines, though with a lot more depth.\u00a0A truly splendid debut.”<\/p>\n

— Dominick Swennen at Fantastical Imaginations<\/a><\/p>\n

“If author Mark Smylie set out to write an epic magical, sensual, bloody adventure – then he’s done a fine job indeed…\u00a0The story is incredibly detailed and quick moving. The characters are most definitely not black and white, and even the grey areas shift without notice. There are surprises aplenty and some seriously graphic encounters, both of the sensual nature and the bloody!… If you’re looking for a good old fashioned adventure with lots of spice and gore and doom…then this is perfect for you.”<\/p>\n

— Geeky Godmother<\/a><\/p>\n

\u00a0“The prologue that Smylie wrote for The Barrow<\/em> is one of the best I\u2019ve read in ages…\u00a0The Barrow<\/em> is a richly narrated, dark story that kept me hooked all the way through. The worldbuilding is extensive and interesting and the characters are varied and complex. Nothing is as it seems in this book, there are twists aplenty that will keep you on the edge of your seat…it\u2019s one hell of a book.”<\/p>\n

— \u00a0Cindy at\u00a0Draumr K\u00f3pa\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n

From a bit of a mixed review: “The Barrow<\/i>\u00a0starts with a bang… [T]<\/span>here is great world-building to be found in\u00a0The Barrow<\/i>\u00a0with much, much lore. I have to admit I was really drawn in by Smylie[‘s] creation…\u00a0<\/span>When the barrow finally present itself…the surprises and betrayals finally add a layer of complexity to the plot and that was much needed to keep the main protagonists compelling. The ending, while the novel could remain a stand-alone book, is a nice opener for a future story of grander proportion…\u00a0The Barrow<\/i>\u00a0is a fair debut with a great background for Smylie to work with… It’s a novel worth picking up for a large [spectrum]\u00a0of Fantasy readers, not simply the gritty and grimy crowd.”<\/p>\n

— Phil at A Fantasy Reader<\/a><\/p>\n

Not quite Best of 2014, but a nice mention at BestFantasyBooks.com: “A rip roaring adventure that\u2019s absolutely the definition of a classic \u2018grimdark\u2019 fantasy novel. Fans of Abercrombie\u2019s First Law<\/em>, Luke Scull\u2019s The Grim Company<\/em>, Jeff Salyards’ Scourge of the Betrayers<\/em>, and Scott Bakker\u2019s works will like this one… But oh is this book dark. The setting, the tone, the character interactions, the language, the explicit sexual imagery…it\u2019s one of the better, more exciting Grimdarks this year…”<\/p>\n

Ben at BestFantasyBooks.com<\/a><\/p>\n

#2 in the Sword and Sorcery category for 2014: “The Barrow<\/em> is raw, dirty, X-Rated and fantastic. It reminds me of a Dungeons and Dragons quest on some sort of drug. Everyone is flawed, which is half of what charmed me so much. The plot is fast moving, the world is stunningly realized, and the grit is, well, gritty. This is a book you won\u2019t want to read if you don\u2019t enjoy sex and violence, but if that sort of thing doesn\u2019t bother you, do yourself a favor and check this one out. It\u2019s not just the traditional quest plot. It\u2019s so much more.”<\/p>\n

Sarah Chorn at Bookworm Blues<\/a><\/p>\n

Her Favorite Book of 2014: “…I would need another 5000 words to unpack the richness and density of all the things that Smylie has packed into The Barrow<\/em>. It deals far more intelligently and thoughtfully with issues of sexuality, gender, race, religion, class, colonialism, and the complexities and nuances of oppression than anything else I’ve read in ages… There’s not a dull moment in it, and, best of all, by the end of the book, you’ll laugh at yourself, for the best parts of The Barrow<\/em> are hidden in plain sight. It’s a book that rewards close readings and re-readings.”<\/p>\n

Katherine Keller at Sequential Tart<\/a><\/p>\n

“The Barrow<\/em> by Mark Smylie is an ‘old school’ epic fantasy adventure story that could have come straight out of a Dungeons and Dragons campaign…\u00a0I would say that the level of world-building here is almost on par with what Erikson and Esslemont have produced with their Malazan books. I have read other books with this level of world building contained within, and it has often been to the detriment of the story, but Smylie manages to communicate his world-building and exposition in such an interesting way that I found myself wanting to know more and more, even though it was taking me away from the main story. I think The Barrow<\/em> acts as a great example of how to use detailed world building to complement a story, not overwhelm it…\u00a0Every single character in this book feels like a fully realised person, with goals and dreams and a variety of different aspects motivating them, and the full cast of characters shows a wide array of cultural, ethnic, religious, sexual and gender diversity. The characters are what make this story so compelling…\u00a0The Barrow is not for everyone, it deals with a wide range of explicit material and taboo topics, but if that type of stuff doesn’t bother you then I recommend you dive right in and join the expedition.” 8.5\/10<\/p>\n

Ryan Lawler at Fantasy Book Review UK<\/a><\/p>\n

[\/two_thirds_last]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Barrow\u00a0can be considered a prequel for the comic book series, but familiarity with the comics is not required to read The Barrow; indeed, it was written to introduce the world and characters to fantasy readers who haven’t seen the comics. \u00a0Interview, reviews and author blurbs are listed and excerpted below as they come in, … Continue reading REVIEWS<\/span> →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/swordandbarrow.com\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/69"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/swordandbarrow.com\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/swordandbarrow.com\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swordandbarrow.com\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swordandbarrow.com\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=69"}],"version-history":[{"count":66,"href":"https:\/\/swordandbarrow.com\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/69\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":507,"href":"https:\/\/swordandbarrow.com\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/69\/revisions\/507"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/swordandbarrow.com\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=69"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}