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REVIEW: Wren #2
Book Title: Wren #2
Book Description: It’s August, 1666. The plague has been running rampant in London for two years. Over 100,000 people are dead. As soon as the plague started the rich fled to other parts of the country. The poor were forced to stay behind in a part of the city that is under martial law. Without papers they can’t leave the quadrant. Shops are closed and there’s a food shortage. Those that aren’t dying of plague are dying of starvation. Adding insult to injury, plague doctors and gangs are robbing these families blind. Thomas Bloodworth, London’s mayor, is doing everything he can to keep the people from starving. He’s offering to pay an extra schilling per bag of wheat to the men on the docks to ensure it gets to those who need it most. George Monck, King Charles II’s right hand man, is responsible for keeping the plague in check. He has ulterior motives and isn’t going to let some peasants get in his way. His plan is to burn part of London to the ground in the name of “cleansing”. Caught in the middle of all of this is Christopher Wren. It’s his job to sell George Monck’s idea of razing part of London to the Royal Society. Wren believes that approximately three streets need to be razed to eradicate the rats in London in order to get the plague under control. Wren also knows Monck won’t be happy with a proposal for such a small amount. Wren proposed 30 streets to the Royal Society, expecting a counter that will still please Monck. With all the end around deals Monck is making nobody knows what the plan truly is. The only thing the experts know for sure is that deliberately burning homes in a city where all the structures are made of wood is a dangerous proposition.
Book Author: Peter Taylor
Book Format: Paperback
Publisher - Orgnization: Pottyville Books
Publisher Logo:
Illustrator: Peter Taylor
- Story(3.9)
- Interior Art(3.7)
- Cover Art(3.3)
- Dialogue(3.5)
- Mechanics(3.9)
- Editing(3.9)
Summary
“Wren” continues to stun me with its ability to pull the reader into 17th century London. We feel the tension as the day of the fire draws nearer without a clear plan of action that everyone understands.
George Monck is a character that is very striking. It’s easy to dislike him. He’s conniving, pompous, and not above using his connection with the king in lies to get what he wants. The fact that he managed to keep Bloodworth out of the lines of communication is appalling. What’s even more appalling is how we can see things of this nature happening in modern times as well.
The artwork on the cover is well done. The lines and coloring make Monck look every bit of the deplorable man he is. I also liked the raven. It emphasizes the ominous tone of the story.
As a geek on a budget I am loving this series. Unfortunately it’s not available at this point in time in the United States. When the Kickstarter campaign for the fourth installment goes live I’m sure there be a tier that allows those who are late to the party the opportunity to get caught up with the entire series. I assure you, it will be worth the wait.
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