Pashazade | Jon Courtenay Grimwood

Pashazade
by Jon Courtenay Grimwood
pub: Gollancz
cover: Stewart, Sonar Graphics
354 pages

I was recommended Grimwood's books bysomeone who has a pretty good feel for my reading preferences and was told I'd be blown away. So I came into Pashazafe with high expectations and feeling demanding.

I was indeed blown away. The book starts by disorienting the reader, then grounds youfirmly in the reality of El Iskandryia, which is a fairly liberal muslim city. It's more speculative than outright fantasy, set in the real world and the nowish with some kinks to world history and a made up city allowing the author fuller freedom to play.

The lead characters of Raf, Zara and Hani are unusual and complex, all more than a little screwed up although Raf's fox stole the book rather for me. Drawn through the main story are threads of Raf's past which add to the sense of reality, give the character depth and help the reader connect with this unusual lead. The murder mystery is suitably complex and interesting, the rest of the characters and the city itself are completely immersive.

The story itself follows Raf trying to protect Hani and find out who murdered his aunt and why. There are added mysteries here, why Raf was contacted in the first place and who he really is. Zara has returned from a couple of years in America to deal with an arranged marraige that doesn't sit well with her independant nature and Hani has had an odd upbringing and has developed her own rebellious streak.

Pashazade feels effortlessly vivid and is deeply immersive, there is a joyous dark humour and the balance of action with character development is perfect to keep you entranced on both counts. Excellent story, wonderful characters, brilliant writing, happy me.