Odalisque: Book One of the Percheron Saga

by Fiona McIntosh

Book Overview

Captured by slave traders in the inhospitable desert, Lazar fought his way to freedom, earning the coveted position of Spur of Percheron. Charged with protecting his adopted city from enemies on both sides of its walls, he has led a charmed life as confidant to and protector of Zar Joreb for many years. But now Joreb is dead. . . . Though Joreb's well-intentioned fifteen-year-old heir, Boaz, will take the title of Zar, the balance of power lies in...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0060899050
• ISBN13: 9780060899059
• Release Date: March 2007
• Publisher: Harper Voyager
• Length: 463 Pages
• Weight: 0.80 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 5.3" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

Reminds Me of Carol Berg or Anne Bishop

I was very surprised that this book was not rated higher than three stars. There is alot going on plot wise and without giving anything away I must say that this book reminded me of Carol Berg's Rai Kirah series or Anne Bishop's Black Jewels writing. I have enjoyed Fiona's Quickening series and Royal Exile too. This book will appeal to anyone who enjoys their fantasy on the dark side. I think fans of Joe Abercrombie's First Law series will enjoy this book too.

great fiction

One of Fiona's best. Each new release seems better than the last one she wrote. She continues to amaze me as her skill improves each time. I defy anyone to not enjoy this book.

pseudo-Arabian Fantasy

It's a book that's hard to define. Set in a place that is almost Constantinople, a Constantinople of imagination. The story starts with the death of the ruler, called the Zar, and the aftereffects of that death. With the ascention of Boaz to the throne, he's underage and there is a lot of scheming and jostling for power. Many of the powerbrokers are old and have had the power they have for a long time, and know that they could influence the new Zar. The Zar has allies, Pez, his late father's jester, a seemingly mad dwarf; Spur Lazar, head of the security and Ana, one of the new recruits for his harem, but they too have secrets. It does contain some disturbing scenes and although occasionally the story lags I did enjoy it. At first I was looking to see if it really was fantasy or just an alternate world story but there is magic here, it's fairly subtle but it's there. The battle between the Goddess and the God embodied in their two servants is also interesting. This book does suffer from being the first in a series, in order to set up things it has to keep some questions unanswered but I enjoyed the read and look forward to the next one.

A fantastic take on a culture and community reminiscent of Constantinople

Let it never be said that Fiona McIntosh is not daring. Having established herself quite firmly with the solid work of the Quickening Trilogy, involving readers in more tried-and-true fantasy climes with castles and familiar settings, this time she takes a gamble. Rather than hold steady and go through the motions, she plots a new course and opens up an array of excitement and intrigue in Percheron, her fantastic take on a culture and community reminiscent of Constantinople. Lazar, when we meet him, is a slave, brought for trade to the city. The law of the Zar dictates that a slave may fight for his freedom against a professional soldier. Zar Joreb is witness to the fight, amazed that this slave could best a dozen men, refusing to kill them as is customary. Joreb makes Lazar his Spur, protector of the Zar and of the city, from both without and within. When Joreb dies, one of his many wives, Herezah, seeks to place her son, Boaz, upon the throne. To do so, she must eliminate the other children, for they could be potential assassins and enemies of the Zar. Her intentions are purely personal, seeking the power that comes with being the mother of the Zar and thus enabling her to bend the will of the world to her whims. Lazar does not trust her and is bound to Boaz through more than just title. Boaz, only 15, trusts and respects Lazar. His only other friend is the mysterious and troublesome jester, a twisted dwarf by the name of Pez. They fear for the young Zar because those who would seek him the most harm are actually the ones who are the closest to him, and Lazar may not be capable of protecting him from all angles. It is more worrisome when Herezah sends Lazar away to seek odalisques for the new Zar, separating the young man from his protector and leaving only the mad dwarf to aid him. Yet even more powerful machinations are at play, and powers greater than could have been imagined begin to awaken and put their pawns into play. All of Percheron hangs in the balance. As in her previous works, McIntosh has a deft way with a story; she rushes you along, never slowing for you to become bored but never too fast for you to struggle to keep up. The details of the various plots and schemes web across one another, and intensity builds until the very end when you are left waiting for the follow-up title that will answer your questions and no doubt open up greater pitfalls. The characters in ODALISQUE are exquisite and interesting. The beauty of them is their mystery, for they all seem to hold secrets that we never really know up front. It is as if you are meeting them and have to learn about them over time. Lazar is nearly superhuman in his warrior abilities, but something lies within him that needs to be learned. Pez, for all of his peculiarities, is far more than he appears. In fact, he may be more than even he realizes. Herezah and her minions are simply foul individuals but are so nicely drawn that they have their own allure. Percheron itself is

fascinating political fantasy

When Joreb, the Zar of Percheron, dies his fifteen years old son Boaz succeeds him as the ruler. However, he is not fully ready to take over form his late father. Instead he becomes the center of a power struggle between his mother Herezah now the Valide; the Vizier Tariq; and the Grand Master of the Eunuchs Salmeo. Few care about Boaz except to manipulate him to gain personal power. Former foreign slave turned security chief Lazar the Spur worries about his new boss. He distrusts those who insist they want to strengthen the Zar's powerbase especially Boaz's ambitious cruel mother, who Lazar is not sure whether she either desires him or sees him as an expendable pawn to increase her power through embellishing that of her offspring. He knows he wants her, but refuses to act on his feelings as Boaz must come first. Also concerned over the new Zar's safety is Ana the Odalisque purchased at the slave market by Lazar as Boaz's first harem entrant. No one supporting the lad or those using him realize he also has goals and ambitions, but soon all will confront one another in the beginning of a power struggle to rule Percheron. However, none yet realize the ancient cyclical enmity between the gods Lyana and Maliz has been renewed with the latter taking human form and the former sending the Messenger. The first book in the Percheron saga is a fascinating political fantasy in which a complex convoluted power struggle embellished by outside Gods make for a fine vivid (including some horrific scenes) read. Interestingly the ambitious protagonists like Boaz's mom are the more fascinating characters though those like Ana and Lazar are full dimensional. The two battling Gods add intrigue to the mix, but that also changes the tale from a medieval political power struggle into a fantasy that allows a climax to this tale and also sets up further escapades. Harriet Klausner