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A Book Review: Maygest’s Tale

Title of the book: Maygest’s Tale

Author: C.E. Cannery

Publisher: Self-published

Publication Date: 21st of March 2020

Genre: Fantasy, High Fantasy

Why I picked up this book:

What? Two reviews in one week, again? Yes – after the author of Maygest’s Tale kindly reached out to me I couldn’t say no. Who amongst us literary fiends would pass up the chance of receiving a free copy in exchange for a fair and honest review. Come on – a show of hands… Exactly! That’s what I thought.

Make no mistake though. I won’t sell my soul for any old free book - you’d have to pay me a decent amount of money to read the Fifty Shades of Grew Series. Honestly don’t get me started.

 No, in addition to the author reaching out to me, the story genuinely seemed interesting. A high fantasy from the perspective of a thieving con artist isn’t exactly new. However, the protagonists in those stories are frequently young, devilishly handsome and have a guided tong. Enter the protagonist of today’s novel. A bitter, ugly, foul-mouthed man. Let’s just say - I was ready for some unexpected twists and turns.

About the author:

C. E. Cannery is an aspiring author, who has written a number of self-published books. Her love of story-telling began in the long car rides from her small town to the closest Wal-mart, where she and her siblings would read their stories to each other. From then her life took her on a different route, but she still loves writing and reading. She now has a master’s degree in Environmental Sciences from University College Dublin.

Synopsis:

Maygest, an arthritic old thief, who has been conning the people of war-torn Osskrip for the last decade, finds his plans for a comfortable happily-ever-after halted as the once-feuding warlords join forces and raze all the thieving towns, together.

With nowhere left to turn to for filling his pockets, Maygest, ever coin-loving, decides to just rob the war camp instead; however, his plans go awry as he discovers not gold, but a child—his own. Suddenly the future matters, and Maygest, along with his son, his adopted daughter, and an old friend, flee desolate Osskrip with the hopes of finding a mythical harp that is said will finally bring peace to the ravaged lands.

The merry group, however, doesn’t suspect that a thing Maygest stole would cause the whole wrath of the Osskrip army to turn against them and pursue them into the far reaches of the world. As time runs out for Maygest, both in his years and with the closeness of that ever rabid troop, he and his group begin to suspect that the mythical harp only exists in Maygest’s head.

Will Maygest’s quest have all been for nothing, after all?

Review of the book:

I’ll come right out and say it – I struggled to place this one. As I said to my partner: ‘This book is either absolutely genius and slightly going over my head – or it’s okay-ish and I am reading far too much into it.’ So please excuse me if this review is all over the place. I simply do not know about this one. 

As much as this is a high fantasy, taking place in a fictional land the story is very much driven by its titular character, Maygest. So it is only fair we start by taking a closer look at him. He’s certainly not our archetype hero. He’s an old, arthritic, grumpy, greedy, superstitious, manipulative little man. Who for all intents and purposes seems more concerned with his self-preservation than just about anything else, for the first parts of the story. His thoughts are erratic. Making connections the reader cannot follow, as Maygest draws from knowledge or memories we are not privy to. This forced me to re-read sentences or even several paragraphs on more than one occasion. Desperately trying to figure out what the blazes was going on. 

When Maygest gets in over his head and sends up a not-so-silent prayer to his gods, the actual plot shifts into gear. These gods, for reasons I truly cannot understand, chose to favour the man. Saving his pockmarked hide on more than one occasion. Snatching him from the literal claws of death, transporting him down magical rivers and bestowing him with powers that know no equal amongst his people. 

Which for me is where the root of my struggles with this book lie. This is where it either gets really clever – or where my imagination gets the better of me, and I’ll tell you why.

We’re all familiar with the wizened old wizard, the all-powerful, the all-knowing. The Merlins, Gandalfs and Dumbledores of this world. Taking this trope, and flipping it entirely on its head, casting Maygest the con-artist as the stuff of legends, is inspired. To have this ageing man, who stumbles his way through life, barely scraping by. Who is guided by the unseen hands of his gods, without having any powers of his own? Who gets preceded by his reputation until all who gaze upon him, become convinced of his omnipotence. That would be the ultimate long con. 

The thing is – I want that to be the case! Yet there is not enough in the book to suggest this is what the author intended. There may be a vague suggestion here and there, but not enough to firmly shape this idea. Which is why I can’t help but wonder – am I making this up? Are there holes in the plot, inconsistencies in the story that my brain is so desperate to fill that I can help but make up my own version of the truth? 

I don’t know, I honestly don’t know!

Its characters are interesting for certain – but superficial at times and some get carelessly tossed aside. The story may have deeper layers and hidden meanings, but the reader can only guess at those as they never see the light of day. The gods – a crucial part of the plot, get little more mention than a name, places they choose to roam and instruments they favour. The story is too much and not enough all at the same time – it’s mind-boggling!

I will say that the author has published several books in this same universe. Introducing more back-story to some of the side characters. Perhaps, if I had read those first – or even if I had read those after Maygest’s tale, it would have all made more sense. In the end, though, the stand-alone book has left me with more questions than answers. 

What are your thoughts? Have I just completely lost the plot with this one? No hard feelings if you think so because I am very much inclined to agree. That or there were just some plot holes that made me skip a gear. Either way, let me know in the comment section below and, until then - just one more page!

This review has also been posted to Goodreads and Amazon.