Book Review: Betrayal in the Highlands by Robert Evert

Betrayal in the Highlands by Robert Evert

Genre: Fantasy, Adventure
Series: Riddle in Stone #2
Publisher: Diversion Books
Publication Date: September 2013

...if there’s one fantastic thing about Evert’s atypical hero, its been Edmund’s journey from middle-aged, stuttering, self-doubting librarian to middle-aged, stuttering, one-eyed survivor...

3 of 5 stars

With goblins hot on their heels after escaping the Under King’s clutches, Edmund, his loyal friend Pond and the unruly puppy named Becky try to maintain their tenuous hold on freedom, only to come face-to-face with the troll Edmund met when he’d started his ill-fated search for Iliandor’s treasure. But if there’s one fantastic thing about Evert’s atypical hero, its been Edmund’s journey from middle-aged, stuttering, self-doubting librarian to middle-aged, stuttering, one-eyed survivor who’ll risk his life to keep even a troll from standing in his way or hurting those he cares about.

With the wealth Edmund and Pond abscond with after defeating the troll, they are able to find temporary lodgings as noble adventurers to the south. Not long after their arrival, a mysterious letter warns of great peril and soon, Edmund learns that Norb, now married to the love of Edmund’s life, has been spilling Edmund’s secrets back in the Highlands. One of those secrets is the fact that Edmund is a magic user, a group that continues to be persecuted.

Edmund, joined by a couple more companions, must make his way back to Rood to stop Norb, avoiding goblins and a deadly new enemy who wants the secret of the riddle in stone along the way.

The best part about the previous book, Riddle in Stone, was the goblins and Edmund’s struggles while in captivity. He had to learn to rely on his wits and his meager magical spells and he had to learn to make some very difficult life and death decisions without anyone but himself to rescue him.

Betrayal in the Highlands spends most of its time with Edmund hoping for a quiet life and deliberating this with his inner voice and with his companions. Unfortunately, for a book about adventurers, there is far too much time spent talking instead of adventuring.

Still, there is an excellent story hidden away in there if some of the conversations could be cut down. When we finally get to the meat of the story, we also get back to Edmund’s continued character development as he grows from survivor into leader and hero, leading into a third book that promises a lot more goblin time. And I do so love Evert’s goblins…

With thanks to NetGalley and Diversion Books for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

New Author Spotlight: Robert Evert

By day, Robert Evert wields the mighty forces of education as a university professor. Outside of the classroom, he's busy spending time with his wife, two sons, his pets and his imaginary friends. Oh and neurotically writing, of course! His first novel is Riddle in Stone, a book I recently enjoyed, and Robert is in the spotlight for our new blog feature!

What are your favourite books and how have they influenced your writing?
Well, Tolkien gave me a love of reading and fantasy! He really changed my life. Not just in terms of writing, but emotionally as well. I was a very lonely and shy kid growing up. In high school, I found a group of friends who also loved his work. We still interact with today.

In terms of books that influenced my writing, I have to say that Stephen King’s On Writing really helped the most. I honestly couldn’t have gotten published without reading it over and over again.

If there’s anybody out there who wants to become published, I recommend that they get King’s book!!

What authors have inspired you? 
Tolkien far more than anybody else. Tolkien’s Middle Earth is so rich, it’s as if you can go there and walk around. You can smell the pipe smoke in the Prancing Pony and feel the sun on your face as you drift along the Anduin. It really is magical. I wish that I could write that well!

Describe your writing process. How do you handle writer’s block and other challenges?
You know, I really don’t get writer’s block. Knock on wood! I think the reason is that I don’t see myself as “writing.” I see myself as “recording.” The characters all belong to themselves. I just sit there and write down what they do and say. That keeps the pressure to perform to a minimum. I have no clue what is going to happen or who is going to pop in. I just keep typing.

In fact, my novel, Riddle in Stone, wasn’t going to be a novel. It was just a fun writing activity. Every day, I wrote for fifteen minutes or so about this odd guy named Edmund. I had no idea who he was or what he wanted. I just let him walk out of his front door and things happened to him.

To me, that’s the process. You have a group of characters and you just let them do what it is they need to do. I don’t try to make them create a story for me. I don’t have an ending in mind. I just watch and record. It’s amazing how many times they surprise even me! Boy! I probably sound insane, don’t I?

What are your future writing plans?
Well, if Riddle in Stone sells well enough, I want to keep writing about my main character—Edmund. My publisher (Diversion Books) has asked for a second book, Betrayal in the Highlands, and says it’ll be released in August. Fingers crossed!!

Riddle in Stone by Robert Evert

Riddle in Stone by Robert Evert

Riddle in Stone popped up on my radar and the blurb interested me enough to add it to my to-read pile. A polite message from the author inspired me to push it right to the top of the list and I’m glad I did.

The book promises and quickly delivers on its atypical hero, Edmund, an overweight, middle-aged stuttering librarian who wishes for adventure but clearly isn’t fit for it. Yet, when an opportunity presents itself, Edmund pulls up his breeches and steps out into the world. This impressed me because it was the first indication that Riddle in Stone was going to do its best to avoid the fantasy tropes so many story tellers rely on. Rather than the hapless atypical hero stumbling upon or being dragged into a quest to save the kingdom and the girl of his dreams, Edmund reads the king’s proclamation and decides that he, with his vast knowledge, is the right person for the job.

Not that Edmund doesn’t have self-doubt. I enjoyed the way his inner monologue argued with itself over every decision. This process could have been dragged out tediously, but Evert did a good job of writing the equivalent of the devil and angel on the shoulder in a pithy and interesting manner. I liked the way that, as with the initial decision to leave the town of Rood, Edmund’s determination and survival instincts usually wins out over his doubts and keeps the story moving forward.

Unfortunately for Edmund, he doesn’t get far on his quest before being captured by goblins. A good two thirds of the book is then spent with him dealing with their torture and trying to escape, all while trying or not trying to solve the riddle carved into the wall of a tower. He meets a few people and a loyal dog along his journey, but ultimately, Edmund is forced to rely on himself to survive and to help those he chooses to. There is no wise old guide to rescue him. No blue fairy to wish on. Just Edmund and his wits and determination and a few basic spells. I loved the way Edmund remained true to this, as well as the way he remained noble, but not stupidly so in his dealings with the other prisoners in the goblin mines. How often have I yelled at characters for making impractical decisions for the sake of nobility. Sometimes, the right thing to do just isn't, and I loved that Edmund recognizes that, even if it does hurt him to do so.

I also liked the way the book mercilessly reveals the consequences of Edmund’s desire to go off on a big adventure. It also calls into question the histories we are told by the winners of the battle, versus the reality.

Looking at the page numbers, I suspected that the book would be a bit longer than it needed to be, and found the last part, when Edmund seeks the help of the king, to drag a bit, but it was soon back on track.

Overall, a well-thought out beginning to an epic fantasy story, featuring a fairly unique character that I look forward to adventuring further with.

3.5 of 5 stars