The Rook

I love when I can disappear into worlds created by adept writers. J.K. Rowling did it. Jasper Fforde did it. And now, Daniel O'Malley has done it with his wonderfully engrossing, The Rook.

The story follows a young woman who is a highly ranked official in a VERY secret service sector of the British government. When she isn't tussling with her four-bodied partner, she's engrossed in body-eating fungus, vampires, and a serious case of amnesia. The story opens with a letter: "Dear You, the body you are in is mine. . ." or some such. And the story takes off straightaway. (That word right there seems very British.)

My only complaint is that the letters written from a Myfanwy Thomas pre-amnesia to a Myfanwy Thomas post-amnesia is employed to explain to the reader the world we are now in. In teaching the "new" Rook Thomas, O'Malley is also teaching the reader. I was hyper-aware of that throughout the story, especially when the letters took on scenes, dialog, and read like straight narrative rather than an actual letter. It seemed like the easy way out. Although, it is true that writing a story like this would never really be considered the easy way out. And I am unsure how else it could have been done. This novel was still so much fun, I am truly disappointed that it's over.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story. It was funny at times and fascinating always. I really hope O'Malley intends to write more of this world with our dorky, slowly coming out of her shell, super-powered (did I mention she can control bodily functions of others just by concentrating on them?) Rook Myfanwy Thomas. Crazy name, no? It's Welsh. Obviously. . . with their penchant for consonants.

I would love to see a Myfanwy Thomas, Harry Potter, Thursday Next crossover.