Rating: 
Summary: Not bad, not bad...
Review: Mark E. Rogers, Jagutai and Lilitu (Infinitypublishing.com, 2001)
I knew it had to happen sometime-- Christian high-fantasy porn. And I dreaded that day. But that day is here, and I doubt it's going away any time soon. I wasn't really aware of it when I started Jagutai and Lilitu, but it (the high-fantasy porn bit, at least) became obvious quite early on. The Christian bit pops in later, but I'm getting ahead of myself.
Jagutai and Lilitu begins where the first book in the series, Blood and Pearls, left off. (Full disclosure: I haven't read Blood and Pearls.) Jagutai has fled Khymir, disgusted with the city. Zancharthus has overthrown the rule of the previous despot, Dessicatorius, and ascended to the position himself, while also priming himself to become the high priest of Tchernobog, the subject of one of the city's death cults. Zancharthus, however, doesn't believe Tchernobog exists, and intends to use his power to destroy the cult as part of his efforts to reform the city. Zancharthus sends, again, for Jagutai, who doesn't want to go back. The problem is, he's an ascetic who's fascinated with a temple prostitute, Lilitu, from a rival death cult, that of Tsa Terrathu. Tsa Terrathu's previous high priestess, Torisanna, has left the cult and is now Zancharthus' paramour/wife (depending on how you want to look at it).
And that's all in the first five pages.
After the first couple of chapters, I didn't want to like this book. Not because of the prurience, of which I am always a fan, but because the writing in the first pages is deadly dull. I understand the author has to catch things up for those already involved in the series and introduce all the (many, many) plot threads for those who are coming in fresh. But I decided before I threw it against a wall I'd give it until the promised Possessed Pig Harem mentioned on the back cover. (It's not as funny as it sounds, as the back cover also says.) When I got through that section, which contains a reference to events covered in Book Three of the series, and I found myself knowing I was going to read said Book Three, I knew I was in trouble.
(Now the Christian bit shows up, but I'll leave you to read for yourself. Let's just say the symbolism is not disguised in any way.)
Once the book takes off, it really does take off. It took me a full month to read this, and I finished the last two hundred pages in just over a week. (Yes, the first hundred are that bad.) The first bit reads like a bad Beeline porn novel with not as much sex; the last bit reads like what Moorcock's Gloriana might have, if Moorcock had been drunk, stoned on pain medication, and more of an immoral lecher while writing it. (Gloriana, for those of you who've not read it, is the high point of high-fantasy erotica. Go find a copy and read it. Now.) I think the transition is that it starts taking itself a bit more seriously as a novel, as opposed to a work of Christian high-fantasy porn, and so starts reading like a piece of fiction rather than a piece of genre fiction. Some of the characters are still two-dimensional, but some minor ones get fleshed out to the point where you start caring about them, and the whole Tchernobog thing starts becoming more of a compelling point.
That said, there are still some flaws in the latter part of the book. Most notably, Rogers introduces a whole new plotline about three-quarters of the way through with no indication it is in any way tied to anything that has come before (it is, but in the most tenuous of ways; you'll figure it out in the last few pages). Not necessarily an unforgivable sin when working in a series, but Rogers could take a tip from Moorcock, Robert Parker, or any of the other greats where series fiction is concerned on how to structure such things. (I'm assuming here that the events involved in the plotline will become important in the third book, Night of the Long Knives; depending on to whom you listen, NotLK is either the conclusion to the trilogy or the third in a five-book series. I'll report back after I read it. In any case, if said events don't end up playing a major role, I'm going to drop the rating on this one a star.)
Readable, once you get to the meat of the story, and ends up being quite fun. Just give yourself until the Possessed Pig Harem, and if you're still not convinced, feel free to throw it against the wall. ***
Rating: 
Summary: no, it's even funnier than it sounds
Review: That's one of the cool things about it -- it's wonderfully funny even when it's also entirely disgusting. (pig orgy... you need to get this book just to see the illustration... remember Leia's brass bikini in Star Wars?)But don't worry... there's more than the pigs having sex, so if you enjoyed the steaminess of Blood + Pearls, you'll like this too, and it also continues on just as bloody and gutsy and philosophically. And of course, there's lots of Lilitu, my favourite weaselly troublemaking temptress.
Rating:
Summary: A must read ..., but not for the kiddies
Review: The author hits the mark again in this second book of the Pre-Zorachus trilogy. This book focuses on Jagutai and Lilitu, and how Jagutai is sent back to Khymir by his father, the great Khan. Mark Rogers takes on "forbidden" themes with such gusto, that the reader cannot help being swept along with the prose. My one caveat is that this is not for the under 18 crowd. I especially enjoyed the author's explanations for how magic works in his world. It was a striking blow for women's equality when the pregnant woman in labor protects her husband, defeats the maurauding demons, and delivers a happy, bouncing baby boy. Buy this book today!
Rating:
Summary: A must read ..., but not for the kiddies
Review: The author hits the mark again in this second book of the Pre-Zorachus trilogy. This book focuses on Jagutai and Lilitu, and how Jagutai is sent back to Khymir by his father, the great Khan. Mark Rogers takes on "forbidden" themes with such gusto, that the reader cannot help being swept along with the prose. My one caveat is that this is not for the under 18 crowd. I especially enjoyed the author's explanations for how magic works in his world. It was a striking blow for women's equality when the pregnant woman in labor protects her husband, defeats the maurauding demons, and delivers a happy, bouncing baby boy. Buy this book today!
Rating:
Summary: Snake-women, Wire-jackets, and Porkers from Hell
Review: The second novel in the Zancharthus trilogy is even better than the first. Having deposed the mad Dessicatorius, Mancdaman Zanchartus has become the High Priest of Tchernabog, who he despises. Zanchartus wants to reform the order & Khymir itself. To combat Tchernabog and the forces he commands, Zancharthus begins to teach his consort Torrisanna sorcery and waits for the return of Jagutai whose help he needs. Jagutai is more than a little bothered by Lilitu, Torrisanna's former lover, who has returned to the Temple of Tsa Terrathu. There, with Jagutai's help, she works to defeat Gudrid, the new high priestess. Lilitu is a fascinating character and much of the story is told from her viewpoint. The book is filled with interesting and revolting characters, including one who really loves pigs. As the love story between Jagutai & Lilitu develops, we grow to care about them as well as Zancharthus & Torrisanna. While those of us who have read Roger's earlier book, Zorachus, know how some of the story turns out, there are parts we don't know. This book left me anxiously waiting the conclusion of the series. I can't wait to see what Rogers will do next.
Rating:
Summary: A great new book by Mark E. Rogers
Review: The second novel in the Zancharthus trilogy is even better than the first. Having deposed the mad Dessicatorius, Mancdaman Zanchartus has become the High Priest of Tchernabog, who he despises. Zanchartus wants to reform the order & Khymir itself. To combat Tchernabog and the forces he commands, Zancharthus begins to teach his consort Torrisanna sorcery and waits for the return of Jagutai whose help he needs. Jagutai is more than a little bothered by Lilitu, Torrisanna's former lover, who has returned to the Temple of Tsa Terrathu. There, with Jagutai's help, she works to defeat Gudrid, the new high priestess. Lilitu is a fascinating character and much of the story is told from her viewpoint. The book is filled with interesting and revolting characters, including one who really loves pigs. As the love story between Jagutai & Lilitu develops, we grow to care about them as well as Zancharthus & Torrisanna. While those of us who have read Roger's earlier book, Zorachus, know how some of the story turns out, there are parts we don't know. This book left me anxiously waiting the conclusion of the series. I can't wait to see what Rogers will do next.
Rating:
Summary: Fast Paced and Engaging
Review: Tons of sex and violence, wit, very well fleshed out characters, and a completely engaging story, this is my personal favorite of the Zancharthus trilogy. The scene at Froct's mansion alone is worth the price of the book!
Rating:
Summary: Snake-women, Wire-jackets, and Porkers from Hell
Review: Where to start? Maybe we should try to find out what drugs this guy's on...this sequel to Blood and Pearls is a very trippy book. The monsters alone are worth the cover price, but then there's the action, the philosophy, and all the sex. Not to mention well-defined characters and very black humor. The city of Khymir is definitely the worst place ever, and Mr.Rogers (no, not the kiddy host) conducts the tour with awesome gusto. Can't wait for part three, The Night of the Long Knives!
Rating:
Summary: Mark Does It Again!!!
Review: Yippee!!! Mark does it again. J&L is another triumph for Mr. Rogers(Hehehe). It continues the story line of Mancdaman Zancharthus, High Priest of Terchnobog, that was started in Blood+Pearls. Full of sex, drugs, and rock 'n roll (okay, substitute magic for rnr). Any free spirit will love this book. It could, in fact, concevebly change you political views
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