The Black Chalice

Rating:
Summary: It's a rant, but it's good anyway.
Review: First of all, if you were offended by the anti-Christian sentiments expressed in _The Mists of Avalon_, read no further. In that book, there was some balance--there were sympathetic and unsympathetic characters in both the Christian and pagan camps. In _The Black Chalice_, there are only a few likable characters, and they're all either pagan or nonreligious.

However, if you can accept that the Christian church committed some atrocities in its past, this is a pretty good book. Set in a sort-of-fictionalized medieval Germany, this is a blistering historical novel exposing the corruption that fueled the Inquisition and the excesses of the Crusades. Our hero is Karelian, who gained fame in the fight for Jerusalem, but lost his faith when faced with human cruelty. He is entreated by a powerful pagan priestess, the half-faery Raven who dwells in an Otherworldly castle deep in the forest, to help her battle an ambitious duke who would be king. At first Karelian is swayed by lust, but as time goes by, he finds meaning in the pagan beliefs and in his deepening love for Raven. As all his former allies become convinced that he is "fallen" and "evil", Karelian gets the chance to be a true hero--even if it means being remembered as a Satanist sorcerer.

His adversary, Duke Gottfried, believes himself to be the direct blood descendant of Jesus, and has charisma, popularity, and a strange magical relic on his side. Karelian also must contend with Paul, Karelian's own squire, who believes in Gottfried's claims.

Much of the story is told by Paul, remembering it all as he spends his last years in a monastery. Paul is a interesting if utterly contemptible character; we can sort of understand where he's coming from even as we want to throttle him. Paul is basically a product of his times. He is sexist, anti-pagan, disgusted by anything unfamiliar. In particular, he abhors sex--mainly because his own proclivities, he has been told, are the lowest of abominations. Driven by his cultural upbringing, by frustrated love, and by religious fervor, Paul has to make a difficult decision in this conflict, and the results are shocking. I thought I knew exactly how this story would end, and I still gaped as I read the final few chapters.

Besides _The Mists of Avalon_, I would compare it to two more recent reads, Carey's _Kushiel's Dart_ and Marillier's Sevenwaters books. The settings are different, but they are all epic historical fantasies full of bloody wars, sensuality, and religious conflict. Recommended if you like that sort of thing.

Rating:
Summary: Beautifully Told Tale of Betrayal, Love & Self-Deception
Review: From time to time fantasy produces a book that is special, thatstands apart from other work, both in terms of its writing and itsstory: The Black Chalice is such a book. Lyrically told, with historical elements woven from medieval Germany and the First Crusade, at times this book echoes the works of Guy Gavriel Kay, while yet existing well apart and above even his best. And---I shudder to say this---not since Tolkien have I seen tales of folklore told with such power and grace. Magic abounds here, but it does not take the shape of fireballs or enchanted swords, but instead actually lives, as vibrant as the forests in which it dwells, and as inseparable from the world as the trees, the air, the birds, or the people that populate it. When the author can make a world actually breathe and assemble before one's eyes without clouting the reader over the head to obtain their recognition, I consider it no mean accomplishment.

This is a tale of betrayal, love both commonplace and forbidden, redemption and damnation, belief and self-deception. Marie Jakober captures the brutality of the early 12th century, as well as the horror and abjection of being born a woman, while at the same time celebrating the joys of both love and existence, the strength as well as deception awaiting faith and self-affirmation, and the power that lies hidden within love's union, be it human or through earthly existence. And throughout the narrative Jakober's characters weigh and reinvestigate the varied meanings and interpretations of their actions that come to define their lives.

This work is unlike any fantasy I have read before, both for its lyricism as well as the quality of its existential ruminations. While others have attempted to place their fantasies within a historical context, none that I have read have done so as well. Again, echoes exist with the works of Kay, Bradley's "Mists of Avalon," and the folklore of Tolkien, yet this remains essentially an original work. Though many others have attempted to counterpoise Christianity with paganism---Kurtz, Welch and recently Marillier among others---none have done so as successfully, with both systems of belief coexisting credibly if not harmoniously. While this is not a work to read for the continuous clashing of arms and warfare, the struggle is nonetheless hardly lessened by the book's moments of reflection, nor the evolving inner conflict of its characters. What more can I say: it's a marvelous book!

It's unfortunate that at the moment this work is only available through a tiny publisher in Calgary: I fear this may result in many not ever having a chance to read it. I myself would have been unaware of it were it not for the sfsite and their recommendation. While they have not always been reliable, they have nonetheless steered me to two of the most important fantasies I have read during the past two years: this work and "Gardens of the Moon" by Steven Erikson. You may have to expend some effort to obtain this book---I see the wait here is several weeks---and I question whether we'll ever see it in paperback. Nonetheless, it is well worth the expenditure of time and money, and deserving of every accolade. I can't recommend this work more highly. Spread the word...

Rating:
Summary: Freshly written, medeival fantasy set in Germany-AAA+++
Review: I have to tell everyone--this book is one of the best novels I
have EVER read! and that includes "Mists of Avalon"!
"The Black
Chalice" is the tale of a German Monk comissioned by the Pope to
write the true history of a Christian Knight Crusader, who 30 years before became a
heretic in love with a Witch. Only problem is, the truth is not what the Monk or the Church wants
written--but the Witch has enchanted the pen so that it can only write the truth. The
dialogue and the writing style in this novel is so fresh and cutting to the point that I am
reading this book with a highlighter in one hand! I have never highlighted anything in a
NOVEL before! So many good quotes I don't even know where to begin! Here is one of
the first things I highlighted:
"The ultimate vengeance, she reflected, was neither death nor maiming. It was knowledge.
And indeed she should have guessed as much, even from the little she knew of
Christianity. What God saved for his damned, even beyond the torments of fire, was the
agony of truth."--pg. 75 (hardbound EDGE Publishing)
Is that good or what?
By page 5 you are into the plot beyond the endpages and the dustjacket summary. What
an amazing talent this author has! When I am done reading this one I will read it out loud
to my husband(that is one of our bonding activities--we read to each other in bed) and
after that I am not going to loan this out to just anyone--I want to make sure I get it back!
It is a keeper. Two thumbs up.
Ravyn

Rating:
Summary: Rich Tapestry of dark magic, erotic obsession and betrayal!
Review: I was very impressed with this novel! Jakober has written a rich epic of novel of dark pagan magic,sexual obession and betrayal!A aging monk tells a story of when he was squire to a great knight and how that knight was corrupted by wiles of beautiful but evil witch and help start a civil war in early 12th century Germany.As he writes he visited by that witch and she compells him to tell the truth story on what really happened.This novel is gripping saga of one cynical knight who with the help of erotic sorceress stops his duke from stealing crown of Germany.This novel has scenes of eerie magic and sorcery, brutality and betrayal as you see the events through the eyes of his squire, Paul who resents the power the witch has over his master and seeks to betray him.Jakober knows her myths and legends well as she weaves this stunning tapestry.This novel is not only about the battle of the knight Karelian and sorceress called Raven against power-hungry duke Gottfried but it also about the battle between christianity and waning but still potent forces of paganism and magic in the world.Jakober's knows medieval history with it's church politics, shameful treatment of women and cold brutality of it's nobility.I was also impressed with her lyrical prose which gave this novel a gothic feel as she describes in great relish scenes of necromancy as Karelian rides with army of dead knights to do battle, shape-shifting and other eerie sights.My only complaint in this novel was it was too short and I wanted it to be longer!

Rating:
Summary: Belief, betrayal, love, but not enough of characters I liked
Review: It is 1105 in Medieval Germany. Karelian of Lys has just returned from the Crusades with his squire Paul and a retinue of his men. It was a long, horrifying war, but Karelian has earned some land and money and wishes to settle down and raise a family. But, on the way to his wedding, a witch queen magically summons Karelian to her fabled castle in the mountains for the purpose of forging an alliance. She has powers that tell her Karelian's liege lord, the Duke believes he has the right to rule all of Germany and Christendom. He will not only bring war to the country, he will want to eliminate worship of the pagan deities she is devoted to. The Duke's attempt to take the crown of Germany will test loyalties in this novel of belief, magic, betrayal and love. Sorcery is inconsistent with Paul's Christian beliefs and although Karelian wants to live the rest of his life in peace, his love for the witch queen and his own beliefs draw him into the political struggle.

30 years later, Paul is a monk and he has been commanded to put the story to paper. However, the witch queen's enchantment forces his quill to spin the story truthfully, exposing all motivations and events regardless of whether Paul would have described them in a different light. Although Paul is writing the story, there are times where the perspective shifts and segments are narrated by the witch queen or Karelian, and these were welcome breaks from Paul's inner-conflicts. I would have appreciated a more linear chronicle to the flashback storytelling, but the device provides ample opportunity for Paul's self-reflection and ruminations about faith. Unfortunately, there is nothing redeeming about Christianity in this book and the pagan gods provide a contrast. Then there is the magic, which I determined to be a genetic trait, as religion seemed irrelevant to its practice. Although there is little magic at first, it builds in its usage until the magic is openly exercised as the conflict escalates.

There are a lot of great things about this book. This story truly sets a sense of time and place and the characterization was excellent. Although I know the whole book didn't take place in winter, much of the story does, and the overall feeling is cold and bleak due in part to the descriptions of the landscape and also the battles, killing, rape and other violence in the book. The writing was very well done. The part of the book where we meet Karelian's betrothed and learn about her narrow life and the consequences of her actions for a small piece of happiness were so well done, I would have appreciated more about her and her son. I didn't find the story as satisfying as I thought it could be and that is mostly because I wanted less of the irritating Paul and more of Karelian, his wife, his lover and the other characters I liked.

Rating:
Summary: Should have been a pizza, it sure was cheesy.
Review: Jakober puts an actual saint in a fictional world, twists his personality and beliefs to make him quite despicable, and then goes on to attack Christianity. This book was apparently written by Jakober to give credence to her obvious bias against Christians. Even without the blatant and constant attacks and warping of history (if you can call a fictional book historical) it would not have been a good book, but it does show promise for Jakober in the future if she can leave behind her own prejudices.

I think Jakober did a good job of capturing the mindset of the time. It was a dark time and nearly everyone who lived during that time was grasping and self absorbed (Christian, Muslim, Jew, pagan). Her book however is a blatant attack on Christianity and if it had attacked any other religion in a like manner would never have hit the bookshelves. If she really wants to attack Christianity she should do so in a forum other than a fictional book so her ideas can be rebutted. It is easy to be right in a fictional book where you control the actions of all the characters.

She takes the lowest road possible for her attack and makes all the Christian characters horrific people - the "good" Christian is a homosexual, non-believer, and multi-traitor. Of course she gives the pagan heroes a 21st century viewpoint. Naturally, all of the miracles of the Bible were done by magicians using an artifact of another "air" god (not sure why she decided God was an air god considering His healing, resurrections, water walking, fire walking, etc. Air seems to be one of His lesser elements). Even her lesser pagan gods have more power than God in this book. Talk about pure charlantry on Jakober's part.

No one during this time had our 21st century viewpoint. All had blood on their hands, which is conveniently ignored in the book. The difference is that the Christians acknowledge their errors and have tried for a thousand years to understand how Christians could perform the unChristian actions of the Crusades, etc. All other groups and religions of the time have ignored or justified their atrocities, which are very similar to those committed by Christians, and for the most part they have been forgotten.

What is even worse, the author took an actual saint, put him in her fictional world and made him a homosexual, non-believer, and a traitor on numerous occasions. I'm not much on the saints, but it really stinks to take an actual person and have them perform atrocities against their stated beliefs for your own amusement. That's even lower than what I would think Jakober would be capable of, but obviously not.

The whole book is one constant attack against Christianity. Here is one of her many attacks and relates the musing of her "hero" talking to an elf who showed him the light of not believing in Christianity (the elf used to be human btw, don't ask me why/how, it's Jakober's silly book). "'There is no original sin, then,' he murmured. 'No one damned the world, and no one saved it. And Christ wasn't chosen - not for death nor for anything else. All of it could have been different.'"

Rating:
Summary: good book
Review: Rating: 5 stars (out of 5) July 21, 2003

Every now and then you come across a writer whose sytle is so refreshing, that you feel it is like finding a diamond in the sand. Marie Jakober is such a writer. Her writing style is so beautiful that I would pause to read some of the lines a couple times. "[He] abandoned his honor for love and I my love for honor. Which one of us, in the end, will prove to be the greater fool?" One week after I finished reading the novel, I re-read the first sixty pages again, and the second time of reading only made me appreciate the book even more.

This is a historical fantasy: a historical fiction mixed with fantasy. The setting is around the year 1100 in Germany with the Crusade in the background. It was a time when the beliefs of the people were half-christian and half-pagan. It is the story of a knight Karelian, who lost his faith in Jarusalem after returning from the Crusade. The one thing that still holds him together is his loyalty to the duke that he serves. But he must choose between love and loyalty, and what is at stake will turn out to be far greater than he could possibly imagine.

This is a tale of love and betrayal, of deception and loyalty. As I was reading, I kept wondering who was going to betray whom. There are vivid scenes of romance, religious conflicts, political scheming, and magic. Many of the events are told through the narration of Paul, the squire of the knight. Paul is a deeply religious man but underneath that piety, there is a darker side that he is not willing to admit to himself.

I will comment only on two things that make the writing style of this book so outstanding.
(1) The writer is really able to capture the christian-pagan world, where the tradition of the church coexisted with pagan beliefs among the people. Religious conflicts naturally arose from the clash between the church and the pagan beliefs. (2) The complex psychology of the characters is handled very skillfully. Paul is a deeply religious man who also struggles with his darker side. Everything that Paul sees is biaseded by his religious views, while the reader can see the events more objectively. His stubborn refusal to accept the world around him almost reaches the point where he is deluding himself. Thus there are double meanings to many of the events narrated.

With only one main thread for the plot, this is a long novel but the great storytelling easily captures your imagination throughout the book. The writing style is delicious enough to make it worthwhile to read the book even for a second time.

Rating:
Summary: Captivating
Review: This book ended much, much differently than I thought it would when I started it. It is utterly captivating, in the true sense of the word. Jakober draws you in to her characters; they become real. The stories themselves are complex - the way only stories with a ring of truth can be. The plots are intricate, subtle, and maddeningly intoxicating. Once you get started, you don't want to stop.

Jakober is a gifted storyteller, and Edge Science Fiction Fantasy Publishing has produced a stunning book. I saw this book from across the room and knew I had to have it. If you get the chance, get the hardcover copy. This is one of the best-written stories I have read in many, many years.

Rating:
Summary: Great book
Review: This book twists fiction, fantasy and historical fiction together. It takes place in Germany, with a group of men that have just returned from the holy wars to push out the infindels. It takes an honest approach to the destruction the catholic church wrecked on the world and on the lives of men (so I wouldn't recommend it to a person of this faith unless they can accept some critisism of the decisions of some popes). It talks about what means the pope used to put kings in power. The primary focus of this book is good versus evil. The man who falls into paganism versus the man who thinks he is doing God's work, only to find that it is doubtful. This book addresses the lineage of Jesus' brothers and sisters, politics in midevil Germany, and has a truly passionate love story between a man who loves his duke and loves a woman who insists on 100% of his allegence. I don't usually read anything but historical fiction, and I am very glad that I made the exception. It is also a beautifully bound book, that looks great on your shelf.

Rating:
Summary: Interesting, but read it as fantasy
Review: This historical fantasy is set in Germany during the Crusades and is primarily about the struggle between paganism and Christianity. If you read this expecting accurate historical fiction you will be disappointed, as it has many elements of magic and does not really capture the "feel" of the time in a believable way. If the author was trying to create an accurate reproduction, she failed. However, this book is still worth reading. Many of its themes are taken from medieval fiction such as the writings of Wolfram von Eschenbach, and this gives it a fresh, creative feel. Most of all, it is interesting in that much of it is narrated by a monk who utterly despises the actions and morals of the characters with whom the reader sympathizes. Jakober portrays this bitter, repressed man's mentality in a subtle, intelligent way which may leave some readers wondering who the good guys are. The supernatural elements in the book are generally well done and have an interesting folkloric feel, although Jakober's interpretation of the god Odin leaves something to be desired. Overall, not a great work of literature, but an interesting read.