Review: Mongrel

Title: Mongrel
Author: K.Z. Snow
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Publication Date: 8 December 2010
Reviewed Format: ebook
Length: 202 pages

Rating: 5 out of 5

Blurb:
Hunzinger's Mechanical Circus, a rollicking seaside carnival where imagination meets machinery, shines as the only bright spot in the dreary city of Purinton. A shadow is cast there one day when a tall, cloaked figure approaches the stand of Will Marchman, a young patent-medicine salesman. Fanule Perfidor, commonly known as the Dog King, isn't welcome at the Circus. No resident of Taintwell is; they're all Branded Mongrels, officially shunned. But Will is beguiled by the stunning, mysterious Perfidor. Their mutual wariness soon gives way to desire, and a bond forms.

Soon the naive but plucky pitchman becomes embroiled in a dangerous quest. Fanule suspects Alphonse Hunzinger and Purinton's civic leaders are responsible for the disappearance or incarceration of countless Branded Mongrels. But why? As Will's passion and regard for his tormented lover grow, he's determined to help Fanule get answers and prevent any further persecution... or worse. They just have to stay together—and stay alive long enough—to see their plan through.

Review:

Main Characters:
Will is a young man with no one in the world. After the death of his parents, he was raised by his uncle, a patent-medicine salesman. Upon his uncle's death, he took over the business and found a place at Hunzinger's Mechanical Circus, where he sells the Dr. Bolt's Bloodroot Elixir that the circus's owner endorses. He's also a twor--a man who prefers the company of other men. Although he lacks experience, he's not without gumption, and once he's set on a path he doesn't hesitate. He's a refreshing character, with an appealing blend of naïveté and determination.

Fanule--Fan--is the Eminence of Taintwell, leader of the village in which mongrels--people who are part human and part... other--live. He tends toward arrogance, though it's not unfounded, and making his own rules. He's determined to help his people despite frequently being unable to help himself, as he suffers from a debilitating mental illness that leaves him reliant on a powdered treatment to maintain an even keel. He also has a vulnerable side that comes out primarily around Will, with a tenderness that comes initially as quite a surprise.

Chemistry:
The first time Will and Fan meet sparks intrigue in both--Will has never before met a mongrel, and Fan is perfectly willing to nurture his initial attraction. The second time they meet is explosive, with conversation turning quickly into kisses that lead to a hotel room and eager lovemaking. From there it's easy--perhaps a bit too easy, but only a bit--for them to fall from lust to love. They're a touching couple, balancing each other well and giving each other something to cling to.

Secondary Characters:
I loved many of the secondary characters, Lizabetta and Clancy Marrowbone in particular. Although I was initially prepared to dislike him, I also came to like Simon, particularly once it became apparent that the other shoe I was waiting to drop wasn't going to. My only real complaint with characters is that the motivations of the antagonists was never really revealed; what they did was apparent, but I never came to understand the why of it.

Story:
The story follows Fan and Will as they unravel the mystery behind mongrel arrests and disappearances, and how they're linked to Hunzinger's Mechanical Circus. It's unwrapped a bit at a time in perfect little chunks, woven well into the growing relationship between Fan and Will. It never lagged for me, moving along in a smooth flow from beginning to end. I could've done with a little bit more world-building--we learn very little of the city of Purinton and the village of Taintwell, and nothing of areas outside--but what there was was certainly enough to set the scene.

Writing:
The writing was an absolute delight, lush and evocative, and reading it felt sometimes as hedonistic as sinking into a milk bath sprinkled with rose petals. Will and Fan each had their voice represented, and each had a tone that made it easy to distinguish to whom the current point of view belonged.

Other Thoughts:
This is one of the first times I've seen bipolar disorder depicted in the genre, and I was thrilled to find it extremely well done. Fan is rapid-cycling, very nearly ultradian rapid-cycling, which in his case makes the slide from mania to depression and back again frequent enough to be almost crippling. I also loved Will's reaction to it; knowing when to soothe and when to leave him alone was the perfect response.

Overall:
Distinct characters and an engaging story are only bolstered by smooth writing and an intriguing, if not quite fully-fleshed, world. Reading it was a pleasure, one that I look forward to experiencing again.