The Baker’s Boy by J. V. Jones
At vast Castle Harvell, where King Lesketh lies dying, two fates collide.
In her regal suite, young Melliandra, the daughter of an influential lord, rebels against her forced betrothal to the sinister Prince Kylock. In the kitchens, an apprentice named Jack is terrified by his sudden, uncontrolled power to work miracles. Together they flee the castle, stalked by a sorcer who has connived for decades to control the crown, committing supernatural murder to advance his schemes.
Meanwhile, a young knight begins a quest leaving behind his home and family to seek out the treacherous Isle of Larn, where lies a clue to his desperate search for the truth.
And a wondrous epic of darkness and beauty begins.
Summaries for books two and three are below the review, and may contain spoilers for book one.1
The Book of Words trilogy is an underrated gem of 90’s epic fantasy and one of the best examples of a series with great intrigue and devious schemes that turn cities into kingdoms and kingdoms into an empire that threatens to swallow the world. Consistently brilliant throughout, with well-rounded characters that bring new meaning to the usual two-dimensional fantasy archetypes, I can’t recommend this series enough.
At the core of this story is Baralis, a genius schemer, magician, poisoner, and Lord Chancellor to King Lesketh. Even before the story has gotten underway, he uses his knowledge of poisons and Castle Harvell’s secret tunnels to put his seed in Queen Arinalda, a seed that will spawn to become the heir to the kingdom. The main character is Jack, a young baker’s apprentice (book one’s titular Baker’s Boy) turned fugitive when he unknowingly uses magic to turn back time on a batch of burned loaves. This leads Baralis to hunt him, believing the overwhelming scale of Jack’s magic threatens him and his plans.
With a dead mother’s mysterious origins and a father he never knew, Jack is forced to flee from the Four Kingdoms on a journey for answers. This is until he meets Melliandra (Melli), the daughter of Lord Maybor, the richest noble in the Four Kingdoms, and court rival of Baralis. Having been betrothed to the sadistic Prince Kylock, Melli flees the kingdom and joins Jack on his journey. This makes them both targets of Baralis’ spies, as Baralis’ motivation to marry Kylock to the daughter of the Duke of Bren makes Melli’s survival a threat to his plans as well.
*Spoilers*
In the south, the aspiring knight Tawl is sent by a hermit to find a boy. “A needle in a haystack. Someone who stands out from the rest,” is his only clue. After years of searching with nothing to show for it, he ends up competing in the fighting pits of Bren to drown his shame in ale. Winning his way to becoming the Duke of Bren’s champion, he meets Melli. Captured on her journey with Jack and given to a flesh trader, Melli was sold off to the Duke for his pleasures.
It is then that the King of Harvell dies, and Kylock is made king in his place, marrying the Duke of Bren’s daughter to fund his new empire. Before the Duke’s assassination, Melli comes to love him. The two wed, and Melli is with child before the Duke’s demise, leaving the true male heir in Melli’s womb. Now, her baby is the only threat to Kylock’s reign, justifying his bloody war.
*End Spoilers*
There are many things I love about this series; it’s hard to list them all. Its political intrigue is engaging, and the rivalry between Baralis and Maybor is both intriguing and entertaining as they constantly attempt to backstab one another. The plot is brilliantly foreshadowed and paced throughout, each chapter’s hook shifting with the character’s perspective and unique voice.
One of the biggest highlights of the trilogy is its cast of minor characters: Nabber, a pickpocket loyal to Tawl; the cunning bishop Tavalisk, obsessed with food; Bodger and Grift, two gossiping guards full of sexual rumors and quack remedies who, at times, unknowingly participate in important events. It’s through these onlookers we receive many of the more gripping parts in the story, allowing the reader to see the events and characters from outside perspectives.
Jones spices her prose in a way that sucks you into the narrative. She immerses the reader with powerful descriptions. I have a clear memory of having to forcefully pull my eyes away from the words to draw myself from her world. She uses dialogue and analogies, both dark and funny, often combining them, giving the series a gritty atmosphere set against the conspiracies, deceit, and chaos orchestrated by those in power. The ripples of these actions spread to the downtrodden characters like Jack, and his actions reveal how even seemingly small players can have a large impact on grand events. With many significant and complex moments of magic and emotional turmoil, this series earns a place in my favorites as a trilogy timeless enough to deserve far more attention than it receives.
I would recommend this trilogy to anyone who likes consistent quality in a series’ writing and pacing, political intrigue and maniacal scheming, a grounded tone with low magic, or just anyone looking to lose themselves in a very immersive world with colorful characters. I first read this in high school, so it holds a special place in my heart, but when I read it again as an adult, I enjoyed it just as much.
- Summaries for books two and three. These summaries may contain spoilers for book one. ↩︎
A Man Betrayed by J. V. Jones
At Castle Harvell demented Prince Kylock grabs the reins of power and hate by murdering his father. Harvell’s two young refugees are torn apart by the storms of war:
Headstrong young Melliandra is captured by brutal slavers and Jack, whose wild power works miracles, falls prey to a smuggler’s lying charms and a woman’s seductive schemes. Meanwhile, in the distant stronghold of Bren, Kylock’s betrothed, beautiful, mad Catherine, dabbles with darkest sorceries.
A knight’s shattered destiny is about to lead from death-sport pits to the blood-strewn creation of an empire—and a wondrous epic of grandeur and magic continues.
Master and Fool by J. V. Jones
The Known Lands are teetering on the brink of war.
Desperate to avert worldwide catastrophe, Jack, the baker’s boy, must learn to harness the full strength of his magic to face his ultimate destiny—a final confrontation with the murderously evil Kylock.
