The Dragon Waiting

Dragons and Vampires at Bosworth

Although I am not drawn particularly to fantasy/magic novels, I decided to give this one a try because I am a Ricardian and this is also a work of historical fiction that contains an alternate version of Richard III’s fate. . Unfortunately, Richard doesn’t appear until almost half way through the book and it was hard slogging for me until then and even after.

The first part establishes the world in which the action takes place—the late 15th Century in which Christianity never has never taken hold. (A bunch of savage Nazarenes are encountered in Scotland, and a Welsh healer woman also appears). It is a world where the Byzantine Empire still dominates in part and a world of paganism, witchcraft and wizardry.

The principal character are the Welsh wizard Hywel Peredur; Dimitrius (Dimi) Ducas , who becomes a mercenary after his father, a Byzantine governor of Gaul is assassinated; and, Cynthia Ricci, a doctor serving Lorenzo the Magnificent who is forced to flee when her patron is poisoned.

These three character meet up and along with the Gregory von Bayern—an artillerist and vampire—and join the fight against the Byzantine Empire which seeks to take over England. They help Richard of Gloucester, later Richard III, who shares the Mithraism religion with Dimi who joins in his service. This coterie help Richard defeat the Byzantine forces and Henry Tydder.

What I liked was Richard’s depiction, sometimes angry and impulsive but, as described by his mother, the most constant of her sons. However, he pales in comparison to Anthony Woodville, who has the reputation of being a great poet and warrior. Their relationship adds an intriguing element to the story, for Woodville killed Richard’s best friend, Francis Lovell, during a tournament . Richard and Francis were like the twin brothers Balin and Balan, and like twins Francis was riding in the tilt using Richard’s shield and crest. Was this killing accidentally on purpose? Francis’s death marks Anthony as well as Richard. It is not a coincidence that Dimi (whom Richard call his brother -they are both adherents to Mithraism) steps in front of Richard to save him from Tydder—nor that Anthony kills Tydder, saving both their lives. What I didn’t enjoy was the opaque storytelling during 75% of the book. Many times I had the same feeling get when I start watching a movie 15 minutes after it had begun. I could eventually figure out what was going on but I didn’t care.

The character development was okay, but Hywel and Cynthia remain enigmatic— purposefully so, probably. The relationships are told with oh so much subtlety.

As I said can take some magic in the stories, but it, particularly the vampirism just got to be too much for me in the end. John Morton as an evil wizard who comes to a horrible end—right on! Dr. Argentine a vampire who turns the princes in the tower into little blood suckers? Gregory disposing of the princes by sucking out their life blood. (Hey,Edward was terminally ill anyway.) Actually, it was pretty funny when the princes greeted Gregory and James Tyrell by jumping up and down and eagerly asking if they had brought them some blood.

I surprised myself that I ended up not hating the book, even though about halfway I was about to give up on it. In fact, I quite liked the latter part—the battle of Bosworth was the best part. It was a change of pace from the run-of-the-mill Richardian fiction I’ve been reading. Just not exactly my cup of tea, but I am glad I read it.