Barth Anderson

Hace años Jeremiah Rosemont dejó atrás las amargas rivalidades del mundo académico. Ahora vive una existencia sencilla e itinerante en Centroamérica. Pero no puede dejar atrás su pasado... ni la peligrosa verdad que se esconde tras el abandono de sus estudios. Siguiendo una enigmática invitación a Roma, Rosemont se encuentra en el centro de un misterio que se remonta hasta la caída de Troya, la búsqueda de un tesoro místico por el que muchos están dispuestos a sacrificar su fortuna y su vida: la primera baraja de tarot conocida. A medida que Rosemont profundiza en los orígenes del tarot, su destino se entrelaza con el del Rey Niño, un indigente dotado de un don inenarrable... y de un pasado misterioso. Para estos dos hombres, las cartas lo revelarán todo.… (mehr)

I have to admit I was a little overwhelmed with this book initially. There is a lot to take in, and the author jumps right into it, so I was scrambling a bit to wrap my head around everything that was going on. Mexico is a new super power, and Mexico City (now called Ascension) is the most populous city on the planet. They are a technological marvel, and all their citizens are connected through brain implantations (called wetware) that functions as a pseudo-mental wifi. There is a political power struggle between to religious faction; The Holy Renaissance who are very similar to Catholics, and a rogue religious group led by Sister Domenica, the Patron Saint of Plagues.

Oh, and then there is the disease outbreak, of course. An American named Stark is tasked with combating an extreme Dengue outbreak that is spreading and killing so quickly that it simply can NOT be a natural outbreak. Unfortunately for him, solving this mystery isn't easy when he's caught between 2 bickering factions in a country where he wouldn't be welcome in the first place.

The characters seemed a little inconsistent, and Stark has this way of speaking that is grating and totally obnoxious. Note to future novelists: Don't make your main character grating and obnoxious. The plot also seemed a bit too far-reaching, which kind of killed the mystery aspect of the novel for me. It just didn't quite hook me, and during the big reveal I was mostly just nodding and thinking "well, alright then..." Which pretty much sums up how I feel about the novel as a whole.… (mehr)

I really liked this book - I would cheerfully give it 4 stars from my own perspective, but following it can be a bit tricky. And explanations would be useful - not lots, but some terms and phrases should be in a glossary or footnoted (I had a similar issue with all the Spanish in Patron Saint of Plagues, but tarot/magic knowledge is less widely known.) But then again, it's a book about a magician (of sorts) so go in expecting some tricks and sleight of hand.
Part of the confusion lies in that the story you see first isn't really connected to what happens next. First we are introduced to Jeremaih Rosemont, an art historian who took himself out of the mainstream, away from tenure and the pursuit of his career. He winds up in Nicaragua, and displays some unusual abilities to influence people, abilities and decisions he doesn't fully understand himself. In true conspiracy cannon, he is given an envelope with a ticket to Rome by a man outside the locked gates of his hostel, addressed to him, though no one would know where he is, etc. Naturally, he goes to Rome.
We are introduced then to Boy King, a tramp/homeless man in Minneapolis with a talent for reading tarot cards. He is being pursued by an unknown agent, possibly to do with the clashings of two ancient cults who strive for legitimacy/authenticity.
It's a wild ride, and well written, but is a book you have to approach with no preconcieved notions of how the story unfolds. Ancient mythology, magic, tarot and academia all rolled into one mad package.… (mehr)