Review by Frank Plowright

Patrick Mallet begins his sword and sorcery epic with two leaps through time. The opening shows giants from Thule abandoning Scotland to the Picts, who they see as good guardians of a site preventing horrors known as the Hrudinea or Shadows of Thule from invading the Earth. Several hundred years later a Roman baby is raised by the Picts as one of their own, which follows manipulation by a witch, Ithome. Another jump forward of nineteen years has the Romans pressing ever north into Scotland, with Ithome exerting undue influence over their commander, and as the Romans advance the Gaels are pushed into Pictish territory.

Around a third of the book is spent explaining the complicated relationships between the peoples of Scotland, their magic, the Roman threat, what Ithome is plotting and the loyalties of the now nineteen year old Fergan. Mallet has chosen the depth of historical complexity representing the reality of the times for its richness, and added a supernatural threat. He also toys with the conventions of fiction and audience expectations by providing a good reason for the title not being Fergan the Pict. Humanoids combine two French volumes for the English translation, and as the first concludes things look bleak as possessed horrors begin to walk the land.

The clash of cultures and worlds is delivered in exceptional detail by Lionel Marty who supplies stunning scenery. His people aren’t the conventionally attractive types usually populating historical fiction, but battered brutes whose faces bear the results of the hard lives they lead. There’s a looseness about the art, which shines when people are running or during brutal battle scenes, but occasionally lapses in strangely posed figures during quieter moments. The Hrudienea are slimy, black Lovecraftian horrors given a repulsive, shuddering quality by Marty.

Mallet is true to the ancient Scottish cultures he uses by featuring several strong women, considered equals, and exploits many of the same legends used by Pat Mills over the years in Slaine, but there are more than enough stories to share around. He takes from Norse legends also, in raising a heroic crew who take one last desperate stand to protect humanity from being wiped out.

The Shadows of Thule is stirringly unsentimental sword and sorcery supplying several surprises and an enlightening interview with both creators rounds off this unpredictable treat.