Death and Mr Fould by Alan Derosby
A stunning gothic historical hybrid genre story perfect for Halloween!
Max Fould, an aristocrat from the Fould banking family, goes off to war under the leadership of Napoleon.
While stranded in Russia, he encounters a creature that sets his life on an unimaginable path based on Russian folklore.
Follow Max Fould from post-revolutionary France to the First World War, where his past and present come full circle.
About the author
Alan Derosby, a Maine native, has spent the past several years focusing on his passion: writing. Alan has created original and spooky short stories, having several published in a variety of anthologies. MAN OF CLAY is his debut novel.
When not writing, Alan is teaching history at Messalonskee High School in Oakland, Maine, spending time with his wife and daughter, or watching the New York Mets suffer through another disappointing season.
Review
‘Death and Mr Fould’ is a dark gothic tale that takes us through the ages from Napoleon to just before the First World War. It takes it's inspiration from the Russian fairy tales involving Kukth a raven spirit, a trickster who loves to make mischief. It was a tale full of intrigue, games and mischief and a surprising friendship!
Max has been picked by Napoleon to go with him for the war with Russia - mainly because he isn't a ‘yes man’! However, war doesn't agree with Max especially when they reach Moscow. They face hunger and death from the extreme Russian winter. But when Max is given a raven, which talks, he is given the option to flee with untold riches but he decides to help his fellow men. Kukth doesn't like this and soon him and Max are in a battle of wits over the next couple of centuries…
The pacing of the book was okay - part one was much slower than the rest of the book but when it did pick up the pace it was a great read! I enjoyed seeing Max form some relationships and I found the friendship between him and D to be eye-opening.
This was a quick read but it did delve into some aspects of history, the parts in Russia were the best for me but then I did study Russian history at uni! Rasputin is one of my favourite historical figures!
Let me know if you read this one!
