Review: Frolic on the Amaranthyn

 

Chase A. Folmar's Frolic on the Amaranthyn is both a fun and distinct sword and sorcery novel as well as a bold announcement of talent. The story of a pair Bonnie and Clyde adventurers stumbling into more than they bargained for has all the elements of a fun caper, but Folmar's work is as much or more about the expression of the story as it is the story itself. The novel opens with a quote from Gene Wolfe, and the work is reminiscent of Wolfe in multiple ways. First, the tone of the world Folmar creates evokes Wolfe in aesthetic even though it is not a dying earth tale. Second, the language of the novel evokes Wolfe. The names, the places, and the imagery are all reminiscent of Wolfe's New Sun. Third, like Wolfe's work, this novel comes with challenges that reward the reader willing to accept them. It is a disservice to almost any novel to be compared to Wolfe, and it is for Frolic on the Amaranthyn as well, but it is also unfair because this short novel has so much its own voice.

More than anything else, what separates Folmar's work from the field is his intense focus on style at the sentence level. The prose has a constantly lyrical quality and is uninhibitedly and intentionally purple. Folmar has distinct diction throughout his tale, and I probably ran to the dictionary more during these 120 pages than I have in the last twenty novels I've read combined. If that sounds like a detriment to the reader, it may be. For fans of stylized prose, Frolic on the Amaranthyn will be a rare treat. Those who look at the page count and synopsis and think this will be a light, fast-paced caper may find more than they bargained for. 

This book is a delight in many ways—a short, contained novel in a fresh world with distinct characters, an original story, and a stunning style. However, I can't help but feel that it does exchange some immersion and accessibility for that style. As much as I enjoyed this and want to champion these kinds of works, there were times when I felt that the story and characters were lost in the atmosphere of Folmar's brilliant way with words.

Rating: I like it
Reviewed by Edmond Price
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