Microreview [book]: The Inn of the Seven Blessings by Matthew Hughes (Rogues #3)

Third installment in the Rogues anthology edited by George R. R. Martin and Gardner Dozois

The Inn of the Seven Blessings tells the tale of Raffalon, our rogue, who comes across the belongings of a traveler who has landed himself in an unfortunate circumstance (a.k.a., is about to get eaten as dinner). Labeled a thief, Raffalon quickly rummages through these belongings and takes anything he believes to be of value to him. One mysterious item turns out to be more than it seems, and laden with magical properties it sends Raffalon on a bit of a quest.

What I like most about this story is that it is full of classic fantasy tropes, but does not feel contrived or forced. There are good characters and there are bad characters, but there are also in-between characters. Raffalon goes on a rescue mission and then a redemption mission, and in the end must beat the bad guy and receive an award. Sure, I love when books successfully push the boundaries of the genre, challenge pre-conceived notions, and subvert tropes, but it is also refreshing to see that the foundations of the genre can still be done well and are still entertaining.

That’s not to say that The Inn of the Seven Blessings is strictly a conventional fantasy tale, though. While it has many classic elements (quest, girl, bad guys, deities, magic), I wouldn’t necessarily call Raffalon a hero, or Erminia a damsel in distress (there may have be a face slap and knee to the groin). It’s nice to see stories like this that successfully mix the ‘old’ with the ‘new’ in a novel way (yes, pun intended). Plus, the world building is quite fantastic given the limited number of pages available (30-ish) and makes me want to read more about this universe. This is the first I’ve read of Matthew Hughes, and I will definitely add him to my list of authors I want to read more of.

The Math

Objective Assessment: 7/10

Bonuses: +1 incorporating certain fantasy tropes while simultaneously challenging others

Penalties: none

Nerd coefficient: 8/10 "Well worth your time and attention"

I must say, I am really enjoying my read through Rogues. When the stories are wonderful they leave me in awe of the authors' ability to create something so large in such a small place. And when the stories are awful, they are just short enough that it doesn't ruin my day. I'm still reeling over gibberish I've wasted 400 pages of my life on.

Previously: What Do You Do? by Gillian Flynn

Next up: Bent Twig by Joe R. Lansdale
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POSTED BY: Tia, who is currently reveling the joy of the short story anthology

Reference: Hughes, Matthew. The Inn of the Seven Blessings. From: Rogues, Eds. George R. R. Martin and Gardner Dozois [Bantam Spectra, 2014]