Book Review: Green, By Jay Lake

Green

By Jay Lake

Review by Jenn Kane

The cover of fantasy writer Jay Lake’s newest novel is eye-catching: a sprite-like girl hanging upside-down, face bloodied, looking fierce and holding a sword. In a rare case, the content of the book is an exact mirror of what that picture conveys. The title character and protagonist, Green, can’t remember her real name: She was sold at the age of 3 to a faraway ruler called the Factor, who raised her in an isolated castle and had her trained to be a lady, knowledgeable in all the arts (dancing, cooking, sewing, etc.) so she could one day be a proper mistress for him. Rebellious throughout her years there, Green finally escapes and destroys the magic the Factor was using to hold the kingdom hostage. She travels through different worlds, joining a cult, gaining a ferocious reputation, and experimenting with many different kinds of relationships until she ends up back in the place she started, once again trying to break though that same magic. Lake incorporates some big ideas into this enjoyable sci-fi-ish tome: gods and religion, the price of power. Not to mention his heroine is a feisty little feminist on the go. This is a fun read for those who dig truly escapist fantasies.

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