Reviewed by Dan
TITLE: Velvet
AUTHOR: Xavier Axelson
PUBLISHER: Seventh Window Publications
LENGTH: 138 Pages
BLURB:
The first novel from Xavier Axelson is set against a backdrop of decadence, privilege, and intrigue. Virago, the royal tailor, makes a discovery that will test the bonds of brotherhood, unravel the forbidden secrets of his heart and threaten the very fabric of his existence.
In a land where cruelty is disguised as allegiance, loyalty is masked by obligation and the laws of sumptuary govern the people, nothing is more dangerous than Velvet.
REVIEW:
The laws of sumptuary, which allow the execution of the common people for things which should only belong to the nobility; homosexuality punishable by severe torture, then execution; a totally clueless homosexual; and melodrama, lots of melodrama.
The book sounded more like a fantasy novel from the blurb, which is why I picked it up, but actually it reads more like a medieval historical romance.
When the book begins, we are introduced to Virago, who is on a boat fleeing his homeland with his brother. Immediately after that we are transported back in time a few days to the beginning of the events which lead to Virago having to flee.
Virago is the son of the former royal tailor to the former king. Both his father and the king are dead, and his childhood friend Duir is now the crown prince, nearing his coronation. For years Virago has been hiding his attraction to men because to be caught, would mean he would be executed.
Now that the coronation is drawing near, Virago has been tasked with making a coronation vest for Duir. Luckily a new fabric called velvet has just arrived in Virago’s shop, ordered before his father’s death by his father. When Duir sees the fabric, he insists his vest must be made from the delightful material, and that is must be placed on the list under the laws of sumptuary immediately. The material is obviously too good for commoners.
The velvet marks the end of life as Virago has known it. From the time he puts his hands on the material, life will never be the same. The land is descending into evil. The “friends” that Virago grew up with are not the friends he thought. He has met a handsome musician, who shares his unnatural desires. The friends, including newly crowned Duir now know about his depravity. On top of their suspicions we have a couple sexual assaults perpetrated by one of them. We also have on a whore and her girls who are suffering some sort of plague and giving it to every man they have sex with as a form of revenge against King Duir.
I think the book was ok. The last few chapters could have used better editing, as I found several sentences which caused me to stumble while reading from incorrect words. I would like to have seen more resolution in the end. It ties back to the beginning, but leaves questions. I took the book from one of our lists at the blog, and forced myself to finish it, rather than turning it over to someone else. I found the writing to be kind of dramatic and over the top, the characters quite unbelievable, and in most cases a little vague. We meet characters, who are then never heard of again, and I was left wondering, why even introduce them. I have no more idea of the land that Virago lives in than I did when I started the book. Other than the vaguely described castle and vaguely described tailor shop, it left me blank.
Did I hate the book? No. Did I love it? No. It was probably OK, but definitely not worth wasting my Sunday afternoon in my opinion.
RATING: 
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