cover image The Garden at the Roof 
of the World

The Garden at the Roof of the World

W.B.J. Williams. Dragonwell, $16.95 trade paper (374p) ISBN 978-1-940076-00-3

This modern fantasy in the style of a medieval romance tackles themes of love and lust, faith, and the nature of the divine. As the Christian maiden Gwenaella accompanies the unicorn Britomar to the legendary Garden of Eden, they and their companions are exposed to the cruelty of some Christian men, the kindness of a Jewish community, and both the depravity of a corrupt sultan and the honor of the captain of his guard before reaching the Hindu and Buddhist lands where the garden is hidden. The strong female characters are hampered by an undercurrent of judgment about the female body and sexuality (the uncleanliness of menstruation, the demonic nature of desire). This view is difficult for a modern reader to stomach, and the frequently awkward prose draws attention to other weaknesses in the story. Williams’s debut, a finalist for the 2009 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award, shows his willingness to take on difficult topics of faith, culture clashes, and gender issues; the effort is admirable even when it’s not terribly successful. (Sept.)