August 2, 2010
British author Abnett, best known for his graphic novel collections and Warhammer 40,000 novel series, offers a ribald, rollicking adventure in the tradition of Flashman. Queen Elizabeth XXX is the monarch in an alternative history of Great Britain where Queen Elizabeth I married her brother-in-law, Philip II of Spain, resulting in a union that created world domination; since then all female monarchs have been named after her. Sir Rupert Triumff, the swashbuckling hero—or crude anti-hero—and one-time explorer, must ingratiate himself with the Queen in order to get permission for future voyages, and is commandeered to protect Her Majesty. The concept is clever and creative, and magic, treason, and Spanish grandees make for an entertaining read, yet the pacing—either bewilderingly fast or inert thanks to arch description—may throw readers off. But fans of more intellectual fantasy will enjoy Abnett’s misadventures and hope for future installments.