Book Review: Monster Blood Tattoo Trilogy : Foundling by D.M. Cornish

"Hearken to me, me lad! Not all monsters look like monsters, do ye get me? There are everyday folks who turn out to be th' worst monsters of 'em all!"

Master Fransitart "Foundling"

I stumbled onto this book while reading through 
someone's blog that was dedicated almost exclusively to his hobby endeavors. In one of the blog posts there was made mention of the "Monster Tattoo Trilogy" by an Australian author, D.M. Cornish, and it sounded interesting, so I checked into it. It sounded good, a found a used copy of the first book "Foundling" on the cheap, and I proceeded to give it a read.

D.M.Cornish

"Foundling" by D.M. Cornish is a young reader book. I guess that would turn some people off, but I have never stopped reading this genre of books even as an adult. I mostly read historical non fiction, so I find young reader, science fiction and mystery books to be a pleasant diversion. It also seems that the level of writing in young reader books isn't much different from the adult books, as the difference seems to mainly be in the content. The young reader books  have deep plot lines and good character development, but the themes are  just lighter than  say a John Grisham or Patricia Cornwell novel. "Foundling" is the first in a trilogy, the other two books being "Lamplighter" and "Factotum".

After giving the book a quick look through (no, I did not skip straight to the end!), I made two observations. The first thing I noticed without even opening the book was the very fine artwork. As I flipped a few pages I discovered the drawings in the book itself were excellent as well. Upon inspection I discovered D. M. Cornish did all of his own drawings for the book and cover. It isn't often you see a writer who does his own artwork. I have to guess the artwork done by the artist gives you a real feel for what his writing is trying to convey. No need to have to have an artist "translate" the writer's vision for him, In this case the writer could put what he sees in his head onto paper. This fact made me want to read the book even more. I'm not against books without illustrations, but I do find visuals help me "see" the characters better.

D.M. Cornish's Artwork

Something else I discovered was that D.M. Cornish spent over 10 years lovingly creating his own setting for this trilogy (and subsequent releases), the Half Continent. He gave the reader the information he would need to help him navigate his way through this world (it required a 120 page glossary!). Unique words, back story explained and maps, yippee! I know this will turn off many, but those who are drawn into the worlds created by the author (as in Tolkien's Middle Earth) will enjoy this aspect of the book. I enjoyed flipping back and thumbing through the glossary when I would find a new word or place name.


Cornish's Half Continent is a world I could best describe as "18th century steampunk". Picture H.G. Wells and Jules Verne in tricorne hats and you get the idea. Some interesting technical mechanisms are presented alongside conventional items from the 18th century such as buggies and flintlock rifles. All in all I found the depth of setting helped the story line, and I found zipping back to the glossary occasionally to see just what I was reading about to be fun.As the book, and later trilogy goes on we are introduced to more and more technological advances, many of which are key to the story line. Another key element to the Half Continent is that in much of the land monsters of all sorts are found in many parts of the countryside, and ocean. Monsters are a key element to the story, and they are encountered in all shapes and sizes.

"Foundling" begins the continuing story of the orphan Rossamund Bookchild, who was found on the steps of Madam Opera's Estimable Marine Society for Boys and Girls by Master Fransitart. Fransitart is a pensioned sailor, or "vinegaroon", as are most of the staff at the orphanange. Rossamund was left on the orphanage steps in a basket with a note attached which had the poorly written word "Rossamund" on it. He was given the surname "Bookchild" as are all the orther orphan's with unknown parentage. Rossamund was not off to a very auspicious start! As Rossamund grows up he is small for his age, which leads to all manner of bullying at the orphanage. 

Master Fransitart

Our story kicks off as Rossamund takes a rather severe beating from Gosling, the resident bully at Madam Opera's while engaging in a bout of "harundo" (a game a bit like fencing). As he is recovering from his injuries he has a discussion with Fransitart about monsters. Rossamund pries out of Fransitart the fact he has killed monsters in his past. In the Half Continent it is a tradition that the killer of a monster receive a tattoo from the creatures blood. Rossamund has been obsessed with monsters slayers after reading about them in  penny novels that Verline, the parlor maid who acts as a surrogate older sister to him.

Verlin

As the book progresses the time comes in the month of Calor for the orphans in teen years to be selected for employment in various postitions throughout the empire. As Rossamund has been overlooked in prior years he doesn't hold much hope that his luck will change. On this he is wrong. Rossamund who has always hoped to be a sailor on the vinegar seas, has instead been chosen to be a lamplighter. The tasks for this position are really those of lamplighter and a soldier, who lights the numerous lamps on the road as well as wards off any monsters that might infringe on the completing of a lamplighters duty.

It is here where Rossamund's adventures begin. He meets with the Lamplighter Marshal if Winstermill's agent Sebastipole. Sepastipole is a "leer", or one with enhanced abilities to tell if one is telling the truth. He informs Rossamund that he needs to get himself to the city of High Vesting, where he will then be escorted to the lamplighter manse in Winstermill. This is where 

Sebastipole

things get interesting. Fransitart and another pensioner at the orphanage,  Craumplin "help" Rossamund to get equipped for his new job as a lamplighter. The next morning Sebastipole meets with Rossamund to give him his final instructions, and then Rossamund is left to his own devices to find his way to the boat that will take him by river to High Vesting. As Rossamund enters the dock are the story picks up.
From this point on Rossamund will be involved in kidnappings, rescues, escapes; all manner of adventure await. Most of "Foundling" is spent on using Rossamund's adventures to introduce us to key characters, and set the table for the second book "Lamplighter". A fascinating cast of characters await discovery by both Rossamund and we the reader.

We will also meet a group of well developed characters as you work your way through the book. Some will be characters that will be seen though out the trilogy, others are there to add "flavor" to the world Cornish has created. Cornish's excellent drawings really helped me to visualize what the characters looked like. Since the writer was also the illustrator we are getting a picture of the characters exactly as Cornish meant them to look. As I said in the forward, how often is the book both illustrated and written by the same person.


We will encounter monsters,or"bogles","nickers","untermen","baskets" and "nadderers" as it were, of all shapes, sizes and temperaments. The Misbegotten Shrewd, a monster of considerable size, but little intelligence will make an appearance as well. We find Freckle, the riddle talking, smiling "glammergorn" who doesn't really look like much of a monster at all. Then there is the "Bogle on the Road", a monster who looks like a proper monster should. But all is not as it may seem in regards to these monsters as one will find with further reading.

In regards to human characters we will meet many. Some of the key ones I have already mentioned, but the most important character to the story other than Rossmund is Miss Europe, or as the Branden Rose in parts of the Half Continent. Europe is a "fulgar", or monster hunter. More specifically she is a "lahzar" or a surgically modified monster hunter with special, and very deadly skill set. Europe has a certain arrogance about her, as she is not only quite good at her job, she is also well known and very wealthy. However, she has moments where she drops her facade, and we see there is more to her than what can be seen on the surface.

Miss Europe

I'd love to go on, but if I do I will have to start giving away key elements of the plot, and I don't want to do that. I really enjoyed this book, as well as the last two books in the trilogy. I was hoping Cornish would write more books set in the Half Continent, but at the moment the only other writing he has done on this world he has created is a volume of short stories called "Tales from the Half Continent". I really enjoyed the way the book is "packaged". We get the book itself, Cornish's drawings and all you need in the glossary to left yourself escape into the Half Continent. I have reread all three books, finding little bits here and there I didn't catch the first time around. I like that, the feeling you can pick a book up and still find something shiny and new inside. 

This is my first book review ever, and as such I suppose it isn't really a review as much as it's a  summary. I don't intend to review a book I didn't like, just those I really enjoyed. I just want to give folks a feel for the book, and what I liked about it without delving to far into the plot. I just hope others who might enjoy this book will stumble onto my musings.

If you enjoy this book you may also like:

D.M. Cornish: Lamplighter

D.M. Cornish: Factotum

D.M. Cornish: Tales From The Half Continent