This is the second instalment in the Chwedlau’r Copa Coch series by Elidir Jones and Huw Aaron, and a worthy follow-up to Yr Horwth. Fantasy books (particularly in Welsh) have always been a bit of a niche; something associated with nerdy, pasty teenagers perhaps. Other than the recent Melanai trilogy (which is really good btw) there was little mention of Welsh fantasy in the mainstream. But in 2019, shortly after its publication, Yr Horwth went on to win in a brand-new category at the Book of the Year awards, and it put the fantasy genre firmly back on the map and introduced it to a new generation.
At last, fantasy books are getting the recognition they deserve as good quality reading material and ‘serious’ and ‘proper’ novels which are even capable of winning awards. No pressure for the sequel then!
The novel wastes no time in getting started, and we are quickly and skilfully re-introduced and re-acquainted with our heroic adventurers so we can get cracking with the next adventure. Now, if you haven’t read Yr Horwth, you can still enjoy Melltith yn y Mynydd as a standalone novel, but honestly, just read them in order – you know it makes sense!
Orig, the landlord is the narrator of this story, and it’s through his recollections of adventures from days gone by that we get to hear about of our friends, Nad, Sara, Pietro and Heti. Life had been a bit quiet for our adventurers following their conquest in the first novel, but fortunately for us readers, there’s plenty of strange goings-on around the mountain… (I mean, happy ever after would be boring, right?)
We know from the first novel that some frightening and deadly spirits dwell within the mountain, but recently, something has drawn them closer to the village. That doesn’t sound good, does it? Our brave adventurers are left with little choice but to venture once again into the mountain to look for answers, but I don’t think anyone is prepared for what they find in that accursed place.
This is a novel that’s darker and more mature than its predecessor, but still has the same dry humour between the characters that defines the series. Some bits are quite creepy, so bear that in mind if you’re reading it in the dark!
There are many characters to follow in this book, and although I like several, Heti is my favourite – her strength and courage are inspirational and she’s got some serious Xena: Warrior Princess kick-ass vibes about her! Although she can be reckless, one thing’s for sure, paranormal crab-creatures will think twice before messing with Heti and her faithful weapon (what this lady can do with a plank of wood and a nail is impressive!)
In such novels a considerable amount of time has to be spent on world-creation, and they often have a lot of characters and locations that can be confusing at times. This is where Huw Aaron’s pictures are a huge help; by visualising some of these amazing people and places, but also leaving enough to our imaginations. I will admit that I had to re-read a few parts just to get a better idea of what was going on. Certainly, the idea of a story within a story within a story is ambitious (and there’s nowt wrong with that) but it does have the potential to confuse some readers.
Elidir Jones is someone who knows the fantasy/adventure/sci-fi genre – that much is obvious. This is a writer who has a personal interest in this sort of thing so he knows exactly what makes a cracking fantasy story. For me personally, it’s less ‘emotional fluff’ and more emphasis on plot and action. The novel doesn’t disappoint in this respect, and the fast-moving story accelerates to unputdownable levels in the last act as it leads up to the epic all-or-nothing battle.
Now, although I’ve suggested that fantasy novels tend to do action better than character development, that’s not to say that they can’t tug on our heartstrings as well. For example, one new character, Mantha, makes a very interesting addition to the series and I was totally emotionally invested in her journey. I’m hoping this character gets fleshed out a bit in the next novel.
As a self-confessed geek, I think the most appropriate way for me to sum up my feelings is by using a Star Wars analogy. I think it’s fair to say that most people know what an incredible and innovative film the first one, A New Hope, was when it was released in 1977. But ask any hardcore fan, and they’ll soon tell you that it’s sequel, The Empire Strikes Back is a much better film. I feel the same is true of Melltith yn y Mynydd – a book that has built upon and added to the saga that started with Yr Horwth, and if things carry on like this, the next one will be better still!