Last updated on October 6, 2020
The Bedlam Stacks is a novel by Natasha Pulley. If you’re looking for how the book ends and not just a review, visit this post instead.
We meet Merrick at his family home in London. He’s resigned from working for the East India Company after an injury, and is pottering around the house with his brother. The house is in an a state is disarray, worsened by the unexpected explosions of the branches of a tree after it crashes into the roof.
Merrick spends his time in the greenhouse, a pastime of his late father, which he’s resurrected. Near the greenhouse, where his father is buried, stands a statue. Merrick is afraid that he’s losing his mind when he starts noticing things that neither his brother, Charles, nor the gardeners seem to see. Charles decides that he needs something to do and finds him a job.
Merrick is rescued from Charles’ plan when his friends Clem and Minna visit and convince him to go on a dangerous mission with them. He has family ties to the place they want to go, which they hope will give them an advantage, and help with the success of the mission.
Mission to Peru
Once in the mountains of Peru, in Azangaro, the last town before the Andes, they are greeted by Martel. He is a showy character, who offers them a guide to help them with their journey. He also reminds the dangers of trying to steal quinine, that a recent Dutch delegation for quinine was killed by those who have a monopoly on quinine.
After a difficult journey, worsened by altitude sickness, they get to New Bethlehem. From there, they hope to be able to go off to complete their mission.
A Mission from New Bethlehem
In New Bethlehem, the goal seems quite far. There are what seems to be local myths, that stand in their way. Plus, there are interested parties that would prefer to see them dead than succeeding in their mission. They need to cross a dangerous border, although they don’t know what’s waiting in the forest for them. The first attempt is unsuccessful, and Merrick needs to convince Raphael to help him.
Into the Woods
When the men take off on their mission, Martel gives chase. It is his job to avoid their success. But they have some unlikely help and protection along the way and are able to escape. They make it to the destination for their mission. It’s a challenge as they have to dodge some obstacles in the way, Also, Raphael is changing form and that makes the journey more treacherous.
How Merrick Got Hurt
We find out on a flashback that Merrick’s leg got hurt due to shrapnel from an explosion during a navy attack on China. The British empire was letting its might known after Chinese boarded a ship they suspected of illegal activity. Merrick was on a smuggling missing moving opium into China and taking silk out. The attack was earlier than planned. He was in the water and got hit by shrapnel. He’d gone in to save his Japanese friend, Keita. Or did Keita save him from greater harm?
Magical Realism
There are many fantastical elements in The Bedlam Stacks. Raphael’s episodes of staring into space are actually catalepsy. In his case, it’s a sign of his holiness, and destines him to be a priest. He was once cataleptic for 70 years and didn’t age at all in that time. So he is the same priest who knew Merrick’s grandfather. He had to go on serving as the priest at NB until his replacement was revealed, and after many years of waiting, it was finally time.
NB is built on stacks of glass. Mercury rains from the sky. At some places and depending on where the sun casts it’s shadow, NB is freezing. At other times, it’s hot enough to burn.
There are also exploding ducks, a convenient way to get some food, and glass duck eggs. Raphael is slowly turning to another form, where he will have long periods of “sleep”. There’s also wood that explodes, handles load exceptionally well, and floats in air.
Final Verdict
I enjoyed The Bedlam Stacks. It’s set in the nineteenth century and has many fantastical elements. I was excited to see what would happen next. If I have to make one complaint, it’s that the ending is too neat and tidy. I give this book 4 stars.⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️