Mart Sander’s ‘Ravengold’

Nick Clement reviews Estonian filmmaker Mart Sander’s latest novel.

“Over the course of 350 pages, the reader is whisked away to a time of yore, where life was entirely different, and expectations were of a different degree when it comes to quality of life. All of the big set pieces in the book pop with excitement, but it’s the small, intimate moments in the story that resonate the strongest…”

Ravengold, a bold new fantasy thriller that’s being prepped for an international launch after becoming a best-seller in the Baltics, finds author Mart Sander on firm genre ground, presenting an intriguing story that takes his characters in all sorts of mystical directions, with the over-arching plot bringing about a sense of fun for the reader. This is the sort of time-tested storytelling that’s been popular for centuries, and because Sander has always demonstrated a passion for old-timey narrative hooks and devices, this new creation fits snugly into his oeuvre as a creator of both novels and films and television. Sander’s prose is rich in ambition, and when you’re taking in the passages contained on the pages, a sense of cinematic sweep envelopes your imagination – this is source material that’s begging to be adapted into a visual medium – and feels tailor made to a worldwide audience. The fact that Sander is pitching this project to various streaming outlets is no surprise (Watch the live-action ‘teaser’ showreel for the novel, below:)

The Young Adult-styled narrative concerns a young man, travelling as a part of a seemingly random group, during the early 1800’s in an unspecified eastern European country. Right from the start, things are a bit odd, especially after encountering a peculiar vicar who warns them of the area, and yet also seems strangely inviting. One of the men, Mattias, is invited to stay on as a blacksmith, and before long, he unlocks an ancient and potentially cursed secret, by unleashing the ghost of a woman who had been scorned centuries previous, and who re-appears to grant an unlimited amount of wishes to the one who is able to summon her. But there’s more to it than that – much more – as our hero finds himself amidst castles, casinos, and action centred around European and African ports, while having to learn about the complexities of what he’s brought about, with ramifications on himself and the villagers possibly becoming dire and otherworldly.

What Sander does very well as a writer is bring the audience into his very detailed and particular worlds, and in Ravengold, this is no exception. Over the course of 350 pages, the reader is whisked away to a time of yore, where life was entirely different, and expectations were of a different degree when it comes to quality of life. All of the big set pieces in the book pop with excitement, but it’s the small, intimate moments in the story that resonate the strongest, as the characters become richly entwined with one another, as Mattias comes to realize the full extent of his precarious situation. Each sentence feels carefully crafted and is loaded with visual signifiers, while the plotting kicks in right from the outset, giving the reader what amounts to a full-meal of book.

A prolific and best-selling author in his native country of Estonia, Sander’s work traffics in universal themes and concepts, and would seem to be a perfect fit for the global marketplace. Ravengold easily has the potential to become a major limited mini-series for one of the premium streaming outlets, especially as many are currently diversifying their content approach, when it comes to providing various Euro-flavored productions. Cut from the cloth of many items that have come before it but smart enough to carve out its own spot within this particular niche, Ravengold is a robustly written piece of entertainment that should wholly satisfy genre fans.


❉ ‘Ravengold’ by Mart Sander is out in Europe (Language: Estonia, 350pp.), and hitting American stores soon: https://www.apollo.ee/kaarnakuld.html

❉ Nick Clement is a freelance writer, having contributed to Variety Magazine, Hollywood- Elsewhere, Awards Daily, Back to the Movies, and Taste of Cinema and is a regular contributor to We Are Cult.. He’s currently writing a book about the works of filmmaker Tony Scott.

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