If I were to summed this book in one sentence I would write: Cheeky banter between likeable characters in an action-packed adventure written with surpIf I were to summed this book in one sentence I would write: Cheeky banter between likeable characters in an action-packed adventure written with surplus energy.
And then I would have to add another sentence saying that I love the Lhiewyn’s voice at the end of the book, explaining the world to you as if you were as smart as a dumb sheep, and maybe therefore left out the map (which was the only thing I missed in the book).
After reading the book I understand why this won the SPFBO (Self-published Fantasy Blog-off) award. ...more
I found the premise and the plot interesting, based in a fictional colonial America where most of the natives are enslaved or have been eradicated by I found the premise and the plot interesting, based in a fictional colonial America where most of the natives are enslaved or have been eradicated by settlers. It was easy to vouch for the natives and also easy to follow the timeline which alternates between the present (40 years after landfall) and the past (mostly 15 years after landfall), but I found the writing a little too verbose and prolonged for my liking, delving a bit too much on descriptions and emotions that I felt slowed down the story somewhat. Still worth reading and if you want to read fantasy set in America during early colonisation I think you will find this book entertaining....more
This was an interesting read which started out fun (reminding me of the Wednesday series), but ran into some marital problems when the humour shifted This was an interesting read which started out fun (reminding me of the Wednesday series), but ran into some marital problems when the humour shifted from the dark domain of evil magicians to the outside world and the main character getting romantically involved (without knowing it) and stereotypical sexual jokes got into focus. I still liked what was happening back in the evil domain and all the politics running the world, but I would have appreciated a little more “show, don’t tell”, and also that the book would had had another round of proof reading, especially when it comes to dialogue which had some awkward full stops I’m not used to. (“Kneel.” She said.) Apart from that the story was easy to follow and the world was believable, and I’ll probably read the next book, hoping that the story will shift back to how the first book started (which was great and five stars)....more
If you’re like me and enjoy a crew more than a sole main character, this is a book for you. The crew of demons (plus witch and catty familiar) are verIf you’re like me and enjoy a crew more than a sole main character, this is a book for you. The crew of demons (plus witch and catty familiar) are very well fleshed out and easy to keep apart and there are many different characters to like (my favourite being Boston, the self-important cat who has issues with being petted).
And the demons? The author sets up funny scenes on how they interact with our world, and you can’t help laughing when they start chugging bubble tea! And still they have their demonic attitude intact while handling the mundane world and also the witch who recently has employed them.
The world building is limpid and easy to digest, even if it has complexity. You are not bogged down in info dumps as a lot of the explaining of the world is done through dialogue, which is a nice touch as you get the characters’ different views on the world.
If you like boss battles intertwined with humorous sequences and pasta-loving and guitar-playing demons (who also are devastating in battle), a budding romance and a series which are heading for the epic journey (just my assumption as there are some bad-ass villains looming in the horizon), you should get this book.
And when you are not reading you should put the book face up to enjoy the awesome cover! (okay, my favourite is also Bex)...more
This is a different read in many ways: first off, it’s medieval, both in setting and in style. Fantasy books often reminds me of computer games gone lThis is a different read in many ways: first off, it’s medieval, both in setting and in style. Fantasy books often reminds me of computer games gone literary, which I don’t mind, but being a history buff, it’s refreshing when I step into literature which feels like it was written in the time period it conveys.
This book is entertaining in many ways (maybe British way? I’m Norwegian so I’m on thin ice here). I especially liked the educational footnotes about quirky facts (which made me buy the book as I couldn’t reach them from the free sample).
I also like the Janasa race and all the characters milling around what appears to be the main one, William, who is out on a fool’s quest. Like in the medieval times, some of them come to a sudden demise, which was for me a surprisingly refreshing take from standard pattern of storytelling.
That William grew up in a convent, sheltered from real life, is a superb way of introducing us readers to a medieval world steeped in fun dangers. There is witchcraft lurking in the book (very medieval kind of witchcraft) and also a monkey which has a most enjoyable way of perceiving the world.
And yes, the book has multiple points of view, but still easy to follow. If you want a break from a standard read, and to set out on a quest off the beaten track in a parallel medieval Europe to discover fun quirkiness and sudden change fortunes, this is book worth reading.
Don’t read too close though, as the monkey in the book tend to bite prying noses....more
A quick read, reminding me of The Murderbot Diaries (and this book only has a score more pages to go). The humour is with us from the start, seen throA quick read, reminding me of The Murderbot Diaries (and this book only has a score more pages to go). The humour is with us from the start, seen through the self-deprecating MC, and the world building comes natural through dialogue and action (no info dumps). The book feels like the first one in a series, limning the cast who I hope we’ll meet further down the page. I feel it deals with trauma in a somewhat cursory way, solving it logically, but not emotionally. And mind you, if you like to think out the solutions in the story (like in a murder mystery), this book isn’t about that. The solutions they come up with are part of the world building so you can’t know beforehand (but the solutions are plausible and rhymes with our world, so they are easy to buy, except for one time when it felt out of character, but that might explained when I read further).
That said, it’s well worth spending your time with if you want fast paced action seen through a wry perspective....more
You know when you get that sneaky feeling that there is something going on behind the scenes that you can’t see?
This book is delves into that. Again You know when you get that sneaky feeling that there is something going on behind the scenes that you can’t see?
This book is delves into that. Again we are thrown in with Alexander Southerland on a new case, but this time we go (unwillingly) over to the dark side only to find it in greyscale.
We also delve into the protagonist’s past which gave me the Vietnam War vibes with a nightmare on top (which is probably how that war was seen from a grunt’s perspective). And this nightmare now grates with the political apparatus which jars with the case Alexander is forced to solve before the upcoming election of the mayor of Yerba City.
What I personally like is how the author keeps the persons from the earlier books in the loop, maybe not for long, but long enough that I start to care and have favourites and believe that this world is populated by real people doing their everyday routines while Alexander is doing his best to solve the case with wits, fists (when weapons are out of reach) and magic (with hilarious elementals).
So what about this sneaky feeling? I guess I would have to ask an elf about that, but my hunch is that Alexander is fated for more than being a PI (and that makes me want to read on).
The author also does a great job in world building as the story progresses, slowly building brick by brick to make his world unique and not stereotypical.
I’m starting to feel like I live in Yerba City, which is a good feeling (even if it’s run by a bad dragon lord)....more
This book has many interesting characters to follow and I like the world building as we traverse the world with them (but I would liked to have a map This book has many interesting characters to follow and I like the world building as we traverse the world with them (but I would liked to have a map of the world). I like all of the characters, even the villains, having their reasons for how they behave. They feel real. And they are so different that it’s easy to keep them apart as the story progress and you understand that some of them are bound to run into each other, but their meeting doesn’t go as I anticipated, which I liked.
And I found this world different in a good way. So if you like to explore cultures, ruined temples, manhunts, sword fights, strange people at the end of the world, desolate steppes and debauched fairs (but written in a nice way), I would recommend this book (and probably the next ones when I have gotten that far)....more
This was an entertaining read, building cleverly on the first book, as we become better acquainted with some of Alex Southerland associates in Yerba cThis was an entertaining read, building cleverly on the first book, as we become better acquainted with some of Alex Southerland associates in Yerba city. As we are plunged into the noir, this time concerning witches and spell-casting gone wrong, we are simultaneously getting to know the perks and drawbacks of were-creatures turning into swarms and how trolls operate when incorporated into society (usually heavy-handed and puffing a cigar).
The world-building flows into the story as the story runs (remember I said it’s fast-paced). I like that the author brings in real-life cultures like the Aztecs which makes it far more easy to grasp the setting he is aiming for (and that he also explains his liberties when concerning Aztec gods in a short appendix at the end).
Apart from magic and humanoid races, the world has many parallels to ours and the story runs very well on the noir tropes, making it easy to become immersed in it. (I still get a vibe of Shadowrun when I read, which I like very much, thank you).
What makes the story works for me is the bantering between characters as things go awry when solved in the Southerland fashion: usually improvised, using his elfin powers he got in the first book or asking his quirky friends to help him out.
About the extinct elves: It feels like there is a bigger story brewing behind the scenes, which makes the story more than just having a private investigator solving random cases. And it makes me want to read the next book to get more of the background brew.
The prose is easygoing and clean, as if the author has been enjoying, rather than struggling to bring forth the story. It gives the reader plenty leeway for his imagination (like my Shadowrun vibe) and makes it easier dealing with dirty underworld issues which Southerland is bound to stumble upon. The world feels real thanks to Southerland’s associates which are (mostly) ordinary citizens, acting as counterweight to all the supernatural (but explainable) stuff happening.
And if you’re tempted to fly a manticore, this book might be worth the shot…...more
First of all, the cover fits snugly with the story, and the story? Just to fringe into spoiler territory, imagine undead waiting in line to pick out tFirst of all, the cover fits snugly with the story, and the story? Just to fringe into spoiler territory, imagine undead waiting in line to pick out their favourite knitted garments, you hoping they don’t choose the socks as you have to put it on them as they can’t do it themselves.
Yes, necromancy and knitting combine forces to save the day of our young protagonist with powers of her own, to do battle against… well, you have to read that part yourself as I have left spoiler territory, but I had a fun time reading, along with some good yearning on the way.
Suffice to say, our twelve year old protagonist has a very twelve year old outlook on life (making it fun for an adult like me to read and reminisce my childhood). It makes her both real and plausible in my eyes. The same goes for Gam Gam. They both bring a deeper believability to the somewhat fairytale setting (or TTRPG if you are into that… especially the comment of reanimated bones sounding like hundred tossed dice warmed my gamemaster heart).
This story is filled with humour and adventure, but the beauty of it is how the characters are dealing with loss, using the power of memory, sharing and friendship to cope with that. ...more
Apart from other urban fantasy series I have read, the magical and fantastic elements in this world lie out in the open. Trolls, gnomes and dwarves waApart from other urban fantasy series I have read, the magical and fantastic elements in this world lie out in the open. Trolls, gnomes and dwarves walk the street with more specialised races and everybody knows magic is working. I got a Shadowrun vibe mixed in the noir, which I liked. I also liked that the MC was a likeable guy, and how the world building was embedded into the story. This world seems to have depth and for this reason I look forward to continue the series. But if you are looking for fun and fast paced action investigation, this is also a book worth reading....more
This would be a five star book if it hadn’t been for all the adjectives that is scattered in the text. So for me it was too wordy. I don’t mind the slThis would be a five star book if it hadn’t been for all the adjectives that is scattered in the text. So for me it was too wordy. I don’t mind the slow pace at the beginning that I have seen others complain about. And I think the characters are very well fleshed out and so is the world too. I’m gonna reread the rest of the trilogy as it is an excellent story....more
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