I have read comparisons to Babel and think they’re fairly apt. Both are pretty prescriptive and really want their messaging to come across. And again, their characters manage to dictate the plot, which is my main gripe with both novels. This is better than Babel in overall plot work and character work, yet Babel pulls ahead for me for tone, setting, and the novel magic system that this one does not pull off. Moreover, the direct symbolism in both systems is better in Babel, and wildly less so here.

A shame, because I really really enjoyed Kaigen, and was hoping for something more. I would bet if this wasn’t so massively hyped up I would have settled in and enjoyed it more. As is, unfortunately, this felt overhyped. But I’m very glad for its success for the author (as I am Babel, too).

Another massively hyped and favourited book darling. But, somewhat surprisingly, I was quite into this. A slow start hampers it somewhat, but overall the author does a great job of hitting satisfying tropes coupled to a nostalgic fantasy setting mixed with the historic. So much happens and it is so frenetic, it really does become a ride. But perhaps the most overt success is the plotting. Near the end there is a reveal I actually didn’t see coming, which happens very little nowadays, with how much I read, and this being commercial fiction. So much so, I find myself eagerly awaiting to sequel with the masses.

The gripe I have with this book that will probably always exist however, is in the character work. The protagonist has a reason he’s so good at everything but it does become laughable at times. I am not sure he’s bad at anything. Thankfully, he does still require help and success comes at some price, but it does get a bit masturbatory, reminding me of Kvothe(particularly the second book), where it’s all but writerly godhand guiding the equivalent of a male Mary Sue.

Certainly a cut above the rest. While prose work wasn’t particularly noteworthy, the setting, character work, and magic tied to a murder mystery worked incredibly well. Some of the ways obstacles are dealt with did feel slightly convenient, but it’s just such a fun ride, I doubt it’ll bother anyone who gets that far into the text regardless.

Does make me curious about other novels by the author. First I’d heard of them.

I really wanted to love this, since TMC is just such a breath of fresh air, but I sadly did not connect with the characters as much and the overall plot, just like with TMC, feels secondary to them, making it certainly readable… but overall, ultimately, pretty forgettable.

Read this with my book club and it was just fine. The intersections of war and historical make it less interesting off the bat to me, but I was won over by Maisie her (charming) self. The plot was alright, the time shifts didn’t really do much for me, but served to provide some anticipation. Overall serviceable, and I would continue if my book club chose to, but not particularly not worthy, to me.

Boy howdy was this ever whip-smart and fantastic in every respect. Acerbic, incisive, unique. The voice shift is like a chameleon as it embodies the satirical bent of the many different class archetypes and denominations and intersections of people encountered by the unassuming guard. But more than that, the humour completely works—which almost never happens for me in literature. I actually laughed out loud. I do not think satire could possibly get much better than this. Phenomenal stuff.

People seem to be up in arms about this being so close to the Godkiller series. I think it’s pretty up front about it, and feels more like a reimagined fan fiction. A successful one. Issues from that series aren’t present and the setting, magic system, and characters feel up to snuff and compelling. I really enjoyed this, perhaps more than Kvothe’s romp. Hard to say, since it’s been so long since I read those.


3.5 rounded up

This completely worked for me, despite the start being rocky. A somewhat sad-funny fight between unknown (to-me) knights, nearish Camelot, made me wonder if The Magicians magic could be here too. It took a while to develop, but it all comes together well beyond my expectations. Much like The Magicians, Grossman is uninterested in hitting the tropes and is more interested in a deconstruction of the genre and subversion. Whether or not that resonates with people is going to really depend on their relationship with fantasy and this particular sub genre. Also, whether expectations are something you want delivered or not. Obviously, for me, I adored it. Quite possibly my favourite fantasy release of last year.

To continue or not continue, that is the question. I only own this first one because I wasn’t completely sold on this from the jump. But, I do love me some Expanse, and I do like fantasy, so why not give it a go, right?

Thankfully, I was warned that this is a slow burn, character focused story, so I was able to take it in its stride. Motivations are very well fleshed out, the plot is secondary, but serviceable. It’s clearly more intelligent than the typical chaff the genre churns out.

However. My largest gripe is with the writing style. It is… generously, unobtrusive. It was difficult to picture the setting or the movements of the characters because those aspects lack all specificity. Coupled with the fantastical aspects, it makes a very odd dichotomy that really bothered me. I really am uncertain whether I want to continue with it.

3.5 rounded up for character work and originality

A stand-out gem of last year I didn’t see coming. Quite possibly heightened by the absolutely incredible voice work the audiobook narrator provides. This has all the excellent hallmarks from Blacktongue Thief, but fleshed out the setting even more—turning out to be very gruesome, cruel, and evocative—but has a character I enjoyed far more than the sequel. Great specificity in the prose makes the world vivid and the societal aspects couple that novelty into something that also feels really fresh and exciting. I hope even more comes of this series, but even if it doesn’t, I’ll pick up the next book by the author regardless.