book_whispers's review
3.0
**Review copy provided through Netgalley for an honest review.**
Hmmm. An interesting short and I believe a fun introduction to what could be a fantastic new series. I did feel that some of the mythology was sketchy. It didn't fully develop the world in a timely fashion. Like letting readers know how much of the paranormal is known and so on. Not to mention what kinds of paranormal is out there.
The short didn't fully sell me on the lead or what I would assume is the cast of characters that would occupy the series. (If it was indeed made into a series.) That's the problem with shorts. Most of the time it's just not enough to establish a story properly. They tend to be good for snippets for series that are already being devoured and the mytho established.
However, I loved the writing style and with this I would be very interested if it turned out to be a series. The world, once established, was fun and I think plenty of room for potential. Not to mention that I'm interested enough about the lead to go forth and see a more developed version of him. I had a fun time and it was perfect for a quick read.
Content Warning: Some sexual humor and violent deaths. Nothing truly shocking or surprising.
3/5- Adored it, just a few minor details held it back.
Originally reviewed at Book Whispers.
Hmmm. An interesting short and I believe a fun introduction to what could be a fantastic new series. I did feel that some of the mythology was sketchy. It didn't fully develop the world in a timely fashion. Like letting readers know how much of the paranormal is known and so on. Not to mention what kinds of paranormal is out there.
The short didn't fully sell me on the lead or what I would assume is the cast of characters that would occupy the series. (If it was indeed made into a series.) That's the problem with shorts. Most of the time it's just not enough to establish a story properly. They tend to be good for snippets for series that are already being devoured and the mytho established.
However, I loved the writing style and with this I would be very interested if it turned out to be a series. The world, once established, was fun and I think plenty of room for potential. Not to mention that I'm interested enough about the lead to go forth and see a more developed version of him. I had a fun time and it was perfect for a quick read.
Content Warning: Some sexual humor and violent deaths. Nothing truly shocking or surprising.
3/5- Adored it, just a few minor details held it back.
Originally reviewed at Book Whispers.
nuevecuervos's review
3.0
I picked this up on a whim based on a Tor recommendation and a BookOutlet clearance so like, for $1, I didn't do too poorly.
The city is called Lupenwald, and the body was found naked and covered in bite marks. It's left to the reader as an exercise to deduce what's going on here, lol.
But seriously. Our protagonist, Drake, is getting pissed in a bar when he's grabbed and coerced by lots of cash gold to take a job for a member of the nobility. Drake is a washed-up investigator, a remnant of the wrong side of a now-ended civil war, and he's got principles! Eat the rich! ...but the money! So he goes off to investigate, inadvertently starts a fight with a nobleman, eats with the servants, has a high-speed chase, meets up with a back-alley-wizard for some backup, and solves the crime!
96 Firefly-Harry-Dresden-Sherlock-Holmes-Every-Werewolf-Movie ever pages later, I wasn't sorry to have read it, but there wasn't anything that was outstanding or groundbreaking about it. So, if this sounds entertaining and you happen to have this tale on hand and an hour to kill whilst curled up with your dog as I did, it may be worthwhile to read.
The city is called Lupenwald, and the body was found naked and covered in bite marks. It's left to the reader as an exercise to deduce what's going on here, lol.
But seriously. Our protagonist, Drake, is getting pissed in a bar when he's grabbed and coerced by lots of cash gold to take a job for a member of the nobility. Drake is a washed-up investigator, a remnant of the wrong side of a now-ended civil war, and he's got principles! Eat the rich! ...but the money! So he goes off to investigate, inadvertently starts a fight with a nobleman, eats with the servants, has a high-speed chase, meets up with a back-alley-wizard for some backup, and solves the crime!
96 Firefly-Harry-Dresden-Sherlock-Holmes-Every-Werewolf-Movie ever pages later, I wasn't sorry to have read it, but there wasn't anything that was outstanding or groundbreaking about it. So, if this sounds entertaining and you happen to have this tale on hand and an hour to kill whilst curled up with your dog as I did, it may be worthwhile to read.
b0okcupidity's review against another edition
2.0
A very okay piece of quick fiction, it felt like a beginners effort if I were being completely honest. I wasn't entirely hooked into any part of the story, but pushed to finish it because it was only 96 pages, so why not?
Whatever this was trying to be, whether steampunk, or noir, or some hybrid of gaslight paranormal slash urban fantasy, I'm not sure, but it didn't work. It lacked all the pop on the page that any of those categories require - in short, it was shallow. One might argue that it's intent was to be quick and perfunctory, it is a novella after all, but length is hardly an excuse a lifeless execution.
Here's my biggest gripe. The author forgot that magic has a price, whether that price is paid by performing it or by having knowledge of it, treating it flippantly destroys any wonder for the reader.
Along those lines, even the title is a little careless...the only punchline to the book is given away by those three words. How anti-climatic is that, to get through all 96 pages to find out the the city is full of wolves. You don't say?
The protagonist himself, Alexander Drake, starts as a drunken fellow who might have something interesting up his sleeve - he's private drunk detective who is seemingly broke and perhaps disreputable? A little cliche but perfectly ripe for a nice backstory. Unfortunately, all personal characterization is tossed aside in the name of pacing, or at least, that's what it felt like.
I picked this up on my Overdrive account and it was such a quick read that I can't fault anyone for trying it. As a short mystery, it does work even with its problems - a puzzle was solved. I would give this author another shot down the road if anything else was published. There was a spark here that could catch light if allowed some greater fuel...but in this case maybe the paper was a little damp or something.
Whatever this was trying to be, whether steampunk, or noir, or some hybrid of gaslight paranormal slash urban fantasy, I'm not sure, but it didn't work. It lacked all the pop on the page that any of those categories require - in short, it was shallow. One might argue that it's intent was to be quick and perfunctory, it is a novella after all, but length is hardly an excuse a lifeless execution.
Here's my biggest gripe. The author forgot that magic has a price, whether that price is paid by performing it or by having knowledge of it, treating it flippantly destroys any wonder for the reader.
Along those lines, even the title is a little careless...the only punchline to the book is given away by those three words. How anti-climatic is that, to get through all 96 pages to find out the the city is full of wolves. You don't say?
The protagonist himself, Alexander Drake, starts as a drunken fellow who might have something interesting up his sleeve - he's private drunk detective who is seemingly broke and perhaps disreputable? A little cliche but perfectly ripe for a nice backstory. Unfortunately, all personal characterization is tossed aside in the name of pacing, or at least, that's what it felt like.
I picked this up on my Overdrive account and it was such a quick read that I can't fault anyone for trying it. As a short mystery, it does work even with its problems - a puzzle was solved. I would give this author another shot down the road if anything else was published. There was a spark here that could catch light if allowed some greater fuel...but in this case maybe the paper was a little damp or something.
tregina's review
3.0
While the novella does have its shortcomings--the characters aren't well developed and the plot moves abruptly, and it doesn't really bring anything new to the table--there was something about it that I found appealing all the same.
thiefofcamorr's review
4.0
I didn’t realise this was a novella when I first picked it up, but it works incredibly well in this format. Much like Seanan McGuire’s ‘Every Heart a Doorway’, this in the shorter format leaves you wanting more whilst feeling utterly satisfied with the characters and plot.
In a Victorian England-esque city, we have Drake, a private investigator for hire who frequents the worst part of town, and doesn’t make much to show for it. When he gets an offer that’ll earn him more than he sometimes makes in a year, even if it does involve nobility (who he usually tries to avoid), he takes on the job for the gold alone and heads on to the fancy estate to start investigating.
He doesn’t solve the mystery without difficulty – from a hurried chase and many battles that almost take his life, Drake finds himself at times within a grave or trading words with the head of the crime syndicate. If you’re looking for a quick and exciting read, this certainly is a high contender.
What expands this novel well even though it’s short, are the brief mentions of who’s currently in power and the history of conflict between rulers, and noting who has loyalty to which side – this instantly gives depth and makes the world building spring to life, and it’s very well handled indeed.
The characters are quite excellent, Drake especially, though having two family characters with such similar names (Colin and Corth) can be slightly confusing.
Overall, this is a very fun book, and one I recommend for a lazy afternoon where you want some excitement, or snarky and snazzy writing.
In a Victorian England-esque city, we have Drake, a private investigator for hire who frequents the worst part of town, and doesn’t make much to show for it. When he gets an offer that’ll earn him more than he sometimes makes in a year, even if it does involve nobility (who he usually tries to avoid), he takes on the job for the gold alone and heads on to the fancy estate to start investigating.
He doesn’t solve the mystery without difficulty – from a hurried chase and many battles that almost take his life, Drake finds himself at times within a grave or trading words with the head of the crime syndicate. If you’re looking for a quick and exciting read, this certainly is a high contender.
What expands this novel well even though it’s short, are the brief mentions of who’s currently in power and the history of conflict between rulers, and noting who has loyalty to which side – this instantly gives depth and makes the world building spring to life, and it’s very well handled indeed.
The characters are quite excellent, Drake especially, though having two family characters with such similar names (Colin and Corth) can be slightly confusing.
Overall, this is a very fun book, and one I recommend for a lazy afternoon where you want some excitement, or snarky and snazzy writing.
mayhappily's review
2.0
It might've been two, three days ago, no more, that I told a customer at the bookstore where I work, that, in my opinion, a novella published by Tor was as much a stamp of quality as a book being picked up by either HBO or, maybe even more so - I say, and think of the wonderful adaption of Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell - BBC.
Maybe that's also why I feel almost betrayed (that is a strong word, I know) by City of Wolves...
Now, that sounds interesting. It might've been done a few time already, but what's to say that a story already told can't be worth yet another read as long as it is done well.
As long as it is done well.
It actually isn't so much a lack of good storytelling that's the cause for my low rating; it's the fact that there is so much potential storytelling that's been shrunk to fit the number of pages allowed a novella! There's no depth to the characters or the story itself, the events feel rushed and the conclusion a bit like a helicopter parent solving the puzzle for you rather than offer you the tools you need to do it yourself.
Maybe that's also why I feel almost betrayed (that is a strong word, I know) by City of Wolves...
Alexander Drake, Investigator for Hire, doesn’t like working for the Nobility, and doesn’t prefer to take jobs from strange men who accost him in alleyways. A combination of hired muscle and ready silver have a way of changing a man’s mind. A lord has been killed, his body found covered in bite marks. Even worse, the late lord’s will is missing, and not everyone wants Drake to find it. Solving the case might plunge Drake into deeper danger.
Now, that sounds interesting. It might've been done a few time already, but what's to say that a story already told can't be worth yet another read as long as it is done well.
As long as it is done well.
It actually isn't so much a lack of good storytelling that's the cause for my low rating; it's the fact that there is so much potential storytelling that's been shrunk to fit the number of pages allowed a novella! There's no depth to the characters or the story itself, the events feel rushed and the conclusion a bit like a helicopter parent solving the puzzle for you rather than offer you the tools you need to do it yourself.
etienne02's review
3.0
An okay and quick read. Nothing great but nothing bad either in this one. A mix of style in this investigation story inside a fantasy world, which I like but Raphaël Albert does in better in his Sylvo Sylvain series. Some twist in this story were easy to see coming, others a bit less. If the writer continue to work and develop her own voice she could be doing something really interesting, because the biggest problem here is probably the lack of experience.
artemisblack's review against another edition
3.0
This short story was well written and entertaining. I would have liked to see this as a full book instead of a novella. The story seemed a bit rushed and the characters underdeveloped, so there was plenty of room to expand this book into a full novel. Enjoyable read, but very quick.
I received this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I received this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.