bionicturtle64's review
4.0
The Incorruptibles has one of the most interesting, unique and fascinating words I've ever experienced, book or elsewhere. Parts Tolkien, Roman, Western, Alchemical and Game of Thrones, the mixture of styles and ideas is weird and wonderful. Surprisingly, this mixture actually works, and presents a captivating backdrop for the story to unfold onto. On the other hand, due to the large Roman/Latin influence, the world may feel dense at first, as it did to me initially, and this is compound by the fact the actual plot of book doesn't kick in for a while. The book begins as a slow burn, yet ends in a fast paced and dramatic finale, which left me hungry for more in this world and with these characters.
I also loved how the main character, Shoestring, was a Dwarf, as I feel fantasy has a habit of focusing on the human races of their respective worlds.
Overall this is a great read, nothing ground breaking, but Jacobs creates a truly fascinating world within its short 300 pages.
I also loved how the main character, Shoestring, was a Dwarf, as I feel fantasy has a habit of focusing on the human races of their respective worlds.
Overall this is a great read, nothing ground breaking, but Jacobs creates a truly fascinating world within its short 300 pages.
zanosgood's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
jefffrane's review
5.0
Magical alt-history / western / horror story that moves along quickly and constantly surprised me. I'm eagerly looking forward to reading the sequels.
nostradamnus's review
challenging
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I'd recommend this if: you're into high-concept fantasy worlds that are significantly impacted by their religions; stories that are dark (and at times, a little gross) without being grimdark; well defined archetypal characters; and/or critiques of the links between masculinity and Westward expansion.
The first 90% of this book is a four-star read for me, and I will definitely be continuing the series. Jacobs did a great job turning this absolutely wild "Weird West meets the Roman Empire and also there are demons, dwarves, and elves" setting into a place that feels real. With that comes respect for how the cultures at play treated their marginalized populations. There is sexism and fantasy-racism (and no POC), which our narrator participates in to an extent. I think others' critiques of these elements are fair, but they didn't bother me, personally, as they felt more like the author actively pulling in historical perspectives than passively carrying on problematic tropes without consideration. I don't think he did so perfectly, but think he did a good job overall. It's like if Temeraire was inspired by Tombstone.
I don't want to go too deep into the setting (because it's definitely best experienced) but I do want to sing praises for the role of demons in this one. Rad af. Wholly original. I'd read a million books set in this universe through the ages.
But I think what really made this book work were the characters. Shoe, our narrator, is the first instance I've seen of an almost completely passive character being the perfect choice for POV. His silent observation for so much of the novel allows the reader to really get to know the rest of the cast, and he remains starkly individual despite his relative inaction. He's definitely not driving us anywhere, but he's a great guide. I particularly enjoyed his relationship with the world's primary god (warts and all). I could've done with his particular brand of objectifying women being pared down a bit, but again, it felt purposeful rather than simply carried forward. EDIT: Been struggling with articulating this critique for a while now, because the purpose of Shoe's sexism as a flaw was pretty obvious, but the area I think Jacobs faltered a bit in was in the paternalism he demonstrates toward his woman characters, which isn't as directly explored as more traditionally accepted means of objectification. That's what was missing, and it did make me uncomfy in a way the rest of his use of sexism did not.
There were really only a few lingering issues I had throughout, all of which I think I would have ultimately ignored if not for the last 10%. For me, the climax just ratched things much too quickly. We go from a very slow, interior creep of setting discovery and character work to a very pressing plot quite abruptly and the change in stakes being so dramatic,, felt unnecessary and unearned. An infodump later, and Shoe's cohort is suddenly much more important than they ever needed to be, and his characterization suffers for it.
That One Thing About The Setting:
That One Character:
The first 90% of this book is a four-star read for me, and I will definitely be continuing the series. Jacobs did a great job turning this absolutely wild "Weird West meets the Roman Empire and also there are demons, dwarves, and elves" setting into a place that feels real. With that comes respect for how the cultures at play treated their marginalized populations. There is sexism and fantasy-racism (and no POC), which our narrator participates in to an extent. I think others' critiques of these elements are fair, but they didn't bother me, personally, as they felt more like the author actively pulling in historical perspectives than passively carrying on problematic tropes without consideration. I don't think he did so perfectly, but think he did a good job overall. It's like if Temeraire was inspired by Tombstone.
I don't want to go too deep into the setting (because it's definitely best experienced) but I do want to sing praises for the role of demons in this one. Rad af. Wholly original. I'd read a million books set in this universe through the ages.
But I think what really made this book work were the characters. Shoe, our narrator, is the first instance I've seen of an almost completely passive character being the perfect choice for POV. His silent observation for so much of the novel allows the reader to really get to know the rest of the cast, and he remains starkly individual despite his relative inaction. He's definitely not driving us anywhere, but he's a great guide. I particularly enjoyed his relationship with the world's primary god (warts and all). I could've done with his particular brand of objectifying women being pared down a bit, but again, it felt purposeful rather than simply carried forward. EDIT: Been struggling with articulating this critique for a while now, because the purpose of Shoe's sexism as a flaw was pretty obvious, but the area I think Jacobs faltered a bit in was in the paternalism he demonstrates toward his woman characters, which isn't as directly explored as more traditionally accepted means of objectification. That's what was missing, and it did make me uncomfy in a way the rest of his use of sexism did not.
There were really only a few lingering issues I had throughout, all of which I think I would have ultimately ignored if not for the last 10%. For me, the climax just ratched things much too quickly. We go from a very slow, interior creep of setting discovery and character work to a very pressing plot quite abruptly and the change in stakes being so dramatic,
Spoiler
literally a matter of infernal warSpoiler
about the true nature of reality/god, which is accepted without proof by our previously relentlessly devout narratorSpoiler
I mean, like, imagine if Shoe had decided to take up Hellfire to save his friend despite believing it'd damn his mortal soul, instead of just accepting the word of a near stranger that his god was fake?That One Thing About The Setting:
Spoiler
The lack of POC really got to me at a certain point, especially because this is the Weird West. There are human civilizations that are defined as native to the frontier setting, but their relationship to modern cultures is unclear. They might be intended to be read as indigenous, but they could also be read as Northern European "pagans," a term used several times in the book. Also native to the frontier are elves and dwarves, the latter of which are really traditionally fantasy and the former of which are anything but. The elves are very much defined by their similarity to how white settlers would have viewed indigenous peoples (and are referred to as "indigenes"), a POV that's obviously less than generous to their morality/etc., but they also are literally monsters who are written as culturally similar to pre-colonial Americans. Jacobs uses their cruelty to better define that of his human characters and often, the humans are the characters I disliked more, but I think the lack of any native human populations to compare the elves to, in turn, made them feel shallow--particularly in death. Like, idk. I get that they're supposed to be ineffable to our characters, but couldn't they be made just a bit more effable to us?That One Character:
Spoiler
The impetus of the book's climax is the kidnapping of one of its female characters, Isabelle. I identified her as "quasi-marginalized" above because, while she's in a position of pretty significant power culturally, she's also a woman in a very sexist society and a political prisoner from an enemy kingdom that stands in for Southern Europe. (The existence of this kingdom as opposed to, like, an Aztec stand-in is a little weird for worldbuilding, since the Roman Empire definitely conquered the Mediterranean, but I digress.) It feels a little odd/mean to me that, of the several leading women of the novel who are rendered thoroughly and with empathy, and moreover, the sheer number of tertiary male characters that contain implied depth, she isn't given much more than a few passing descriptions of her as "dark," in that way old books used to describe folks with dark hair and eyes. Given, Shoe doesn't have many chances to interact with her, but I would've loved to see her take some kind of action, rather than having her choices implicitly ascribed to her love interest before she's killed and eaten off-page. (I promise it's not as bad as I'm making it sound--the book's just so well done otherwise that her treatment compared to someone like Carnelia, who holds less weight for the narrative but is given more interiority and is more "white", stands out like a sore thumb.)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Gore, Violence, Colonisation, and Death
Moderate: Misogyny, Sexism, Cannibalism, Classism, and Racism
Minor: Rape and Slavery
ghostmuppet's review against another edition
4.0
I saw this book for £2 on Amazon, and I had seen that it was getting some positive reviews, so I thought I would grab a copy at the reduced price (it has since gone back up to £7.50).
I really enjoyed this book, but I could not give it 5 stars - there are a couple of places where I had some trouble with some of the classifications of rank, places, laws etc. Took a little while for me to realise that Shoestring (the main focus of the story) was half dwarf. You knew he was a halfbreed early on, just not what (or i missed it).
The world looks like it has had a lot of thought put into it. While it has a LOT of connections to our world, I do believe it is different. There are elves, Dwarfs and of course Humans. The Humans are split to Rumons (yes, think Romans) and others. The location could be north America, and the elves like the natives there. Think of this world as if the Roman Empire survived - with elves and dwarves - but then think Romans, in the Wild West - then you will have the setting.
But that is not what makes this a good book - its the use of firearms. I am not going to mention what is different about the firearms in this series - but I liked it.
The book is told from the perspective of Shoestring. He is the main voice and has the feel that he is telling a story many years after the facts. This does mean that he is in no real danger of dying, but everyone else is fair game.
I bought this on a whim due to a low price ebook - and I am glad I did. The book is set up for a sequel - and I can not wait for it.
I really enjoyed this book, but I could not give it 5 stars - there are a couple of places where I had some trouble with some of the classifications of rank, places, laws etc. Took a little while for me to realise that Shoestring (the main focus of the story) was half dwarf. You knew he was a halfbreed early on, just not what (or i missed it).
The world looks like it has had a lot of thought put into it. While it has a LOT of connections to our world, I do believe it is different. There are elves, Dwarfs and of course Humans. The Humans are split to Rumons (yes, think Romans) and others. The location could be north America, and the elves like the natives there. Think of this world as if the Roman Empire survived - with elves and dwarves - but then think Romans, in the Wild West - then you will have the setting.
But that is not what makes this a good book - its the use of firearms. I am not going to mention what is different about the firearms in this series - but I liked it.
The book is told from the perspective of Shoestring. He is the main voice and has the feel that he is telling a story many years after the facts. This does mean that he is in no real danger of dying, but everyone else is fair game.
I bought this on a whim due to a low price ebook - and I am glad I did. The book is set up for a sequel - and I can not wait for it.
aliceexmachina's review against another edition
5.0
Absolutely loved it! Am already looking forward to reading the next book :)
wemilyebb's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gun violence, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail
markyon's review against another edition
5.0
This is an interesting novel from an author new to me, that I think many readers of the grimdark persuasion may like. It’s a combination of mercenary buddy novel (see Leiber’s Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser) and occultist magic, with a great deal of snark (see KJ Parker, Mark Lawrence and Joe Abercrombie, to name but three), all set on a paddleboat going up river (which reminded me a touch of George RR Martin’s Fevre Dream, but without the vampires).
To quote the blurb:
“In the contested and unexplored territories at the edge of the Empire, a boat is making its laborious way up stream. Riding along the banks are the mercenaries hired to protect it – from raiders, bandits and, most of all, the stretchers, elf-like natives who kill any intruders into their territory. The mercenaries know this is dangerous, deadly work. But it is what they do.
In the boat the drunk governor of the territories and his sons and daughters make merry. They believe that their status makes them untouchable. They are wrong. And with them is a mysterious, beautiful young woman, who is the key to peace between warring nations and survival for the Empire. When a callow mercenary saves the life of the Governor on an ill-fated hunting party, the two groups are thrown together.
For Fisk and Shoe – two tough, honourable mercenaries surrounded by corruption, who know they can always and only rely on each other – their young companion appears to be playing with fire. The nobles have the power, and crossing them is always risky.
And although love is a wonderful thing, sometimes the best decision is to walk away. Because no matter how untouchable or deadly you may be, the stretchers have other plans.”
Must admit, I’d not really heard of John or his writing before, although I understand he is the author of Southern Gods, which was short-listed for the Bram Stoker Award for Best First Novel in 2011. There is a definite horror vibe here, like something that has been reanimated from Weird Tales, though the novel is more mash-up, with it often being the broader Fantasy than Horror.
Of course, what gives the book its connection to the reader are those ol’human traits – loyalty, betrayal, jealousy and even love, which create the various plots of the novel. In particular, Fisk and Shoe are likable characters, though not always well-liked or perfect in their actions. As the story is told from the perspective of Shoe, there’s a fair amount of self-deprecating humour and honesty which rather endears him to the reader. I thought it was interesting that the Vaettir – the stretchers, elf-like savages of the novel – are rather similar in behaviour to what was the Euro-centric view of the original North American tribes, a similarity which I am sure is entirely deliberate. Many of the characters are developed to the point where they are more than the traditional two-dimensional stereotype.
This isn’t a cuddly, romantic novel, although there is romance. The tone is generally rather snarky, if understandably so. There’s also a hint of unreliable narrator here too, an interesting perspective that often suggests that there’s more going on than we know or think. What begins as a small-scale hunting expedition at the beginning of the novel soon becomes a wider view of the world-politics of this rather dangerous environment. Politics can be almost as deadly as life out on the edges of the Empire, and the later parts of the novel reflect this wider perspective.
The dialogue’s nicely done and the setting is not too far removed from a recognisable Fantasy-esque environment. I liked the writing generally, which was both natural and yet finely focused.
This style is also enhanced by there being a sprinkling of words that sound familiar (often Romanesque, here referred to as ‘Ruman’ – there is a Rume, as well as terms such as legionnaire, Marcellus, legates and so on) and those that are clearly of a different world (the vaettir, a god named Ia, daemons). Of this wider world there are subtle hints of more than this novel contains. There is an Aegypt, a Mediera which suggests something rather Mediterranean in tone and a tantalising hint of the Autumn Lords in Tchinee, which seems rather Asian in aspect. No doubt these will become important later.
What works most here is the seemingly natural and yet uneasy relationship there is between the ‘normal’ and the occultish world of daemons and imps. Much of Shoe’s world uses imps and Hellfire for daily use – power, weaponry and so on. It is clear pretty early on that this is not necessarily a good thing, and that things are going to change in the novel – which they do. The author does well here to highlight what such a world dependant on magic would be like, and this aspect of the story comes across as well-realised and logical.
It was nice to read something that in the end turns into a rather original novel, albeit with traits regular readers of the genre might recognise. This one reads as a Grimdark Western novel, rather like Red Country, but with magic, something Joe’s books do not normally have. There is enough intelligence and difference in style to make The Incorruptibles a worthy read on its own. The ending is a real page turner. However, be warned: this is the first in a trilogy, and not everything is resolved by the end of it.
The Incorruptibles is not the longest book in the world, but its relentless drive, its tight focus and its identifiable characters leaves you wanting more at the end, and it is more memorable as a result of its brevity. Definitely an author I’d revisit again.
To quote the blurb:
“In the contested and unexplored territories at the edge of the Empire, a boat is making its laborious way up stream. Riding along the banks are the mercenaries hired to protect it – from raiders, bandits and, most of all, the stretchers, elf-like natives who kill any intruders into their territory. The mercenaries know this is dangerous, deadly work. But it is what they do.
In the boat the drunk governor of the territories and his sons and daughters make merry. They believe that their status makes them untouchable. They are wrong. And with them is a mysterious, beautiful young woman, who is the key to peace between warring nations and survival for the Empire. When a callow mercenary saves the life of the Governor on an ill-fated hunting party, the two groups are thrown together.
For Fisk and Shoe – two tough, honourable mercenaries surrounded by corruption, who know they can always and only rely on each other – their young companion appears to be playing with fire. The nobles have the power, and crossing them is always risky.
And although love is a wonderful thing, sometimes the best decision is to walk away. Because no matter how untouchable or deadly you may be, the stretchers have other plans.”
Must admit, I’d not really heard of John or his writing before, although I understand he is the author of Southern Gods, which was short-listed for the Bram Stoker Award for Best First Novel in 2011. There is a definite horror vibe here, like something that has been reanimated from Weird Tales, though the novel is more mash-up, with it often being the broader Fantasy than Horror.
Of course, what gives the book its connection to the reader are those ol’human traits – loyalty, betrayal, jealousy and even love, which create the various plots of the novel. In particular, Fisk and Shoe are likable characters, though not always well-liked or perfect in their actions. As the story is told from the perspective of Shoe, there’s a fair amount of self-deprecating humour and honesty which rather endears him to the reader. I thought it was interesting that the Vaettir – the stretchers, elf-like savages of the novel – are rather similar in behaviour to what was the Euro-centric view of the original North American tribes, a similarity which I am sure is entirely deliberate. Many of the characters are developed to the point where they are more than the traditional two-dimensional stereotype.
This isn’t a cuddly, romantic novel, although there is romance. The tone is generally rather snarky, if understandably so. There’s also a hint of unreliable narrator here too, an interesting perspective that often suggests that there’s more going on than we know or think. What begins as a small-scale hunting expedition at the beginning of the novel soon becomes a wider view of the world-politics of this rather dangerous environment. Politics can be almost as deadly as life out on the edges of the Empire, and the later parts of the novel reflect this wider perspective.
The dialogue’s nicely done and the setting is not too far removed from a recognisable Fantasy-esque environment. I liked the writing generally, which was both natural and yet finely focused.
This style is also enhanced by there being a sprinkling of words that sound familiar (often Romanesque, here referred to as ‘Ruman’ – there is a Rume, as well as terms such as legionnaire, Marcellus, legates and so on) and those that are clearly of a different world (the vaettir, a god named Ia, daemons). Of this wider world there are subtle hints of more than this novel contains. There is an Aegypt, a Mediera which suggests something rather Mediterranean in tone and a tantalising hint of the Autumn Lords in Tchinee, which seems rather Asian in aspect. No doubt these will become important later.
What works most here is the seemingly natural and yet uneasy relationship there is between the ‘normal’ and the occultish world of daemons and imps. Much of Shoe’s world uses imps and Hellfire for daily use – power, weaponry and so on. It is clear pretty early on that this is not necessarily a good thing, and that things are going to change in the novel – which they do. The author does well here to highlight what such a world dependant on magic would be like, and this aspect of the story comes across as well-realised and logical.
It was nice to read something that in the end turns into a rather original novel, albeit with traits regular readers of the genre might recognise. This one reads as a Grimdark Western novel, rather like Red Country, but with magic, something Joe’s books do not normally have. There is enough intelligence and difference in style to make The Incorruptibles a worthy read on its own. The ending is a real page turner. However, be warned: this is the first in a trilogy, and not everything is resolved by the end of it.
The Incorruptibles is not the longest book in the world, but its relentless drive, its tight focus and its identifiable characters leaves you wanting more at the end, and it is more memorable as a result of its brevity. Definitely an author I’d revisit again.
nomiddlename's review against another edition
4.0
Cowboys, elves, saloons, spittoons and dwarves. A western-themed, gritty fantasy. If you're looking for something a little different to all the other swords and sorcery books out there, this is worth a look.
mausoleum's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75