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laurarhds's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
theshaggyshepherd's review against another edition
5.0
I failed at writing a review and it’s been too long now but I’ll be rereading this soon and making up for it then. I wanted to add though at least that this was my favorite book of 2022 and I can’t wait to continue with the series soon.
briggamooz's review
4.0
Actual: 4.5/5
I read this in 2021 and neglected to leave a review. As I've received an ARC of Tainted Dominion #2, I did a re-read to remedy the situation and make amends.
If you are a fan of grimdark, gaslamp, political machinations, governmental conspiracy and upheaval, gritty worlds, and complicated, multi-faceted relationships, I highly recommend this novel. It's a chunk of a book that utterly absorbs the reader in a whirlwind of backroom dealings, murders, spies, and the sort of wealthy-who-run-the-nation leadership that has one waiting when some of these characters are going to start asking who, exactly, is John Galt.
At the center of it all, working through a crisis of self and career, is Tashué; a modern-era take on a Jean Valjean-type who wants earnestly to believe in the law and those who uphold it.
Disillusionment is the theme of the novel, a topical, sometimes painful examination of a society so numb to the status quo and blind to obvious prejudices and atrocities, that it takes the murders of children to push one of the Dominion's own Tainted into action.
Yet, for the darkness and grittiness of the world, it is populated with deeply developed characters, each pursuing their own aims with a sometimes gleeful madness as they dance circles around, and weave themselves tighter, to one another, all while walking along a common thread of hope - that a better politician can clear the air, that the laws can be amended, that the Dominion can evolve.
4.5/5, and I wavered on this one. In the end, Legacy of the Brightwash isn't for everyone (which would be a 5-star), but for those of us down for a chonker of a book that will punch us in the heart and make us want to wave giant flags and build barricades against a corrupt government, then buckle up because this is a hell of a ride.
Legacy of the Brightwash was the 2nd place finisher in the 7th Self-Published Fantasy Blog-Off, a well earned and deserved placement.
Tainted Dominion #2: Legacy of Brick & Bone releases on APRIL 25
I read this in 2021 and neglected to leave a review. As I've received an ARC of Tainted Dominion #2, I did a re-read to remedy the situation and make amends.
If you are a fan of grimdark, gaslamp, political machinations, governmental conspiracy and upheaval, gritty worlds, and complicated, multi-faceted relationships, I highly recommend this novel. It's a chunk of a book that utterly absorbs the reader in a whirlwind of backroom dealings, murders, spies, and the sort of wealthy-who-run-the-nation leadership that has one waiting when some of these characters are going to start asking who, exactly, is John Galt.
At the center of it all, working through a crisis of self and career, is Tashué; a modern-era take on a Jean Valjean-type who wants earnestly to believe in the law and those who uphold it.
Disillusionment is the theme of the novel, a topical, sometimes painful examination of a society so numb to the status quo and blind to obvious prejudices and atrocities, that it takes the murders of children to push one of the Dominion's own Tainted into action.
Yet, for the darkness and grittiness of the world, it is populated with deeply developed characters, each pursuing their own aims with a sometimes gleeful madness as they dance circles around, and weave themselves tighter, to one another, all while walking along a common thread of hope - that a better politician can clear the air, that the laws can be amended, that the Dominion can evolve.
4.5/5, and I wavered on this one. In the end, Legacy of the Brightwash isn't for everyone (which would be a 5-star), but for those of us down for a chonker of a book that will punch us in the heart and make us want to wave giant flags and build barricades against a corrupt government, then buckle up because this is a hell of a ride.
Legacy of the Brightwash was the 2nd place finisher in the 7th Self-Published Fantasy Blog-Off, a well earned and deserved placement.
Tainted Dominion #2: Legacy of Brick & Bone releases on APRIL 25
_tomeraider's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Now THAT'S how you write a grimdark fantasy! This book was so good. The worldbuilding was top notch and just felt immensely bleak and nitty gritty.
The Authority is tru villainy and I can't wait for them to get their just desserts. I loved the cast of characters we got and how their POVs flowed so naturally for me. I wasn't bored with a single character.
Tashué's battle with realizing he had been on the wrong side for years and his internal agonization and guilt when people he loved got hurt... oof my heart HURTS.
I loved how even though this story is grim, we had characters that were beacons of light trying to fight and hold on to hope despite the darkness surrounding them.
The writing in this was very accessible and flowed smoothly. Krystle Matar did a phenomenal job in immersing the reader into this world. Although this book was chunky, it read at an even pace and I found myself anticipating what was gonna happen next.
I was a bit confused in the beginning, but as I read further things started to connect for me. I'm so scared to read Brick & Bone next; I feel like I'm in for some serious emotional damage.
The Authority is tru villainy and I can't wait for them to get their just desserts. I loved the cast of characters we got and how their POVs flowed so naturally for me. I wasn't bored with a single character.
Tashué's battle with realizing he had been on the wrong side for years and his internal agonization and guilt when people he loved got hurt... oof my heart HURTS.
I loved how even though this story is grim, we had characters that were beacons of light trying to fight and hold on to hope despite the darkness surrounding them.
The writing in this was very accessible and flowed smoothly. Krystle Matar did a phenomenal job in immersing the reader into this world. Although this book was chunky, it read at an even pace and I found myself anticipating what was gonna happen next.
I was a bit confused in the beginning, but as I read further things started to connect for me. I'm so scared to read Brick & Bone next; I feel like I'm in for some serious emotional damage.
cbro's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
hindessm's review
5.0
Excellent, brutal story with great characters. Looking forward to the next book.
tinyelfarcanist's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death and Death
Moderate: Rape
Minor: Grief
mel_c_bell's review
challenging
dark
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Where do I start? I'm obsessed. How about there?
This book gives off a steampunk, Bladerunner, Snowpiercer, Downtown Abby, and Peaky Blinders mashup vibe.
Fluffy Grimdarks is my personality. Something about the weak spark of love trying to ignite in a world of hopelessness makes me kick my kick and squeal like a pre-teen girl at a boyband concert. The author, I believe, finds evil enjoyment in making us cringe, wince, rage, and swoon as we sit back helplessly and watch these characters do everything in their power to do the right thing while getting kicked every time they're down.
A war veteran working as an agent responsible for monitoring individuals who have power, aka talent, discovers the mutilated body of a young girl washed up on the river. With just a sketch and a tattoo on the girl's neck, Tashué decides to take on investigating her death even though it's not his jurisdiction, nor will anyone help him. Due to his war hero status, he finds himself the figurehead in a corrupt government campaign, a messy affair, and in the sights of a ruthless crime boss.
Tashué might be the greatest male character ever imagined, not because he's perfect, but rather because he is real. He is real in the sense that a man of his upbringing and struggles and mistakes reacts the way you'd expect. He doesn't have some miraculous character arc where he makes everything right, no matter how desperately he wants to. Instead, he does the best that he can and still makes mistakes. But he wants to do right by his family and the woman he loves.
I am off to start the second book, which I'm not sure if I'm emotionally ready for.
This book gives off a steampunk, Bladerunner, Snowpiercer, Downtown Abby, and Peaky Blinders mashup vibe.
Fluffy Grimdarks is my personality. Something about the weak spark of love trying to ignite in a world of hopelessness makes me kick my kick and squeal like a pre-teen girl at a boyband concert. The author, I believe, finds evil enjoyment in making us cringe, wince, rage, and swoon as we sit back helplessly and watch these characters do everything in their power to do the right thing while getting kicked every time they're down.
A war veteran working as an agent responsible for monitoring individuals who have power, aka talent, discovers the mutilated body of a young girl washed up on the river. With just a sketch and a tattoo on the girl's neck, Tashué decides to take on investigating her death even though it's not his jurisdiction, nor will anyone help him. Due to his war hero status, he finds himself the figurehead in a corrupt government campaign, a messy affair, and in the sights of a ruthless crime boss.
Tashué might be the greatest male character ever imagined, not because he's perfect, but rather because he is real. He is real in the sense that a man of his upbringing and struggles and mistakes reacts the way you'd expect. He doesn't have some miraculous character arc where he makes everything right, no matter how desperately he wants to. Instead, he does the best that he can and still makes mistakes. But he wants to do right by his family and the woman he loves.
I am off to start the second book, which I'm not sure if I'm emotionally ready for.
kevinscorner's review
4.0
Legacy of the Brightwash is a finalist n the current SPFBO7 so I thought I’d give it a read. I enjoyed the story, but I thought it was a bit too long and still feels incomplete.
We follow Tashué Blackwood, a Regulation Officer (a cross between a police and probation officer), in charge of ensuring the compliance of the Tainted/Talented, people who have special abilities. As we join him, he has started to question whether the laws he upholds is truly right, especially after his son was imprisoned for refusing to register as Tainted.
Tashué is a fantastic conflicted lead as he struggles with his loyalties and juggles duty between what the law says is right and what he feels is right. It felt, though, like we jumped in at the tail end of his redemption arc, so we missed a lot of his own character development.
Because we were dropped right in the middle of the story, I started out confused about who all the characters were. I got the impression that everyone had a history with each other we are not yet privy to because their interactions seem unnaturally familiar. Through the first third, I felt like I missed out on some crucial subtext that could have helped me get a better feel of the characters.
Alongside Tashué’s journey of self discovery is a story about the exploitation of a subjugated minority exemplified by the plight of the budding love interest Stella. The book effectively tackles some powerful themes and subject matter, but leaves any resolution for future installments. This, in part, is why it felt like the book was incomplete. We joined Tashué when he has already been questioning and leave just as he makes his final decision, so little actually happens within the bounds of the book. So many other parts could have been included, but we just get this tiny slice towards the end (that somehow still filled a long 650 pages), but that end was just another beginning.
We follow Tashué Blackwood, a Regulation Officer (a cross between a police and probation officer), in charge of ensuring the compliance of the Tainted/Talented, people who have special abilities. As we join him, he has started to question whether the laws he upholds is truly right, especially after his son was imprisoned for refusing to register as Tainted.
Tashué is a fantastic conflicted lead as he struggles with his loyalties and juggles duty between what the law says is right and what he feels is right. It felt, though, like we jumped in at the tail end of his redemption arc, so we missed a lot of his own character development.
Because we were dropped right in the middle of the story, I started out confused about who all the characters were. I got the impression that everyone had a history with each other we are not yet privy to because their interactions seem unnaturally familiar. Through the first third, I felt like I missed out on some crucial subtext that could have helped me get a better feel of the characters.
Alongside Tashué’s journey of self discovery is a story about the exploitation of a subjugated minority exemplified by the plight of the budding love interest Stella. The book effectively tackles some powerful themes and subject matter, but leaves any resolution for future installments. This, in part, is why it felt like the book was incomplete. We joined Tashué when he has already been questioning and leave just as he makes his final decision, so little actually happens within the bounds of the book. So many other parts could have been included, but we just get this tiny slice towards the end (that somehow still filled a long 650 pages), but that end was just another beginning.
saraubs's review
3.0
3.5 stars
This was enjoyable, but it did feel somewhat bloated. The interpersonal relationships felt rich and complex, which meant I felt for many of the characters, but I just think a little trimming of excess threads would have made for a more compelling read. The central mystery really pulled me in from the beginning and only became more horrifying as time went on. I'm not usually one to gravitate toward murder mystery plots, so the fact that I was so invested in this one was a pleasant surprise.
I do think I'll continue on with the series, but it won't be a top priority.
This was enjoyable, but it did feel somewhat bloated. The interpersonal relationships felt rich and complex, which meant I felt for many of the characters, but I just think a little trimming of excess threads would have made for a more compelling read. The central mystery really pulled me in from the beginning and only became more horrifying as time went on. I'm not usually one to gravitate toward murder mystery plots, so the fact that I was so invested in this one was a pleasant surprise.
I do think I'll continue on with the series, but it won't be a top priority.