malus23's review against another edition
2.0
I think this one just wasn't going to resonate with me. It wasn't badly done, I just never really got to that point where I sank into the story and got swept up. There wasn't any one thing I hated, or loved - just a constant tolerance. Even by the end, I didn't really care if they found a solution or just all split apart and the city was destroyed. Might have been better if it did, that would've been unique and unusual. And then the constant gloom and doom would have had more impact, maybe?
kepheus's review
3.0
It's like a D&D group that's sick of each other, but the DM won't quite let them break up without resolving the intricate backstories he's developed for them. Six individual stories occasionally laced together in a common powder keg of a city, but none are enough to hold your interest.
saoki's review
4.0
This is pretty much a dark and gory story, so much that in certain moments the main characters are actually knee deep in corpses, so I can't really recommend to everyone.
Yet...
It's also strangely warm, much of it because the protagonists: a group of very broken adventurers, each trying desperately to look cool and professional while hiding their fragility. You know, people. It's very hard to read this book without learning to care about them, despite and possibly because of their flaws.
Set in a very capitalist, very fantastic city, the story does not shy away from the brutal inequality of a class system. The author makes a very clever use of the outsider "oid" characters to stress out how absurd city living is, but it also doesn't tries to make things worse for effect. It's dark, but not grimdark. It might scare you, but it doesn't suddenly crosses into horror, just dips its toes from time to time.
So I liked it, this novel that walks such an interesting line between pulp and horror, dark and epic fantasy. I'd say it's a dark epic.
Yet...
It's also strangely warm, much of it because the protagonists: a group of very broken adventurers, each trying desperately to look cool and professional while hiding their fragility. You know, people. It's very hard to read this book without learning to care about them, despite and possibly because of their flaws.
Set in a very capitalist, very fantastic city, the story does not shy away from the brutal inequality of a class system. The author makes a very clever use of the outsider "oid" characters to stress out how absurd city living is, but it also doesn't tries to make things worse for effect. It's dark, but not grimdark. It might scare you, but it doesn't suddenly crosses into horror, just dips its toes from time to time.
So I liked it, this novel that walks such an interesting line between pulp and horror, dark and epic fantasy. I'd say it's a dark epic.
ithaca's review
3.0
I think I needed to have read the previous trilogy that introduced the characters. There was too much history between the main characters that I didn't understand and I felt like I missed a lot. I enjoyed the unique world and different races and creatures. The more modern language and humor made it fun to read even though the characters didn't do it for me. It was dark and everyone seemed trapped in this cycle of having to kill to survive, not wanting to keep killing, but not knowing how to survive if they stop killing. I'm interested in where the larger story is going and I'll probably keep reading the series.
madbro13's review
2.0
This book drags on and on and on. Lots of stuff happens, none of it interesting or very relevant to the plot as the author teases way too slowly and repeats things over and over. The writing is alright but the storytelling made it painful to finish. Not planning on reading the rest of the series.
anti_formalist12's review against another edition
1.0
Gave up on this one about half-way through. This book just never got going.
csweetman88's review
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
masteryoda716's review
4.0
City Stained Red is a fun adventure with strong characters and exciting action sequences. I would have liked to see a little more depth in the world-building and a richer plot, but this story definitely hooked me early and never let go.
One of my favorite attributes was the differing viewpoint characters. They all had unique perspectives and a distinct feel. Sykes also did a great job developing characters that you care about and want to continue onward in their journey
Recommend this book for fans of fantasy, but especially those who enjoy heavy action. This might not work the best for Fantasy readers who are looking for a more traditional epic with lots of world-building, history, etc.
One of my favorite attributes was the differing viewpoint characters. They all had unique perspectives and a distinct feel. Sykes also did a great job developing characters that you care about and want to continue onward in their journey
Recommend this book for fans of fantasy, but especially those who enjoy heavy action. This might not work the best for Fantasy readers who are looking for a more traditional epic with lots of world-building, history, etc.
banjax451's review
5.0
Loved this. Both a love letter to D&D and a deconstruction of it's tropes. Wonderful characters and an intriguing plot. Looking forward to the next installment.