misterwisp's review
adventurous
dark
hopeful
sad
tense
fast-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? It's complicated
5.0
This is a clever book about standing your ground in the face of political manoeuvring by rich and powerful people who see you as nothing more than a pawn. It comes across as thoughtful and the characters are well written. The world feels surprisingly thorough and complete considering the length of the book. It's straightforward, easy to follow, and fast paced. The ending wrapped things up in a compelling way that left room for more to come without actually requiring more to complete the story. It's really great and worth the time.
Content Warnings
Graphic: War
Moderate: Physical abuse and Violence
Minor: Classism, Sexual content, and Blood
joaoeira's review
5.0
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED AT FANTASY LITERATURE
One of the discoveries I made this year about my reading preferences was that I really enjoy shorter reads. It may have been because the behemoth volumes typical of fantasy series made me sceptical that you could, gasp, actually tell a good story that would leave me satisfied in fewer pages, but I am glad now that I am actively looking for stories that I would have otherwise neglected to take into consideration. Alter S. Reiss’ Sunset Mantle is one of those stories which I would have missed were I to only read doorstoppers, and it reinforces my love for shorter works because Sunset Mantle is a fantastic book.
Cete is a veteran with decades of experience in the art of warmaking. Pragmatic and honest to a fault, he was exiled from his home for having slain his leader after he was taken by the madding, a sort of war lust that clouds one’s judgment and turns people into blood-seeking berserkers. Cete holds no grudges against those who exiled him, for he is smart enough to know that it was what had to be done by those in charge, but he is left now with the charge of having to procure a contract into a fighting company without any of the safeguards of belonging to a clan. He is utterly alone when he arrives at Reach Antach, and he soon learns, after attending a religious service, that Reach Antach is doomed.
The Antach of the Antach, one of the leaders of Reach Antach and the head of the Antach clan, has a remarkable resemblance to the leader of the White Horn tribe, and when Cete realizes that this most likely means they are brothers, he knows the city clans will not abide having one of the Reaches forming an alliance with the tribes. Cete decides then to abandon Reach Antach, but when he discovers a gorgeous mantle of exquisite craftsmanship in the shop of a blind lady, he decides to stay so that the woman Marelle might finish his own commission for a new, beautiful mantle.
Cete is without a doubt one of the strongest things about Sunset Mantle. Very observant of his surroundings and fiercely intelligent, he is the type of character that would behave similarly were he dealing with a soldier or with the leader of a nation. He is loyal to those he commands and doesn’t believe that their lives are interchangeable and fit to be thrown into suicide missions for meagre gains, and his honour may sometimes cost him dearly; for Cete, such is the price of living a life truly worthwhile. He finds in Marelle a partner not unlike himself, and in their union will come to rest the very future of Reach Antach.
Much of the marketing buzz surrounding Sunset Mantle bills it as a mini-epic fantasy, an epic fantasy without the hundreds of pages of expository world-building and the usual trappings of the genre that makes it so propitious for a story to be told in multiple volumes, but for my money Sunset Mantle is more sword and sorcery than epic fantasy. An argument could be made successfully about the line between the two genres being sufficiently blurred for the distinction to be pedantic, but I do think that it reads more like a sword and sorcery story than an epic fantasy one. A more accurate way to describe it would be to call it a sword and sorcery story embedded in an epic fantasy tapestry. This is, of course, not a critique but an observation, for if you haven’t realized by now, I really enjoyed Sunset Mantle.
It was also refreshing to find that the romantic relationship between Cete and Marelle was a mature one, where each saw the other as a full person and knew themselves to be whole. They love each other, go to each other looking for guidance about what ails them, but if one contradicts the other about some issue the other doesn’t raise hell on earth about some perceived malfeasance against their “loved one”. In a way it’s a rational relationship, which isn’t a word usually associated with romantic love but which I find to be the best compliment I can give about the way Reiss handles their relationship.
Were there betting markets on which new authors will become big in the field, and were I a betting man, I would put my money on Alter S. Reiss. There’s something commendable about managing to tell so good and thoughtful a story in what amounts to a novella, and though at times I thought it was too easy for Cete to reach certain conclusions with so little information available to him, his grizzly, worn-down, but honourable and honest behaviour made him a character one could look up to and try to be like, in mind-set if not in action (unfortunately my sword technique is a little rusty and I never really did like blood). I wholeheartedly recommend you pick up Sunset Mantle, and I hope to read more in the future from Alter S. Reiss.
One of the discoveries I made this year about my reading preferences was that I really enjoy shorter reads. It may have been because the behemoth volumes typical of fantasy series made me sceptical that you could, gasp, actually tell a good story that would leave me satisfied in fewer pages, but I am glad now that I am actively looking for stories that I would have otherwise neglected to take into consideration. Alter S. Reiss’ Sunset Mantle is one of those stories which I would have missed were I to only read doorstoppers, and it reinforces my love for shorter works because Sunset Mantle is a fantastic book.
Cete is a veteran with decades of experience in the art of warmaking. Pragmatic and honest to a fault, he was exiled from his home for having slain his leader after he was taken by the madding, a sort of war lust that clouds one’s judgment and turns people into blood-seeking berserkers. Cete holds no grudges against those who exiled him, for he is smart enough to know that it was what had to be done by those in charge, but he is left now with the charge of having to procure a contract into a fighting company without any of the safeguards of belonging to a clan. He is utterly alone when he arrives at Reach Antach, and he soon learns, after attending a religious service, that Reach Antach is doomed.
The Antach of the Antach, one of the leaders of Reach Antach and the head of the Antach clan, has a remarkable resemblance to the leader of the White Horn tribe, and when Cete realizes that this most likely means they are brothers, he knows the city clans will not abide having one of the Reaches forming an alliance with the tribes. Cete decides then to abandon Reach Antach, but when he discovers a gorgeous mantle of exquisite craftsmanship in the shop of a blind lady, he decides to stay so that the woman Marelle might finish his own commission for a new, beautiful mantle.
Cete is without a doubt one of the strongest things about Sunset Mantle. Very observant of his surroundings and fiercely intelligent, he is the type of character that would behave similarly were he dealing with a soldier or with the leader of a nation. He is loyal to those he commands and doesn’t believe that their lives are interchangeable and fit to be thrown into suicide missions for meagre gains, and his honour may sometimes cost him dearly; for Cete, such is the price of living a life truly worthwhile. He finds in Marelle a partner not unlike himself, and in their union will come to rest the very future of Reach Antach.
Much of the marketing buzz surrounding Sunset Mantle bills it as a mini-epic fantasy, an epic fantasy without the hundreds of pages of expository world-building and the usual trappings of the genre that makes it so propitious for a story to be told in multiple volumes, but for my money Sunset Mantle is more sword and sorcery than epic fantasy. An argument could be made successfully about the line between the two genres being sufficiently blurred for the distinction to be pedantic, but I do think that it reads more like a sword and sorcery story than an epic fantasy one. A more accurate way to describe it would be to call it a sword and sorcery story embedded in an epic fantasy tapestry. This is, of course, not a critique but an observation, for if you haven’t realized by now, I really enjoyed Sunset Mantle.
It was also refreshing to find that the romantic relationship between Cete and Marelle was a mature one, where each saw the other as a full person and knew themselves to be whole. They love each other, go to each other looking for guidance about what ails them, but if one contradicts the other about some issue the other doesn’t raise hell on earth about some perceived malfeasance against their “loved one”. In a way it’s a rational relationship, which isn’t a word usually associated with romantic love but which I find to be the best compliment I can give about the way Reiss handles their relationship.
Were there betting markets on which new authors will become big in the field, and were I a betting man, I would put my money on Alter S. Reiss. There’s something commendable about managing to tell so good and thoughtful a story in what amounts to a novella, and though at times I thought it was too easy for Cete to reach certain conclusions with so little information available to him, his grizzly, worn-down, but honourable and honest behaviour made him a character one could look up to and try to be like, in mind-set if not in action (unfortunately my sword technique is a little rusty and I never really did like blood). I wholeheartedly recommend you pick up Sunset Mantle, and I hope to read more in the future from Alter S. Reiss.
angrywombat's review against another edition
4.0
I was REALLY impressed by this little story. It packs more into these few hundred pages than most fantasy tomes manage in a whole trilogy of bricks.
Cete is our PoV - a disgraced, over the hill soldier looking for work - and just when he was about to leave a city on the brink of trouble he meets a blind weaver and her beautiful handiwork... and decides to stay. Then he gets drawn into political machinations which are threatening his new-found home.
I loved this story as it was all personal - everything was about the stakes as they effected Cete or the people he cared about, even though there is a whole world of politics, treason, strange lore and other things going on just beyond sight :) The way it was written made me feel it was something almost "old testament": the religion and its obsession with laws and contracts. Also the setup with walled cities and the fields of barley and olives... I was picturing something almost babylonian! The relationship between Cete and Marelle (the blind weaver) was beautiful and free of drama - trust and mutual empathy is the basis of this relationship, and it shows.
I heartily recommend this - even if you dont like it so much it will be over and done with in a couple of days :) But I think you'll be pleasantly surprised :)
I gotta give this a 4/5. I would actually have been happier if this were a "full sized epic", as it did feel very rushed at times - there is a LOT packed into this tiny book.
Cete is our PoV - a disgraced, over the hill soldier looking for work - and just when he was about to leave a city on the brink of trouble he meets a blind weaver and her beautiful handiwork... and decides to stay. Then he gets drawn into political machinations which are threatening his new-found home.
I loved this story as it was all personal - everything was about the stakes as they effected Cete or the people he cared about, even though there is a whole world of politics, treason, strange lore and other things going on just beyond sight :) The way it was written made me feel it was something almost "old testament": the religion and its obsession with laws and contracts. Also the setup with walled cities and the fields of barley and olives... I was picturing something almost babylonian! The relationship between Cete and Marelle (the blind weaver) was beautiful and free of drama - trust and mutual empathy is the basis of this relationship, and it shows.
I heartily recommend this - even if you dont like it so much it will be over and done with in a couple of days :) But I think you'll be pleasantly surprised :)
I gotta give this a 4/5. I would actually have been happier if this were a "full sized epic", as it did feel very rushed at times - there is a LOT packed into this tiny book.
tregina's review against another edition
3.0
On a character level, I found this really compelling. Cete and Marelle are, both individually and together, complex characters. Everything and everyone else is secondary to them, and really, the entire thing is ultimately a character piece about Cete. The plot itself, the action and the politics, is bit of a slog, though, and the world itself is a fairly traditional military fantasy environment.
leticiatoraci's review against another edition
5.0
Beautifully written epic fantasy novella with themes such as love, honor, loyalty, heroism, that make it transcendent and relatable to human experience at the same time. One of my favorites in the [b:Tor.com Collection: Season 1|30423606|Tor.com Collection Season 1|Tor Books|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1478803299l/30423606._SX50_.jpg|50949723] so far.
The Audiobook narrator also fitted extremely well for this particular story.
The Audiobook narrator also fitted extremely well for this particular story.
mpscrimshaw's review against another edition
3.0
So refreshing to read a fantasy story that was so bite-sized. Of course it was a little difficult to get a feel for the world in great detail, but what you need to know is always mostly clear and the characters, despite having very little actual progression, are well fleshed-out and feel "real."
colossal's review against another edition
4.0
A wonderful little military fantasy story worthy of comparison to Gemmell.
Cete comes to the Reach Antach at a mercenary in perilous times. The Reach is going to be acted against because it's an upstart military power and it has made unwise allies. An early encounter with a blind seamstress sparks unexpected loyalty to the Reach though, and Cete performs a feat of honor that leaves him an outcast. That doesn't stop him fighting though, and with his blind love's support he can do the impossible.
A tale of honor, loyalty and heroism against overwhelming evil forces, this is a terrific story. The world is no-magic but filled with the sort of economics and politics that any student of medieval Europe would feel right at home with. Cete himself is a great character with a noble point of view. Marelle is the craftswoman responsible for the mantle with the sunset embroidery that first catches his eye, and she is equally noble especially considering her vulnerability.
Short and very good.
Cete comes to the Reach Antach at a mercenary in perilous times. The Reach is going to be acted against because it's an upstart military power and it has made unwise allies. An early encounter with a blind seamstress sparks unexpected loyalty to the Reach though, and Cete performs a feat of honor that leaves him an outcast. That doesn't stop him fighting though, and with his blind love's support he can do the impossible.
A tale of honor, loyalty and heroism against overwhelming evil forces, this is a terrific story. The world is no-magic but filled with the sort of economics and politics that any student of medieval Europe would feel right at home with. Cete himself is a great character with a noble point of view. Marelle is the craftswoman responsible for the mantle with the sunset embroidery that first catches his eye, and she is equally noble especially considering her vulnerability.
Short and very good.
soless's review against another edition
3.0
To a political thriller disguised as a sword and sorcery novel.
coolcurrybooks's review against another edition
4.0
Sunset Mantle is a solid work of high fantasy. What’s most fascinating about it is that for all it’s battles and political intrigue, it’s less than 200 pages long. That’s right ya’ll. This is a high fantasy novella.
Cete is a wandering solider for hire. He knows that Reach Antach is about to be on the losing side of a war and that the smart thing to do would be to move on… but somehow, he just can’t bring himself to do so. When he sees a beautifully embroidered mantle made by a blind craftswoman, he becomes inspired to stay and to risk everything for the town of Reach Antach.
The world of Sunset Mantle doesn’t have magic, but it does have a historical feel. I’ve seen other reviewers say it reminded them of the Old Testament, but I was personally thinking of the ancient Greek city states. A small number of cities loan out the supplies and money needed to found new cities, the Reaches, which are then in debt for hundreds of years, due in part to constant warring with local tribes. Reach Antach has found a faster way out of their debt by creating an alliance with the nearest tribe, giving them the peace and prosperity needed to raise the funds to pay off their settling debt. Of course, this threatens a situation that is immensely beneficial to the most powerful cities, hence war is soon arriving.
Unfortunately, I don’t think this story was my type of thing. While it was solidly executed, there’s nothing about it that would ever draw me to reread it or even to remember it. Sunset Mantle is missing that hard to define element that makes you connect to the characters and world and become emotionally invested in the plot. Basically, it ended up feeling paint by numbers. Of course, it could be due to my preferences as a reader. There’s certain things I really love in fantasy books (inventive world building, active female characters, queer characters, heist plots, ect.) and Sunset Mantle didn’t really fall into any of those categories. Maybe fans of military fantasy would enjoy it more.
My favorite thing about Sunset Mantle was Cete’s relationship with the blind weaver, Marelle. They do become romantically involved, but their relationship is based on mutual respect. Even though the world of Sunset Mantle appears to be a patriarchal society, Cete treats Marelle as an equal and listens to her advice on what decisions he should make.
Perhaps readers with different tastes will enjoy Sunset Mantle more, but it’s not a story I will ever return to.
Originally posted on The Illustrated Page.
Cete is a wandering solider for hire. He knows that Reach Antach is about to be on the losing side of a war and that the smart thing to do would be to move on… but somehow, he just can’t bring himself to do so. When he sees a beautifully embroidered mantle made by a blind craftswoman, he becomes inspired to stay and to risk everything for the town of Reach Antach.
The world of Sunset Mantle doesn’t have magic, but it does have a historical feel. I’ve seen other reviewers say it reminded them of the Old Testament, but I was personally thinking of the ancient Greek city states. A small number of cities loan out the supplies and money needed to found new cities, the Reaches, which are then in debt for hundreds of years, due in part to constant warring with local tribes. Reach Antach has found a faster way out of their debt by creating an alliance with the nearest tribe, giving them the peace and prosperity needed to raise the funds to pay off their settling debt. Of course, this threatens a situation that is immensely beneficial to the most powerful cities, hence war is soon arriving.
Unfortunately, I don’t think this story was my type of thing. While it was solidly executed, there’s nothing about it that would ever draw me to reread it or even to remember it. Sunset Mantle is missing that hard to define element that makes you connect to the characters and world and become emotionally invested in the plot. Basically, it ended up feeling paint by numbers. Of course, it could be due to my preferences as a reader. There’s certain things I really love in fantasy books (inventive world building, active female characters, queer characters, heist plots, ect.) and Sunset Mantle didn’t really fall into any of those categories. Maybe fans of military fantasy would enjoy it more.
My favorite thing about Sunset Mantle was Cete’s relationship with the blind weaver, Marelle. They do become romantically involved, but their relationship is based on mutual respect. Even though the world of Sunset Mantle appears to be a patriarchal society, Cete treats Marelle as an equal and listens to her advice on what decisions he should make.
Perhaps readers with different tastes will enjoy Sunset Mantle more, but it’s not a story I will ever return to.
Originally posted on The Illustrated Page.
robynldouglas's review
3.0
Very competently written book, done in a style that reminded me of Gemmell. However, it's just not the sort of book that grips me (too much focus on military manoeuvres) so despite several solid characters and interesting world-building I didn't truly enjoy this one. No fault of the book, there!