snazel's review against another edition
5.0
I am a sucker for intricately wrought world building that is intrinsic to the plot of a fantasy murder mystery, let me TELL YOU.
bookcraft's review
3.0
The characters and story were enough to keep me reading through the occasional patches of head-hopping/sloppy POV and despite the overabundance of epithets. Fascinating world, interesting characters, and just enough spark between Nico and Philip that I really want to see what happens in the next installment.
I read the Scribd version (subscription plan), which had some minor formatting issues and a couple of typos, but was mostly clean and readable.
I read the Scribd version (subscription plan), which had some minor formatting issues and a couple of typos, but was mostly clean and readable.
bec_ourcolourfulpages's review
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
losthitsu's review against another edition
5.0
One of those patently 'me' books that I know will be very difficult to recommend to anyone else - a low-stakes, low-action fantasy that seemingly does little more than to follow the protagonists through their day to day lives, but that manages to create a lush and complex world in between those mundane details. It also features the rarest of character types - reasonable, decent people who are particularly skilled at not letting anger lead their action and are able to diffuse difficult situations with minimum violence. I fully understand why many people find this boring - it's quite possibly the most gloriously slow-paced police procedural I've ever encountered - but that's precisely what I loved about it.
aishoka's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
serru's review against another edition
3.0
This book was actually more like a detective novel than a fantasy novel, and takes place in an alternate history medieval setting where most of the characters are middle-class citizens. Magic is a part of everyday life, mainly in the form of astrology, where the stars determine the lives of the people. There were no coming-of-age rites or epic quests to go on as per the usual fantasy fare; instead the plot revolves around Nicolas Rathe, who works a job equivalent to that of a policeman and investigates a mystery involving disappearing children. The story is utterly simple as all the scenes are basically just Rathe running around the city questioning people-- basically the unglamourous and often uninteresting work that make up what real-life detectives actually do, without any sort of real excitement or action. I wasn't interested in the mystery at all, which there were no real clues about all through the book and then was solved through a series of last-minute revelations. What ultimately kept me interested in the book was its superb world-building, which was detailed, intricate, and felt very real-- probably some of the best world-building I've ever encountered in any story-- and completely outshined everything else in the book.
eemms's review
4.0
3.5 rounded up
Once I got into it I really enjoyed this book but man did this book need a glossary. I would bet at least $20 that the author had spent years and years building up this world before writing the story down. And it's an interesting world, but the author wasn't always great at drawing a map through what she'd built. I read the whole book and I still don't really understand what a "leman" is or what's up with the butchers guild.
But all that aside, it's a great fantasy procedural novel. The tension gradually ramps up until the last quarter or so I was staying up late to read just a little more and the prologue drops just enough hint of what's to come to keep a real sense of suspense over the whole thing.
The world portrayed is women-lead and nonplussed about same sex pairings, which was cool (you don't realize how. many. characters. are. men. until you read a book where it's not the default and you're pleasantly surprised by how many NPCs are "she" for a while) though I do wish there had been a stronger romance element (this is not a romance novel at all).
Once I got into it I really enjoyed this book but man did this book need a glossary. I would bet at least $20 that the author had spent years and years building up this world before writing the story down. And it's an interesting world, but the author wasn't always great at drawing a map through what she'd built. I read the whole book and I still don't really understand what a "leman" is or what's up with the butchers guild.
But all that aside, it's a great fantasy procedural novel. The tension gradually ramps up until the last quarter or so I was staying up late to read just a little more and the prologue drops just enough hint of what's to come to keep a real sense of suspense over the whole thing.
The world portrayed is women-lead and nonplussed about same sex pairings, which was cool (you don't realize how. many. characters. are. men. until you read a book where it's not the default and you're pleasantly surprised by how many NPCs are "she" for a while) though I do wish there had been a stronger romance element (this is not a romance novel at all).
nixiie's review
5.0
I loved it, absolutely loved it. I would say 4.5 stars over all, the writing was occasionally clunky and the world could be hard to comprehend, but i'm going to round up because having finished it am am thrilled with the experience. Fantasy, mystery, interesting gender roll reversals and two awesome main characters who are adorably clueless about the crushes they have on each other. I can't wait to read the next three and a half books!
mitchf's review
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
emilyredwood's review
adventurous
challenging
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5