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equleart's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I feel like this is a mystery novel, and it was an interesting one too. The city and society we're introduced to at the beginning was way too good to be true, so good that I thought the author might just be a bit naive, and the why of the unravelling of all took for granted is the meat and bones of this story and I do wish we'd gotten a bit more detail and space to let it breathe, where instead it feels very much kept to the necessary information. I am not sure how I feel about the central conflict, suffice to say it got resolved much more gracefully and justly than I expected possible but I still don't know how to feel about it.
A lot of things here are set up way too bluntly and did not really ever pay off very satisfyingly, even though there was one specific character arc that really looked like it was going to be predictable and kinda mid, ended up very cool and central to the resolution.
I am kinda underwhelmed by the big bad, just because they had barely any presence throughout most of the book and ended up being a very generic power-hungry villain and not involved with the more interesting goings-on (at least as far as this book spells it out, sequels might go more into that). For the bit they got, they had a lot pf presence and impact, all the more shame they weren't aroundany more than that.
All in all it was a fun read, though most of it just lacked the oomph to really get me invested. I'll probably read the next one eventually.
A lot of things here are set up way too bluntly and did not really ever pay off very satisfyingly, even though there was one specific character arc that really looked like it was going to be predictable and kinda mid, ended up very cool and central to the resolution.
I am kinda underwhelmed by the big bad, just because they had barely any presence throughout most of the book and ended up being a very generic power-hungry villain and not involved with the more interesting goings-on (at least as far as this book spells it out, sequels might go more into that). For the bit they got, they had a lot pf presence and impact, all the more shame they weren't aroundany more than that.
All in all it was a fun read, though most of it just lacked the oomph to really get me invested. I'll probably read the next one eventually.
sydney_arcuri's review against another edition
dnf 20%
wow i don’t know what it is but im just struggling rn to actually enjoy books. might come back but idk
wow i don’t know what it is but im just struggling rn to actually enjoy books. might come back but idk
bibliophilicwitch's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
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
4.0
darkskybooks's review against another edition
3.0
City of Lies has an intriguing premise - we are following the story of a poison taster, loyal to the rulers of the city state that the story is set in. Our main character is thrust into his role when his father and mentor is successfully poisoned along with the then ruler. In a somewhat nepotistic way the roles of ruler and food taster both pass on to the respective sons.
In the background of this there is growing unrest in the provinces around the main city - the city's elites are using their position to repress and abuse the population in the areas surrounding the city, largely peopled by a different ethnicity.
The political maneuverings and twists form the backbone of this narrative. They are worked well with interesting twists following right to the end. There are some distinctly dodgy story elements (how a rebel army is maneuvered and armed with no one having any clue about it pushes at the boundary of believability). The lack of thought towards the poorer parts of the society is well done though.
My main gripe really is with the writing style. I found it slightly distant and hard to engage with. For me this is a competent fantasy debut - I am intrigued enough to want to see where this is going. Is it perfect? no. Is it interesting? yes.
In the background of this there is growing unrest in the provinces around the main city - the city's elites are using their position to repress and abuse the population in the areas surrounding the city, largely peopled by a different ethnicity.
The political maneuverings and twists form the backbone of this narrative. They are worked well with interesting twists following right to the end. There are some distinctly dodgy story elements (how a rebel army is maneuvered and armed with no one having any clue about it pushes at the boundary of believability). The lack of thought towards the poorer parts of the society is well done though.
My main gripe really is with the writing style. I found it slightly distant and hard to engage with. For me this is a competent fantasy debut - I am intrigued enough to want to see where this is going. Is it perfect? no. Is it interesting? yes.
celiapowell's review against another edition
4.0
This was a fantastic fantasy novel. Jovan and his sister Kalina are members of a family whose secret purpose is to protect the ruling family of the city in which they live from poison. Gradually everything falls apart around them - the pacing of this story was brilliant in the way that it lurches from things going from bad to worse in a way that just draws you deeper in to the story. Ends in a satisfactory way, but I would also love to read a sequel.
orlaithma's review against another edition
4.0
I adore reading the work of debut authors and it's a real treat when I find a book as wonderful as City of Lies by Sam Hawke. How could I not love it when the opening line is "I was seven years old the first time my uncle poisoned me."
Despite being 557 pages of relatively small script, it didn't once feel too long. The story progressed at a steady pace, always with an air of mystery that spurred me on chapter after chapter with the worldbuilding, the characters and the plot all remarkably well developed.
Each chapter began with a description of a different herb, with a list of its distinguishing symptoms and cues on how to recognise it, before swapping back and forth between brother and sister Jovan and Kalina. This switch in narrative helped to give vastly differing insights into what was happening in the plot without feeling in any way disruptive.
I'm so happy after finding out just today that a sequel is in the works for next year - I'm already excited to read it!
Thank you to Penguin for this beautiful ARC.
Despite being 557 pages of relatively small script, it didn't once feel too long. The story progressed at a steady pace, always with an air of mystery that spurred me on chapter after chapter with the worldbuilding, the characters and the plot all remarkably well developed.
Each chapter began with a description of a different herb, with a list of its distinguishing symptoms and cues on how to recognise it, before swapping back and forth between brother and sister Jovan and Kalina. This switch in narrative helped to give vastly differing insights into what was happening in the plot without feeling in any way disruptive.
I'm so happy after finding out just today that a sequel is in the works for next year - I'm already excited to read it!
Thank you to Penguin for this beautiful ARC.
ceena's review against another edition
*I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*
DNF @ 35%
This is such a hard review to write. At the time I'm writing this I haven't even decided what rating I'm going to give it. This book is written really well and there is some good stuff-- I even have people I might recommend it to, but it just isn't working for me.
For me, the book seemed to drag. I suppose I like more action in my books? But it felt like they were talking in circles and complaining about the same things - this isn't truly fair to say, since they have real concerns that aren't going away. But, it felt like nothing was getting done. That feeling of things being stagnant and slow progress towards finding the bad people had me skimming pages :/
When things picked up or something happened, I was more into it, but when a poisoning happened and I realized I was still only half-interested, I knew it was time to put the book down.
I will say I was also worried about where the ending was going to go... why the people were doing what they were doing. It is also hard to root for people who may in fact be the enemies of the people, even if they didn't realize it.
I think I'm going with 2.5 stars because if I had nothing else to read I totally would push myself through this. I am interested in what happens, just not enough.
I'd recommend this to someone who is interested in slight fantasy political intrigue with unavoidable seemingly unwinnable war thrust upon people. I know people will like this. I'd love for them to tell me why and give me a summary of the book!
DNF @ 35%
This is such a hard review to write. At the time I'm writing this I haven't even decided what rating I'm going to give it. This book is written really well and there is some good stuff-- I even have people I might recommend it to, but it just isn't working for me.
For me, the book seemed to drag. I suppose I like more action in my books? But it felt like they were talking in circles and complaining about the same things - this isn't truly fair to say, since they have real concerns that aren't going away. But, it felt like nothing was getting done. That feeling of things being stagnant and slow progress towards finding the bad people had me skimming pages :/
When things picked up or something happened, I was more into it, but when a poisoning happened and I realized I was still only half-interested, I knew it was time to put the book down.
I will say I was also worried about where the ending was going to go... why the people were doing what they were doing. It is also hard to root for people who may in fact be the enemies of the people, even if they didn't realize it.
I think I'm going with 2.5 stars because if I had nothing else to read I totally would push myself through this. I am interested in what happens, just not enough.
I'd recommend this to someone who is interested in slight fantasy political intrigue with unavoidable seemingly unwinnable war thrust upon people. I know people will like this. I'd love for them to tell me why and give me a summary of the book!
bekah_beks's review against another edition
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
_rowantree_'s review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
alaris's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
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
4.25