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A review by novoaust
Retribution Falls by Chris Wooding
adventurous
dark
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This is a reread for me. Tales of the Ketty Jay has always been a comfort series for me, and I am happy to explore this world once more.
I am a sucker for both pirates as well as steampunk books, and I wish we got to see them more often in fantasy. Retribution Falls combines the two in a blistering story that really never slows down. We follow Darian Frey, captain of the Ketty Jay, as well as his crew, as they are set up to commit a crime. Now on the run, the crew will stop at nothing to clear their name.
This story has gun fights, sword, airborne dog fights, fights where a giant demon golem saves the day, and everyones personal favorite, a grumpy cat (who's name is Slag). Characters are a highlight for me. The crew of the Ketty Jay are a band of misfits. Rapscallions looking for a place to fit in, and they've found their home aboard Frey's ship. Each character is unique, with most of them possessing wit, humor, and overall funny personalities. The banter between the bunch reminds me of that between Wax and Wayne in Mistborn era 2, and makes for some great moments.
The steampunk world that this is set in is imaginative and executed quite well. While the plot is straight forward and we do get some typical fantasy tropes, the story feels fresh and new. Random towns built on scaffolding off the side of mountains paired with the industrial side of cities (pipes, duct work, etc) make for a vivid setting not seen often in fantasy.
I wish we did get to see more of the world though, as often times, the crew would fast travel between locations. As much as I appreciated the action, I wish we got to enjoy the settings more than we do.
Overall, Retribution Falls is a great start to a great series, and I firmly believe that Chris Wooding is one of the most underrated fantasy authors there is.
I am a sucker for both pirates as well as steampunk books, and I wish we got to see them more often in fantasy. Retribution Falls combines the two in a blistering story that really never slows down. We follow Darian Frey, captain of the Ketty Jay, as well as his crew, as they are set up to commit a crime. Now on the run, the crew will stop at nothing to clear their name.
This story has gun fights, sword, airborne dog fights, fights where a giant demon golem saves the day, and everyones personal favorite, a grumpy cat (who's name is Slag). Characters are a highlight for me. The crew of the Ketty Jay are a band of misfits. Rapscallions looking for a place to fit in, and they've found their home aboard Frey's ship. Each character is unique, with most of them possessing wit, humor, and overall funny personalities. The banter between the bunch reminds me of that between Wax and Wayne in Mistborn era 2, and makes for some great moments.
The steampunk world that this is set in is imaginative and executed quite well. While the plot is straight forward and we do get some typical fantasy tropes, the story feels fresh and new. Random towns built on scaffolding off the side of mountains paired with the industrial side of cities (pipes, duct work, etc) make for a vivid setting not seen often in fantasy.
I wish we did get to see more of the world though, as often times, the crew would fast travel between locations. As much as I appreciated the action, I wish we got to enjoy the settings more than we do.
Overall, Retribution Falls is a great start to a great series, and I firmly believe that Chris Wooding is one of the most underrated fantasy authors there is.