A review by peapod_boston
The Drowning City by Amanda Downum
3.0
A solid and engaging first novel that takes many of the mystery and spy tropes into the fantasy world, with a well-rendered magic system and a well-built world.
I found myself more invested in most of the secondary characters, rather than the main character. I suspect that's largely because of the genre, where the lead is an investigator and catalyst, a fish out of water there to stir up and uncover. The second book is set back in her home country and I suspect engages the reader more deeply in that character.
I don't necessarily consider this a negative. Many of the best mystery series and books are more about the character, motivations, actions and suffering of the "victims" of the mystery, and character development of the protagonist is designed to happen over the long-haul, as the series progresses. I quite enjoyed the book and will likely pick up the second at some point.
I found myself more invested in most of the secondary characters, rather than the main character. I suspect that's largely because of the genre, where the lead is an investigator and catalyst, a fish out of water there to stir up and uncover. The second book is set back in her home country and I suspect engages the reader more deeply in that character.
I don't necessarily consider this a negative. Many of the best mystery series and books are more about the character, motivations, actions and suffering of the "victims" of the mystery, and character development of the protagonist is designed to happen over the long-haul, as the series progresses. I quite enjoyed the book and will likely pick up the second at some point.