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A review by kblincoln
Two Serpents Rise by Max Gladstone
5.0
** I read an Advance Uncorrected Proof
Max Gladstone took the world from his first book, "Three Parts Dead" and upped the ante with a seamlessly woven story where each character, each personality trait, and each clue falls into place beautifully at the end.
I love it when that happens. When the character's main attributes are what make them succeed or fail where others would never make a difference. I love that especially when those attributes are ones that seem to be negative at first.
Caleb lives in the city of Dresediel Lex; a city built on the ashes of a former Quechal city of pyramids and sacrifice by a Deathless King. After the King broke all the former Quechal gods, his more bureaucratic bonds of contract and magic (Craft) bring water to the city.
But someone is messing around with the city's water supply, and its Caleb who is sent to investigate. Is it the intriguing Craftswoman he finds at the water's edge? Is it Caleb's father, the last remaining high priest of the Quechal and outlaw?
Caleb hates his father's legacy of sacrifice, and risks his own job to pursue the Craftswoman deeper into the mystery of who is trying to take down Dresediel Lex, and in doing so will change the foundation of the city itself.
Gladstone can give China Mieville a run for his money when it comes to creating language-rich descriptions of half-science fiction/half fantasy cities where you can almost smell the Muerte Coffee and feel the rasping wind of giant flying serpents caress your face. Caleb, his friend Teo, and even the Deathless King himself are fully formed characters, that unlike (at least for me) in Mieville's books you end up hanging your reader's heart on and flinching at every emotional wringer Gladstone puts them through.
And as I said above, the way the book weaves the story makes Caleb's issues with his father's religion, as well as his attraction to the Craftswoman vital components of the story.
I highly recommend this stand-alone sequel even if you've never read Three Parts Dead. If you do read the first book, you'll smile at the references to Alt Coulumb, but its not necessary.
This Book's Snack Rating: like Garlic Parmesan Kettle Chips for a sturdy-crunch plot with creamy Quechal imagery and addictive bite of fully-formed characters
Max Gladstone took the world from his first book, "Three Parts Dead" and upped the ante with a seamlessly woven story where each character, each personality trait, and each clue falls into place beautifully at the end.
I love it when that happens. When the character's main attributes are what make them succeed or fail where others would never make a difference. I love that especially when those attributes are ones that seem to be negative at first.
Caleb lives in the city of Dresediel Lex; a city built on the ashes of a former Quechal city of pyramids and sacrifice by a Deathless King. After the King broke all the former Quechal gods, his more bureaucratic bonds of contract and magic (Craft) bring water to the city.
But someone is messing around with the city's water supply, and its Caleb who is sent to investigate. Is it the intriguing Craftswoman he finds at the water's edge? Is it Caleb's father, the last remaining high priest of the Quechal and outlaw?
Caleb hates his father's legacy of sacrifice, and risks his own job to pursue the Craftswoman deeper into the mystery of who is trying to take down Dresediel Lex, and in doing so will change the foundation of the city itself.
Gladstone can give China Mieville a run for his money when it comes to creating language-rich descriptions of half-science fiction/half fantasy cities where you can almost smell the Muerte Coffee and feel the rasping wind of giant flying serpents caress your face. Caleb, his friend Teo, and even the Deathless King himself are fully formed characters, that unlike (at least for me) in Mieville's books you end up hanging your reader's heart on and flinching at every emotional wringer Gladstone puts them through.
And as I said above, the way the book weaves the story makes Caleb's issues with his father's religion, as well as his attraction to the Craftswoman vital components of the story.
I highly recommend this stand-alone sequel even if you've never read Three Parts Dead. If you do read the first book, you'll smile at the references to Alt Coulumb, but its not necessary.
This Book's Snack Rating: like Garlic Parmesan Kettle Chips for a sturdy-crunch plot with creamy Quechal imagery and addictive bite of fully-formed characters