A diverting introduction to an inventive fantasy saga.
In this fantasy series opener, characters in a vast empire face such threats as warmongers and otherworldly creatures.
The Heli Empire, it seems, is “always at war.” So when the Renali Kingdom, a bitter enemy, suggests peace, some anticipate resistance to a treaty. A summit brings diplomats to Renali, including scribe and priest-in-training Marco dei Toriam and his mentor, Father Justin Wisenpraal. Unfortunately, conflict awaits them: sword-trained Marco chases down an assassin targeting a Renali princess—a killer whom apparently only the scribe can see. Not only do some people at the summit reject the attempts at peace, they also may be inciting further clashes or even war between nations. Meanwhile, an enigmatic, clawed creature from another plane of existence enters this world, likely the vicious being behind the recent “Butcher Murders.” In a concurrent plot, skilled thief and orphan Jiminy flees from a bounty, though he’s not exactly sure what sparked the price on his head. As he hunts for answers, he winds up in league with someone who needs his prowess to loot an immeasurably valuable item. Though van Wyck condensed his debut novel in this second edition, the engaging story retains an epic scale. The cast is unsurprisingly extensive, but the tale largely focuses on Marco, Justin, and Jiminy. Their individual subplots prove the most exciting; for example, Justin, using his empath ability, blocks Marco’s memory of a past trauma. And Marco’s recurring nightmares tease his dark, ominous history. In addition, the author shrouds much of the innovative story in mystery: Jiminy embarks on a prolonged journey before learning specifically what he’s stealing, and clawed creatures appear in glimpses of the long-ago past (“The final days of the Age of Magic”). Despite the book’s bulk and deliberate pace, the author’s brisk dialogue complements his indelible, concise prose: “The unhorsed rider was borne to the ground, hard. The victor held aloft a broken lance, galloping the length of the pitch.” The ending leaves at least one character’s fate in question, practically demanding that readers keep their eyes out for the sequel.
A diverting introduction to an inventive fantasy saga.Pub Date: Feb. 1, 2016
ISBN: 979-8721831485
Page Count: 617
Publisher: Independently Published
Review Posted Online: Oct. 31, 2021
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
A fast and fun outing in an immersive alternate world.
Following The Left-Handed Booksellers of London (2020), a rescue mission lands Susan on an entity’s radar.
Susan (art student, demi-mortal) and her boyfriend, Merlin, (gender shifting and nonconforming fashionista and left-handed bookseller) are still together but taking it slowly, especially because Susan’s not comfortable with the proximity to the supernatural Old World that Merlin represents (especially because her own Ancient Sovereign father is going to be waking at the New Year). But when contact with an ensorcelled map pulls Merlin into a pocket dimension out of time, Susan doesn’t hesitate to use her heritage and artistic ability to make a translocation map to get him back safely. Their dangerous jaunt reveals the existence of a supernatural serial killer—and draws its attention to Susan. While the booksellers unravel a pattern of murders going back decades, Susan tries to avoid being the next sacrifice while grappling with fears of losing herself to the Old World and being changed into something else. And the dreams she’s having of her father’s demesne, dreams that might be more than dreams, leave her convinced that a big change is coming. All plotlines are time-sensitive enough to put the dead in deadline, keeping tension high as they face a variety of threats. While Susan’s internal conflict gets repetitive, it pays off in the climax. The leads are White; the secondary cast’s racially diverse.
A fast and fun outing in an immersive alternate world. (Fantasy. 12-adult)Pub Date: March 21, 2023
ISBN: 978-0-06-323633-2
Page Count: 368
Publisher: Katherine Tegen/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Dec. 23, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 2023
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A delightful, genre-defying debut.
Historical horror? Dark fantasy? Queer romance? All of the above!
“I was hundreds of years old before I ever met him, but that day we were both young.” While visiting his Florence offices in 2013, attorney Sebastian Grave unearths a bloodstained lambskin glove that belonged to a past lover—a man he’d met in the 18th century. Nestled within this frame narrative is a tale of desire, werewolves, and the French Revolution. In telling his story, Sebastian introduces Sarmodel, the demon with whom he shares a body, and a succubus named Livia contributes chapters in which Joan of Arc, her notorious ally Gilles de Rais, and the archangel Michael all make appearances. First-time novelist Sullivan wields the tools of multiple genres deftly, but what really makes this book special is its central character. Sebastian has powerful magic at his disposal, but he’s also human enough to fall hard for a hot young nobleman. When Sebastian goes hunting for the Beast of Gévaudan, he’s not looking for adventure. The first time, it’s because he can’t resist Antoine Avenel d’Ocerne. The second time, it’s because he dreams of a reunion with his love—even though he knows this is a hopeless wish against the advice of Sarmodel. Using Sebastian as a narrator keeps things light, in part because he has a droll, contemporary voice and in part because it makes the worldbuilding feel natural. There are footnotes, but there are no infodumps. The fact that Sebastian doesn’t know exactly what he is sets the tone for storytelling that leaves a great deal unexplained while providing enough detail to keep the reader engaged. Deploying Sarmodel as a sort of alter ego and allowing Livia to offer her own perspective on Sebastian also adds both depth and charm.
A delightful, genre-defying debut.Pub Date: Feb. 24, 2026
ISBN: 9781250362766
Page Count: 544
Publisher: Tor
Review Posted Online: Jan. 19, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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