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The Last Legacy #1
The Silverblood Promise
Lukan Gardova is a cardsharp, academy dropout, and―thanks to a duel that ended badly―the disgraced heir to an ancient noble house. His days consist of cheap wine, rigged card games, and wondering how he might win back the life he threw away.
When Lukan discovers that his estranged father has been murdered in strange circumstances, he finds fresh purpose. Deprived of his chance to make amends for his mistakes, he vows to unravel the mystery behind his father's death.
His search for answers leads him to Saphrona, fabled city of merchant princes, where anything can be bought if one has the coin. Lukan only seeks the truth, but instead he finds danger and secrets in every shadow.
For in Saphrona, everything has a price―and the price of truth is the deadliest of all.
When Lukan discovers that his estranged father has been murdered in strange circumstances, he finds fresh purpose. Deprived of his chance to make amends for his mistakes, he vows to unravel the mystery behind his father's death.
His search for answers leads him to Saphrona, fabled city of merchant princes, where anything can be bought if one has the coin. Lukan only seeks the truth, but instead he finds danger and secrets in every shadow.
For in Saphrona, everything has a price―and the price of truth is the deadliest of all.
528 pages, Paperback
First published April 25, 2024
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November 4, 2023
This review is a copy of the transcript of my video review on The Silverblood Promise.
ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
4.5/5 stars
Next year is not even here yet, but the potential of The Silverblood Promise becoming, at least, one of the best fantasy debuts of 2024 is guaranteed.
I have always considered myself blessed that I’m now in a position where I often get asked to read and review fantasy and sci-fi books early. When I received the email from James Logan asking whether I would be intrigued to reveal the cover art of The Silverblood Promise and read the book early, I immediately accepted it. How could I not after seeing that gorgeous cover art by Jeff Brown? Wait until you see the full spread art later. But back to the point, the honor and opportunity to read and review an upcoming book this early is irregular for me. Remember, this email goes back to last March and April, and The Silverblood Promise is being released in April 2024. I know. It’s still 5 months before this book is released to the public. That’s also why I waited 6 months before I read The Silverblood Promise, even though I wanted to instantly. I knew from reading the premise and first chapter there was a good chance I would enjoy it. And full disclosure, I have been asked to read and review some books this relatively early a few times. But if the specific book doesn’t capture my attention enough, or maybe it is something I dislike, I usually let it sit in my TBR pile or wait until its publication date before I post a review. Luckily, The Silverblood Promise is a big hit. I had so much fun reading it, and I have faith that this debut novel will earn a spot on many future readers’ bookshelves. This is a well-paced epic fantasy debut suitable for fans of Scott Lynch, Robert Jackson Bennett, and a more hopeful Joe Abercrombie.
The Silverblood Promise by James Logan is the first book in The Last Legacy series, and it centers around Lukan Gardova. Lukan is a cardsharp, academy dropout, and—thanks to a duel that ended badly—the disgraced heir to an ancient noble house. His days consist of cheap wine, rigged card games, and wondering how he might win back the life he threw away. When Lukan discovers that his estranged father has been murdered in strange circumstances, he finds a fresh purpose. After seven years of running from the past, Lukan swore a silverblood promise to carry out his father’s final wish. Determined to amend his mistakes, Lukan vows to unravel the mystery behind his father's death. His search for answers leads him to Saphrona, the fabled city of merchant princes, traders and thieves, monsters, and murderers, where anything can be bought if one has the coin. Lukan only seeks the truth, but instead, he finds danger and secrets in every shadow. For in Saphrona, where coin rules as the true god, everything has a price—and the price of truth is the deadliest of all.
As you can tell from the premise, The Silverblood Promise employs a murder mystery plotline in an epic fantasy setting. Written by a different author, I believe The Silverblood Promise could theoretically become a grimdark fantasy novel, and there is nothing wrong with that because I am an enthusiast of grimdark fantasy. However, I will let you know upfront this is not a grimdark fantasy. The city of Saphrona is ruthless, violent, and full of injustice. It treats most of its citizens poorly, and it is certainly not shy about it. The rich prosper, and the poor perish. This saying has practically become the slogan of Saphrona. But although Lukan’s quests and investigations into the mystery behind his father’s death lead him into brutal games and conspiracies he never expected, the balance between the heavy and funny moments was always deftly handled. It is a grim setting and society, no doubt about that, but the narrative never fully taps into grimdark territory. And the book is more entertaining for it. If Logan’s intention in writing The Silverblood Promise is to write something compelling and gritty while keeping the fun, humorous, and hopeful tone intact, he has accomplished his mission in full spades. And this is thanks to the charming and likeable newly formed trio.
Told in a third-person past tense narration, for the majority of The Silverblood Promise, Lukan dominated the story as the singular POV character. And honestly speaking, I didn’t find myself immediately attached to him in the early portion of the novel. Lukan Gardova is a drunkard. He is rude and impatient, and he likes to cut people off when they’re talking. And this cutting people off when they’re speaking is something he kept throughout the whole book. It is a part of him. But, it would be a difficult task for me to dislike him. Lukan’s heart is in the right place. He is the type of character who makes jokes in the most dangerous and inappropriate times, and more importantly, Lukan tries his best to help people—even strangers—as best as he can. His personality is one of the main reasons the book constantly felt exciting and delightful. And as I read more and more chapters, the more I felt invested in his mission and found friendship with Flea and Ashra. Especially Flea, as Lukan became an unexpected father figure for her. Even when he is reluctant to admit it to her face.
Mysteries upon mysteries. There’s always another secret. Lukan’s succession of questions-raising missions has led him to form his own—sort of—group of thieves in Saphrona. The dynamic and relationship between Lukan and his newfound allies is easily the best aspect of the novel for me. I absolutely loved reading Lukan and Flea together in a scene. They’re a bloody riot entertainment, and hey, the badass and a child is one of my favorite tropes in storytelling. I know, I know. Lukan is not old. He is not a badass, too. But what I loved most about this trope is how an encounter with a seemingly random kid—usually a complete stranger—could change the trajectory of their lives. Both individuals. In the overwhelming face of fear, cruelty, and death, company and friendship (even from someone you just met) can become a beacon of hope, after all.
For those of you who are not familiar with this trope, here are some popular examples of the badass and a child trope. Joel and Ellie from The Last of Us or Mando and Grogu in The Mandalorian. The relationship development that can be achieved from it, when it is done right, is ceaselessly superb for me. And in that regard, the badass and a child duo trope in The Silverblood Promise was incredibly well-implemented. Lukan and Flea became a source of strength and support for one another. There was never any dull moment when Lukan and Flea were together on the same page. Their banter is hilarious, and the chemistry they found and nurtured felt genuine and easy to attach to. My enjoyment of The Silverblood Promise was clearly enhanced due to this trope. When I finished reading the novel, I felt sad that I didn’t have the sequel to read yet. I know that is probably an unfair thing to say because this book is not published officially yet. Not for almost half a year. But it is true. Flea and Ashra has only one POV chapter in this entire book, near the end, and I have a feeling that frequency will increase in the sequel. It better. And I want more amazing banter like this:
Once The Silverblood Promise is released and has been read by more readers, I am confident it will be recommended to readers who love Foundryside by Robert Jackson Bennett and The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch. Maybe even Mistborn: The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson due to the thieves aspect. And also, the relationship between Lukan and Flea can be correlated to Kelsier and Vin. Understandably. Thievery, profane language, gambling, and devilish games are integral to the plot and the city of Saphrona. The Pyramid game, in particular, is destructively painful to its players, both mentally and physically. I will let you experience that for yourself. And this is me saying I do agree with these comparisons, especially The Lies of Locke Lamora and Foundryside. But just in case, to not mislead future readers. It needs to be noted that The Silverblood Promise doesn’t feature any hard-magic system like Foundryside or Mistborn did. Phaeron magic is in charge here; it is a soft magic, and it is relatively minimal in its usage. I am sure its application and The Faceless will be more prevalent in the sequel.
The world-building prospect of the world is bigger than what is portrayed here, but I couldn’t really gauge it yet because the edition I read did not have any map, and as I said, 90% of the story in The Silverblood Promise took place in the city of Saphrona. Lastly, before you ask, rest assured that there is no cliffhanger in The Silverblood Promise. Mistborn: The Final Empire and The Lies of Locke Lamora work absolutely well as a satisfying standalone novel, and The Silverblood Promise follows that similar notion. The next book will take place in a different city. Other series like The Gentleman Bastards by Scott Lynch or The Divine Cities trilogy by Robert Jackson Bennett, to mention a few, did this kind of series progression magnificently. And I look forward to witnessing what kind of page-turning chaos James Logan will unleash in the next installments of The Last Legacy.
Well... I crave the first hardcover edition of The Silverblood Promise. If The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch or Foundryside by Robert Jackson Bennett are some of your favorite books like they are for me, I cannot recommend The Silverblood Promise highly enough. Pre-order The Silverblood Promise. It is not an explosive or mind-blowing read, but if your value or preference of escapism is measured by how immersed and compelled you are by smooth-flowing prose and narrative, The Silverblood Promise will do its best to absorb your time. There were possible nods to The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie that I enjoyed reading, too, like a chapter being named The Blade Itself, Death as an equalizer quote, Brand and Balinor Banking House—which may be a homage to Valint and Balk bank from The First Law—and Flea having nine-fingers. The Silverblood Promise exhibited a gritty world with more upbeat main characters and tone taking the spotlight. It is not too far-fetched to claim this is a good alternative when you are in the mood for a more optimistic version of Joe Abercrombie’s storytelling style. From the engaging investigations, murder mysteries, dialogues, and characters you will gradually come to love, The Silverblood Promise was an exceptionally riveting and captivating fantasy debut novel. It is, indisputably, a strong candidate for the best fantasy debut of the year. With The Silverblood Promise crafted, James Logan offers readers his pinky finger with a promise that Lukan's adventure will ensure they have a blast should they choose to read it. Whenever the sequel is ready, Korlsakov, the City of Spires, awaits me. And I hope when the time comes, you will be there with me to read the next chapter of Lukan, Flea, and Ashra's swashbuckling adventure.
Picture: The Silverblood Promise by Jeff Brown
You can pre-order this book from: Amazon | Blackwells (Free International shipping)
The quotes in this review were taken from an ARC and are subject to change upon publication.
You can find this and the rest of my reviews at Novel Notions | I also have a Booktube channel
Special thanks to my Patrons on Patreon for giving me extra support towards my passion for reading and reviewing!
My Patrons: Alfred, Aliysa, Ambrosius, Andrew, Andrew W, Annabeth, Arliss, Barbara, Biskit, Brad, Cade, Chris, Cullen, Dan, David, Dernerror, Donna, Donuts, Dylan, Edward, Elaine, Elias, Ellen, Frank, Garrick, Gary, Gregory, Hamad, Helen, Jenn, Jesse, Jimmy Nutts, Joie, Kristina, Lara, Lourdes, Luis, Melinda, Michael, Michael, Mike, Miracle, Mordie, Nicholas, Norbert, Radiah, RCT, Redmischief, Samuel, Sarah, Sarah, Scott, Shawn, Tori, Tracy, Trish, TS, Wendy, Wick, Xero, Yuri, Zoe.
ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
4.5/5 stars
Next year is not even here yet, but the potential of The Silverblood Promise becoming, at least, one of the best fantasy debuts of 2024 is guaranteed.
“You can’t escape the past, Lukan. It’s our lifelong companion, always at our side.”
I have always considered myself blessed that I’m now in a position where I often get asked to read and review fantasy and sci-fi books early. When I received the email from James Logan asking whether I would be intrigued to reveal the cover art of The Silverblood Promise and read the book early, I immediately accepted it. How could I not after seeing that gorgeous cover art by Jeff Brown? Wait until you see the full spread art later. But back to the point, the honor and opportunity to read and review an upcoming book this early is irregular for me. Remember, this email goes back to last March and April, and The Silverblood Promise is being released in April 2024. I know. It’s still 5 months before this book is released to the public. That’s also why I waited 6 months before I read The Silverblood Promise, even though I wanted to instantly. I knew from reading the premise and first chapter there was a good chance I would enjoy it. And full disclosure, I have been asked to read and review some books this relatively early a few times. But if the specific book doesn’t capture my attention enough, or maybe it is something I dislike, I usually let it sit in my TBR pile or wait until its publication date before I post a review. Luckily, The Silverblood Promise is a big hit. I had so much fun reading it, and I have faith that this debut novel will earn a spot on many future readers’ bookshelves. This is a well-paced epic fantasy debut suitable for fans of Scott Lynch, Robert Jackson Bennett, and a more hopeful Joe Abercrombie.
“You have to stand up for yourself, you understand? You can’t let someone have their way just because they were born into wealth and privilege. That doesn’t make them better than you.”
The Silverblood Promise by James Logan is the first book in The Last Legacy series, and it centers around Lukan Gardova. Lukan is a cardsharp, academy dropout, and—thanks to a duel that ended badly—the disgraced heir to an ancient noble house. His days consist of cheap wine, rigged card games, and wondering how he might win back the life he threw away. When Lukan discovers that his estranged father has been murdered in strange circumstances, he finds a fresh purpose. After seven years of running from the past, Lukan swore a silverblood promise to carry out his father’s final wish. Determined to amend his mistakes, Lukan vows to unravel the mystery behind his father's death. His search for answers leads him to Saphrona, the fabled city of merchant princes, traders and thieves, monsters, and murderers, where anything can be bought if one has the coin. Lukan only seeks the truth, but instead, he finds danger and secrets in every shadow. For in Saphrona, where coin rules as the true god, everything has a price—and the price of truth is the deadliest of all.
“I remember the joy when the fighting finally stopped– it was thick as honey, you could almost taste it in the air. The whole city was dizzy with the thought of peace after decades of war, with the belief that our enemies across the sea could become our friends. But the world turns and younger generations forget the lessons learned by the old . . . and the wolves of greed and prejudice come slinking back from the shadows.’
As you can tell from the premise, The Silverblood Promise employs a murder mystery plotline in an epic fantasy setting. Written by a different author, I believe The Silverblood Promise could theoretically become a grimdark fantasy novel, and there is nothing wrong with that because I am an enthusiast of grimdark fantasy. However, I will let you know upfront this is not a grimdark fantasy. The city of Saphrona is ruthless, violent, and full of injustice. It treats most of its citizens poorly, and it is certainly not shy about it. The rich prosper, and the poor perish. This saying has practically become the slogan of Saphrona. But although Lukan’s quests and investigations into the mystery behind his father’s death lead him into brutal games and conspiracies he never expected, the balance between the heavy and funny moments was always deftly handled. It is a grim setting and society, no doubt about that, but the narrative never fully taps into grimdark territory. And the book is more entertaining for it. If Logan’s intention in writing The Silverblood Promise is to write something compelling and gritty while keeping the fun, humorous, and hopeful tone intact, he has accomplished his mission in full spades. And this is thanks to the charming and likeable newly formed trio.
“You might think you fight a duel with your blade, Shafia had told Lukan, the first time she’d placed a wooden practice sword in his hand. But you’d be wrong. You fight a duel with your mind, before the swords have even been drawn. A show of confidence–whether a smile, a stare, or a strut,– can sow doubt in your opponent, even fear. And that can be just as deadly as a perfect thrust or a well-timed riposte.”
Told in a third-person past tense narration, for the majority of The Silverblood Promise, Lukan dominated the story as the singular POV character. And honestly speaking, I didn’t find myself immediately attached to him in the early portion of the novel. Lukan Gardova is a drunkard. He is rude and impatient, and he likes to cut people off when they’re talking. And this cutting people off when they’re speaking is something he kept throughout the whole book. It is a part of him. But, it would be a difficult task for me to dislike him. Lukan’s heart is in the right place. He is the type of character who makes jokes in the most dangerous and inappropriate times, and more importantly, Lukan tries his best to help people—even strangers—as best as he can. His personality is one of the main reasons the book constantly felt exciting and delightful. And as I read more and more chapters, the more I felt invested in his mission and found friendship with Flea and Ashra. Especially Flea, as Lukan became an unexpected father figure for her. Even when he is reluctant to admit it to her face.
“In that moment Flea had realised that trust freely given was more valuable than any trinket she’d ever stolen. It was an almost physical presence inside her chest, lending her a degree of confidence and pride that she’d never felt before.”
Mysteries upon mysteries. There’s always another secret. Lukan’s succession of questions-raising missions has led him to form his own—sort of—group of thieves in Saphrona. The dynamic and relationship between Lukan and his newfound allies is easily the best aspect of the novel for me. I absolutely loved reading Lukan and Flea together in a scene. They’re a bloody riot entertainment, and hey, the badass and a child is one of my favorite tropes in storytelling. I know, I know. Lukan is not old. He is not a badass, too. But what I loved most about this trope is how an encounter with a seemingly random kid—usually a complete stranger—could change the trajectory of their lives. Both individuals. In the overwhelming face of fear, cruelty, and death, company and friendship (even from someone you just met) can become a beacon of hope, after all.
“Death is the great equaliser, the philosopher Volendt declared in his treatise An Unseen Philosophy, a text that Lukan had been forced to read during his first year at the Academy. A dark mistress who holds no regard for wealth, nor power, nor birthright. All souls are equal before her gaze.”
For those of you who are not familiar with this trope, here are some popular examples of the badass and a child trope. Joel and Ellie from The Last of Us or Mando and Grogu in The Mandalorian. The relationship development that can be achieved from it, when it is done right, is ceaselessly superb for me. And in that regard, the badass and a child duo trope in The Silverblood Promise was incredibly well-implemented. Lukan and Flea became a source of strength and support for one another. There was never any dull moment when Lukan and Flea were together on the same page. Their banter is hilarious, and the chemistry they found and nurtured felt genuine and easy to attach to. My enjoyment of The Silverblood Promise was clearly enhanced due to this trope. When I finished reading the novel, I felt sad that I didn’t have the sequel to read yet. I know that is probably an unfair thing to say because this book is not published officially yet. Not for almost half a year. But it is true. Flea and Ashra has only one POV chapter in this entire book, near the end, and I have a feeling that frequency will increase in the sequel. It better. And I want more amazing banter like this:
‘ . . . did it have a hundred legs?’
‘I don’t know, kid. I was too busy screaming to count.’
‘Because it hurt?’
‘No, because I was enjoying it tickling my balls.’
Once The Silverblood Promise is released and has been read by more readers, I am confident it will be recommended to readers who love Foundryside by Robert Jackson Bennett and The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch. Maybe even Mistborn: The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson due to the thieves aspect. And also, the relationship between Lukan and Flea can be correlated to Kelsier and Vin. Understandably. Thievery, profane language, gambling, and devilish games are integral to the plot and the city of Saphrona. The Pyramid game, in particular, is destructively painful to its players, both mentally and physically. I will let you experience that for yourself. And this is me saying I do agree with these comparisons, especially The Lies of Locke Lamora and Foundryside. But just in case, to not mislead future readers. It needs to be noted that The Silverblood Promise doesn’t feature any hard-magic system like Foundryside or Mistborn did. Phaeron magic is in charge here; it is a soft magic, and it is relatively minimal in its usage. I am sure its application and The Faceless will be more prevalent in the sequel.
“One of the first things he’d learned about gambling was that a little bravado went a long way. If you could plant a seed of doubt in your opponents’ minds, and nurture it with the appropriate words and gestures, you could force them into making mistakes.”
The world-building prospect of the world is bigger than what is portrayed here, but I couldn’t really gauge it yet because the edition I read did not have any map, and as I said, 90% of the story in The Silverblood Promise took place in the city of Saphrona. Lastly, before you ask, rest assured that there is no cliffhanger in The Silverblood Promise. Mistborn: The Final Empire and The Lies of Locke Lamora work absolutely well as a satisfying standalone novel, and The Silverblood Promise follows that similar notion. The next book will take place in a different city. Other series like The Gentleman Bastards by Scott Lynch or The Divine Cities trilogy by Robert Jackson Bennett, to mention a few, did this kind of series progression magnificently. And I look forward to witnessing what kind of page-turning chaos James Logan will unleash in the next installments of The Last Legacy.
‘A few books went missing from the library… Several rare first editions, or some such. Apparently they’re quite valuable, though why anyone would waste good coin on some dusty old books is beyond me.’
Well... I crave the first hardcover edition of The Silverblood Promise. If The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch or Foundryside by Robert Jackson Bennett are some of your favorite books like they are for me, I cannot recommend The Silverblood Promise highly enough. Pre-order The Silverblood Promise. It is not an explosive or mind-blowing read, but if your value or preference of escapism is measured by how immersed and compelled you are by smooth-flowing prose and narrative, The Silverblood Promise will do its best to absorb your time. There were possible nods to The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie that I enjoyed reading, too, like a chapter being named The Blade Itself, Death as an equalizer quote, Brand and Balinor Banking House—which may be a homage to Valint and Balk bank from The First Law—and Flea having nine-fingers. The Silverblood Promise exhibited a gritty world with more upbeat main characters and tone taking the spotlight. It is not too far-fetched to claim this is a good alternative when you are in the mood for a more optimistic version of Joe Abercrombie’s storytelling style. From the engaging investigations, murder mysteries, dialogues, and characters you will gradually come to love, The Silverblood Promise was an exceptionally riveting and captivating fantasy debut novel. It is, indisputably, a strong candidate for the best fantasy debut of the year. With The Silverblood Promise crafted, James Logan offers readers his pinky finger with a promise that Lukan's adventure will ensure they have a blast should they choose to read it. Whenever the sequel is ready, Korlsakov, the City of Spires, awaits me. And I hope when the time comes, you will be there with me to read the next chapter of Lukan, Flea, and Ashra's swashbuckling adventure.
“No one chooses to be a thief, it’s something that’s thrust upon us. We just have to make the best of it.’
Picture: The Silverblood Promise by Jeff Brown
You can pre-order this book from: Amazon | Blackwells (Free International shipping)
The quotes in this review were taken from an ARC and are subject to change upon publication.
You can find this and the rest of my reviews at Novel Notions | I also have a Booktube channel
Special thanks to my Patrons on Patreon for giving me extra support towards my passion for reading and reviewing!
My Patrons: Alfred, Aliysa, Ambrosius, Andrew, Andrew W, Annabeth, Arliss, Barbara, Biskit, Brad, Cade, Chris, Cullen, Dan, David, Dernerror, Donna, Donuts, Dylan, Edward, Elaine, Elias, Ellen, Frank, Garrick, Gary, Gregory, Hamad, Helen, Jenn, Jesse, Jimmy Nutts, Joie, Kristina, Lara, Lourdes, Luis, Melinda, Michael, Michael, Mike, Miracle, Mordie, Nicholas, Norbert, Radiah, RCT, Redmischief, Samuel, Sarah, Sarah, Scott, Shawn, Tori, Tracy, Trish, TS, Wendy, Wick, Xero, Yuri, Zoe.
May 8, 2024
First, I would like to thank Macmillan audio for this audiobook advanced copy.
This is a classic fantasy story, nothing really original about it, but this is a great interpretation of the classic revenge / mystery tale, wonderfully written and constructed.
The world is fully developed without being too descriptive, the characters are fun too follow and work well together, the main mystery kept my interest going and the narrator is great.
The ending opens the possibility of a next book but this easily reads as a standalone. If it's not, I will definitely read the next.
I had a great time and would definitely recommend.
This is a classic fantasy story, nothing really original about it, but this is a great interpretation of the classic revenge / mystery tale, wonderfully written and constructed.
The world is fully developed without being too descriptive, the characters are fun too follow and work well together, the main mystery kept my interest going and the narrator is great.
The ending opens the possibility of a next book but this easily reads as a standalone. If it's not, I will definitely read the next.
I had a great time and would definitely recommend.
December 23, 2023
Lies of Locke Lamora meets Uncharted?
What a brilliant book. If you enjoy books that Indiana Jones/Lies of Locke Lamora type of stories then this is for you. Utterly addictive with an incredible amount of twists and turns that will keep you hooked all the way to the end.
There is definitely an argument to be had that Logan relies a bit too much on plot armour. However, if you are willing to pick up this book with being overly critical then this can easily become one of your favourite reads in a while because the story is so addictive.
I can't wait for book 2!
4/5
What a brilliant book. If you enjoy books that Indiana Jones/Lies of Locke Lamora type of stories then this is for you. Utterly addictive with an incredible amount of twists and turns that will keep you hooked all the way to the end.
There is definitely an argument to be had that Logan relies a bit too much on plot armour. However, if you are willing to pick up this book with being overly critical then this can easily become one of your favourite reads in a while because the story is so addictive.
I can't wait for book 2!
4/5
July 2, 2024
Blog | Instagram
Rating: 4 stars
Publication date: April 25th 2024! (Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!)
Cover: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
The gothic buildings and earthy colour scheme used in this design are captivating and cleverly capture the epic fantasy genre of the story. I also love the detail of the main character, Lukan, and his unlikely sidekick, Flea, overlooking the buildings.
Writing: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Although I initially struggled to find the formal writing style and third-person narrative engaging, I was soon engrossed in the story due to the strong prose and wit. The world-building was also well-developed and fascinating, with a creative magic system, diverse creatures, and intricate politics.
“Sometimes you owed it to yourself to do what was necessary, not what was easy.”
Storyline: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
The story starts slow, gradually setting the scene for the mysteries and adventures that unfold. While there were some convenient plot devices, the storyline remained well-paced and built up tension through regular bursts of action and several twists. By the end, most loose ends were resolved, resulting in a satisfying conclusion that neatly set up the next book.
Main character(s): 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Despite all his bravado, Lukan proved to be a sweet and noble protagonist whose grief and regret made his character somewhat complex and easy to root for. His sarcasm and wit also quickly won me over and made the story more entertaining.
“You can’t escape the past, Lukan. It’s our lifelong companion, always at our side.”
Secondary characters: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
The dynamics between Lukan and the savvy street urchin Flea were both amusing and endearing. Flea was just as lovable and easy to root for as Lukan, as she possesses a fiery personality shaped by her backstory. The remaining secondary characters were also well-defined and helped drive the story forward.
Narration & Audio: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Brenock O'Connor's narration was fantastic, especially during the witty conversations. His use of vocal effects and character voices also enhanced my enjoyment of the story.
”Don’t be ashamed of your mistakes… Learn from them.”
Overall, ’The Silverblood Promise' surprised me with its entertaining blend of mystery, humour, and lovable characters, all within a fascinating epic world. If you liked this book, I recommend Mistborn: The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson, which has similar character dynamics and a twist-filled storyline.
Rating: 4 stars
Publication date: April 25th 2024! (Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!)
Cover: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
The gothic buildings and earthy colour scheme used in this design are captivating and cleverly capture the epic fantasy genre of the story. I also love the detail of the main character, Lukan, and his unlikely sidekick, Flea, overlooking the buildings.
Writing: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Although I initially struggled to find the formal writing style and third-person narrative engaging, I was soon engrossed in the story due to the strong prose and wit. The world-building was also well-developed and fascinating, with a creative magic system, diverse creatures, and intricate politics.
“Sometimes you owed it to yourself to do what was necessary, not what was easy.”
Storyline: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
The story starts slow, gradually setting the scene for the mysteries and adventures that unfold. While there were some convenient plot devices, the storyline remained well-paced and built up tension through regular bursts of action and several twists. By the end, most loose ends were resolved, resulting in a satisfying conclusion that neatly set up the next book.
Main character(s): 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Despite all his bravado, Lukan proved to be a sweet and noble protagonist whose grief and regret made his character somewhat complex and easy to root for. His sarcasm and wit also quickly won me over and made the story more entertaining.
“You can’t escape the past, Lukan. It’s our lifelong companion, always at our side.”
Secondary characters: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
The dynamics between Lukan and the savvy street urchin Flea were both amusing and endearing. Flea was just as lovable and easy to root for as Lukan, as she possesses a fiery personality shaped by her backstory. The remaining secondary characters were also well-defined and helped drive the story forward.
Narration & Audio: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Brenock O'Connor's narration was fantastic, especially during the witty conversations. His use of vocal effects and character voices also enhanced my enjoyment of the story.
”Don’t be ashamed of your mistakes… Learn from them.”
Overall, ’The Silverblood Promise' surprised me with its entertaining blend of mystery, humour, and lovable characters, all within a fascinating epic world. If you liked this book, I recommend Mistborn: The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson, which has similar character dynamics and a twist-filled storyline.
Read
May 29, 2024Watch my full video review here: https://youtu.be/RWX61Qeu9hA
A perfectly adequate fantasy debut that keeps you guessing with each new mystery of just how far the conspiracy goes. The duo of Lukan and Flea is one of my recent favorites in modern fantasy. I could listen to the two of them argue for much longer in book two, which hopefully isn't a long wait aways.
A perfectly adequate fantasy debut that keeps you guessing with each new mystery of just how far the conspiracy goes. The duo of Lukan and Flea is one of my recent favorites in modern fantasy. I could listen to the two of them argue for much longer in book two, which hopefully isn't a long wait aways.
June 27, 2024
4.5 stars🌟🌟🌟🌟💫! James Logan’s debut novel, the first installment in his Last Legacy saga, is nothing short of a masterwork and a masterclass in “how adventure fantasy ought to be written”, 😃 to borrow a phrase from the great GRRM. Set in the mysterious city of Saphrona, the story follows Lukan Gardova— a disgraced heir desperate to outrun his past. When he discovers that his estranged father was murdered while clutching a cryptic note written in his own blood, Gardova embarks on a quest that takes him deep into a world filled with myth, legend, and dark secrets.
There are several aspects of this immensely entertaining adventure that set this apart.
First and foremost is the exceptional worldbuilding. Logan meticulously describes Saphrona, immersing readers effortlessly. The city’s tumultuous history, corrupt government, and underworld seemed to come alive, making it impossible for me to put the book down. Locke Lamora fans will appreciate the descriptions of the city of Saphrona, its dark underbelly, its politics, and the esoteric ancient race having left behind its traces in the form of architecture and artifacts.
The second is its characters. From the street urchin Flea to the infamous thief Lady Midnight, the diverse cast feels real and insightful. Their interactions added real depth and authenticity to the narrative. The banter between Flea and Lukan was full of wit and charm, and dialogue with other characters was also entertaining. On the whole, the humor in the story was on point, often, again, reminiscent of Locke Lamora. -Not because the stories are same or similar but because the vibes were similar.
The third factor raising this fantasy a cut above the rest is its plot twists and pacing. Fans of Scott Lynch’s masterpiece (I am again making this comparison not because there is any similarity between the two stories but there does appear to be an inspiration here) will find echoes of its wit and intricate plotting in “The Silverblood Promise.” Both books feature cunning protagonists, elaborate heists, and unforgettable adventures. Silverblood’s bombshell revelations, nonstop action, and breakneck pacing kept me on the edge of my seat. Each chapter ended with a tantalizing hook, making it impossible for me to resist turning the pages.
Lastly, the masterful writing. Logan’s precision shines through. Every sentence counts, and the conclusion brilliantly sets up the second installment which I can’t wait to get my hands on. The writing was very approachable and easily readable. I do not think it carried the punch of Abercrombie’s craft or Lynch’s wordsmithing but it was straightforward and did not get in the way of storytelling. Logan’s writing also shares Abercrombie’s grittiness and dark humor. That said, the comparison ends there as this is not a grim dark fantasy. Both authors excel at character-driven narratives and complex moral themes. Because I love Abercrombie, I appreciated Logan’s fresh take.
In summary, “The Silverblood Promise” is probably a nice blueprint for how an adventure fantasy should be crafted. Can’t wait for the next installment!!
There are several aspects of this immensely entertaining adventure that set this apart.
First and foremost is the exceptional worldbuilding. Logan meticulously describes Saphrona, immersing readers effortlessly. The city’s tumultuous history, corrupt government, and underworld seemed to come alive, making it impossible for me to put the book down. Locke Lamora fans will appreciate the descriptions of the city of Saphrona, its dark underbelly, its politics, and the esoteric ancient race having left behind its traces in the form of architecture and artifacts.
The second is its characters. From the street urchin Flea to the infamous thief Lady Midnight, the diverse cast feels real and insightful. Their interactions added real depth and authenticity to the narrative. The banter between Flea and Lukan was full of wit and charm, and dialogue with other characters was also entertaining. On the whole, the humor in the story was on point, often, again, reminiscent of Locke Lamora. -Not because the stories are same or similar but because the vibes were similar.
The third factor raising this fantasy a cut above the rest is its plot twists and pacing. Fans of Scott Lynch’s masterpiece (I am again making this comparison not because there is any similarity between the two stories but there does appear to be an inspiration here) will find echoes of its wit and intricate plotting in “The Silverblood Promise.” Both books feature cunning protagonists, elaborate heists, and unforgettable adventures. Silverblood’s bombshell revelations, nonstop action, and breakneck pacing kept me on the edge of my seat. Each chapter ended with a tantalizing hook, making it impossible for me to resist turning the pages.
Lastly, the masterful writing. Logan’s precision shines through. Every sentence counts, and the conclusion brilliantly sets up the second installment which I can’t wait to get my hands on. The writing was very approachable and easily readable. I do not think it carried the punch of Abercrombie’s craft or Lynch’s wordsmithing but it was straightforward and did not get in the way of storytelling. Logan’s writing also shares Abercrombie’s grittiness and dark humor. That said, the comparison ends there as this is not a grim dark fantasy. Both authors excel at character-driven narratives and complex moral themes. Because I love Abercrombie, I appreciated Logan’s fresh take.
In summary, “The Silverblood Promise” is probably a nice blueprint for how an adventure fantasy should be crafted. Can’t wait for the next installment!!
May 1, 2024
A brilliant fun fantasy that's a concoction of Locke Lamora, Fable and The Greatcoats. I had such a great time reading this and so will you!
February 22, 2024
Check out my Booktube channel at: The Obsessive Bookseller
[2.5/5 stars] I really wish I’d enjoyed this more.
Some really good scenes early on had me bouncing with anticipation for what was to come, but many of those cool ideas that I thought would play a bigger role in the story were never revisited. In a way it felt like promises never fulfilled in the name of packing too many things into one book. A lot of good ideas, mind you, but perhaps they could’ve had more of an impact on the story in the long-run.
The book was marketed as “a must-read for fans of Joe Abercrombie, Nicholas Eames, and Scott Lynch,” three authors I love primarily for their strong, distinctive writing voices and brilliant splashes of dry humor… neither of which I got from the Silverblood Promise. Perhaps the setting and the underground politicking had glimmers of similarities, but I found it more comparable to Sullivan’s Riyria Revelations and Weeks’ Night Angel trilogy.
At times the book read more like a mystery set in a fantasy world than it did a fantasy with mystery components. Unfortunately, as almost the entire book revolved around the mystery, it wasn’t a very good one. Too many conveniently placed pieces to the puzzle. Too many thinly-veiled setups. Too easy to deduce. And then you add a character who isn’t particularly suave or clever with too many implausible “close calls,” and you can see why I didn’t like this one as much as I hoped to.
Additionally, some things just felt off. Even near the end there were a couple of odd POV switches (after we’d been following a single POV the entire book) that made it seem like the MC was no longer the center of the most interesting things happening, temporarily irrelevant. It killed the momentum and left me wishing he’d been written closer to the action the entire way through.
Overall, the combination of all of these minor things kept the story from feeling completely composed. It had a lot of potential, but for me it didn’t quite get there.
Recommendations: A story that started out strong eventually turned into a struggle to finish. Many of the things that bothered me don’t seem to be phasing other early readers (it currently has a 4.42 average rating and some high praise from other reviewers I respect), so if you’re excited to read this, take my opinion with a grain of salt (and let me know what you think when you read it)!
Thank you to my Patrons: Dave, Katrin, Jen, Frank, Sonja, Staci, Kat, Betsy, Eliss, Mike, and Elizabeth! <3
Via The Obsessive Bookseller at www.NikiHawkes.com
And thank you to TOR Publishing Group for the opportunity to read and review an early copy of The Silverblood Promise!
Other books you might like:
[2.5/5 stars] I really wish I’d enjoyed this more.
Some really good scenes early on had me bouncing with anticipation for what was to come, but many of those cool ideas that I thought would play a bigger role in the story were never revisited. In a way it felt like promises never fulfilled in the name of packing too many things into one book. A lot of good ideas, mind you, but perhaps they could’ve had more of an impact on the story in the long-run.
The book was marketed as “a must-read for fans of Joe Abercrombie, Nicholas Eames, and Scott Lynch,” three authors I love primarily for their strong, distinctive writing voices and brilliant splashes of dry humor… neither of which I got from the Silverblood Promise. Perhaps the setting and the underground politicking had glimmers of similarities, but I found it more comparable to Sullivan’s Riyria Revelations and Weeks’ Night Angel trilogy.
At times the book read more like a mystery set in a fantasy world than it did a fantasy with mystery components. Unfortunately, as almost the entire book revolved around the mystery, it wasn’t a very good one. Too many conveniently placed pieces to the puzzle. Too many thinly-veiled setups. Too easy to deduce. And then you add a character who isn’t particularly suave or clever with too many implausible “close calls,” and you can see why I didn’t like this one as much as I hoped to.
Additionally, some things just felt off. Even near the end there were a couple of odd POV switches (after we’d been following a single POV the entire book) that made it seem like the MC was no longer the center of the most interesting things happening, temporarily irrelevant. It killed the momentum and left me wishing he’d been written closer to the action the entire way through.
Overall, the combination of all of these minor things kept the story from feeling completely composed. It had a lot of potential, but for me it didn’t quite get there.
Recommendations: A story that started out strong eventually turned into a struggle to finish. Many of the things that bothered me don’t seem to be phasing other early readers (it currently has a 4.42 average rating and some high praise from other reviewers I respect), so if you’re excited to read this, take my opinion with a grain of salt (and let me know what you think when you read it)!
Thank you to my Patrons: Dave, Katrin, Jen, Frank, Sonja, Staci, Kat, Betsy, Eliss, Mike, and Elizabeth! <3
Via The Obsessive Bookseller at www.NikiHawkes.com
And thank you to TOR Publishing Group for the opportunity to read and review an early copy of The Silverblood Promise!
Other books you might like:
January 19, 2024
4.5 stars rounded up.
THE SILVERBLOOD PROMISE is one of my most anticipated reads of 2024. The minute I saw the marketing materials outlining the synopsis of the story I knew I had to try to get my hands on an early copy if I could. Thankfully US publisher Tor obliged and with that I was on my way!
This book has been compared to The Lies of Locke Lamora and I have to say after reading this book I think that's a bit misleading. Lamora was much more of a heist fantasy story than this one but where I will draw a slight parallel is in the dark and sinister locations that the characters move through as we journey along in the world that James Logan has so deftly created. The dripping dingy catacombs and mausoleums that are the backdrop of one particularly memorable scene definitely hearkened back to the feel and setting of Scott Lynch's classic debut. But that's where the similarities end as this is a wonderful tale of mystery and magic all its own.
Speaking of magic, that aspect really stood out to me as there are a number of extremely cool displays of dark sorcery in THE SILVERBLOOD PROMISE, including the ability to create portals that allow for quick and safe travel. But these portals are also quite dangerous because it takes a while to be able to regenerate another one afterward, making it imperative to pick and choose wisely the times that you use them and the places you decide to be transported. Travel to the wrong place at the wrong time and you could just find yourself stuck in a very sticky situation without the ability to escape again quickly. I found myself really caught up in how the awesome magic of this story worked and honestly it was one of my favorite elements.
This is a fantasy that also has a big central mystery at its core, mainly trying to find out what exactly happened to the MC Lukan's father and the reasons why. These are the best types of sff books in my opinion because not only are you treated to amazing worldbuilding and magic that is the staple of any good fantasy, but the characters here have a daunting mission - one that is fraught with peril and suspense throughout. This kept me completely engaged the entire time even when the pacing slowed a bit.
I'm happy to say though that those moments where the action lulls somewhat are few and far between. I tore through the chapters in this book at lightning speed and that is mainly because the action is pretty hot and heavy most of the time. Another reason is the fact that the characters are each fascinating in their own way. Logan keeps you curious as to their backstories and motivations. In addition there are a couple of dastardly villains who I absolutely despised and they had me constantly fearing for the safety of Lukan and his friends.
Ultimately my high expectations were more than met in this impressive debut by James Logan. My only complaint is that I hope I don't have to wait too long for the sequel because this book ends on such a thrilling and tantalizing note that I really need to know what happens next. By all accounts this is a book that should delight most fantasy readers, especially those who enjoy perplexing mysteries, magic of the highest order, a world that holds many secrets and is muti-layered, and characters who stay with you long after you put down the book. You are definitely going to want to preorder THE SILVERBLOOD PROMISE and I suspect it will be hugely successful once an even larger audience gets an opportunity to read it. Frankly I am flabbergasted that this is James Logan's first full-length novel because he writes like a seasoned pro.
THE SILVERBLOOD PROMISE is one of my most anticipated reads of 2024. The minute I saw the marketing materials outlining the synopsis of the story I knew I had to try to get my hands on an early copy if I could. Thankfully US publisher Tor obliged and with that I was on my way!
This book has been compared to The Lies of Locke Lamora and I have to say after reading this book I think that's a bit misleading. Lamora was much more of a heist fantasy story than this one but where I will draw a slight parallel is in the dark and sinister locations that the characters move through as we journey along in the world that James Logan has so deftly created. The dripping dingy catacombs and mausoleums that are the backdrop of one particularly memorable scene definitely hearkened back to the feel and setting of Scott Lynch's classic debut. But that's where the similarities end as this is a wonderful tale of mystery and magic all its own.
Speaking of magic, that aspect really stood out to me as there are a number of extremely cool displays of dark sorcery in THE SILVERBLOOD PROMISE, including the ability to create portals that allow for quick and safe travel. But these portals are also quite dangerous because it takes a while to be able to regenerate another one afterward, making it imperative to pick and choose wisely the times that you use them and the places you decide to be transported. Travel to the wrong place at the wrong time and you could just find yourself stuck in a very sticky situation without the ability to escape again quickly. I found myself really caught up in how the awesome magic of this story worked and honestly it was one of my favorite elements.
This is a fantasy that also has a big central mystery at its core, mainly trying to find out what exactly happened to the MC Lukan's father and the reasons why. These are the best types of sff books in my opinion because not only are you treated to amazing worldbuilding and magic that is the staple of any good fantasy, but the characters here have a daunting mission - one that is fraught with peril and suspense throughout. This kept me completely engaged the entire time even when the pacing slowed a bit.
I'm happy to say though that those moments where the action lulls somewhat are few and far between. I tore through the chapters in this book at lightning speed and that is mainly because the action is pretty hot and heavy most of the time. Another reason is the fact that the characters are each fascinating in their own way. Logan keeps you curious as to their backstories and motivations. In addition there are a couple of dastardly villains who I absolutely despised and they had me constantly fearing for the safety of Lukan and his friends.
Ultimately my high expectations were more than met in this impressive debut by James Logan. My only complaint is that I hope I don't have to wait too long for the sequel because this book ends on such a thrilling and tantalizing note that I really need to know what happens next. By all accounts this is a book that should delight most fantasy readers, especially those who enjoy perplexing mysteries, magic of the highest order, a world that holds many secrets and is muti-layered, and characters who stay with you long after you put down the book. You are definitely going to want to preorder THE SILVERBLOOD PROMISE and I suspect it will be hugely successful once an even larger audience gets an opportunity to read it. Frankly I am flabbergasted that this is James Logan's first full-length novel because he writes like a seasoned pro.
February 2, 2024
“Sometimes you owed it to yourself to do what was necessary, not what was easy.”
When a duel ends badly for Lukan Gardova he goes from being the heir to a noble house to an academic failure and turns to a life of card gambling and drowning his sorrows in wine. Then when he discovers his father has been murdered, leaving him a note containing three words written in blood, it leads him on a journey away from seedy taverns to the Mother of Cities—Saphrona. As he enters a land of diverse cultures, merchant princes, deadly politics and even deadlier monsters, he seeks for answers but instead finds himself solving a puzzle which could very well prevent a war. He’s not alone though, through many dangers by his side is Flea, a young whip-smart street urchin. Together they make quite the duo.
The Silverblood Promise by James Logan is a superb debut filled to the brim with action, adventure and a murder mystery that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
Our Lukan is immediately charming in a roguish, naive kind of way. When he embarks upon solving his father’s murder it drives him to a city that’s both bewildering and breathtaking, he has to trust people who are more than a bit shady, and to put himself constantly in harm’s way. It quickly becomes apparent that he is out of his depth, though he may have spent several years estranged from his father, living life from one place to the next, full of anger and regret, his character still has an air of aristocracy and his tongue still gets the better of him causing him much strife. Logan cleverly sprinkles in Lukan’s inner thoughts throughout which are laced with sarcasm and wit creating a humorous side to his character. He is a skilled card player which makes him good at reading people, at playing them, Lukan’s also pretty handy with a blade, but despite this he’s still prone to things going horribly against him. Yet that's what makes his character so loveable— I mean who doesn’t love seeing how characters wriggle out of every mess they create? I was entertained by rooting for a character who was a bit of an idiot, but ultimately I was charmed by a protagonist who finds purpose and grows.
“Swans have an undeserved reputation for elegance, but really they're just moody bastards.'
'Bit like you, then.'
Flea dodged his halfhearted swipe at her head.
‘The only thing that's elegant about me,’ Lukan replied, ‘is my swordplay, and in that respect my reputation is well deserved’
‘Didn't do you much good last night, did it?' the girl asked, grinning at him.”
The book also has a strong cast of side characters, all of which are distinct, and for me this is a sign of a skilled author who can make even characters which appear briefly, extremely memorable. Yet there is one I know every reader will fall in love with—Flea is a young girl who survives by pickpocketing and in fact that is how she is introduced to Lukan. Flea and Lukan, at least in my opinion, share the best bantery dynamic, with Flea being Lukan’s guide turned sidekick. Who doesn’t love a good character duo? Flea may be just a child but as Lukan often observes, she’s a “smart one”, and life on the streets has left her more clued up than even he is. She rescues Lukan from more than a few scrapes and the way they tease each other brings just the right amount of mockery to keep me chuckling throughout. Another side character I was rather drawn to was The Scrivener, a master forger. Her character was the perfect amount of threatening but extremely useful to have on your side. Lukan may not have always been wise to deviate from The Scrivener’s orders, but damn those scenes were entertaining! Ashra was yet another standout character but the less you know about her, the better experience you’ll have.
“‘You think your vision for this city - this vision of might and conquest - is born of loyalty to Saphrona. Love, even. But it's not. It's born from fear, from a desperate need to reforge the world into a vision that you don't feel threatened by—’”
Our tale is set in Saphrona, the central city of commerce in the Old Empire and Logan does a fantastic job of vibrantly bringing it to life. From the market, taverna’s and gambling houses to the Ebon Hand prison and the Bone Pit, where barbaric executions were held, we explore the beautiful and the dark corners of this wondrous place. It’s a city that houses wealthy merchants, the Kindred criminal organisation and street urchins alike. It’s a place where anything can be bought at a price, a place where The Lady of Seven Shadows deals out justice and it bursts with a medley of culture and beliefs. It is a fitting place to hold a murder mystery and continuing with that mystery is the use of Phaeron relics. Here is where our magic system plays a part as each relic had magical properties and puzzle-like ways to use them, their inclusion gave vibes of Indiana Jones. There are also gleamers and The Faceless who use arcane powers, but discovering their abilities for yourself is immensely fun. Just know that Saphrona is a setting full of surprises which I loved exploring!
The Silverblood Promise deftly blends high fantasy and mystery together to deliver a tale which readers will eagerly devour. Logan perfectly balances humour, charm and intrigue to create a pure riot of a read. I can’t wait to see where the next book will lead us.
ARC provided by Ayo at Jo Fletcher Books in exchange for an honest review—thank you for the copy! All quotes used are taken from an early ARC and are subject to change upon publication.
When a duel ends badly for Lukan Gardova he goes from being the heir to a noble house to an academic failure and turns to a life of card gambling and drowning his sorrows in wine. Then when he discovers his father has been murdered, leaving him a note containing three words written in blood, it leads him on a journey away from seedy taverns to the Mother of Cities—Saphrona. As he enters a land of diverse cultures, merchant princes, deadly politics and even deadlier monsters, he seeks for answers but instead finds himself solving a puzzle which could very well prevent a war. He’s not alone though, through many dangers by his side is Flea, a young whip-smart street urchin. Together they make quite the duo.
The Silverblood Promise by James Logan is a superb debut filled to the brim with action, adventure and a murder mystery that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
Our Lukan is immediately charming in a roguish, naive kind of way. When he embarks upon solving his father’s murder it drives him to a city that’s both bewildering and breathtaking, he has to trust people who are more than a bit shady, and to put himself constantly in harm’s way. It quickly becomes apparent that he is out of his depth, though he may have spent several years estranged from his father, living life from one place to the next, full of anger and regret, his character still has an air of aristocracy and his tongue still gets the better of him causing him much strife. Logan cleverly sprinkles in Lukan’s inner thoughts throughout which are laced with sarcasm and wit creating a humorous side to his character. He is a skilled card player which makes him good at reading people, at playing them, Lukan’s also pretty handy with a blade, but despite this he’s still prone to things going horribly against him. Yet that's what makes his character so loveable— I mean who doesn’t love seeing how characters wriggle out of every mess they create? I was entertained by rooting for a character who was a bit of an idiot, but ultimately I was charmed by a protagonist who finds purpose and grows.
“Swans have an undeserved reputation for elegance, but really they're just moody bastards.'
'Bit like you, then.'
Flea dodged his halfhearted swipe at her head.
‘The only thing that's elegant about me,’ Lukan replied, ‘is my swordplay, and in that respect my reputation is well deserved’
‘Didn't do you much good last night, did it?' the girl asked, grinning at him.”
The book also has a strong cast of side characters, all of which are distinct, and for me this is a sign of a skilled author who can make even characters which appear briefly, extremely memorable. Yet there is one I know every reader will fall in love with—Flea is a young girl who survives by pickpocketing and in fact that is how she is introduced to Lukan. Flea and Lukan, at least in my opinion, share the best bantery dynamic, with Flea being Lukan’s guide turned sidekick. Who doesn’t love a good character duo? Flea may be just a child but as Lukan often observes, she’s a “smart one”, and life on the streets has left her more clued up than even he is. She rescues Lukan from more than a few scrapes and the way they tease each other brings just the right amount of mockery to keep me chuckling throughout. Another side character I was rather drawn to was The Scrivener, a master forger. Her character was the perfect amount of threatening but extremely useful to have on your side. Lukan may not have always been wise to deviate from The Scrivener’s orders, but damn those scenes were entertaining! Ashra was yet another standout character but the less you know about her, the better experience you’ll have.
“‘You think your vision for this city - this vision of might and conquest - is born of loyalty to Saphrona. Love, even. But it's not. It's born from fear, from a desperate need to reforge the world into a vision that you don't feel threatened by—’”
Our tale is set in Saphrona, the central city of commerce in the Old Empire and Logan does a fantastic job of vibrantly bringing it to life. From the market, taverna’s and gambling houses to the Ebon Hand prison and the Bone Pit, where barbaric executions were held, we explore the beautiful and the dark corners of this wondrous place. It’s a city that houses wealthy merchants, the Kindred criminal organisation and street urchins alike. It’s a place where anything can be bought at a price, a place where The Lady of Seven Shadows deals out justice and it bursts with a medley of culture and beliefs. It is a fitting place to hold a murder mystery and continuing with that mystery is the use of Phaeron relics. Here is where our magic system plays a part as each relic had magical properties and puzzle-like ways to use them, their inclusion gave vibes of Indiana Jones. There are also gleamers and The Faceless who use arcane powers, but discovering their abilities for yourself is immensely fun. Just know that Saphrona is a setting full of surprises which I loved exploring!
The Silverblood Promise deftly blends high fantasy and mystery together to deliver a tale which readers will eagerly devour. Logan perfectly balances humour, charm and intrigue to create a pure riot of a read. I can’t wait to see where the next book will lead us.
ARC provided by Ayo at Jo Fletcher Books in exchange for an honest review—thank you for the copy! All quotes used are taken from an early ARC and are subject to change upon publication.
August 16, 2024
”You have to stand up for yourself, you understand? You can’t let someone have their way just because they were born into wealth and privilege. That doesn’t make them better than you.”
i really don’t have much to say about this book because it was a very average reading experience for me. it’s also more adventure/murder mystery for the first half with Lukan trying to figure out who murdered his father and then around 55% is where the fantasy elements finally kick in. i did like the dynamic between Lukan and his chaotic 11 year old companion Flea, there’s some great banter between the two. but overall, i think the hype for this one set my expectations too high.. the ending was interesting though and i liked Ashra a lot more than Lukan, so im hoping to like the sequel more since im definitely planning to read it when it’s released.
- thanks to Amie for the buddy read 🖤
i really don’t have much to say about this book because it was a very average reading experience for me. it’s also more adventure/murder mystery for the first half with Lukan trying to figure out who murdered his father and then around 55% is where the fantasy elements finally kick in. i did like the dynamic between Lukan and his chaotic 11 year old companion Flea, there’s some great banter between the two. but overall, i think the hype for this one set my expectations too high.. the ending was interesting though and i liked Ashra a lot more than Lukan, so im hoping to like the sequel more since im definitely planning to read it when it’s released.
- thanks to Amie for the buddy read 🖤
May 16, 2024
I would like to thank Edelweiss and Tor for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.
Well this was an entertaining fantasy romp, with an interesting world and a bevy of wild characters who all make this story a good debut...minus the Scrivener, who was my least favourite character by far. Flea, the 11 yr old street urchin show stealer, was obvs my absolute favourite, and pretty much the strongest essential that made this story have any real heart at all. Not bad by any stretch, but it was an important relationship that added more body and substance to a narrative filled with cool and intriguing people, places and remarkable things.
The world, and especially the city of Saphrona, was teeming with such variety that recalling my journey through this story feels like I've experienced soooo much as a reader; a traveler's memory of sights and sounds and history and lore. And though I'd struggled to be fully into the shenanigans employed in the acquisition of clues pushing/leading/guiding Lukan's path through the narrative, I found that EVERYTHING related to the Phaeron was fascinating and provocative enough to just swallow whatever/whomever I wasn't vibing with at the time!
As an aside, I know the comp for this is Lynch, but my brain kept thinking Feist. NOT STYLISTICALLY...but IYKYK.
Overall, this was a book teeming with a lot of fantastic elements I am eager to explore, and as the series continues on in an affable nod to Indiana Jones, I am very much looking forward to how Lukan and his companions navigate all the unique and potentially devastating mysteries their next destination, Korslakov, will reveal and or add to in Book 2!
Well this was an entertaining fantasy romp, with an interesting world and a bevy of wild characters who all make this story a good debut...minus the Scrivener, who was my least favourite character by far. Flea, the 11 yr old street urchin show stealer, was obvs my absolute favourite, and pretty much the strongest essential that made this story have any real heart at all. Not bad by any stretch, but it was an important relationship that added more body and substance to a narrative filled with cool and intriguing people, places and remarkable things.
The world, and especially the city of Saphrona, was teeming with such variety that recalling my journey through this story feels like I've experienced soooo much as a reader; a traveler's memory of sights and sounds and history and lore. And though I'd struggled to be fully into the shenanigans employed in the acquisition of clues pushing/leading/guiding Lukan's path through the narrative, I found that EVERYTHING related to the Phaeron was fascinating and provocative enough to just swallow whatever/whomever I wasn't vibing with at the time!
As an aside, I know the comp for this is Lynch, but my brain kept thinking Feist. NOT STYLISTICALLY...but IYKYK.
Overall, this was a book teeming with a lot of fantastic elements I am eager to explore, and as the series continues on in an affable nod to Indiana Jones, I am very much looking forward to how Lukan and his companions navigate all the unique and potentially devastating mysteries their next destination, Korslakov, will reveal and or add to in Book 2!
May 21, 2024
4/5
“You have to stand up for yourself, you understand? You can't let someone have their way just because they were born into wealth and privilege. That doesn't make them better than you.”
The Lies of Locke Lamora meets Mistborn’s The Final Empire in this wickedly fun, fast paced fantasy debut by James Logan. This was solid, I had so much fun with it. Whilst it isn’t groundbreaking in any way, fantasy books don’t always need to be. I was thoroughly entertained throughout the entire book and I have very high hopes for the rest of this series as well as whatever else Logan decides to write. It’s a story of heroes coming from the most unlikely of places; from the disgraced to the beggars to the thieves.
In many respects I’d posit that The Silverblood Promise works as an excellent entry point to fantasy for those new to the genre. It also works as a strong pallet cleanser or an ideal book to pull you out of a reading slump. The story is fast paced and mainly follows one character, Lukan Pardova, a disgraced son of nobility as he crosses the world and navigates a sprawling foreign city in an attempt to uncover the mystery behind his fathers murder which unwittingly embroils him in a conspiracy layered with treason, murder and an ancient mythical race of creatures. The story itself is very concise with no overwhelming elements introduced, yet there’s plenty of lore to sink your teeth into. Story events are exciting and are constantly moving with the pacing being spot on. There’s plenty of magic but it’s not a hard magic system so it’s easily digestible. Something I really enjoyed as well is that whilst it’s predominantly a fantasy book, there’s several elements of actual well done horror in the book.
I really enjoyed the characters we followed in the story, Lukan and Flea especially. Lukan doesn’t feel like your typical fantasy protagonist which I found refreshing. Whilst he’s born from nobility he isn’t a particularly noble character. He’s heroic but very unwillingly, and he’s also not afraid to get his hands dirty. He’s sassy, pompous and flamboyant but he’s charismatic and very likeable. At times he feels very reminiscent of Mistborn’s Kelsier with some elements of Locke Lamora thrown in. Following from that comparison, his sidekick, Flea, shows similarities with Vin from Mistborn but a million times more likeable than Vin, in my opinion. The relationship between the two gets surprisingly deep at times, being quite touching; it was one of my favourite parts of the book. There’s several other notable characters in book, both major and minor with all standing out and playing their parts well.
Logan also puts forth some strong world building. The setting, the city of Saphrona is exceptional. It’s immersive with plenty of rich history that we learn about and it has a strong identity. Saphrona at times feels like a character in itself, that’s how vibrant it feels as a setting. It’s a bustling city of merchants, religion, treacherous nobility and criminal underworlds with several different cultures introduced to us. The city gives off similar vibes to Camorr which is only a good thing. We also learn about several other cities which also receive a fair bit of depth, already having their own strong identity despite us only hearing about them and not visiting (yet). There’s also a lot of lore setup, with a lost ancient civilisation and the remnants they’ve left behind. Logan’s crafted a rich, intricate world with much to explore, discover and delve into for future stories instalments.
Overall, this is an exceptional debut. It’s cinematic, fast paced, has high stakes, several different heists and is full of heart, genuine humour and enjoyable characters. I’m very excited to see where this series goes. It’s definitely a book that deserves your attention, with Logan being an exciting new voice to the fantasy genre.
“You have to stand up for yourself, you understand? You can't let someone have their way just because they were born into wealth and privilege. That doesn't make them better than you.”
The Lies of Locke Lamora meets Mistborn’s The Final Empire in this wickedly fun, fast paced fantasy debut by James Logan. This was solid, I had so much fun with it. Whilst it isn’t groundbreaking in any way, fantasy books don’t always need to be. I was thoroughly entertained throughout the entire book and I have very high hopes for the rest of this series as well as whatever else Logan decides to write. It’s a story of heroes coming from the most unlikely of places; from the disgraced to the beggars to the thieves.
In many respects I’d posit that The Silverblood Promise works as an excellent entry point to fantasy for those new to the genre. It also works as a strong pallet cleanser or an ideal book to pull you out of a reading slump. The story is fast paced and mainly follows one character, Lukan Pardova, a disgraced son of nobility as he crosses the world and navigates a sprawling foreign city in an attempt to uncover the mystery behind his fathers murder which unwittingly embroils him in a conspiracy layered with treason, murder and an ancient mythical race of creatures. The story itself is very concise with no overwhelming elements introduced, yet there’s plenty of lore to sink your teeth into. Story events are exciting and are constantly moving with the pacing being spot on. There’s plenty of magic but it’s not a hard magic system so it’s easily digestible. Something I really enjoyed as well is that whilst it’s predominantly a fantasy book, there’s several elements of actual well done horror in the book.
I really enjoyed the characters we followed in the story, Lukan and Flea especially. Lukan doesn’t feel like your typical fantasy protagonist which I found refreshing. Whilst he’s born from nobility he isn’t a particularly noble character. He’s heroic but very unwillingly, and he’s also not afraid to get his hands dirty. He’s sassy, pompous and flamboyant but he’s charismatic and very likeable. At times he feels very reminiscent of Mistborn’s Kelsier with some elements of Locke Lamora thrown in. Following from that comparison, his sidekick, Flea, shows similarities with Vin from Mistborn but a million times more likeable than Vin, in my opinion. The relationship between the two gets surprisingly deep at times, being quite touching; it was one of my favourite parts of the book. There’s several other notable characters in book, both major and minor with all standing out and playing their parts well.
Logan also puts forth some strong world building. The setting, the city of Saphrona is exceptional. It’s immersive with plenty of rich history that we learn about and it has a strong identity. Saphrona at times feels like a character in itself, that’s how vibrant it feels as a setting. It’s a bustling city of merchants, religion, treacherous nobility and criminal underworlds with several different cultures introduced to us. The city gives off similar vibes to Camorr which is only a good thing. We also learn about several other cities which also receive a fair bit of depth, already having their own strong identity despite us only hearing about them and not visiting (yet). There’s also a lot of lore setup, with a lost ancient civilisation and the remnants they’ve left behind. Logan’s crafted a rich, intricate world with much to explore, discover and delve into for future stories instalments.
Overall, this is an exceptional debut. It’s cinematic, fast paced, has high stakes, several different heists and is full of heart, genuine humour and enjoyable characters. I’m very excited to see where this series goes. It’s definitely a book that deserves your attention, with Logan being an exciting new voice to the fantasy genre.
May 30, 2024
This review was originally published on Before We Go Blog
James Logan delivers loveable outcasts, sharp banter, pulse-pounding action, riveting suspense, and intricate webs of conspiracies in The Silverblood Promise. And I can promise you, this fun fantasy mystery has a dangerously addictive “just one more chapter” quality that will keep you turning the pages way too late into the night!
As the disgraced heir to an ancient noble house and expelled academy dropout, Lukan Gardova has not exactly been thriving for a couple of years. But when his estranged father is found murdered under mysterious circumstances, he embarks upon a quest for answers that brings him to the magnificently mystifying city of Saphrona, where unlikely adversaries and even more unexpected allies await him. Armed with little more than his quick wit and sharp tongue, Lukan will have to navigate an intricate web of deadly secrets and dangerous conspiracies, but he has promised to stop at nothing to uncover the truth.
Now, The Silverblood Promise is one of those books that feels quite familiar in its plot beats and character archetypes, yet somehow the story doesn’t feel tired or unoriginal at all. No, Logan does not reinvent the wheel here, but he does deliver on the promise (pun very much intended) of what this story will be, and brilliantly at that. In a way, The Silverblood Promise almost feels like if Michael J. Sullivan or Brandon Sanderson wrote a twisty and turny fantasy mystery with a setting and atmosphere reminiscent of The Lies of Locke Lamora, and I mean that in the most loving way possible!
Right from the very first page, this story just moves. Lukan’s strong voice immediately pulled me in, and I absolutely loved going on this wild adventure with him. Even though he is undeniably a bit of a hot mess when we first meet him, it soon becomes clear that there’s a lot more hiding behind his witty remarks and devil-may-care attitude, which made him such an instantly intriguing and endearing character to me.
And as if Lukan wasn’t fun enough to follow by himself, we also got blessed with the wonderful presence of the street-urchin Flea. Now, THIS is how you write a loveable and believable young female character that doesn’t drive you up a wall with their ridiculous antics (looking at you, Lift). The unexpected friendship that started to bloom was just entirely too wholesome, and I was highly amused by all the class/culture clashing and light-hearted banter between the two of them.
The Silverblood Promise honestly just has so much heart, which gives it an inexplicable air of warmth and comfort despite its dangerously high stakes and darker twists and turns. And trust me, things definitely get creepy and ominous real quick when the mysteries start to unravel. From dark sorcery, to legendary creatures, to corrupt authorities, and to dangerous rogues, there’s simply no shortage of suspenseful chills and thrills in this story.
At some points the entire plot almost started to feel like a wild and chaotic goose chase through the increasingly darker parts of the city of Saphrona, and I personally wouldn’t have minded a couple more quiet moments of reflection and introspection. Yet at the same time, I honestly don’t feel like the character work or world building suffered from the faster pacing at all, and I just loved how all the different moving pieces came together in the end.
Even though this first instalment in The Last Legacy wraps up its core mystery in a satisfying way, there’s no doubt in my mind that I would have jumped into book 2 immediately if that had been available already. Logan is both an extremely good storyteller and a very strong writer, which just made for one of the most bingeable books I have read in a long while. Seriously, I read this 500+ page book in just 2 days; I didn’t devour The Silverblood Promise, it devoured me!
Both fantasy veterans and newbies to the genre will find much to love here, and I can already see this series becoming a comfort favourite for anyone who just loves a good immersive and thrilling fantasy adventure to escape into. If you have been looking for a fun and fast-paced epic fantasy with rich atmosphere, endearing characters, riveting mystery, heartwarming found family vibes, and plenty of murderous magic and mayhem, then I can’t recommend The Silverblood Promise highly enough!
Thank you to NetGalley and Quercus Books for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
James Logan delivers loveable outcasts, sharp banter, pulse-pounding action, riveting suspense, and intricate webs of conspiracies in The Silverblood Promise. And I can promise you, this fun fantasy mystery has a dangerously addictive “just one more chapter” quality that will keep you turning the pages way too late into the night!
As the disgraced heir to an ancient noble house and expelled academy dropout, Lukan Gardova has not exactly been thriving for a couple of years. But when his estranged father is found murdered under mysterious circumstances, he embarks upon a quest for answers that brings him to the magnificently mystifying city of Saphrona, where unlikely adversaries and even more unexpected allies await him. Armed with little more than his quick wit and sharp tongue, Lukan will have to navigate an intricate web of deadly secrets and dangerous conspiracies, but he has promised to stop at nothing to uncover the truth.
Now, The Silverblood Promise is one of those books that feels quite familiar in its plot beats and character archetypes, yet somehow the story doesn’t feel tired or unoriginal at all. No, Logan does not reinvent the wheel here, but he does deliver on the promise (pun very much intended) of what this story will be, and brilliantly at that. In a way, The Silverblood Promise almost feels like if Michael J. Sullivan or Brandon Sanderson wrote a twisty and turny fantasy mystery with a setting and atmosphere reminiscent of The Lies of Locke Lamora, and I mean that in the most loving way possible!
Right from the very first page, this story just moves. Lukan’s strong voice immediately pulled me in, and I absolutely loved going on this wild adventure with him. Even though he is undeniably a bit of a hot mess when we first meet him, it soon becomes clear that there’s a lot more hiding behind his witty remarks and devil-may-care attitude, which made him such an instantly intriguing and endearing character to me.
And as if Lukan wasn’t fun enough to follow by himself, we also got blessed with the wonderful presence of the street-urchin Flea. Now, THIS is how you write a loveable and believable young female character that doesn’t drive you up a wall with their ridiculous antics (looking at you, Lift). The unexpected friendship that started to bloom was just entirely too wholesome, and I was highly amused by all the class/culture clashing and light-hearted banter between the two of them.
The Silverblood Promise honestly just has so much heart, which gives it an inexplicable air of warmth and comfort despite its dangerously high stakes and darker twists and turns. And trust me, things definitely get creepy and ominous real quick when the mysteries start to unravel. From dark sorcery, to legendary creatures, to corrupt authorities, and to dangerous rogues, there’s simply no shortage of suspenseful chills and thrills in this story.
At some points the entire plot almost started to feel like a wild and chaotic goose chase through the increasingly darker parts of the city of Saphrona, and I personally wouldn’t have minded a couple more quiet moments of reflection and introspection. Yet at the same time, I honestly don’t feel like the character work or world building suffered from the faster pacing at all, and I just loved how all the different moving pieces came together in the end.
Even though this first instalment in The Last Legacy wraps up its core mystery in a satisfying way, there’s no doubt in my mind that I would have jumped into book 2 immediately if that had been available already. Logan is both an extremely good storyteller and a very strong writer, which just made for one of the most bingeable books I have read in a long while. Seriously, I read this 500+ page book in just 2 days; I didn’t devour The Silverblood Promise, it devoured me!
Both fantasy veterans and newbies to the genre will find much to love here, and I can already see this series becoming a comfort favourite for anyone who just loves a good immersive and thrilling fantasy adventure to escape into. If you have been looking for a fun and fast-paced epic fantasy with rich atmosphere, endearing characters, riveting mystery, heartwarming found family vibes, and plenty of murderous magic and mayhem, then I can’t recommend The Silverblood Promise highly enough!
Thank you to NetGalley and Quercus Books for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
May 9, 2024
4.0 Stars
Video Review: https://youtu.be/OqKPLv-OPAc
This epic fantasy novel had some early good buzz and so I was pleased to find that it lived up to the hype.
This is a fairly traditional fantasy novel reminding me loosely of other favourites. Normally I prefer more unconventional or unique stories but I can also appreciate when a more traditional story is simply told very well.
I enjoyed the characters. I found the bits of worldbuilding to be enticing. This is the first book in a new fantasy series and I will definitely read the next installment.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher
Video Review: https://youtu.be/OqKPLv-OPAc
This epic fantasy novel had some early good buzz and so I was pleased to find that it lived up to the hype.
This is a fairly traditional fantasy novel reminding me loosely of other favourites. Normally I prefer more unconventional or unique stories but I can also appreciate when a more traditional story is simply told very well.
I enjoyed the characters. I found the bits of worldbuilding to be enticing. This is the first book in a new fantasy series and I will definitely read the next installment.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher
December 11, 2023
Lukan is expelled from the Academy after killing a fellow student in a duel. He lives his life constantly on the run, estranged from his rich yet reclusive father who’s obsessed with dead civilisations and demons out of children's stories.
Then, his family’s steward tracks him down to inform him his father has been murdered and was found with a final note scrawled in his blood: Lukan Saphrona Zandrusa. His name, the name of a southern city, and someone or something. He swears a silverblood promise to find out the meaning of his father’s death and deliver justice.
Logan possesses a dry humour and a talent for a good turn of phrase, making this a delightful book with strong characters you can’t help but root for.
I have to mention Flea especially, the young street urchin who first tried to rob Lukan on his arrival in the city but soon becomes his companion and shadow. A skinny eleven year old with a sharp knife and sharper tongue. She’s an utter delight, constantly chatty, unwilling to stay behind, and a protege who grows on Lukan.
”If you're serious-“
“I'm deadly serious."
“Deadly stupid, more like,” Flea muttered.
“The difference between the two is merely a matter of perspective.”
The descriptions are utterly engrossing and paints such a vivid picture whilst never losing that wit that keeps you entertained. This is where seasoned fantasy readers can really feel the love of the genre as Logan makes you feel at home in a city with a clear divide between rich and poor, corrupt officials, a tower in the middle of the sea holding prisoners, deadly entertainments, a criminal underbelly, and a city that is run on gold.
”You have to stand up for yourself, you understand? You can't let someone have their way just because they were born into wealth and privilege. That doesn't make them better than you.”
Despite Lukan not having magic himself, there is an intriguing magic system which seems will play an important role in the rest of the series. There exist individuals who can perform sorcery known as gleamers who channel raw power from beyond the veil of the world.
Don’t go in expecting to find a wrapped up story in this, indeed the mystery only gets deeper by the end!
This is an extremely compelling, impressive debut and I am gutted I read this so early because now I have to wait even longer for the next book!
I would recommend this to fans of the city-life and themes in The Lies of Locke Lamora, the politics and council families of Mistborn, the character of Kvothe from the Name of the Wind.
Thank you to Quercus Books for providing me an arc in exchange for a review!
Bookstagram
Then, his family’s steward tracks him down to inform him his father has been murdered and was found with a final note scrawled in his blood: Lukan Saphrona Zandrusa. His name, the name of a southern city, and someone or something. He swears a silverblood promise to find out the meaning of his father’s death and deliver justice.
Logan possesses a dry humour and a talent for a good turn of phrase, making this a delightful book with strong characters you can’t help but root for.
I have to mention Flea especially, the young street urchin who first tried to rob Lukan on his arrival in the city but soon becomes his companion and shadow. A skinny eleven year old with a sharp knife and sharper tongue. She’s an utter delight, constantly chatty, unwilling to stay behind, and a protege who grows on Lukan.
”If you're serious-“
“I'm deadly serious."
“Deadly stupid, more like,” Flea muttered.
“The difference between the two is merely a matter of perspective.”
The descriptions are utterly engrossing and paints such a vivid picture whilst never losing that wit that keeps you entertained. This is where seasoned fantasy readers can really feel the love of the genre as Logan makes you feel at home in a city with a clear divide between rich and poor, corrupt officials, a tower in the middle of the sea holding prisoners, deadly entertainments, a criminal underbelly, and a city that is run on gold.
”You have to stand up for yourself, you understand? You can't let someone have their way just because they were born into wealth and privilege. That doesn't make them better than you.”
Despite Lukan not having magic himself, there is an intriguing magic system which seems will play an important role in the rest of the series. There exist individuals who can perform sorcery known as gleamers who channel raw power from beyond the veil of the world.
Don’t go in expecting to find a wrapped up story in this, indeed the mystery only gets deeper by the end!
This is an extremely compelling, impressive debut and I am gutted I read this so early because now I have to wait even longer for the next book!
I would recommend this to fans of the city-life and themes in The Lies of Locke Lamora, the politics and council families of Mistborn, the character of Kvothe from the Name of the Wind.
Thank you to Quercus Books for providing me an arc in exchange for a review!
Bookstagram
December 10, 2024
4.5 stars
I had a great time with this one. As I started reading it, I was thinking it could be a five-star read, and while it didn’t quite make it there, it wasn’t too far off. In many ways it has a Lies of Locke Lamora vibe. It doesn’t have the bromance of Locke and Jean, but it does have a kind of analogue of that to enjoy.
It’s a bit of a heist fantasy with a good handful of little things going on – break-ins, break-outs, running from both the law and from criminal gangs – so there’s lots of action and a good amount of magic as well. There are a couple of different types of magic, and we don’t see too closely how they work because we don’t get a POV from anyone attuned to the magic, but there are magical artefacts that some of our characters use. I think that worked really well, as you don’t need to know all the ins and outs of the magic, you just need a vague idea of it in order to follow what’s going on.
The story was really interesting, and I liked the characters, so overall it was a really good time. The one thing that I would probably say dropped it down from five stars for me was that there were a few little plot conveniences that jumped the story a little. It wasn’t disjointed at all, but I think it could have flowed a little better. There were a few sections where a benefactor would say “go here, lay low, watch but don’t do anything” and the main character would go there, lay low, watch... and then think “I need to go in there and get a closer look” – that would inevitably land him in trouble, and serve as the catalyst for the next stage of the story. It happened a few times in a similar way, and just became a little “samey” and felt like slightly jumpy rather than fluent storytelling.
There were some good links at the end to the next book in the series, clearly signposting what to expect from the initial story and which characters will be involved, and I appreciated that and look forward to it.
I had a great time with this one. As I started reading it, I was thinking it could be a five-star read, and while it didn’t quite make it there, it wasn’t too far off. In many ways it has a Lies of Locke Lamora vibe. It doesn’t have the bromance of Locke and Jean, but it does have a kind of analogue of that to enjoy.
It’s a bit of a heist fantasy with a good handful of little things going on – break-ins, break-outs, running from both the law and from criminal gangs – so there’s lots of action and a good amount of magic as well. There are a couple of different types of magic, and we don’t see too closely how they work because we don’t get a POV from anyone attuned to the magic, but there are magical artefacts that some of our characters use. I think that worked really well, as you don’t need to know all the ins and outs of the magic, you just need a vague idea of it in order to follow what’s going on.
The story was really interesting, and I liked the characters, so overall it was a really good time. The one thing that I would probably say dropped it down from five stars for me was that there were a few little plot conveniences that jumped the story a little. It wasn’t disjointed at all, but I think it could have flowed a little better. There were a few sections where a benefactor would say “go here, lay low, watch but don’t do anything” and the main character would go there, lay low, watch... and then think “I need to go in there and get a closer look” – that would inevitably land him in trouble, and serve as the catalyst for the next stage of the story. It happened a few times in a similar way, and just became a little “samey” and felt like slightly jumpy rather than fluent storytelling.
There were some good links at the end to the next book in the series, clearly signposting what to expect from the initial story and which characters will be involved, and I appreciated that and look forward to it.
May 18, 2024
When I discussed this book with a friend of mine who is an author, I said "I rarely read books where the prose is this good", where she replied "the author is a well known editor, thats why. And that pretty much sets the tone. Imagine Sanderson's adventure with Scott Lynches rompy heist drama, all of it in a delightful prose that isn't overly flowery but still mature.
Logan creates a layered world where there is danger and intrigue behind every corner in The Silverblood Promise. Lukan is a disgraced noble from a lesser house, who travels to the foreign city of Saphrona to uncover the secret behind his father's murder. His journey takes him to the twisted underbelly of the city, where the secrets behind it's elite are revealed.
The Silverblood Promise hits hard out the gate with a genuinely intriguing and well set up mystery that takes the characters through twisted blood trials, prisons breakouts, and larceny. I adore fantasy mystery, but to have it mixed in with a little bit of hunger games and heist adventure is icing on the cake. All of these elements are believable, thrilling, and add to the excitement of exploring the city of Saphrona- which is brimming with personality.
Lukan as a lead character is fantastic. Equal parts immature rich kid and spirited adventurer, Lukan is the lovable scamp you want to root for every step of the way whose still capable of growing and changing. His relationship with the child thief Flea is heartwarming as you can get, and his interactions with the residents of the city are always fascinating. Lukan is part everyman, part capable adventurer with a heart of gold. Imagine Nathan Drake if he came from money.
Some of the additional side characters include the merchant princes that dominate the city, a group of heartless, money obsessed assassins with jewel themed code names, and Lady Midnight, the mysterious thief able to "walk through walls" that finds she has more in common with Lukan than she ever expected. All of the characters that inhabit Saphrona are incredible and honestly deserve their own books. I could read about the merchants twisting each other's wrists playing politics or the assassins journeys for 400 pages easily. There is a part of the book where wealthy and overconfident residents put themselves through violent trials to earn prizes...and thats a book in itself.
James Logan puts so much care in the crafting of both his story and characters that every single scene in memorable and interesting.
The Silverblood Promise will no doubt be one of my favorite books this year, and feels like such a refreshing reprieve from the same old fantasy tropes that have been trending. Its familiar yet different. I strongly recommend if you loved Lock Lamora, The Stardust Thief, and the non romanetic elements of Six of Crows.
Logan creates a layered world where there is danger and intrigue behind every corner in The Silverblood Promise. Lukan is a disgraced noble from a lesser house, who travels to the foreign city of Saphrona to uncover the secret behind his father's murder. His journey takes him to the twisted underbelly of the city, where the secrets behind it's elite are revealed.
The Silverblood Promise hits hard out the gate with a genuinely intriguing and well set up mystery that takes the characters through twisted blood trials, prisons breakouts, and larceny. I adore fantasy mystery, but to have it mixed in with a little bit of hunger games and heist adventure is icing on the cake. All of these elements are believable, thrilling, and add to the excitement of exploring the city of Saphrona- which is brimming with personality.
Lukan as a lead character is fantastic. Equal parts immature rich kid and spirited adventurer, Lukan is the lovable scamp you want to root for every step of the way whose still capable of growing and changing. His relationship with the child thief Flea is heartwarming as you can get, and his interactions with the residents of the city are always fascinating. Lukan is part everyman, part capable adventurer with a heart of gold. Imagine Nathan Drake if he came from money.
Some of the additional side characters include the merchant princes that dominate the city, a group of heartless, money obsessed assassins with jewel themed code names, and Lady Midnight, the mysterious thief able to "walk through walls" that finds she has more in common with Lukan than she ever expected. All of the characters that inhabit Saphrona are incredible and honestly deserve their own books. I could read about the merchants twisting each other's wrists playing politics or the assassins journeys for 400 pages easily. There is a part of the book where wealthy and overconfident residents put themselves through violent trials to earn prizes...and thats a book in itself.
James Logan puts so much care in the crafting of both his story and characters that every single scene in memorable and interesting.
The Silverblood Promise will no doubt be one of my favorite books this year, and feels like such a refreshing reprieve from the same old fantasy tropes that have been trending. Its familiar yet different. I strongly recommend if you loved Lock Lamora, The Stardust Thief, and the non romanetic elements of Six of Crows.
Want to read
May 6, 2024Cannot wait to start this, especially since my brother, Ed, enjoyed it so much!
May 13, 2024
A wild ride filled with high stakes, heists, careful planning, and imminent danger. Unexpected twists and turns keep the suspense high, and likable characters make it addictive. Also, it's effortlessly readable.
April 13, 2024
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It doesmt really remind me of the Lies of Lock Lamorra despite it getting a quote from Scott Lynch , Its a debut that will appeal to many fans of fantasy though. I devoured this book.
December 24, 2023
4.25/5
Strong debut, with likable, roguish characters akin to Locke Lamora and Blacktongue Thief. A man travels to a fabled city to unravel the mystery behind his father’s death, only to find himself neck-deep in a conspiracy that would shake the foundations of normalcy.
Humorous, addictive, and well-paced. Looking forward to the story’s continuation.
Strong debut, with likable, roguish characters akin to Locke Lamora and Blacktongue Thief. A man travels to a fabled city to unravel the mystery behind his father’s death, only to find himself neck-deep in a conspiracy that would shake the foundations of normalcy.
Humorous, addictive, and well-paced. Looking forward to the story’s continuation.
May 29, 2024
I really enjoyed this book, it was a lot of fun. Lucan, the MC, is trying to solve the mystery of his father's death and has to use a small clue left by his father to unravel what happened. He ends up meeting a whole host of characters in the cities' underground and otherwise, some of whom become allies and many who become obstacles as he realizes the conspiracy goes deeper than he initially expected.
The heart of the novel is his relationship with Flea, a preteen street urchin who Lucan has a fantastic relationship with, their banter is really funny and at times heartwarming. The worldbuilding felt reminiscent of Scott Lynch in how it builds out the entire city and the political and underworld spheres, and I think it lays very interesting groundwork for further entries in the series.
My one drawback would be sometimes there was just a bit too much "go there, get this, to give to someone, who will give another clue" going on. I enjoyed each individual "side quest" and was never bored, but there were times where I would briefly forget why he was doing X, and how that related to the overall goal.
I think if you enjoy the comp authors of Scott Lynch, Joe Abercrombie, and/or Sebastian De Castell, you will probably enjoy this, but be aware that Logan's style is still his own.
8.5/10
The heart of the novel is his relationship with Flea, a preteen street urchin who Lucan has a fantastic relationship with, their banter is really funny and at times heartwarming. The worldbuilding felt reminiscent of Scott Lynch in how it builds out the entire city and the political and underworld spheres, and I think it lays very interesting groundwork for further entries in the series.
My one drawback would be sometimes there was just a bit too much "go there, get this, to give to someone, who will give another clue" going on. I enjoyed each individual "side quest" and was never bored, but there were times where I would briefly forget why he was doing X, and how that related to the overall goal.
I think if you enjoy the comp authors of Scott Lynch, Joe Abercrombie, and/or Sebastian De Castell, you will probably enjoy this, but be aware that Logan's style is still his own.
8.5/10
September 12, 2024
This was a solid debut fantasy novel that will particularly appeal to readers who enjoy intricate, plot driven fantasy with a mystery element. The Silverblood Promise follows a man trying to find out who killed his estranged father, but befriends a street urchin and becomes drawn into many more side quests along the way. There were parts of this that were really interesting from a world-building perspective and vividly written. There is a scene where the main character must play a disturbing game that has really stuck with me.
However, there are so many side quests and random things he must do that I occasionally lost interest. This is the sort of book that might have worked better for me if I were more deeply invested in the characters, or if the pacing was tightened a bit to make it feel more like the plot beats of a murder mystery. As it is, the pacing is more like your typical epic fantasy novel and while the characters are competently drawn, I wasn't as emotionally invested in them as I would have liked to be.
That said, this is the sort of book where your experience may largely depend on what you want from a fantasy novel. You could compare this to The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch, albeit with less memorable characters and fuzzier politics. I liked but didn't love this one. I received a copy of this book for review from the publisher, all opinions are my own.
However, there are so many side quests and random things he must do that I occasionally lost interest. This is the sort of book that might have worked better for me if I were more deeply invested in the characters, or if the pacing was tightened a bit to make it feel more like the plot beats of a murder mystery. As it is, the pacing is more like your typical epic fantasy novel and while the characters are competently drawn, I wasn't as emotionally invested in them as I would have liked to be.
That said, this is the sort of book where your experience may largely depend on what you want from a fantasy novel. You could compare this to The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch, albeit with less memorable characters and fuzzier politics. I liked but didn't love this one. I received a copy of this book for review from the publisher, all opinions are my own.
December 5, 2024
A solid 4-stars.
The two main characters were good and I found myself invested from the moment that Flea first appeared. Lukan was also good but he came across as the less-able of the two despite being an adult and Flea a young girl.
I was a little concerned before reading this book that it might be too grim, but I needn't have worried as it turned out to be quite light-hearted in places even if the underlying themes were dark.
I think this works well enough as a standalone but there will be more books to come after this one and I will be checking this author's work out in the future.
So an all round "Well done" to Mr Logan.
The two main characters were good and I found myself invested from the moment that Flea first appeared. Lukan was also good but he came across as the less-able of the two despite being an adult and Flea a young girl.
I was a little concerned before reading this book that it might be too grim, but I needn't have worried as it turned out to be quite light-hearted in places even if the underlying themes were dark.
I think this works well enough as a standalone but there will be more books to come after this one and I will be checking this author's work out in the future.
So an all round "Well done" to Mr Logan.
June 7, 2024
I really enjoyed this book. It starts with a young man named Lukan Gardova whose father was murdered under mysterious circumstances and to get to the bottom of what happened he goes on an adventure and gets wrapped up in a bunch of conspiracies and dangerous circumstances. I love a good mystery so that alone was a pretty good hook. If you add in a really interesting fantasy setting like the one this book has in the city of Saphrona it gets really interesting. The city itself is almost a character here and I am a total sucker for that kind of thing. And even though Lukan isn't a detective or anything similar it starts off very much feeling that way as he goes from place to place and person to person to get the next lead and information he needs to solve the puzzle. I've heard some level that as a criticism, but to me that's just how mysteries often are. As things escalate plot-wise I really enjoyed the additional world building we get regarding a lost ancient civilization and the city's criminal underworld. Magic in this setting is also fascinating while not being overly abundant or overly explained. I also enjoyed the character of Lukan as he is kind of pretty good at most things but usually just about good enough to get himself in trouble. The side characters he runs into along the way are also quite good. I love a cast of sort of fun rogue type characters. It never feels like a silly story, but this is the kind of fun fantasy that doesn't always play it too serious. Also, the pacing is excellent. You'll want to keep turning the pages to figure out what comes next almost like a thriller.
I did have some criticisms though that kind of hold this book back from being a new favorite. We are told of Lukan's backstory approximately a million times as he repeatedly remembers it and recalls it seemingly at ever instance. I get that it might be important to his character, but I wish we saw more of how that impacted him on the page rather than him just recalling it all the time. It felt tedious. My other criticism is that the main antagonist here is pretty terrible. He's the most cookie cutter cliché mustache twirly villain you can imagine. This leads to some pretty cringe scenes. There's one scene where he's doing a typical villain spout off about how he just wants power and hates the poors and another character literally says "You can't kill hope!" to which the villain replies something like "Watch me!". My eyes have rarely rolled so hard reading a book. The villain along with his motives are so shallow it made it hard to take the stakes of the story seriously.
With all that being said I still had a really fun time reading this. It was a light quick fantasy read that really hit the spot. If book 2 was out right now I'd be picking it up.
I did have some criticisms though that kind of hold this book back from being a new favorite. We are told of Lukan's backstory approximately a million times as he repeatedly remembers it and recalls it seemingly at ever instance. I get that it might be important to his character, but I wish we saw more of how that impacted him on the page rather than him just recalling it all the time. It felt tedious. My other criticism is that the main antagonist here is pretty terrible. He's the most cookie cutter cliché mustache twirly villain you can imagine. This leads to some pretty cringe scenes. There's one scene where he's doing a typical villain spout off about how he just wants power and hates the poors and another character literally says "You can't kill hope!" to which the villain replies something like "Watch me!". My eyes have rarely rolled so hard reading a book. The villain along with his motives are so shallow it made it hard to take the stakes of the story seriously.
With all that being said I still had a really fun time reading this. It was a light quick fantasy read that really hit the spot. If book 2 was out right now I'd be picking it up.
May 31, 2024
Overview
💰 Fantasy heist
😍 Found family
🤝 No romance (yet)
🎭 Political conspiracy
📖 Easy Read/great prose
When I discussed this book with a friend of mine who is an author, I said "I rarely read books where the prose is this good", where she replied "the author is a well known editor, thats why. And that pretty much sets the tone. Imagine Sanderson's adventure with Scott Lynches rompy heist drama, all of it in a delightful prose that isn't overly flowery but still mature.
Logan creates a layered world where there is danger and intrigue behind every corner in The Silverblood Promise. Lukan is a disgraced noble from a lesser house, who travels to the foreign city of Saphrona to uncover the secret behind his father's murder. His journey takes him to the twisted underbelly of the city, where the secrets behind it's elite are revealed.
The Silverblood Promise hits hard out the gate with a genuinely intriguing and well set up mystery that takes the characters through twisted blood trials, prisons breakouts, and larceny. I adore fantasy mystery, but to have it mixed in with a little bit of hunger games and heist adventure is icing on the cake. All of these elements are believable, thrilling, and add to the excitement of exploring the city of Saphrona- which is brimming with personality.
Lukan as a lead character is fantastic. Equal parts immature rich kid and spirited adventurer, Lukan is the lovable scamp you want to root for every step of the way whose still capable of growing and changing. His relationship with the child thief Flea is heartwarming as you can get, and his interactions with the residents of the city are always fascinating. Lukan is part everyman, part capable adventurer with a heart of gold. Imagine Nathan Drake if he came from money.
Some of the additional side characters include the merchant princes that dominate the city, a group of heartless, money obsessed assassins with jewel themed code names, and Lady Midnight, the mysterious thief able to "walk through walls" that finds she has more in common with Lukan than she ever expected. All of the characters that inhabit Saphrona are incredible and honestly deserve their own books. I could read about the merchants twisting each other's wrists playing politics or the assassins journeys for 400 pages easily. There is a part of the book where wealthy and overconfident residents put themselves through violent trials to earn prizes...and thats a book in itself.
James Logan puts so much care in the crafting of both his story and characters that every single scene in memorable and interesting.
The Silverblood Promise will no doubt be one of my favorite books this year, and feels like such a refreshing reprieve from the same old fantasy tropes that have been trending. Its familiar yet different. I strongly recommend if you loved Lock Lamora, The Stardust Thief, and the non romanetic elements of Six of Crows.
💰 Fantasy heist
😍 Found family
🤝 No romance (yet)
🎭 Political conspiracy
📖 Easy Read/great prose
When I discussed this book with a friend of mine who is an author, I said "I rarely read books where the prose is this good", where she replied "the author is a well known editor, thats why. And that pretty much sets the tone. Imagine Sanderson's adventure with Scott Lynches rompy heist drama, all of it in a delightful prose that isn't overly flowery but still mature.
Logan creates a layered world where there is danger and intrigue behind every corner in The Silverblood Promise. Lukan is a disgraced noble from a lesser house, who travels to the foreign city of Saphrona to uncover the secret behind his father's murder. His journey takes him to the twisted underbelly of the city, where the secrets behind it's elite are revealed.
The Silverblood Promise hits hard out the gate with a genuinely intriguing and well set up mystery that takes the characters through twisted blood trials, prisons breakouts, and larceny. I adore fantasy mystery, but to have it mixed in with a little bit of hunger games and heist adventure is icing on the cake. All of these elements are believable, thrilling, and add to the excitement of exploring the city of Saphrona- which is brimming with personality.
Lukan as a lead character is fantastic. Equal parts immature rich kid and spirited adventurer, Lukan is the lovable scamp you want to root for every step of the way whose still capable of growing and changing. His relationship with the child thief Flea is heartwarming as you can get, and his interactions with the residents of the city are always fascinating. Lukan is part everyman, part capable adventurer with a heart of gold. Imagine Nathan Drake if he came from money.
Some of the additional side characters include the merchant princes that dominate the city, a group of heartless, money obsessed assassins with jewel themed code names, and Lady Midnight, the mysterious thief able to "walk through walls" that finds she has more in common with Lukan than she ever expected. All of the characters that inhabit Saphrona are incredible and honestly deserve their own books. I could read about the merchants twisting each other's wrists playing politics or the assassins journeys for 400 pages easily. There is a part of the book where wealthy and overconfident residents put themselves through violent trials to earn prizes...and thats a book in itself.
James Logan puts so much care in the crafting of both his story and characters that every single scene in memorable and interesting.
The Silverblood Promise will no doubt be one of my favorite books this year, and feels like such a refreshing reprieve from the same old fantasy tropes that have been trending. Its familiar yet different. I strongly recommend if you loved Lock Lamora, The Stardust Thief, and the non romanetic elements of Six of Crows.
October 29, 2024
ah yes my favorite fantasy trope: man adopts a small feral child who makes his life infinitely more better and helps him save the day
flea stabbing everyone was too funny
flea stabbing everyone was too funny
May 17, 2024
86/100
WOOOOOOO!!!!!! I really really enjoyed this. I'm not gonna sit here and say it's a perfect masterpiece or anything, but it is a lot of fun. Disgraced noble child turned cast-out card sharp Lukan Gardova receives news of his father's murder, along with a note that contains three words. He travels to the city of Saphrona in an attempt to uncover the truth, but finds yet more questions, conspiracies, and a few unlikely allies, and trouble at every turn.
There's some tropey things here but I didn't really mind at all. Found this to be in the vein of Lies of Locke Lamora/Greatcoats in that it's some swashbuckling fun while still having a good deal of heart. Lukan, Flea (who I love btw, Flea is awesome), and Ashra are really endearing and easy to root for. There's also some pretty cool lore stuff with an ancient/extinct race and civilization, which is something I just geek out over anytime it's in a book.
A really good debut. It can totally be read as a standalone too, as there's a full storyline that concludes, with a separate storyline continuing into the next book. I need James Logan to hurry up and pump out the rest of the books so I can binge.
WOOOOOOO!!!!!! I really really enjoyed this. I'm not gonna sit here and say it's a perfect masterpiece or anything, but it is a lot of fun. Disgraced noble child turned cast-out card sharp Lukan Gardova receives news of his father's murder, along with a note that contains three words. He travels to the city of Saphrona in an attempt to uncover the truth, but finds yet more questions, conspiracies, and a few unlikely allies, and trouble at every turn.
There's some tropey things here but I didn't really mind at all. Found this to be in the vein of Lies of Locke Lamora/Greatcoats in that it's some swashbuckling fun while still having a good deal of heart. Lukan, Flea (who I love btw, Flea is awesome), and Ashra are really endearing and easy to root for. There's also some pretty cool lore stuff with an ancient/extinct race and civilization, which is something I just geek out over anytime it's in a book.
A really good debut. It can totally be read as a standalone too, as there's a full storyline that concludes, with a separate storyline continuing into the next book. I need James Logan to hurry up and pump out the rest of the books so I can binge.
May 11, 2024
4.25⭐
A high-stakes fantasy adventure with fun characters.
Lukan Gardova finds a new purpose in life after learning that his estranged father has been murdered. With his only lead being the city of Saphrona and a word that could mean anything, the journey won't be an easy one. He soon finds himself in over his head, catching the attention of some very dangerous people. To prevail, he will need to think fast on his feet.
I really enjoyed this adventurous story. The plot was more about outsmarting the enemies rather than taking them head-on. The stakes were kept high all the way through.
Lukan was a fun character to follow. He is the kind of guy that just seems to attract problems. Along his journey, he makes some new friends, with the most prominent being Flea, a street urchin with a big mouth and fast fingers. Their exchanges injected humor into tense situations.
The worldbuilding, based on my favorite trope of a world built on the ruins of an ancient advanced civilization, added exciting elements to an otherwise fairly magic-less world, as well as some mystery.
Overall, I was very pleased with all aspects of the book. The only negatives I found were some info-dump scenes and instances that were a bit too convenient. Nothing too major, though.
I definitely look forward to the sequel.
I received an ARC for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
A high-stakes fantasy adventure with fun characters.
Lukan Gardova finds a new purpose in life after learning that his estranged father has been murdered. With his only lead being the city of Saphrona and a word that could mean anything, the journey won't be an easy one. He soon finds himself in over his head, catching the attention of some very dangerous people. To prevail, he will need to think fast on his feet.
I really enjoyed this adventurous story. The plot was more about outsmarting the enemies rather than taking them head-on. The stakes were kept high all the way through.
Lukan was a fun character to follow. He is the kind of guy that just seems to attract problems. Along his journey, he makes some new friends, with the most prominent being Flea, a street urchin with a big mouth and fast fingers. Their exchanges injected humor into tense situations.
The worldbuilding, based on my favorite trope of a world built on the ruins of an ancient advanced civilization, added exciting elements to an otherwise fairly magic-less world, as well as some mystery.
Overall, I was very pleased with all aspects of the book. The only negatives I found were some info-dump scenes and instances that were a bit too convenient. Nothing too major, though.
I definitely look forward to the sequel.
I received an ARC for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
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