El ladrón de lengua negra

El ladrón de lengua negra

  • Downloads:8770
  • Type:Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
  • Create Date:2022-07-13 09:16:41
  • Update Date:2025-09-23
  • Status:finish
  • Author:Christopher Buehlman
  • ISBN:8418711523
  • Environment:PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle

Summary

Kinch Na Shannack le debe una pequeña fortuna al Gremio de los Ladrones, que lo educó en las artes del latrocinio; educación que, entre otras cosas, incluye violar cerraduras, luchar con cuchillos, escalar paredes, caer sin hacerse daño, urdir mentiras, tender trampas y un puñado de conjuros bastante discretos。 Su deuda lo ha llevado a esconderse en el bosque junto a la antigua carretera, acechando y listo para asaltar al primer incauto que se cruce en su camino。 Hoy, sin embargo, Kinch Na Shannack ha elegido a la víctima equivocada。 Galva, una caballera superviviente de las encarnizadas guerras contra los goblins y leal seguidora de la diosa de la muerte, está buscando a su reina, desaparecida desde que una lejana ciudad del norte sucumbiera a los ataques de los gigantes。 Una vez frustrado su intento de robo y afortunado por haber escapado con vida, Kinch descubre que su destino está ligado al de Galva。 Sus enemigos en común y una hueste de amenazas bastante insólitas que los dos enfrentan, empujan al ladrón y a la caballera a embarcarse en un periplo de épicas dimensiones。 Deberán luchar contra goblins hambrientos de carne humana y krakens al acecho en las siniestras profundidades。 En este mundo, como comprobarán en el transcurso de sus aventuras, el honor es un lujo que no está al alcance de todos。

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Reviews

Nathan Horrigan

4。5

Dallen Thomas

The Blacktongue Thief was a book I definitely judged by its cover and was not disappointed。 The cover whispers adventure and magic and the pages within scream epic fantasy。 Characters, setting, and plot were all developed equally and they all worked extremely well with each other。 The magic was explained subtly where I didn’t feel overwhelmed or confused。 Little plot twists here and there were welcomed and celebrated, and I enjoyed the humor and fight scenes。 My only qualm would be that the book The Blacktongue Thief was a book I definitely judged by its cover and was not disappointed。 The cover whispers adventure and magic and the pages within scream epic fantasy。 Characters, setting, and plot were all developed equally and they all worked extremely well with each other。 The magic was explained subtly where I didn’t feel overwhelmed or confused。 Little plot twists here and there were welcomed and celebrated, and I enjoyed the humor and fight scenes。 My only qualm would be that the book wasn’t long enough! I wanted more, especially towards the end。 I cannot wait to pick up the second and third book in this series, whenever they drop。 I’ll be the first to speak highly of this book and recommend it for any and all who love this genre of creativity and greatness! 。。。more

Tyler

You know, at first I didn't think much of this book, but as I went on, I could tell the author was wearing his influences on his sleeve and taking what he learned from reading those books and weaving them into his story。 The final product is something worth talking about。 It's got a bit of Rothfuss, a bit of Lynch, a bit of Abercrombie, and even a bit of Butcher。 I just want more。 I ended up loving Kinch and company。 My only real complaint is there are so many names。 So many。 Keeping them straig You know, at first I didn't think much of this book, but as I went on, I could tell the author was wearing his influences on his sleeve and taking what he learned from reading those books and weaving them into his story。 The final product is something worth talking about。 It's got a bit of Rothfuss, a bit of Lynch, a bit of Abercrombie, and even a bit of Butcher。 I just want more。 I ended up loving Kinch and company。 My only real complaint is there are so many names。 So many。 Keeping them straight in my head when they come quick and fast was a lot to ask, but I'm also glad the author didn't fall into the trap of over-explaining all of them。 。。。more

Ryan Michael

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it, click here。 This is a flawed masterpiece。 I love almost everything about the book。 The characters, the plot, the setting, and it's unique and brutal take on the fantasy genre。 However there are some parts that aren't as well done, for example a character is introduced and killed almost immediately in a very strange almost nonsensical way。 I give this 5 stars because the parts that are good are extremely good, some of the best I've ever read and more then make up for the bad。 This is a flawed masterpiece。 I love almost everything about the book。 The characters, the plot, the setting, and it's unique and brutal take on the fantasy genre。 However there are some parts that aren't as well done, for example a character is introduced and killed almost immediately in a very strange almost nonsensical way。 I give this 5 stars because the parts that are good are extremely good, some of the best I've ever read and more then make up for the bad。 。。。more

James Lyons

Very intriguing world building and characters。 A fun, more grim/base fantasy with some interesting premises in the culture and world like lack of horses and lab created mutant creatures。 However the plot and writing are kinda inconsistent and lack a strong drive。 Would have loved to see more Galva。

Overhaul

"Me disponía a morir。 Peor todavía, me disponía a morir rodeado de hijos de perra"Kinch Na Shannack le debe una pequeña fortuna al Gremio de los Ladrones, que lo educó en las artes del latrocinio。 Educación que, entre otras cosas, incluye violar cerraduras, luchar con cuchillos, escalar paredes, caer sin hacerse daño, urdir mentiras, tender trampas y un puñado de conjuros bastante discretos。 Su deuda lo ha llevado a esconderse en el bosque junto a la antigua carretera, acechando y listo para asa "Me disponía a morir。 Peor todavía, me disponía a morir rodeado de hijos de perra"Kinch Na Shannack le debe una pequeña fortuna al Gremio de los Ladrones, que lo educó en las artes del latrocinio。 Educación que, entre otras cosas, incluye violar cerraduras, luchar con cuchillos, escalar paredes, caer sin hacerse daño, urdir mentiras, tender trampas y un puñado de conjuros bastante discretos。 Su deuda lo ha llevado a esconderse en el bosque junto a la antigua carretera, acechando y listo para asaltar al primer incauto que se cruce en su camino。Hoy, sin embargo, Na Shannack ha elegido a la víctima equivocada。 Galva, una caballera superviviente de las encarnizadas guerras contra los goblins y leal seguidora de la diosa de la muerte, está buscando a su reina, desaparecida desde que una lejana ciudad del norte sucumbiera a los ataques de los gigantes。 Una vez frustrado su intento de robo y afortunado por haber escapado con vida, Kinch descubre que su destino está ligado al de Galva。 Sus enemigos en común y una hueste de amenazas bastante insólitas que los dos enfrentan, empujan al ladrón y a la caballera a embarcarse en un enorme periplo de épicas dimensiones。 Deberán luchar contra goblins hambrientos de carne humana y krakens al acecho en las siniestras profundidades。 En este mundo, como comprobarán en el transcurso de sus aventuras, el honor es un lujo que no está al alcance de todos。 "El Ladrón de Lengua Negra" del autor Christopher Buehlman es una historia ingeniosa y con un tono de humor sobresaliente a través de un ladrón aparentemente sin importancia atrapado en las maquinaciones más amplias de este mundo que es una mezcla entre señor de los anillos y reyes de la tierra salvaje。Criaturas, magia y worldbuilding pero todo con toques de humor。Disfrute de Reyes, pero este mucho más。 Que historia, personajes y que humor a veces algo crudo。 Muy bueno de principio a fin。Kinch Na Shannack tiene mala suerte, o mejor dicho, su suerte está bien, es el gremio al que está contratado el problema。 Es el Gremio de Tomadores, la principal preocupación de Kinch en la vida es asegurarse de robar lo suficiente para pagar sus deudas de la "matrícula"。 Pero todo cambiará cuando su grupo elige la presa equivocada。 Cuando el trabajo sale mal, Kinch se convierte en el compañero de alguien muy letal, pero afortunadamente para él, muy misericordioso, al que acaba de intentar robar en unas escenas que ya te saca unas cuantas carcajadas。Lleno de magia, humor y una trama política de ebullición lenta, esta entretenida historia pues es una historia de pipas, sofa y cerveza。 Tened cuidado, eso si, de no atragantaros。 Me he reido mucho。 Pero no solo es humor, explora los temas de la guerra y la codicia de los hombres, mucha acción y magia a veces incluso con cierto humor pero mucha otras con crueldad。 Pues este es un mundo crudo y cruel。 Roza el llamado grimdark pero ese humor un tanto oscuro a veces rebaja esas cosas。 Pero no confundáis el humor con que haya arcoiris y unicornios o comieron perdices。 Al tiempo que describe los lugares de nota que la fuerza de Buehlman como narrador es muy sobresaliente。 Lo que es más importante, fue un placer leerlo。 Sarcasmo de asesinos que os harán reír a veces a carcajadas con momentos agridulces que os dejarán sin aliento。A medida que Kinch nos transmite sus diversas hazañas en primera persona podemos echar un vistazo al mundo que lo rodea。 Mundo descrito adecuadamente sin extenderse en exceso, que incluye múltiples grados de magia, una historia expansiva centrada en la guerra y una mezcla de culturas e idiomas。En el centro de todo esto está nuestra banda de personajes variopintos y viajeros que no coinciden en nada。 Polos opuestos, compuesta por un ladrón, un caballero guerrero, una bruja, un viejo némesis y un gato ciego, sí, sí。。。 xD。。A medida que van comenzando su búsqueda y se adentran en lo desconocido, seremos llevados a un mundo brillantemente creado y porque no ligeramente absurdo, con una nueva ubicación en cada capítulo impar。 Ese detalle, chapó。Uno de los puntos fuertes de esta novela son sus personajes。 A Kinch Na Shannack le gusta presentarse a sí mismo como, paradójicamente, un ladrón honesto。 Es inteligente y sabe cómo salir de situaciones difíciles y cuándo confiar en su suerte。 Prefiero no decir nada del resto es que joder es para disfrutarlo de verdad mi recomendación preciadas amistades si os fiais es que no solo lo metáis en la saca o lo subáis puestos, leedlo en cuanto podáis。 Haced caso。En ocasiones, como lector me detuve en seco porque lo que comenzó como broma en realidad revela un lado más oscuro de la narrativa。 Esto es lo que diferencia a nuestro protagonista del resto de sus compañeros。 La voz de Kinch encuentra un equilibrio entre la sensatez y la sabiduría, diálogos muy ágiles, de calidad, sarcasticos y sucintos para transmitir sus mensajes。 Grandes giros que caen a golpes y ademas repentinos。 La sombría severidad de todos los eventos se compensa con el humor negro de Kinch, que se materializa como bromas en general internas entre el narrador y el lector。 Parte de la construcción del mundo, como la historia del mundo o su sistema mágico, se cuenta a través de los monólogos internos de Kinch o mediante el diálogo directo entre los personajes。 Información llena de cinismo, lo hace ágil, adictivo。 Uno quiere más de esta mierda。 Final cerrado pero espero que el autor vuelva a este mundo y sus personajes。El mundo nos presenta los clásicos de fantasía pero de formas muy imaginativas。 Tenemos desde goblins, gigantes, alguna bruja, varios ladrones, magos, tatuajes mágicos, monstruos marinos y xD un adorable gato ciego que es una pasada。Fantasía cínica para adultos en un mundo con personajes detallados, matizados, intrincados y que comienza fuerte。 Lo mejor es que apenas decae。 Lleno de acción con grandes escenarios que conducen a un crescendo final donde cada hilo ha sido cuidadosamente tejido e integrado。Vamos, ¡QUE LO LEÁIS!。 。。。more

Dylan Jones

Fun book, to many songs。

Christian

Mix of Abercrombie/Rothfuss, very entertaining, brilliant protagonist, plot a little rushed at times though

Adam

A good book。This one is a first-person journey adventure packed with foul language, limricks, and humor。 The tone is almost that of a pirate's story (which kinda makes sense) but there is an interesting blend of politics and lore underscoring the whole thing。 The world-building is also handled very well。 I love the idea of a fifth season called "gloaming" I enjoyed this one and will continue the series。 A good book。This one is a first-person journey adventure packed with foul language, limricks, and humor。 The tone is almost that of a pirate's story (which kinda makes sense) but there is an interesting blend of politics and lore underscoring the whole thing。 The world-building is also handled very well。 I love the idea of a fifth season called "gloaming" I enjoyed this one and will continue the series。 。。。more

Birte

no thoughts, but I feel I already forgot everything。 Didn't hate it, hence no one star but otherwise couldn't say a good thing no thoughts, but I feel I already forgot everything。 Didn't hate it, hence no one star but otherwise couldn't say a good thing 。。。more

Camila

Este libro me resultó bastante interesante。 Hay magia de todo tipo, muchas aventuras diferentes, personajes poderosos y atractivos, conflictos políticos y, no puedo dejarlo de lado, un viejo mago encerrado en una casita con muchos libros (Dark academia vibes)。En un primer momento, pensé que iba a ser el típico libro sobre un ladrón a quien algo le sale mal y, para salvarse el pellejo, tiene que hacer alguna misión casi imposible; pero definir solamente de esa forma a este libro es quedarse corto Este libro me resultó bastante interesante。 Hay magia de todo tipo, muchas aventuras diferentes, personajes poderosos y atractivos, conflictos políticos y, no puedo dejarlo de lado, un viejo mago encerrado en una casita con muchos libros (Dark academia vibes)。En un primer momento, pensé que iba a ser el típico libro sobre un ladrón a quien algo le sale mal y, para salvarse el pellejo, tiene que hacer alguna misión casi imposible; pero definir solamente de esa forma a este libro es quedarse corto。 Más allá del título, que está 100% centrado en Kinch Na Shannack, la historia presenta un puñado de personajes muy diferentes entre sí y bien desarrollados。 Al final, no es el cuento de un ladrón, sino de un grupo de personas, cada una con un objetivo diferente。 Hay un gran trabajo de wordlbuilding (como suelen tener todos los libros del catálogo de Gamon Fantasy)。 Aunque al principio, cuando te presenta los diferentes países, creencias religiosas y Gremios (un montón) puede ser un poco abrumador, al avanzar, la historia se centra en los datos específicos que hacen el día a día de los personajes y al lector se le hace sencillo asimilarlos。 La magia también está presente y, lo más interesante, es que es algo que se puede aprender。 No es algo dado naturalmente (aunque algunos personajes no tienen chance de aprenderlo nunca), uno se puede entrenar para ser un conjurador。Lo único que me desagrado, y que es algo que este tipo de libros suelen repetir, es la forma de insultar que tenían algunos personajes, siempre relacionados - metafóricamente, claro- a las mujeres。 Entiendo que es algo que va de la mano con el tipo de personajes que lo dice y se lo usa con fines humorísticos pero, la verdad, no me parece gracioso para nada。 No es algo exclusivo de este libro, creo que es una práctica muy común en el genero de fantasía adulto, pero no menos desagradable。Como conclusión, no puedo entender cómo es que no está pensado un segundo libro。 Si bien tiene un final concreto, todavía quedan muchas cosas por resolver, hay personajes de los cuales me gustaría saber mucho más (¡¿Qué pasa con Norrigal, por dios?!) y conflictos políticos por explotar。 Espero que, dentro de unos años, nos sorprendan con el próximo tomo (El cual creo que no está ni escrito todavía) 。。。more

Izabela Ostrowska

Zacznę od głównego bohatera bo to on jest gwiazdą tej opowieści, bez niego byłaby to standardowa fantastyka z motywem drogi, z nim książka staje się czymś wyjątkowym。Kinch Na Shannack to gość, który jest zabawny, pyskaty i kolekcjonuje wulgaryzmy w różnych językach。 Wyglądem przypomina irlandzkiego skrzata z czarnym językiem, przynajmniej po opisie ja go tak widziałam。Kinch nie przebiera w słowach, a jeżeli nie przepadacie za ciętym, momentami prostackim humorem to pewnie nie powinniście sięgać Zacznę od głównego bohatera bo to on jest gwiazdą tej opowieści, bez niego byłaby to standardowa fantastyka z motywem drogi, z nim książka staje się czymś wyjątkowym。Kinch Na Shannack to gość, który jest zabawny, pyskaty i kolekcjonuje wulgaryzmy w różnych językach。 Wyglądem przypomina irlandzkiego skrzata z czarnym językiem, przynajmniej po opisie ja go tak widziałam。Kinch nie przebiera w słowach, a jeżeli nie przepadacie za ciętym, momentami prostackim humorem to pewnie nie powinniście sięgać po tą książkę, bo takich tekstów jest tutaj mnóstwo, naprzemiennie z całą gamą przekleństw。Kinch ukończył Niską Szkołę dla złodziei, no i teraz jest ich dłużnikiem, a ponieważ gildia ma swoje sposoby na egzekwowanie długów, to do momentu, aż ten nie zostanie spłacony Kinch został oznakowany tatuażem pozwalającym każdemu podejść do niego i go spoliczkować, co Kinchowi daje czerwoną twarz, a policzkującemu darmowe piwo。Gdy jego losy splatają się z losami Galvy wojowniczki, którą próbował okraść wraz z bandą rabusiów ich wspólna przygoda się rozpoczyna。 Gildia Poborców wysyła go na misję podczas, której Kinch zyskuje kolejnych przyjaciół i wrogów i musi zdecydować po której stronie chce stanąć。 Książka jest pełna przygód, a drużyna złożona ze złodzieja, magiczki, wojowniczki i kota musi stawić czoła goblinom, olbrzymom, krakenowi i wszelkim inny plagom, które na nich czyhają。 Co prawda Niektóre fabularne wybory autora mnie zaskoczyły, szczególnie w przypadku postaci drugoplanowych, ale sama historia jest spójna i fajnie prowadzona。 Świat, który poznajemy dzięki podróży bohaterów jest bogaty, pełen nacji, języków, kultur i polityki。 Na początku mam wrażenie, że tego humoru było więcej, a może z czasem się do niego przyzwyczaiłam jednak zawsze jestem zdania, że książka która daje uśmiech to dobra książka。 Ogólnie fabuła nie była niczym odkrywczym, ale to jak wszystko razem zagrało sprawiło, że świetnie się bawiłam i na pewno będę kontynuowała。 Książka jest jednocześnie czymś znajomym ze względu na schematy powielane często w fantastyce i czymś nowym ze względu na Kincha。 Ja osobiście bardzo lubię motyw podróży czy budowania drużyny, dlatego na pewno będę tą przygodę kontynuować。 Zachęcam was do lektury。 。。。more

Rebecca

This was very fun and funny。 Kinch is a hoot of a narrator: I tittered and giggled and cackled throughout。 Loved the inventive wordplay and general lexical flair, and the mad variety of magic。 Some of the magic was reminiscent of Once and Future King and gave my comely, homey, folksy vibes, but at the same time it also felt fresh and slick and blacker than squid ink。。。 or Kinch's tongue。 Can't wait for the next one。 ***** for fun。 Give it a whirl。"This needs thinking about," I said。 "I'll just - This was very fun and funny。 Kinch is a hoot of a narrator: I tittered and giggled and cackled throughout。 Loved the inventive wordplay and general lexical flair, and the mad variety of magic。 Some of the magic was reminiscent of Once and Future King and gave my comely, homey, folksy vibes, but at the same time it also felt fresh and slick and blacker than squid ink。。。 or Kinch's tongue。 Can't wait for the next one。 ***** for fun。 Give it a whirl。"This needs thinking about," I said。 "I'll just -""Get the legs。""I'll just get the legs。" 。。。more

Hedda

Honestly…。 I ended up really liking this book! While reading it i found it a bit boring and hard to read since it’s a lot of information about the world and different types of people and countries and blablabla BUT the characters and their interactions made up for it。 Especially the CAT omg i love him。 (And he’s based on a real life cat which there’s a photo of in the back of the book!!) I love the fantasy in this book, it isn’t rainbows and sunshine, it’s a witches darker magic。 Also goblins an Honestly…。 I ended up really liking this book! While reading it i found it a bit boring and hard to read since it’s a lot of information about the world and different types of people and countries and blablabla BUT the characters and their interactions made up for it。 Especially the CAT omg i love him。 (And he’s based on a real life cat which there’s a photo of in the back of the book!!) I love the fantasy in this book, it isn’t rainbows and sunshine, it’s a witches darker magic。 Also goblins and giants are so exciting, especially in a world where they are taking over。Kinch, you did absolutely not pick the wrong mark。 Galva is the definition of supreme cool badass knight, and your journey is gonna be very much fun and exciting, fighting goblins and giants along with 3 (4?) more peeps。 I loved Kinch and Malk’ friendship omg their jokes were actually quite funny。 The characters are all very good and well built up。So even tho it was a bit difficult read, and I didn’t absolutely love it while reading it, I ended up really liking it in the end。 I am very happy I read it and I am excited for the next book in this series!! 。。。more

Theresa

Riveting! Shades of Game of Thrones but more satisfying。

Madelin Gates

4。5*

Henno Kotze

Simply brilliant。

Jonah Condon

Absolutely phenomenal book。 Extremely impressed, and I can’t wait to continue the series。

Darren Owens

Brutal, fun, and hilarious。 I cannot recommend this enough。

Shannon

I really, thoroughly enjoyed this。 Full of adventure and magic and snarky witticisms。 I NEED the next book in the series!

Cara

This was so much fun。 I wish there was a sequel。

NerdyKitty815

I have a thing for stories about thieves, and this book served to show why。 I mean, they're funny。 Clever。 Highly entertaining, but in the realm of humor and adventure。 Kinch, the protagonist of a titular Blacktongue Thief, was all of these things。 I really enjoyed this book, and I think he's the reason why。 His characterization was undoubtably my favorite part。 Many of the other parts of the novel were good as well, but those great bits were more often than not colored by Kinch's narration。 Wha I have a thing for stories about thieves, and this book served to show why。 I mean, they're funny。 Clever。 Highly entertaining, but in the realm of humor and adventure。 Kinch, the protagonist of a titular Blacktongue Thief, was all of these things。 I really enjoyed this book, and I think he's the reason why。 His characterization was undoubtably my favorite part。 Many of the other parts of the novel were good as well, but those great bits were more often than not colored by Kinch's narration。 What the narration couldn't hide was the distortion of the pacing, especially in the middle, or the more bland bits of the plot。 However, the novel itself, all in all, was pretty enjoyable, and definitely a series I'll keep an eye out for installments for。 。。。more

Lauren

Really enjoyed this one。。。。 the audio book narrated by the author was fantastic - just an all round great book with some laugh out loud moments。

Snowleesi

This book is VERY well written。 The main character is super funny。 But I started reading it on May 23rd and have not picked it up since June 9th。 I don't think this is a book for me。 This book is VERY well written。 The main character is super funny。 But I started reading it on May 23rd and have not picked it up since June 9th。 I don't think this is a book for me。 。。。more

Julie

I enjoyed this! I was a bit hesitant about it at first, since I haven’t really been reading much fantasy lately, and I was worried I was going to discover that my tastes had changed more than I thought… but I had nothing to fear, this was a lot of “fun” (I hesitate using the word as there are lots of really horrible things that happen in this book… but as a whole, it was entertaining and “lighthearted”)。 I really appreciated that the author took the opportunity (often) to joke around and show th I enjoyed this! I was a bit hesitant about it at first, since I haven’t really been reading much fantasy lately, and I was worried I was going to discover that my tastes had changed more than I thought… but I had nothing to fear, this was a lot of “fun” (I hesitate using the word as there are lots of really horrible things that happen in this book… but as a whole, it was entertaining and “lighthearted”)。 I really appreciated that the author took the opportunity (often) to joke around and show that this wasn’t a story to be taken too seriously。 Thank you to Goodreads and the publisher for a complimentary advanced copy。 。。。more

Debbie

An absolute snoozefest。What a waste of such a stunning cover。

Ru Giffen-Bradley

DNF。 I wanted to love this book, sooo much。 But it didn't grip me。 I enjoyed parts of it immensely。 The tone, characters, etc。 But the leisurely pacing and lack of emotional connection to characters makes me not really care about what happens to them。 I love a good antihero, and this book delivers on that front and so much more。。。 but I just can't make myself finish, even though I'm stopping at chapter 48。 Even got the audiobook to see if that would help, but I still find myself disinterested。 B DNF。 I wanted to love this book, sooo much。 But it didn't grip me。 I enjoyed parts of it immensely。 The tone, characters, etc。 But the leisurely pacing and lack of emotional connection to characters makes me not really care about what happens to them。 I love a good antihero, and this book delivers on that front and so much more。。。 but I just can't make myself finish, even though I'm stopping at chapter 48。 Even got the audiobook to see if that would help, but I still find myself disinterested。 Buehlman's worldbuilding is pretty good, but I think the part I stopped at had too many new cities/areas being introduced in a short period of time, with more telling than showing。 I'll definitely try more of his works, though。 I can't wait to see how he progresses as an author。 。。。more

Victoria

An admirable style and depth of worldbuilding but simply didn't appeal to me。 I liked the cheek of the character but not the world he inhabited or the adventure he was on。 An admirable style and depth of worldbuilding but simply didn't appeal to me。 I liked the cheek of the character but not the world he inhabited or the adventure he was on。 。。。more

Serge

Actual Rating: 2。75/5 This was The Fantasy Guild Book Club pick for June 2022! “I was so scared, I half wanted to piss myself, but the difference between the strong and the weak isn’t that the strong don’t piss themselves。 It’s that they hitch their pissy pants up after and go through with it。” If you're looking for a fantasy book that scratches that classical fantasy questing itch for you, then this might be a potential choice。 This book has quite the overabundance of that since our main c Actual Rating: 2。75/5 This was The Fantasy Guild Book Club pick for June 2022! “I was so scared, I half wanted to piss myself, but the difference between the strong and the weak isn’t that the strong don’t piss themselves。 It’s that they hitch their pissy pants up after and go through with it。” If you're looking for a fantasy book that scratches that classical fantasy questing itch for you, then this might be a potential choice。 This book has quite the overabundance of that since our main character, Kinch, owes his guild a debt that must be repaid through robbery, but his latest objective leads him down a new questing path that puts him on a dangerous path, when he comes across a woman called Galva, a knight, who is on her own quest that is drastically at odds with his guild's ambitions。 Kinch's fate becomes entwined with hers and together they embark on an adventure that expands into a questing group navigating a very dangerous and exciting world, trying to find a missing queen, who went off the grid after the city she was in got ransacked by giants。 Our main character Kinch isn't our typical knight in shining armour protagonist, since his strength lies in his intellect and wits, and ability to charm people with his tongue。 It's not a surprise since he is a member of a thieves' guild and that is where his assets lie, alongside stealth and nimble agility。 The book adopts a first-person point of view and Kinch is our narrator, hence his character is the one that is most thoroughly developed though the voices of his companions are still satisfyingly strong and individuated。 Despite the dark reality of the world, there is a distinct humorous streak in this book that makes it hard for the reader to take things too seriously, which is interesting because the stakes are quite high for most of the book and we lightly skip around from one funny moment where everything is light and casual to a tragic one where characters we have been following for quite a number of pages meet brutal ends, at which time the author delivers well targeted one-liners that make the reader feel the sting of the tragedy with shocking vividness in a way that catches one off guard, only to hop right back into light banter-filled humour land。 The writing here is quite powerful and Christopher Buehlman is certainly gifted with his lexical capacity。 This reads like it came right out of a medieval-inspired fantasy realm and it that adds bonus points to immersion。 Despite believing this has an objectively decent writing style, I'm afraid it didn't really work well for me because it exhausted me in the end。 Despite it being a seemingly plot-drive fantasy book, it somewhat reads like an exploration of chaotic tangents with an overabundance of metaphors and roundabout ways of getting a point across, which made it difficult for me to keep my attention sustained。 It was a fresh and original aspect during my early reading phase of this book but it eventually wore me out and I was just waiting for it to end without truly being invested in the story。 Additionally, all the questing and journeying felt overstretched and that says something because I'm typically a huge fan of classic questing fantasy, but the way this was written, with all of its density took away from my enjoyment of the book。 There were certainly some warm and enjoyable moments that kept my mood high while reading, but somehow, these aspects don't quite "save" this book for me。I was leaning on giving this 3 stars but upon further introspection I realized I can't truly bump it into that category, because despite it being relatively fresh in my mind at the moment, I don't see this book sticking with me in any meaningful way。 I wish I had consumed this in audiobook format, perhaps I might have appreciated it more。 There is definitely potential here and I do recognize that this is a good book, but perhaps it wasn't the book that was quite for me during this stage。 There is a possibility that I will re-consume this story in audiobook format should I decide to read the sequel once it comes out, because a part of me truly wants me to like this more。 I'm giving this a 2。75 rating。 Don't let my review necessarily deter you from reading this though, since I do recognize that it's a good book for the right people。 “I won’t be your dog, but if you’re half the wolf I think you are, you’ve found a fox to run with。” 。。。more

Daniel Bernberg

It deserves 6 stars, and also not to be sullied by comparisons。