Scan barcode
sophiesmallhands's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Drug abuse, Blood, Violence, Religious bigotry, Kidnapping, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Chronic illness, Drug use, Vomit, and Death
Moderate: Addiction, Ableism, Sexism, Misogyny, and Child death
Minor: War, Classism, Xenophobia, Terminal illness, Homophobia, Colonisation, and Abandonment
emmascc's review against another edition
4.0
What the hell just HAPPENED??? That ending was a rollercoaster
titusfortner's review against another edition
4.0
I loved the first book, and the sequel did not disappoint. Great pacing and energy throughout. I really enjoyed all of the characters and their quirks. Sam Hawke is added to my automatic buy list and I'm looking forward to seeing what she does next.
codeanders's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
mimosaeyes's review
4.0
So that was a pretty wild ride.
This sequel to City of Lies ramps up the action and intrigue in all the best ways. Where the threat in the first book was overt, here the antagonist remains shrouded in conspiracy for ages, making for a tense main storyline. The plot also includes more relatable elements for a modern audience:. Overall, the game is being played on a more complex and insidious level, and it's thoroughly pleasing to watch it all unfold.
Not only is the plot engaging, but it also deals with a number of important issues. Where the first book highlights oppression and the rights of religious/ethnic minorities, here, I was impressed by the nuance given to the topic of gender. The culture clash between Kalina and female characters from the patriarchal society of Talafan gives rise to some insightful but not heavy-handed commentary. And based on the religious dogma propounded by, I'd expect the discussion to continue in any potential third book.
Relatedly: in the first book, it felt like a bit of a cop-out to portray a society without homophobia but only depict queer relationships between minor characters. I was pleased here to note the inclusion of.
I had some other quibbles with the first book, but I expected the author to improve in her sophomore run and she really did knock it out of the park. The scenes are not structured in a predictable rhythm, as before, and indeed Hawke has done some great perspective work. Plus, the main characters' histories, arcs, and relationships are delved into a lot more. Hadrea's arc felt true to her personality, even as I fretted about some of her decisions. And I shrieked out loud at the dark, defining moments Jovan and Kalina are each pushed to:.
That ending, though. This story is bursting with exciting developments, and I really want to see it continue!
This sequel to City of Lies ramps up the action and intrigue in all the best ways. Where the threat in the first book was overt, here the antagonist remains shrouded in conspiracy for ages, making for a tense main storyline. The plot also includes more relatable elements for a modern audience:
Spoiler
an urban drugs problem, terrorist bombing incidents, a public smear campaign targeting JovanNot only is the plot engaging, but it also deals with a number of important issues. Where the first book highlights oppression and the rights of religious/ethnic minorities, here, I was impressed by the nuance given to the topic of gender. The culture clash between Kalina and female characters from the patriarchal society of Talafan gives rise to some insightful but not heavy-handed commentary. And based on the religious dogma propounded by
Spoiler
the Prince at the endRelatedly: in the first book, it felt like a bit of a cop-out to portray a society without homophobia but only depict queer relationships between minor characters. I was pleased here to note the inclusion of
Spoiler
a new, non-binary character, Sjease, as well as the beginnings of a relationship between Kalina and another woman, AbaezallaI had some other quibbles with the first book, but I expected the author to improve in her sophomore run and she really did knock it out of the park. The scenes are not structured in a predictable rhythm, as before, and indeed Hawke has done some great perspective work. Plus, the main characters' histories, arcs, and relationships are delved into a lot more. Hadrea's arc felt true to her personality, even as I fretted about some of her decisions. And I shrieked out loud at the dark, defining moments Jovan and Kalina are each pushed to:
Spoiler
Jovan poisoning Erel moments before he could be restrained non-fatally, and Kalina ensuring Tain is resurrected even though she knows the magic involved is evilThat ending, though.
Spoiler
Is Tain's life now tied to Jovan's? Is that why he kept rubbing his chest? How has Tain changed, and what about his addiction? What will the characters do to address the revelations about their ancestors' flight from Crede?declan_derfler_murphy's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Full of intrigue, furthers the development of characters from the first book, and a page-turner. The characters and their struggles are realistic, and the plot will keep you on your toes
biblionnoisseur's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
4.0
sleepy_yoshi's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I thought City of Lies was good, especially for a debut novel, but I think the sequel and conclusion here is even better. There are two main elements of Hawke's writing that really stand out to me. The first is the world building. There are different cultures, languages, religions, magics, and races found in the novels that makes for a very interesting and real feeling world.
The second element is the characters. The representation in this book is amazing imo, because it never feels like a character is defined entirely by just one thing. They are fleshed out, nuanced and very representative of what you might find in a city. So you have among the cast non-binary, homosexual, mental illness, disability, religious belief (extremism and faith), with complex behaviors, emotions, beliefs, etc. The world feels lived in, in part because of how well the society and the people that make up said society are written.
It's not all praise though. The pacing felt very slow to me. I did think the book could have been quite a bit shorter and been better for it. The bigger issue I have though is you alternate between two POV characters and while they are distinct from a personality standpoint their narrative voice to me is very similar. The chapters are named after the POV so you can keep it straight that way, but if you removed their names it would be very hard to distinguish which character's perspective you're in depending on the chapter.
The other thing I dislike is just preference, but I've always preferred mysteries where you can deduce the bad actors, rather than getting surprise information out of nowhere. Be that as it may, a great second novel and would highly recommend to anyone that likes their Fantasy with a lot of politics and a mystery/thriller plot.
The second element is the characters. The representation in this book is amazing imo, because it never feels like a character is defined entirely by just one thing. They are fleshed out, nuanced and very representative of what you might find in a city. So you have among the cast non-binary, homosexual, mental illness, disability, religious belief (extremism and faith), with complex behaviors, emotions, beliefs, etc. The world feels lived in, in part because of how well the society and the people that make up said society are written.
It's not all praise though. The pacing felt very slow to me. I did think the book could have been quite a bit shorter and been better for it. The bigger issue I have though is you alternate between two POV characters and while they are distinct from a personality standpoint their narrative voice to me is very similar. The chapters are named after the POV so you can keep it straight that way, but if you removed their names it would be very hard to distinguish which character's perspective you're in depending on the chapter.
The other thing I dislike is just preference, but I've always preferred mysteries where you can deduce the bad actors, rather than getting surprise information out of nowhere. Be that as it may, a great second novel and would highly recommend to anyone that likes their Fantasy with a lot of politics and a mystery/thriller plot.
dhee_pa's review against another edition
5.0
I love it when the big problem is not fixed so easily. Hawke brilliantly takes us back to the city and shows us the after effects of bk 1 and what is left to be done. Our characters are growing, and trying to step up as their world views get bigger. Again, they're not afraid to be wrong and make amends. Ofc signature chaos, and mystery. Hawke takes us to the ends of devastation and loss along the way. (Sounds like an exaggeration but isn't. I was shit scared for my faves.) Adventurous, and emotional. And beautifully written. Con: I thought there was another bk on the way and apparently not. I feel like Hadea's arc and Tain's ending opened up more questions.