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ta_jenks7's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
ariel_n's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
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? No
4.5
cassiopeiacaeli's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Fr a great book, I was engaged the entire time. The world building is very complicated but it's fun to figure out what all of the terms given mean with context clues. I would recommend to anyone who likes complexity worlds and overarching mysteries with a lot of moving components.
jaded's review against another edition
4.0
WHAT A FREAKIN COOL BOOK
This is my first book by this author and I’ll definitely be reading more by him.
Watson and Holmes duo is accurate, but with more fondness between the two than you’ll find in the classic novels.
Din is a genuinely good person, if sometimes a bit naive. Ana is brilliant and conniving.
World building was very good, even if I got all my I-words mixed up, it didn’t affect my love for the story.
This is my first book by this author and I’ll definitely be reading more by him.
Watson and Holmes duo is accurate, but with more fondness between the two than you’ll find in the classic novels.
Din is a genuinely good person, if sometimes a bit naive. Ana is brilliant and conniving.
World building was very good, even if I got all my I-words mixed up, it didn’t affect my love for the story.
ashleynoelle's review against another edition
4.0
*Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for providing me with an E-ARC in exchange for a honest review. All opinions remain my own.*
“So instead of committing robbery, I made tea.”
A strange murder has occurred and Ana is called in to investigate. Ana is known not only for her brilliance but also her quirks and with her is her new assistant Din, an engraver with his own secrets. Din's job is quite literally to observe and report, as Ana insists on wearing a blindfold and avoids leaving her home. As an engraver, Din has been magically altered to possess perfect recall of the things he observes, suiting Ana's purposes perfectly. The two utilize their unique skills to work toward uncovering a scheme that could threaten the entire empire.
I really enjoyed this one. It was a tad difficult for me to get into in the beginning, but once I was in it, I began to appreciate it's uniqueness and became very curious to see how it all played out. This book mixed a murder mystery with a fantasy world with a splash of Sherlock Holmes level detective work. Bennett has always had a knack for building a unique and fascinating world to be immersed in and I found he did the same here. I am surprisingly satisfied with this novel and excited for the next one.
“So instead of committing robbery, I made tea.”
A strange murder has occurred and Ana is called in to investigate. Ana is known not only for her brilliance but also her quirks and with her is her new assistant Din, an engraver with his own secrets. Din's job is quite literally to observe and report, as Ana insists on wearing a blindfold and avoids leaving her home. As an engraver, Din has been magically altered to possess perfect recall of the things he observes, suiting Ana's purposes perfectly. The two utilize their unique skills to work toward uncovering a scheme that could threaten the entire empire.
I really enjoyed this one. It was a tad difficult for me to get into in the beginning, but once I was in it, I began to appreciate it's uniqueness and became very curious to see how it all played out. This book mixed a murder mystery with a fantasy world with a splash of Sherlock Holmes level detective work. Bennett has always had a knack for building a unique and fascinating world to be immersed in and I found he did the same here. I am surprisingly satisfied with this novel and excited for the next one.
octopus_farmer's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
A fun mystery!! I couldn’t guess much in the first half - lots of worldbuilding and set dressing. Creative world and neat characterization. The title sucks though. Completely inscrutable until the end when the plot is revealed
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content, Body horror, and Murder
Moderate: Pandemic/Epidemic, Blood, Ableism, and Cursing
Minor: Vomit and Infertility
iaraya's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Body horror, Murder, and Violence
Moderate: Gore, Pandemic/Epidemic, Classism, and Ableism