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nixwhittaker's review
4.0
This is a novella about a band of thieves that have come together to steal a book of questionable safety. Mostly we follow the character Now you see it. He is a a priest of the trickster cult that allows him to conjure up items. They have been commissioned to steal the book by a demon and things get tricky from there.
It took me a while to read this even though it isn't very long mainly because I'm not a fan of male protagonists but Now is an interesting man with a strong set of rules that fits interestingly with his complete lack of qualms about stealing things.
The story is set clearly into three acts so you really can read it in three parts as they are linked but also a bit separate. I'd like to see more of this world and there is some bonus material at the end of the book that gives you more of a view of the world this is all set in. I really enjoy good solid world building which this book has. The temples certainly play a central part in the city as the characters certainly end up in a few.
As a high fantasy there is much to like from this story and I'd recommend it to anyone who likes high fantasy as it has the feel of a David Eddings novel but shorter.
It took me a while to read this even though it isn't very long mainly because I'm not a fan of male protagonists but Now is an interesting man with a strong set of rules that fits interestingly with his complete lack of qualms about stealing things.
The story is set clearly into three acts so you really can read it in three parts as they are linked but also a bit separate. I'd like to see more of this world and there is some bonus material at the end of the book that gives you more of a view of the world this is all set in. I really enjoy good solid world building which this book has. The temples certainly play a central part in the city as the characters certainly end up in a few.
As a high fantasy there is much to like from this story and I'd recommend it to anyone who likes high fantasy as it has the feel of a David Eddings novel but shorter.
justasking27's review
4.0
In a land of order and tradition, a devotee of the Trickster god called Now You Don't is an agent of chaos. He and his newfound troop of misfits must pull off two heists while doing their best to stay out of the city's politics and learning who they can - and cannot - trust.
My favorite thing about this novella, and the two short stories included in the book, was the author's incredible efficiency at creating an entire world. With only a few sentences, I could see the buildings of the city, hear the people in the marketplace, smell the dust or the trees, perfectly. Because of that skill and the wonderfully engaging characters, I am really looking forward to more stories in this series!
Highly recommended to anyone looking for a grown-up version of [b:The Thief|448873|The Thief (The Queen's Thief, #1)|Megan Whalen Turner|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1427740839s/448873.jpg|1069505], and to those who love a good heist.
My favorite thing about this novella, and the two short stories included in the book, was the author's incredible efficiency at creating an entire world. With only a few sentences, I could see the buildings of the city, hear the people in the marketplace, smell the dust or the trees, perfectly. Because of that skill and the wonderfully engaging characters, I am really looking forward to more stories in this series!
Highly recommended to anyone looking for a grown-up version of [b:The Thief|448873|The Thief (The Queen's Thief, #1)|Megan Whalen Turner|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1427740839s/448873.jpg|1069505], and to those who love a good heist.
hopeevey's review
4.0
I was given a copy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review. I've read this author before, so went into this book with high expectations. I was not disappointed :)
Oh, this was good! The author establishes the fantasy setting and the main character so well you just don't notice that you've been drawn into another world. The setting simply unfolds in your mind so you can race through to follow the plot. The novella ended well, although I definitely want to read more about these characters! The two short stories included with the novella are also very good reads.
Go get a copy of this!
Oh, this was good! The author establishes the fantasy setting and the main character so well you just don't notice that you've been drawn into another world. The setting simply unfolds in your mind so you can race through to follow the plot. The novella ended well, although I definitely want to read more about these characters! The two short stories included with the novella are also very good reads.
Go get a copy of this!
lachesisreads's review
5.0
What a pleasant surprise! I stumbled over this on GR and got the e-book because it was cheap
and I needed a quick fix (yeah...), and went into it not expecting much, but I really enjoyed it and read it in one sitting. We get a heist story with a newly assembled crew whose leader works for the trickster god, aka Loki. Now we don't see much of Loki, which was a bit of a disappointment (because that was what had originally attracted me), but what we do get is a highly entertaning novella with a well developed story arch and fleshed out, believable characters along the lines of The Lies of Locke Lamora. The author characterizes his writing style as "smartass first person narrator", which happens to be a style I enjoy a lot.
Since this story is a novella, there isn't much space for extensive world building, but what little there is is well thought through and credible. You just get dumped into this world, and it works without making you feel you don't know enough or that there are plot holes being glossed over.
I found myself wishing this was a full-length novel (perhaps with sequels, too...). I'll definitely pick up book two and also some of Reeves-McMillan's other, longer works.
The volume also includes two short-stories not related to the main story. I liked these a bit less than the main narrative, but then I rarely like short-stories in general, and it seemed stingy to deduce a star for these when I had so much fun with the first story.
If you like humurous, light-hearted fantasy, snarky, self-deprecating narrators and heist stories, give this one a go!
and I needed a quick fix (yeah...), and went into it not expecting much, but I really enjoyed it and read it in one sitting. We get a heist story with a newly assembled crew whose leader works for the trickster god, aka Loki. Now we don't see much of Loki, which was a bit of a disappointment (because that was what had originally attracted me), but what we do get is a highly entertaning novella with a well developed story arch and fleshed out, believable characters along the lines of The Lies of Locke Lamora. The author characterizes his writing style as "smartass first person narrator", which happens to be a style I enjoy a lot.
Since this story is a novella, there isn't much space for extensive world building, but what little there is is well thought through and credible. You just get dumped into this world, and it works without making you feel you don't know enough or that there are plot holes being glossed over.
I found myself wishing this was a full-length novel (perhaps with sequels, too...). I'll definitely pick up book two and also some of Reeves-McMillan's other, longer works.
The volume also includes two short-stories not related to the main story. I liked these a bit less than the main narrative, but then I rarely like short-stories in general, and it seemed stingy to deduce a star for these when I had so much fun with the first story.
If you like humurous, light-hearted fantasy, snarky, self-deprecating narrators and heist stories, give this one a go!
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