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cantrememberthedreamthatihad's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
gatun's review against another edition
5.0
I recently reviewed The Devil's Detective (Thomas Fool #1) by Simon Kurt Unsworth. I found the book was stunning in it's originality and descriptions. The Devil's Evidence, the second book is the series maintains the high level of originality while introducing new characters and concepts. As with the first book, the characters are a wide range in creation. There are new individuals and new species. There was also new information that contributes to the world building. And Mr. Unsworth has built an amazing world.
It is hard to discuss the plot of either book without spoilers. The basic premise is that heaven and hell do exist. They are not your grandparent's concept of heaven or hell. The humans (yes humans because there are so very nasty non-humans lurking in these pages) do not know why they have been sent to hell. They cannot remember their lives. They only know that they committed sin(s) so heinous to sentence them to an eternity in hell.
So we have hell and we have Thomas Fool whose job is to investigate crimes in hell. Let that one sink in for a moment. Investigating crimes in a major city would be quite a job but in hell, where every human there because he deserves to be and demons just add to the chaos, it is close to impossible. In the second book, Thomas Fool takes a trip and becomes involved in investigating crimes in heaven. You know, perfection, harmony, all peace and fluffy clouds. You would not think there would be a lot of crime but heaven is out of balance and pulling hell out of whack to.
My descriptions do not even begin to do justice to this incredible book. Let me just quote one small section:
"fire had a voice, it talked in a constant bitter mutter, the sound of something chewing its own teeth, a one-sided conversation that babbled as the flames burrowed deep into wooden frames around now-glassless windows and ate warping doors buckling in their mounts. And as the fire talked and drew itself on, it cleaned, leaving no spore or trail"
Every time I read that section it takes my breath away. The prose, the characters, the descriptions, everything is done well in this book. I recommend you read The Devil's Evidence as soon as you read The Devil's Detective. The books are just fantastic.
I received my copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
It is hard to discuss the plot of either book without spoilers. The basic premise is that heaven and hell do exist. They are not your grandparent's concept of heaven or hell. The humans (yes humans because there are so very nasty non-humans lurking in these pages) do not know why they have been sent to hell. They cannot remember their lives. They only know that they committed sin(s) so heinous to sentence them to an eternity in hell.
So we have hell and we have Thomas Fool whose job is to investigate crimes in hell. Let that one sink in for a moment. Investigating crimes in a major city would be quite a job but in hell, where every human there because he deserves to be and demons just add to the chaos, it is close to impossible. In the second book, Thomas Fool takes a trip and becomes involved in investigating crimes in heaven. You know, perfection, harmony, all peace and fluffy clouds. You would not think there would be a lot of crime but heaven is out of balance and pulling hell out of whack to.
My descriptions do not even begin to do justice to this incredible book. Let me just quote one small section:
"fire had a voice, it talked in a constant bitter mutter, the sound of something chewing its own teeth, a one-sided conversation that babbled as the flames burrowed deep into wooden frames around now-glassless windows and ate warping doors buckling in their mounts. And as the fire talked and drew itself on, it cleaned, leaving no spore or trail"
Every time I read that section it takes my breath away. The prose, the characters, the descriptions, everything is done well in this book. I recommend you read The Devil's Evidence as soon as you read The Devil's Detective. The books are just fantastic.
I received my copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
andyn5's review
5.0
The Devil's Evidence is a great sequel to The Devil's Detective, and just as good as the first one.
It took me a while to finish this book even though I really enjoyed it because some scenes are very gruesome and sometimes I really felt for Thomas Fool. He really struggles to define the line between establishing some "justice" (whatever that is in hell) and rebelling against the imposed system that he doesn't fully understand. He questions himself and doubts his decisions and choices all the time, and it's difficult not to feel for him in his discoveries, adventures and misadventures in Hell and Heaven.
The plot is just as brilliant as the first one and Unsworth brings it even further by turning his attention to Heaven, where despite being described as a place of eternal happiness and content, it reveals to have a dark side too.
Definitely recommend it after the reading of "The Devil's Detective".
It took me a while to finish this book even though I really enjoyed it because some scenes are very gruesome and sometimes I really felt for Thomas Fool. He really struggles to define the line between establishing some "justice" (whatever that is in hell) and rebelling against the imposed system that he doesn't fully understand. He questions himself and doubts his decisions and choices all the time, and it's difficult not to feel for him in his discoveries, adventures and misadventures in Hell and Heaven.
The plot is just as brilliant as the first one and Unsworth brings it even further by turning his attention to Heaven, where despite being described as a place of eternal happiness and content, it reveals to have a dark side too.
Definitely recommend it after the reading of "The Devil's Detective".
merricatct's review
5.0
I gave the first Thomas Fool book four stars, and said that if character development had matched the incredible worldbuilding of Hell, it would've been a book for the ages.
Ask and ye shall receive, I guess!
I love this book. Love love love it. While Thomas Fool was more of a blank slate in book 1, still operating under the "don't draw attention" defense mechanism necessary to survive in Hell, by book 2 the character is really coming into his own. He's the Commander of the Information Men now, and while he's still at the mercy of demons and angels and the cosmic battle between them, he's not going to be a passive cog anymore. Give this book credit for a tremendous amount of character building in 300ish pages!
And as in book #1, the worldbuilding and setting are exquisite. Horrible, horrific, sometimes disgusting and sometimes glorious, but always memorable.
Ask and ye shall receive, I guess!
I love this book. Love love love it. While Thomas Fool was more of a blank slate in book 1, still operating under the "don't draw attention" defense mechanism necessary to survive in Hell, by book 2 the character is really coming into his own. He's the Commander of the Information Men now, and while he's still at the mercy of demons and angels and the cosmic battle between them, he's not going to be a passive cog anymore. Give this book credit for a tremendous amount of character building in 300ish pages!
And as in book #1, the worldbuilding and setting are exquisite. Horrible, horrific, sometimes disgusting and sometimes glorious, but always memorable.
andyn5's review against another edition
5.0
The Devil's Evidence is a great sequel to The Devil's Detective, and just as good as the first one.
It took me a while to finish this book even though I really enjoyed it because some scenes are very gruesome and sometimes I really felt for Thomas Fool. He really struggles to define the line between establishing some "justice" (whatever that is in hell) and rebelling against the imposed system that he doesn't fully understand. He questions himself and doubts his decisions and choices all the time, and it's difficult not to feel for him in his discoveries, adventures and misadventures in Hell and Heaven.
The plot is just as brilliant as the first one and Unsworth brings it even further by turning his attention to Heaven, where despite being described as a place of eternal happiness and content, it reveals to have a dark side too.
Definitely recommend it after the reading of "The Devil's Detective".
It took me a while to finish this book even though I really enjoyed it because some scenes are very gruesome and sometimes I really felt for Thomas Fool. He really struggles to define the line between establishing some "justice" (whatever that is in hell) and rebelling against the imposed system that he doesn't fully understand. He questions himself and doubts his decisions and choices all the time, and it's difficult not to feel for him in his discoveries, adventures and misadventures in Hell and Heaven.
The plot is just as brilliant as the first one and Unsworth brings it even further by turning his attention to Heaven, where despite being described as a place of eternal happiness and content, it reveals to have a dark side too.
Definitely recommend it after the reading of "The Devil's Detective".
and_it_spoke's review against another edition
4.0
An even better follow up to an already fantastic opener (The Devil's Detective)! This time, Thomas Fool, Information Man of Hell, deals with the repurcussions of the events of the previous novel. Both an new status quo and new view of his existance keep him off balance. But when he is instructed to investigate a murder in Heaven, is when everything really takes off. Dark and bleakly humourous at times, there is a lot to like here. Great characters, well done action scenes, horrific and hevenly imagery. The only flaw was the mystery itelf. Like with the previous novel, I had the 'killer' pegged very early on. It was still facinating to see the 'how' of the 'who'.
If Simon Kurt Unsworth decides to keep on with this series, I'm more than willing to follow him back into Hell.
If Simon Kurt Unsworth decides to keep on with this series, I'm more than willing to follow him back into Hell.
andyn5's review against another edition
5.0
The Devil's Evidence is a great sequel to The Devil's Detective, and just as good as the first one.
It took me a while to finish this book even though I really enjoyed it because some scenes are very gruesome and sometimes I really felt for Thomas Fool. He really struggles to define the line between establishing some "justice" (whatever that is in hell) and rebelling against the imposed system that he doesn't fully understand. He questions himself and doubts his decisions and choices all the time, and it's difficult not to feel for him in his discoveries, adventures and misadventures in Hell and Heaven.
The plot is just as brilliant as the first one and Unsworth brings it even further by turning his attention to Heaven, where despite being described as a place of eternal happiness and content, it reveals to have a dark side too.
Definitely recommend it after the reading of "The Devil's Detective".
It took me a while to finish this book even though I really enjoyed it because some scenes are very gruesome and sometimes I really felt for Thomas Fool. He really struggles to define the line between establishing some "justice" (whatever that is in hell) and rebelling against the imposed system that he doesn't fully understand. He questions himself and doubts his decisions and choices all the time, and it's difficult not to feel for him in his discoveries, adventures and misadventures in Hell and Heaven.
The plot is just as brilliant as the first one and Unsworth brings it even further by turning his attention to Heaven, where despite being described as a place of eternal happiness and content, it reveals to have a dark side too.
Definitely recommend it after the reading of "The Devil's Detective".
gatun's review against another edition
5.0
I recently reviewed The Devil's Detective (Thomas Fool #1) by Simon Kurt Unsworth. I found the book was stunning in it's originality and descriptions. The Devil's Evidence, the second book is the series maintains the high level of originality while introducing new characters and concepts. As with the first book, the characters are a wide range in creation. There are new individuals and new species. There was also new information that contributes to the world building. And Mr. Unsworth has built an amazing world.
It is hard to discuss the plot of either book without spoilers. The basic premise is that heaven and hell do exist. They are not your grandparent's concept of heaven or hell. The humans (yes humans because there are so very nasty non-humans lurking in these pages) do not know why they have been sent to hell. They cannot remember their lives. They only know that they committed sin(s) so heinous to sentence them to an eternity in hell.
So we have hell and we have Thomas Fool whose job is to investigate crimes in hell. Let that one sink in for a moment. Investigating crimes in a major city would be quite a job but in hell, where every human there because he deserves to be and demons just add to the chaos, it is close to impossible. In the second book, Thomas Fool takes a trip and becomes involved in investigating crimes in heaven. You know, perfection, harmony, all peace and fluffy clouds. You would not think there would be a lot of crime but heaven is out of balance and pulling hell out of whack to.
My descriptions do not even begin to do justice to this incredible book. Let me just quote one small section:
"fire had a voice, it talked in a constant bitter mutter, the sound of something chewing its own teeth, a one-sided conversation that babbled as the flames burrowed deep into wooden frames around now-glassless windows and ate warping doors buckling in their mounts. And as the fire talked and drew itself on, it cleaned, leaving no spore or trail"
Every time I read that section it takes my breath away. The prose, the characters, the descriptions, everything is done well in this book. I recommend you read The Devil's Evidence as soon as you read The Devil's Detective. The books are just fantastic.
I received my copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
It is hard to discuss the plot of either book without spoilers. The basic premise is that heaven and hell do exist. They are not your grandparent's concept of heaven or hell. The humans (yes humans because there are so very nasty non-humans lurking in these pages) do not know why they have been sent to hell. They cannot remember their lives. They only know that they committed sin(s) so heinous to sentence them to an eternity in hell.
So we have hell and we have Thomas Fool whose job is to investigate crimes in hell. Let that one sink in for a moment. Investigating crimes in a major city would be quite a job but in hell, where every human there because he deserves to be and demons just add to the chaos, it is close to impossible. In the second book, Thomas Fool takes a trip and becomes involved in investigating crimes in heaven. You know, perfection, harmony, all peace and fluffy clouds. You would not think there would be a lot of crime but heaven is out of balance and pulling hell out of whack to.
My descriptions do not even begin to do justice to this incredible book. Let me just quote one small section:
"fire had a voice, it talked in a constant bitter mutter, the sound of something chewing its own teeth, a one-sided conversation that babbled as the flames burrowed deep into wooden frames around now-glassless windows and ate warping doors buckling in their mounts. And as the fire talked and drew itself on, it cleaned, leaving no spore or trail"
Every time I read that section it takes my breath away. The prose, the characters, the descriptions, everything is done well in this book. I recommend you read The Devil's Evidence as soon as you read The Devil's Detective. The books are just fantastic.
I received my copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
andyn5's review against another edition
5.0
The Devil's Evidence is a great sequel to The Devil's Detective, and just as good as the first one.
It took me a while to finish this book even though I really enjoyed it because some scenes are very gruesome and sometimes I really felt for Thomas Fool. He really struggles to define the line between establishing some "justice" (whatever that is in hell) and rebelling against the imposed system that he doesn't fully understand. He questions himself and doubts his decisions and choices all the time, and it's difficult not to feel for him in his discoveries, adventures and misadventures in Hell and Heaven.
The plot is just as brilliant as the first one and Unsworth brings it even further by turning his attention to Heaven, where despite being described as a place of eternal happiness and content, it reveals to have a dark side too.
Definitely recommend it after the reading of "The Devil's Detective".
It took me a while to finish this book even though I really enjoyed it because some scenes are very gruesome and sometimes I really felt for Thomas Fool. He really struggles to define the line between establishing some "justice" (whatever that is in hell) and rebelling against the imposed system that he doesn't fully understand. He questions himself and doubts his decisions and choices all the time, and it's difficult not to feel for him in his discoveries, adventures and misadventures in Hell and Heaven.
The plot is just as brilliant as the first one and Unsworth brings it even further by turning his attention to Heaven, where despite being described as a place of eternal happiness and content, it reveals to have a dark side too.
Definitely recommend it after the reading of "The Devil's Detective".