Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.83 AVERAGE
3.83 AVERAGE
(8.57 on CAWPILE)
Going into this book I was expecting grimy, gas lamp, Victorian underground, dark fantasy. I can confirm, these expectations were not only met, but surpassed.
The plot of this book was covered in intrigue and edge-of-your-seat, heart-pounding moments. I loved the twists and turns. I loved how layered and intricate the plot was and how it tied in to the themes brought up throughout the story.
The characters were very readable. The way the author created the complexities of their personalities and the way their morals and ethics may be compromised based on their past, surroundings or circumstance was masterful. I also found that the author didn’t go out of their way to justify moral compromise, only to explain or give context.
The writing was incredibly unique and innovative. The way the setting felt like an additional character, the way they created tension and action and handled falling action was some of the best I’ve seen in the genre.
Throughout the series the most jarring issue I found was the transition of point of view. I found the shift in perspective could have been smoother for my personal preference.
The way this world was set up was to pull you in, make you feel the damp, dank, dark, feeling. It was incredibly real and enveloping. It was a place you didn’t want to be in but couldn’t walk away.
Pros
- World building
- Writing
- Intrigue
Cons
- POV transitions
Overall this was an incredible start to the series and I look forward to continuing on.
Going into this book I was expecting grimy, gas lamp, Victorian underground, dark fantasy. I can confirm, these expectations were not only met, but surpassed.
The plot of this book was covered in intrigue and edge-of-your-seat, heart-pounding moments. I loved the twists and turns. I loved how layered and intricate the plot was and how it tied in to the themes brought up throughout the story.
The characters were very readable. The way the author created the complexities of their personalities and the way their morals and ethics may be compromised based on their past, surroundings or circumstance was masterful. I also found that the author didn’t go out of their way to justify moral compromise, only to explain or give context.
The writing was incredibly unique and innovative. The way the setting felt like an additional character, the way they created tension and action and handled falling action was some of the best I’ve seen in the genre.
Throughout the series the most jarring issue I found was the transition of point of view. I found the shift in perspective could have been smoother for my personal preference.
The way this world was set up was to pull you in, make you feel the damp, dank, dark, feeling. It was incredibly real and enveloping. It was a place you didn’t want to be in but couldn’t walk away.
Pros
- World building
- Writing
- Intrigue
Cons
- POV transitions
Overall this was an incredible start to the series and I look forward to continuing on.
Why I picked this up: I heard good things about We Men of Ash and Shadow on BookTube. Snatched it on a SPFBO sale.
Genre: Grimdark, gaslamp fantasy
Tone: A dark alleyway filled with p*ss and murder.
Plot: An assassin trains an apprentice, while discontent in the wake of a rebellion leads to a new rebellion.
Pacing: Quick. It’s a short book too, so I smashed through it.
Prose: Although the prose was clean and set a grim tone, I struggled with the 3rd person omniscient POV. It wasn’t so bad that I’d get whiplash, but it was disorientating, particularly during action scenes. It didn’t bother me as much towards the end.
World: Low fantasy in a grim, urban setting. The magic is subtle, with a couple of individuals able to elude the perception of others.
Characters: They’re complex, each with something or someone they care about, and they grow throughout the story. I liked them, even the bad ones.
Conflict: An assassin, a psychopath, corrupt officials and gangsters; there’s plenty of scheming and murder every other page.
Cringe: As far as grimdarks go, this was tastefully done. Tinsley has a good feel for what to include, what to show, and what to imply.
Overall enjoyment: Despite my occasional struggle with the POV, I had a great time with this book. I’ve already started on the sequel and I look forward to reading more from Tinsley.
Genre: Grimdark, gaslamp fantasy
Tone: A dark alleyway filled with p*ss and murder.
Plot: An assassin trains an apprentice, while discontent in the wake of a rebellion leads to a new rebellion.
Pacing: Quick. It’s a short book too, so I smashed through it.
Prose: Although the prose was clean and set a grim tone, I struggled with the 3rd person omniscient POV. It wasn’t so bad that I’d get whiplash, but it was disorientating, particularly during action scenes. It didn’t bother me as much towards the end.
World: Low fantasy in a grim, urban setting. The magic is subtle, with a couple of individuals able to elude the perception of others.
Characters: They’re complex, each with something or someone they care about, and they grow throughout the story. I liked them, even the bad ones.
Conflict: An assassin, a psychopath, corrupt officials and gangsters; there’s plenty of scheming and murder every other page.
Cringe: As far as grimdarks go, this was tastefully done. Tinsley has a good feel for what to include, what to show, and what to imply.
Overall enjoyment: Despite my occasional struggle with the POV, I had a great time with this book. I’ve already started on the sequel and I look forward to reading more from Tinsley.
I enjoyed this read, I enjoyed Vanguard. Tho I'm not so sure it deserves the ratings I'm giving it. I have very little experience with dark or epic fantasy, and to me this was an enjoyable read.
The problem is the ending, Vanguard of the last 10% of this book didn't quite fit the image the book had painted of him for the previous 90%. He did a lot of questionable and straight up stupid things, which is surprising because he wasn't really being portrayed as reckless or stupid.
So while I had a good time, I'm not sure anyone else more experienced would be. Not only did the MC go completely out of character, the ending was rather moot.
The problem is the ending, Vanguard of the last 10% of this book didn't quite fit the image the book had painted of him for the previous 90%. He did a lot of questionable and straight up stupid things, which is surprising because he wasn't really being portrayed as reckless or stupid.
So while I had a good time, I'm not sure anyone else more experienced would be. Not only did the MC go completely out of character, the ending was rather moot.
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
I can't believe this short book could convey the whole storyline in such a complete and addictive way. I've always loved something that has a slow start and builds everything up to deliver a good plot toward the ending. What I mostly liked here was the atmosphere that dark and corrupt surrounded by political intrigue. The world-building is not that extensive, but the grim city described feels so alive. The unique elements in this book are so interesting, and I'm really curious to learn more about them. Additionally, the characters and their arcs, with their uniqueness and wickedness, really hooked me and made me want to know more about them. However, there are just a few details provided here, so some of the characters' backgrounds are vague, and the unique power they possess is not clearly explained. But, this didn't significantly lower my excitement for this book.
I highly recommend this to every grimdark reader. It is so good and fast-paced, absolutely worth your time.
I highly recommend this to every grimdark reader. It is so good and fast-paced, absolutely worth your time.
Content Warnings
Minor: Body horror, Gun violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Murder
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
We Men of Ash and Shadow would have been a 5-star read had it not been for one specific character choice that I just could not get behind. The book carries with it a gritty dark atmosphere you can feel and a tense undercurrent that runs throughout the story. With compact storytelling and a compelling central character, the book balances a personal story of redemption with the gore and violence of a burgeoning revolution.
John Vanguard kills bad people for a living at the behest of his corrupt employer, the de facto leader of their city-state. When he encounters a young man with similar talents as his of being unseen and going unnoticed, Vanguard takes Tarryn under his wing as his apprentice of sorts. When the balance of power in the city threatens to tip, Vanguard finds himself in the middle of the conflict as he is forced to finally choose a side.
So let’s talk about my issue with the book without getting into spoilers. There was a certain character who takes such an about face for what seems to be no apparent reason. And I don’t accept being a psychopath as an adequate enough justification. It just did not make sense to me so I could not get behind it at all. Maybe some foreshadowing or some hints beforehand would have dampened the whiplash I felt with it.
We Men of Ash and Shadow is a gritty and atmospheric grimdark fantasy (although with very minimal magical elements) of violence, politics, and revolution.
John Vanguard kills bad people for a living at the behest of his corrupt employer, the de facto leader of their city-state. When he encounters a young man with similar talents as his of being unseen and going unnoticed, Vanguard takes Tarryn under his wing as his apprentice of sorts. When the balance of power in the city threatens to tip, Vanguard finds himself in the middle of the conflict as he is forced to finally choose a side.
So let’s talk about my issue with the book without getting into spoilers. There was a certain character who takes such an about face for what seems to be no apparent reason. And I don’t accept being a psychopath as an adequate enough justification. It just did not make sense to me so I could not get behind it at all. Maybe some foreshadowing or some hints beforehand would have dampened the whiplash I felt with it.
We Men of Ash and Shadow is a gritty and atmospheric grimdark fantasy (although with very minimal magical elements) of violence, politics, and revolution.
3.7 rounded to 4 on my SPFBO7 finalists scoring matrix.
There are some excellent parts of this story and its a series I will instantly be continuing.
I enjoyed the pacing of this book in the main and for a 300 page book, there is a huge amount of content. I did feel it could of done with another 50 to 100 pages to flesh out the finale of the book however.
I found Vanguard to be a brilliant character and thoroughly appreciated his arc and journey. I am a sucker for a main character almost loathing themselves whilst finding out their true worth to the world. I didnt particular bond with many of the other characters in the story and I suspect this was due to so many of the characters being morally grey. Whilst that built the intrigue in the story, it did create a distance in attachment for me as the reader.
I liked that this book actually felt like a darker version of Michael Sullivans - Hadrian and Royce stories (without the bromance) . I cant quite place why the Riyria stories kept coming to mind during this read, but as they are some of my favourite books, it was most welcome.
This is a good book and one I would recommend
There are some excellent parts of this story and its a series I will instantly be continuing.
I enjoyed the pacing of this book in the main and for a 300 page book, there is a huge amount of content. I did feel it could of done with another 50 to 100 pages to flesh out the finale of the book however.
I found Vanguard to be a brilliant character and thoroughly appreciated his arc and journey. I am a sucker for a main character almost loathing themselves whilst finding out their true worth to the world. I didnt particular bond with many of the other characters in the story and I suspect this was due to so many of the characters being morally grey. Whilst that built the intrigue in the story, it did create a distance in attachment for me as the reader.
I liked that this book actually felt like a darker version of Michael Sullivans - Hadrian and Royce stories (without the bromance) . I cant quite place why the Riyria stories kept coming to mind during this read, but as they are some of my favourite books, it was most welcome.
This is a good book and one I would recommend
4.5/5 stars
This was such a great book!!
The title was the first thing that attracted me to this book. Along with an epic cover, I was really intrigued by this novel.
I listened to We Men of Ash and Shadow on audiobook and I have to say that RJ Bailey is a brilliant narrator. He really brought this story and the characters to life. His performance brought an added layer to the story.
In terms of the plot, I really enjoyed the dark narrative that surrounds the story. The elements of mystery and conspiracy that are central to this book. Nothing comes across as troupe-y or cliche.
A cast of deeply flawed characters combine to make a cast of deeply interesting group. Vanguard is a genuinely passionate and remorseful person. The murderer/mentor/protector/deserter has many layers and I hope his character is explored more in the sequel.
The one slight thing that lets this book down is it's world building. Although the city of D'orsee is explored pretty well, I found myself wanting to know about what happens outside of the walled city . I have heard that this is addressed in the sequel though, so I look forward to that.
I would definitely recommend this book, especially to any grimdark fantasy fans.
This was such a great book!!
The title was the first thing that attracted me to this book. Along with an epic cover, I was really intrigued by this novel.
I listened to We Men of Ash and Shadow on audiobook and I have to say that RJ Bailey is a brilliant narrator. He really brought this story and the characters to life. His performance brought an added layer to the story.
In terms of the plot, I really enjoyed the dark narrative that surrounds the story. The elements of mystery and conspiracy that are central to this book. Nothing comes across as troupe-y or cliche.
A cast of deeply flawed characters combine to make a cast of deeply interesting group. Vanguard is a genuinely passionate and remorseful person. The murderer/mentor/protector/deserter has many layers and I hope his character is explored more in the sequel.
The one slight thing that lets this book down is it's world building. Although the city of D'orsee is explored pretty well, I found myself wanting to know about what happens outside of the walled city . I have heard that this is addressed in the sequel though, so I look forward to that.
I would definitely recommend this book, especially to any grimdark fantasy fans.
This was weird - but in an addictive way!
The setting feels mostly like an medievalish city, but every now and then there's a little bit of modern things like guns or photographs. I kept forgetting those as most of the story was knifes and guts and politics, but the reminders never actually annoyed me, but rather made it feel yet a little bit more unique.
The main character is... Different... He has a talent to go about unseen. He's an ex soldier, and he kills for a living. He does have a conscious though, and only kills scum. He definitely suffered from mental health problems, but somehow manages to just keep going. He sounds a bit slow at times. Not stupid, no, just in his own world. I absolutely enjoyed his company! I can say I can't remember any similar lead character in any book, and I loved how unique and different he was! There's more to him than that, but that would be spoilery...
All the characters here are some sort of shady or outcasts. Be it killer for hire, gang boss, whore, murderer, or even the man who just makes bodies disappear. There still are those with morals, and those without. They aren't all bad, they are a product of the grim world they live in. Then there's bad guys working for something good, and it's a constant readjustment in your mind about who you root for. And I love that!
The story is twisty and about politics, but easy to follow nevertheless. It was a quick read that I just couldn't put down once I started it! For such a short book there's quite a cast, and a lot of backgrounds, but it all fit in smoothly and never felt info dumpy or "too much".
This is a grim and bloody one. Plenty of guts and sinew all around. I got "Jack the Ripper" vibes at times. Do not read that if you don't like gore or being in the head of definite antiheroes, at least part of the story.
If you like grey characters and seeing the slow change in people, then this is brilliant!
The setting feels mostly like an medievalish city, but every now and then there's a little bit of modern things like guns or photographs. I kept forgetting those as most of the story was knifes and guts and politics, but the reminders never actually annoyed me, but rather made it feel yet a little bit more unique.
The main character is... Different... He has a talent to go about unseen. He's an ex soldier, and he kills for a living. He does have a conscious though, and only kills scum. He definitely suffered from mental health problems, but somehow manages to just keep going. He sounds a bit slow at times. Not stupid, no, just in his own world. I absolutely enjoyed his company! I can say I can't remember any similar lead character in any book, and I loved how unique and different he was! There's more to him than that, but that would be spoilery...
All the characters here are some sort of shady or outcasts. Be it killer for hire, gang boss, whore, murderer, or even the man who just makes bodies disappear. There still are those with morals, and those without. They aren't all bad, they are a product of the grim world they live in. Then there's bad guys working for something good, and it's a constant readjustment in your mind about who you root for. And I love that!
The story is twisty and about politics, but easy to follow nevertheless. It was a quick read that I just couldn't put down once I started it! For such a short book there's quite a cast, and a lot of backgrounds, but it all fit in smoothly and never felt info dumpy or "too much".
This is a grim and bloody one. Plenty of guts and sinew all around. I got "Jack the Ripper" vibes at times. Do not read that if you don't like gore or being in the head of definite antiheroes, at least part of the story.
If you like grey characters and seeing the slow change in people, then this is brilliant!