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kevinscorner's review against another edition
4.0
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.
tezzarudge's review
4.0
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
wokeupolder's review
5.0
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.
kitvaria_sarene's review
5.0
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!
selinadragonair's review against another edition
3.0
A nice read. I liked the set of characters, the dark setting and the dynamic plot.
However I can't stand when the POV moves from one sentence to the next, it really pulls me out of the story every time. The prose was ok but made me often lose focus too.
A promising start, however not enough for me to continue.
However I can't stand when the POV moves from one sentence to the next, it really pulls me out of the story every time. The prose was ok but made me often lose focus too.
A promising start, however not enough for me to continue.
davidgreenwriter's review against another edition
5.0
A stunning genre-spanning debut; grimdark meets gaslamp with stunning results.
Strong characters, a compelling plot and beautiful prose combine to create a thrilling novel. Need the second one NOW!
Strong characters, a compelling plot and beautiful prose combine to create a thrilling novel. Need the second one NOW!
baldwig's review
dark
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
4.75
Holly Tinsley's excellent We Men of Ash and Shadow. Wow, what a dedication, I've never been so emotional before even starting a book. I, too, was very fortunate to have been born to a loving and supportive father. Mine is sorely missed. The intriguing character names continue to bounce around my skull. Tarryn Leersac is my favorite, very evocative. Phonetically Tearin' (or split). People leer at his prettiness, but sometimes can't see him, like being mistaken for his dead father by his own mother, Lady Leersac, whom will get leered and ridiculed for being now an empty sack of a Lady, while she'll leer longingly for attention after losing her husband, money, friends, priviledge and mind. Henriette envisions a sophisticated parental madam, but the name is just a role she plays. Carmen, a libretto was written by Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halévy, a depiction of proletarian life, immorality, and lawlessness where Carmen is a gypsy who seduces a soldier, interesting. Vanguard, hardly cutting edge, is shamed, stuck and burned by his past, just ash, or is he? The book title is apt, We Men of Ash and Shadow because we are just wee men of ash and shadow. Different pockets of D' Orsee are under the shadow of, occluded by, singular strongmen, a walled city and foundries belching ash. The book's name, as that of the characters, is nuanced, not anvilicious. The reader is not beat over the head, though characters in this grimdark gaslamp world are. Holly Tinsley wrItes effortlessly well, not showing off. The story builds nicely, is not forced with natural shifts. Characters are layered, through accretion, skillfully. Holly is generous, an impressive author. This is but the start, The Hand That Casts The Bone (Vanguard #2) will, I'm confident, be even better than this SPFBO finalist, continuing to flesh out the characters, literally and figuratively. Can't wait.
llmacrae's review against another edition
5.0
Oooooh this was a GOOD one! I was grinning from ear to ear as I listened to the final few lines of this stunning book. Side note: the audiobook is fabulous and RJ Bayley is a brilliant narrator (I am aware I am biased, but he really is epic!)
I liked this book most of the way through. But during the final quarter, something really clicked for me and I started to love it. I can’t quite tell you why.
I’m also not sure I actually dislike grimdark? I don’t know anymore. This year has been full of “stuff I wouldn’t normally read but huh, turns out I love it.”
We Men Of Ash And Shadow is a book I love.
HL Tinsley is a SUPERB author. Her voice is absolutely riveting, and I think I’d happily read a shopping list she’s written because of the sheer creativity and turn of phrases I’d get to experience. She has a fantastic way with words that turns descriptions into something visceral and truly immersive, and her dialogue is equally witty and hilarious.
Vanguard is the main character of this dark tale, but I didn’t like him as much as some of the other characters until the final quarter. He is the personification of survivor’s guilt, and I think once I realised that was his driving force (if you could call it that), everything fell into place. I so badly wanted him to succeed and was desperate to find out what happened in the finale that I ended up listening while cooking, eating, and running a bath so I could finish the book this evening.
Vanguard is older/past his prime, with not a lot to live for. He is rough around the edges, as to be expected, but he has a warm heart and a kindness that is rare in this city. He also has a particular set of skills - both real and magical - that keep him busy day to day, as well as fed. He is an assassin (of sorts).
The main plot took a while to get going, and in the early stages he ends up taking on an apprentice of sorts. This young lad also shares the “magical” ability of being unseen in certain situations. A good trick if you want to be paid to kill people.
I will admit, my only slight negative is there isn’t much more magic than that. It is clearly fantasy, set in a second world, but there isn’t a lot that would name this fantasy other than the main characters can occasionally be invisible.
That being said, more magic probably wouldn’t have worked in this particular setting and story, so it’s a personal gripe rather than a dig at the book!
While I’m talking about characters, I really have to shout that I LOVED so many of the side characters. Paulette. Kosik. Henriette. Vince. Sanderson. The barman of the Ring ‘O Bastards. Even Mandego! Actually, especially Mandego. (Apologies for any misspellings - audiobook!)
I’m also really annoyed with myself for liking Taryn to begin with. He’s the second main character, and I connected hard with him in the opening chapters - trying to look after his mother whose mental faculties are not all there. He’s often forgotten, hurt, ignored, and worse due to her deteriorating mental state, and my goodness I really wanted to hug him. As someone who grew up with alcoholic and abusive parents, it really struck a chord with me and I was completely behind him and his thoughts.
Until I wasn’t.
And I realised what he was.
And then I was annoyed at myself for falling for his charm and vulnerability and charisma and then realising the truth of it. And aaarrrggghhhh!
There were times when I thought, “no, the book isn’t going to go there, is it?” And it went there.
And I suppose that’s what turns it from a dark fantasy to grim dark because it does not shy away from the brutality of the people in this place. Characters make decisions that are difficult to grapple with, yet you can understand what they’re doing and why (although hopefully from somewhere detached !)
Oh an Mrs. Brown! Aaaahhh!
The characterisation of some of humanity’s…uglier side is so well done in We Men Of Ash And Shadow. So well done, in fact, that I found it triggering in certain areas (Taryn’s thoughts, especially regarding Paulette, are so on the nose it’s terrifying), and much like a car crash, I found it difficult to look away because the writing was so very, very good.
This is a horrible city in a horrible world full of mostly horrible people. Some truly are evil. Others simply do what they must to survive. And there are a handful who try to make it a better place - futile as that may be.
Wherever I thought the story was going, it went somewhere else. It kept it feeling very unpredictable and unique, and after a while I was simply swept up in whatever was going to happen, and enjoying the ride every step of the way.
Thematically, it covers everything from war, loss, revolution, survivor’s guilt, psychopaths, mental health/trauma, culture changes, and a plethora of other themes that were all extremely well done.
These are not stereotypical, tropey characters. These are people who have very ugly sides to them and are incredibly flawed, and that makes them real. It can also make it difficult to read about in certain places, especially if you have any experience within those themes.
Other reviews talk about head-hopping breaking immersion, and while, yes, that does happen, for me it really didn’t detract from what was an incredibly enjoyable tale. Additionally, with the audiobook narration, I was never unsure who was speaking/acting, and my enjoyment was never tainted.
Overall, this was absolutely brilliant, and I will definitely be reading the sequel in the new year - definitely on audiobook, too!
I liked this book most of the way through. But during the final quarter, something really clicked for me and I started to love it. I can’t quite tell you why.
I’m also not sure I actually dislike grimdark? I don’t know anymore. This year has been full of “stuff I wouldn’t normally read but huh, turns out I love it.”
We Men Of Ash And Shadow is a book I love.
HL Tinsley is a SUPERB author. Her voice is absolutely riveting, and I think I’d happily read a shopping list she’s written because of the sheer creativity and turn of phrases I’d get to experience. She has a fantastic way with words that turns descriptions into something visceral and truly immersive, and her dialogue is equally witty and hilarious.
Vanguard is the main character of this dark tale, but I didn’t like him as much as some of the other characters until the final quarter. He is the personification of survivor’s guilt, and I think once I realised that was his driving force (if you could call it that), everything fell into place. I so badly wanted him to succeed and was desperate to find out what happened in the finale that I ended up listening while cooking, eating, and running a bath so I could finish the book this evening.
Vanguard is older/past his prime, with not a lot to live for. He is rough around the edges, as to be expected, but he has a warm heart and a kindness that is rare in this city. He also has a particular set of skills - both real and magical - that keep him busy day to day, as well as fed. He is an assassin (of sorts).
The main plot took a while to get going, and in the early stages he ends up taking on an apprentice of sorts. This young lad also shares the “magical” ability of being unseen in certain situations. A good trick if you want to be paid to kill people.
I will admit, my only slight negative is there isn’t much more magic than that. It is clearly fantasy, set in a second world, but there isn’t a lot that would name this fantasy other than the main characters can occasionally be invisible.
That being said, more magic probably wouldn’t have worked in this particular setting and story, so it’s a personal gripe rather than a dig at the book!
While I’m talking about characters, I really have to shout that I LOVED so many of the side characters. Paulette. Kosik. Henriette. Vince. Sanderson. The barman of the Ring ‘O Bastards. Even Mandego! Actually, especially Mandego. (Apologies for any misspellings - audiobook!)
I’m also really annoyed with myself for liking Taryn to begin with. He’s the second main character, and I connected hard with him in the opening chapters - trying to look after his mother whose mental faculties are not all there. He’s often forgotten, hurt, ignored, and worse due to her deteriorating mental state, and my goodness I really wanted to hug him. As someone who grew up with alcoholic and abusive parents, it really struck a chord with me and I was completely behind him and his thoughts.
Until I wasn’t.
And I realised what he was.
And then I was annoyed at myself for falling for his charm and vulnerability and charisma and then realising the truth of it. And aaarrrggghhhh!
There were times when I thought, “no, the book isn’t going to go there, is it?” And it went there.
And I suppose that’s what turns it from a dark fantasy to grim dark because it does not shy away from the brutality of the people in this place. Characters make decisions that are difficult to grapple with, yet you can understand what they’re doing and why (although hopefully from somewhere detached !)
Oh an Mrs. Brown! Aaaahhh!
The characterisation of some of humanity’s…uglier side is so well done in We Men Of Ash And Shadow. So well done, in fact, that I found it triggering in certain areas (Taryn’s thoughts, especially regarding Paulette, are so on the nose it’s terrifying), and much like a car crash, I found it difficult to look away because the writing was so very, very good.
This is a horrible city in a horrible world full of mostly horrible people. Some truly are evil. Others simply do what they must to survive. And there are a handful who try to make it a better place - futile as that may be.
Wherever I thought the story was going, it went somewhere else. It kept it feeling very unpredictable and unique, and after a while I was simply swept up in whatever was going to happen, and enjoying the ride every step of the way.
Thematically, it covers everything from war, loss, revolution, survivor’s guilt, psychopaths, mental health/trauma, culture changes, and a plethora of other themes that were all extremely well done.
These are not stereotypical, tropey characters. These are people who have very ugly sides to them and are incredibly flawed, and that makes them real. It can also make it difficult to read about in certain places, especially if you have any experience within those themes.
Other reviews talk about head-hopping breaking immersion, and while, yes, that does happen, for me it really didn’t detract from what was an incredibly enjoyable tale. Additionally, with the audiobook narration, I was never unsure who was speaking/acting, and my enjoyment was never tainted.
Overall, this was absolutely brilliant, and I will definitely be reading the sequel in the new year - definitely on audiobook, too!