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3.82 AVERAGE
3.82 AVERAGE
A former soldier begins training a deadly young protege. Mercenaries working in a city of corruption and lies. Through it all his haunted past may yet find redemption.
Absolutely loved the dark sleazy tale. Gritty and absorbing.
Absolutely loved the dark sleazy tale. Gritty and absorbing.
TL;DR: a very good book that's almost great.
Having read a review recently that painted We Men of Ash and Shadow as one big bleak bloodfest, which is exactly the sort of grimdark I don't read, I was somewhat worried before I began reading the book. I was both wrong and right. The first 1/3 of the book has an undercurrent of humour, just enough to keep it not-as-dark-as-it-should-be even when bodies fall left, right, and centre (without too much graphic detail). And so, as I intended to look at the first few pages to see how horribly bloody it would be, I accidentally found myself approx. 40% in.
And then.
In the mid-section of the book, one of the characters does quite a personality turn – without spoilers, I definitely didn't see that coming. This is a part which feels like it needs to be told, so that we can get to the second half while asked to suspend disbelief for just long enough to set it up. If I could switch off my inner editor, I might have not really noticed. A similar thing happened in the very beginning, when the first chapter is essentially exposition and backstory, but it's done so well that I definitely didn't need drastic action to pull me in. After that mid-section, when the second half follows, it actually is as dark and bleak as the review (I'm sorry, I have no link) suggested. The humour is gone. It's just grim and dark. But at this point I was so invested in the book that I just went on reading – in the bath, while making lunch, while eating slightly burnt lunch… The writing is very good, very engaging – "unputdownable." I hate that word, but it's true. Once I got through the second set-up, I only stopped reading because at some point people have to sleep. (Can you tell I'm nitpicky AF?)
I definitely fell in love with Vanguard, even though on the surface he seems to have few, if any, redeeming features. He's not the mindless, ruthless killer I expected. He's sometimes somewhat slappable in his self-pity, but he's the reason why I already can't wait for book two. Well, Vanguard and [the person who survives] and also [the other person who survives] and also [the other person who survives]. (This is less spoilery than you'd think, but Ms Tinsley somehow managed to pick the characters that, during reading, slipped under my skin as my favourites and keep those alive. I didn't realise they were my favourites until the very end.)
This is a very solid debut. With one more round of editing, or a picky beta reader, it could have been great. It definitely left me with great expectations for the second book in the series – I'm not done here, and hopefully neither is Ms Tinsley. A recommended read.
Having read a review recently that painted We Men of Ash and Shadow as one big bleak bloodfest, which is exactly the sort of grimdark I don't read, I was somewhat worried before I began reading the book. I was both wrong and right. The first 1/3 of the book has an undercurrent of humour, just enough to keep it not-as-dark-as-it-should-be even when bodies fall left, right, and centre (without too much graphic detail). And so, as I intended to look at the first few pages to see how horribly bloody it would be, I accidentally found myself approx. 40% in.
And then.
In the mid-section of the book, one of the characters does quite a personality turn – without spoilers, I definitely didn't see that coming. This is a part which feels like it needs to be told, so that we can get to the second half while asked to suspend disbelief for just long enough to set it up. If I could switch off my inner editor, I might have not really noticed. A similar thing happened in the very beginning, when the first chapter is essentially exposition and backstory, but it's done so well that I definitely didn't need drastic action to pull me in. After that mid-section, when the second half follows, it actually is as dark and bleak as the review (I'm sorry, I have no link) suggested. The humour is gone. It's just grim and dark. But at this point I was so invested in the book that I just went on reading – in the bath, while making lunch, while eating slightly burnt lunch… The writing is very good, very engaging – "unputdownable." I hate that word, but it's true. Once I got through the second set-up, I only stopped reading because at some point people have to sleep. (Can you tell I'm nitpicky AF?)
I definitely fell in love with Vanguard, even though on the surface he seems to have few, if any, redeeming features. He's not the mindless, ruthless killer I expected. He's sometimes somewhat slappable in his self-pity, but he's the reason why I already can't wait for book two. Well, Vanguard and [the person who survives] and also [the other person who survives] and also [the other person who survives]. (This is less spoilery than you'd think, but Ms Tinsley somehow managed to pick the characters that, during reading, slipped under my skin as my favourites and keep those alive. I didn't realise they were my favourites until the very end.)
This is a very solid debut. With one more round of editing, or a picky beta reader, it could have been great. It definitely left me with great expectations for the second book in the series – I'm not done here, and hopefully neither is Ms Tinsley. A recommended read.
This is a well-paced gripping read, interesting characters and a unique storyline. For a debut novel, it’s really impressive.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
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 knives, 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 conscience though, and only kills scum. He definitely suffers from mental health problems, but somehow manages to just keep going. At times he sounds a bit slow. Not stupid, no, just in his own world. I absolutely enjoyed his company! 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! 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 knives, 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 conscience though, and only kills scum. He definitely suffers from mental health problems, but somehow manages to just keep going. At times he sounds a bit slow. Not stupid, no, just in his own world. I absolutely enjoyed his company! 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! 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!
(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.