Scan barcode
A review by littlebirdbooks
The Blacktongue Thief by Christopher Buehlman
3.0
Firstly, a huge thank you to Gollancz and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Typically with fantasy novels we see the protagonist as a hero wanting to do what they can to change the world and save the people that live in it, or maybe they’ve been forced into it but they still have a sense of what’s noble… This novel takes that idea and turns it on its head to say the least. Kinch Na Shannack is far from your typical protagonist, this foul-mouthed (which is an understatement itself) thief is such a refreshing narrator for an epic fantasy adventure.
Although Kinch and his crude and colourful way of describing situations may not be for everyone, I adored him. This is a type of character that we generally only see snippets of as a side character in other novels, so to have an entire novel from the perspective of a man like Kinch was fascinating to me. Not to mention, hilarious at times. Due to his nature and education you simultaneously feel he is being completely honest with you and straight talking, and yet he’ll throw in a line that will catch you off guard and wonder whether that is truly the case. He doesn’t hide the fact that the story he is telling you is the one he wants to tell, but I enjoyed the moments where you’re made to question how much is being left out or embellished. However, at the same time, it’s those moments when you know that he has omitted something or has tweaked what happened that manages to give you more of an insight into his character and, in some cases, feel sorry for him.
In fact, I thought all of the characters were brilliantly written and I loved seeing them all interact. I loved how Kinch’s unlikely companion Galva (well, really Kinch was Galva’s companion) just worked together so wonderfully. You have a man who has been taught all the best ways to lie and trick people, with a mischievous and endearing personality; and a knight who is from a race of people where sarcasm is barely understood, or tolerated, and she is determined in her search to find her missing queen. On the surface they appear to be so at odds with each other and yet, they complement each other well with a balance between amusing misunderstandings and serious conversations. I also really liked the addition of Norrigal, the talented witch who joins them along the way and Bully Boy, the blind cat who seems to have a talent for surviving against all odds.
Although the characters hooked me into the story, it took a while for me to get into the plot. However, it’s difficult to say whether that was due to the pacing of the novel or just the frame of mind I was in when I was reading it. When I was able to sit, focus and follow along I did really enjoy everything the book has to offer and I will definitely be picking up the next book in the series as I’d love to see more of this world and of Kinch. Before I do, though, I will need to give this a re-read as I think I did miss out on nuance and lore by being completely swept up in all of the action.
Overall, I loved these characters and the stories behind their motivations. They shouldn’t work so well together but they truly do. This refreshing take on the epic fantasy felt, as strange as it sounds, believable through not shying away from the less glamorous situations through some incredibly creative language.
Typically with fantasy novels we see the protagonist as a hero wanting to do what they can to change the world and save the people that live in it, or maybe they’ve been forced into it but they still have a sense of what’s noble… This novel takes that idea and turns it on its head to say the least. Kinch Na Shannack is far from your typical protagonist, this foul-mouthed (which is an understatement itself) thief is such a refreshing narrator for an epic fantasy adventure.
Although Kinch and his crude and colourful way of describing situations may not be for everyone, I adored him. This is a type of character that we generally only see snippets of as a side character in other novels, so to have an entire novel from the perspective of a man like Kinch was fascinating to me. Not to mention, hilarious at times. Due to his nature and education you simultaneously feel he is being completely honest with you and straight talking, and yet he’ll throw in a line that will catch you off guard and wonder whether that is truly the case. He doesn’t hide the fact that the story he is telling you is the one he wants to tell, but I enjoyed the moments where you’re made to question how much is being left out or embellished. However, at the same time, it’s those moments when you know that he has omitted something or has tweaked what happened that manages to give you more of an insight into his character and, in some cases, feel sorry for him.
In fact, I thought all of the characters were brilliantly written and I loved seeing them all interact. I loved how Kinch’s unlikely companion Galva (well, really Kinch was Galva’s companion) just worked together so wonderfully. You have a man who has been taught all the best ways to lie and trick people, with a mischievous and endearing personality; and a knight who is from a race of people where sarcasm is barely understood, or tolerated, and she is determined in her search to find her missing queen. On the surface they appear to be so at odds with each other and yet, they complement each other well with a balance between amusing misunderstandings and serious conversations. I also really liked the addition of Norrigal, the talented witch who joins them along the way and Bully Boy, the blind cat who seems to have a talent for surviving against all odds.
Although the characters hooked me into the story, it took a while for me to get into the plot. However, it’s difficult to say whether that was due to the pacing of the novel or just the frame of mind I was in when I was reading it. When I was able to sit, focus and follow along I did really enjoy everything the book has to offer and I will definitely be picking up the next book in the series as I’d love to see more of this world and of Kinch. Before I do, though, I will need to give this a re-read as I think I did miss out on nuance and lore by being completely swept up in all of the action.
Overall, I loved these characters and the stories behind their motivations. They shouldn’t work so well together but they truly do. This refreshing take on the epic fantasy felt, as strange as it sounds, believable through not shying away from the less glamorous situations through some incredibly creative language.