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jbxdavis 's review for:
The Blacktongue Thief
by Christopher Buehlman
This might be the most fun I've ever had reading fantasy. It may not be as epic or consequential as Stormlight or ASOIAF, but the craftsmanship evident in this novel is staggering. Every line, every word is carefully selected and the result in a book that punches well above its weight or its page count. There's no filler - every paragraph is exciting, hilarious, heart-wrenching, intriguing, or some combination.
Kinch is an excellent protagonist, not because of the captivating circumstances we find him in but because of the voice he injects into the story through his narration. The whole story is delivered as if we're gathered around Kinch telling the story over drinks. The world is rich, and this novel only scratches the surface, but is filled with so many creative twists and arrangements of both new and old tropes that it's immensely satisfying. The book is also hilarious; even moreso than Kings of the Wyld (another relatively recent novel in the same "grin-dark" vein that I loved). Many times I found myself laughing out loud, especially when listening to the audiobook delivery (performed by Buehlman himself).
I would be very surprised if this isn't in the running for best fantasy novel of the year.
Kinch is an excellent protagonist, not because of the captivating circumstances we find him in but because of the voice he injects into the story through his narration. The whole story is delivered as if we're gathered around Kinch telling the story over drinks. The world is rich, and this novel only scratches the surface, but is filled with so many creative twists and arrangements of both new and old tropes that it's immensely satisfying. The book is also hilarious; even moreso than Kings of the Wyld (another relatively recent novel in the same "grin-dark" vein that I loved). Many times I found myself laughing out loud, especially when listening to the audiobook delivery (performed by Buehlman himself).
I would be very surprised if this isn't in the running for best fantasy novel of the year.