Scan barcode
A review by nclcaitlin
City of Lies by Sam Hawke
3.5
Jovan is seven years old the first time his uncle poisons him.
Over the next ten years, and hundreds of poisonings, Johan’s uncle gives him many gifts: immunities, scars, an appreciation of their family's honorable and secret role as protectors to the City of Shona’s ruling family.
Our story starts with the assassination of the Chancellor and Jovan and Kalina’s uncle with an impossibly unknown poison and then an army attacking the city seemingly for religious reasons.
This has dual first person perspectives shared between Jovan and Kalinia.
Jovan and his sister Kalina are part of the six Credol Families making up the council who vote and decide on the city and manage the estates outside, responsible every possible aspect of life.
Whilst Jovan is trained in poisons, Kalina has the more political mind: her body too weak to handle the poisons, she’s spent hours memorising books, traditions and languages, and familiarising herself with the councillors allegiances and interest.
Jovan offers neurodivergent representation, dealing with overwhelming compulsions and the need for control and order. Probably not the best when dealing with a chaotic, uncertain invasion.
I'm drowning, I thought, drowning in my own head.
This also deals with the rich benefitting whilst the voiceless suffer and the issue of ignorance, i reporting, and hate crime. Similar to our own reality, those who stand out are treated with suspicion, as outsiders, targeted merely for their beliefs or their differences.
“I grew up here thinking we were the most civilized city in the world, that we were better than all our barbarous neighbors. And then I found out we're not better, we're worse, because our foundations are rotten. Don't you see? My whole city ... my whole world, it's all been built on lies."
Despite this having a latter focus as a siege book, I was most impressed by the start of the book and the initial poison focus and jostling within the city. However, the battle and sly, underhanded, back alley attacks towards the end added tension and increased stakes as the situation grew even more hopeless and bleak.
Some parts felt slightly dry, but this was an engaging read filled with politics, backstabbing, and war strategies equally.
Also, I’m a sucker for any sibling relationships.
If you enjoyed this, I would recommend City of Brass, Mask of Mirrors, Empire of Exiles, and The Black Coast.
Over the next ten years, and hundreds of poisonings, Johan’s uncle gives him many gifts: immunities, scars, an appreciation of their family's honorable and secret role as protectors to the City of Shona’s ruling family.
Our story starts with the assassination of the Chancellor and Jovan and Kalina’s uncle with an impossibly unknown poison and then an army attacking the city seemingly for religious reasons.
This has dual first person perspectives shared between Jovan and Kalinia.
Jovan and his sister Kalina are part of the six Credol Families making up the council who vote and decide on the city and manage the estates outside, responsible every possible aspect of life.
Whilst Jovan is trained in poisons, Kalina has the more political mind: her body too weak to handle the poisons, she’s spent hours memorising books, traditions and languages, and familiarising herself with the councillors allegiances and interest.
Jovan offers neurodivergent representation, dealing with overwhelming compulsions and the need for control and order. Probably not the best when dealing with a chaotic, uncertain invasion.
I'm drowning, I thought, drowning in my own head.
This also deals with the rich benefitting whilst the voiceless suffer and the issue of ignorance, i reporting, and hate crime. Similar to our own reality, those who stand out are treated with suspicion, as outsiders, targeted merely for their beliefs or their differences.
“I grew up here thinking we were the most civilized city in the world, that we were better than all our barbarous neighbors. And then I found out we're not better, we're worse, because our foundations are rotten. Don't you see? My whole city ... my whole world, it's all been built on lies."
Despite this having a latter focus as a siege book, I was most impressed by the start of the book and the initial poison focus and jostling within the city. However, the battle and sly, underhanded, back alley attacks towards the end added tension and increased stakes as the situation grew even more hopeless and bleak.
Some parts felt slightly dry, but this was an engaging read filled with politics, backstabbing, and war strategies equally.
Also, I’m a sucker for any sibling relationships.
If you enjoyed this, I would recommend City of Brass, Mask of Mirrors, Empire of Exiles, and The Black Coast.