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A review by bookstoashes
City of Lies by Sam Hawke
4.0
3.5 Stars
Picked this up for Library Lotto episode 3!
Since I knew nothing going into this book, I wasn't sure how to feel at first. It started off pretty quickly with characters being poisoned, and the rush to figure out a antidote all the while trying to figure out who the culprit was.
Once we get past the start, a lot of the middle of the book felt a little prolonged. I was bored for small parts of it, but other scenes really kept me hooked.
I didn't love the main characters but I did find interest in them, especially Jovan. The love interest for him was definitely not for me though, but at least there weren't really any others in this book (I prefer my fantasies to have little to no romance, unless it's specifically a fantasy romance or if it's done well).
There were some really well written scenes, one in particular that I adored, but this would have benefited a hundred or so pages shorter. It just dragged at bit at times but I have to admit that it made sense considering the plot. It just made for some boring parts.
I'd recommend this book for anyone who likes sieges, mystery, poison testers (proofers) and hints of politics. Magic is barely touched upon, but I can see it becoming more important in the later books.
I'd have given this book a 3 stars, but the ending was really well done. Sam Hawke does a really good job writing action scenes so I had to bring it up to a 3.5 and ultimately, rounded to a 4.
I may continue this series, it had enough of my attention to do so, but I'm not 100% sure. Once I'm caught up on all the series I've already started, I might give the next book a go.
Picked this up for Library Lotto episode 3!
Since I knew nothing going into this book, I wasn't sure how to feel at first. It started off pretty quickly with characters being poisoned, and the rush to figure out a antidote all the while trying to figure out who the culprit was.
Once we get past the start, a lot of the middle of the book felt a little prolonged. I was bored for small parts of it, but other scenes really kept me hooked.
I didn't love the main characters but I did find interest in them, especially Jovan. The love interest for him was definitely not for me though, but at least there weren't really any others in this book (I prefer my fantasies to have little to no romance, unless it's specifically a fantasy romance or if it's done well).
There were some really well written scenes, one in particular that I adored, but this would have benefited a hundred or so pages shorter. It just dragged at bit at times but I have to admit that it made sense considering the plot. It just made for some boring parts.
I'd recommend this book for anyone who likes sieges, mystery, poison testers (proofers) and hints of politics. Magic is barely touched upon, but I can see it becoming more important in the later books.
I'd have given this book a 3 stars, but the ending was really well done. Sam Hawke does a really good job writing action scenes so I had to bring it up to a 3.5 and ultimately, rounded to a 4.
I may continue this series, it had enough of my attention to do so, but I'm not 100% sure. Once I'm caught up on all the series I've already started, I might give the next book a go.