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A review by timinbc
City of Stairs by Robert Jackson Bennett
5.0
This is great stuff. A spy-political-whodunit set in a fantasy world, with three great lead characters.
A writing style that I liked even if others didn't. A good plot that hangs together neatly. A fourth lead character who's an annoying wuss, but conflicted in a way that's important.
A city that rivals New Crobuzon or Max Gladstone's Craft Series cities for weirdness.
Shara, who's a good strong female lead, and Mulaghesh is, well, she's Rosa from Brooklyn Nine Nine.
Then there's Sigrud. Bennett has clearly read about Pratchett's Sgt. Detritus, and Leiber's Fafhrd, and Goldman's Fezzik, and Goscinny's Obélix, and Conan, and so many others. Sigrud belongs up there with the best of the big guys. "Sigrud, here's a problem, what will you do?" "I will get in there somehow, use my skills and experience as long as I can, and then I will bash them." "But that's the same answer you always give!" "Yup. Seems to work."
Best part? I already have the second book.
A writing style that I liked even if others didn't. A good plot that hangs together neatly. A fourth lead character who's an annoying wuss, but conflicted in a way that's important.
A city that rivals New Crobuzon or Max Gladstone's Craft Series cities for weirdness.
Shara, who's a good strong female lead, and Mulaghesh is, well, she's Rosa from Brooklyn Nine Nine.
Then there's Sigrud. Bennett has clearly read about Pratchett's Sgt. Detritus, and Leiber's Fafhrd, and Goldman's Fezzik, and Goscinny's Obélix, and Conan, and so many others. Sigrud belongs up there with the best of the big guys. "Sigrud, here's a problem, what will you do?" "I will get in there somehow, use my skills and experience as long as I can, and then I will bash them." "But that's the same answer you always give!" "Yup. Seems to work."
Best part? I already have the second book.