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A review by ladymacbeth_1985
The Faithless by C.L. Clark
adventurous
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Before I even start, the cover is gorgeous!
I received this arc from NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.
Like The Unbroken, The Faithless is an intricate, politically-focused, intrigue-based fantasy with two leading women who are both formidable in their own right.
Where The Unbroken had a ton of action and magic, this book takes a turn for the political. I read this book very quickly, despite it being a bit of chonker. I’m not as interested in the power plays of nobles, but the way Clark has crafted the city, its varying peoples, and its systems is incredibly intricate and enveloping. The world-building is astoundingly detailed - Balladaire is clearly based on France (the story is influenced by the colonial history of France and North Africa) but it also retains its own flavours of being a fantasy world. Clark does an amazing job taking elements of real history and blending it into her fantasy novel. This makes for a rich and immersive experience that feels like a real place.
One of my favourite elements of the world-building is the addition of what are clearly French Revolutionary aspects. As much as I like Luca, I’m also all for tearing down the aristocracy, so this part was really intriguing to me and I hope there will be more in book three.
The characters, as with last time, are excellent. Touraine, for being a badass, really has issues with her place in the world - which makes sense given her upbringing and her love of Luca. Touraine clearly loves things about Balladaire as much as she resents (rightfully so) their colonialism. Her struggle is very apparent and well done, as it addresses ideas of systemic problems which force complicity because there are no real practical solutions to these problems. This is seen in so many countries, including my own, where the effects of centuries of colonialism have created lingering effects that are so complex even those affected aren’t sure how to approach it.
I loved how Touraine has flaws when it comes to fighting - she’s not this perfect fighter who can pick up any weapon and kick ass with it. This aspect comes into play in this novel, and it’s so realistic. I also loved that she clearly has PTSD from the events of the last book - rarely in fantasy is this addressed, so that was fantastic. This truly is a realism-based fantasy through and through, despite the magic aspects.
Luca is not much different from book one - she’s outwardly strong but inwardly struggling. The best parts between these two women are their attraction and emotion towards one another and how they wrestle with it for different reasons. Their love story is big part of the plot but it’s not overly “romancey” which was great.
The side characters are wonderful. Pruett is my favourite. She’s tough and rough around the edges - she’s bitter and angry and full of grit. Ghadin and Sabine were also fun.
The best character is Sevroush, though, the pet vulture. I loved him. So fun!
The fight scenes, while few and far between in this novel, are well-described and exciting. Clark has a grittiness to her fights that remind me of Joe Abercrombie in a way or even Kameron Hurley in that they focus on the not-so-pretty aspects of anatomy and wounds.
There was a bit of pacing issue throughout the novel though, as things progressed but I never really felt any urgency on the face of it. Perhaps there isn’t supposed to be, but this led to a lack of tension in certain parts of the novel. I was still fully engaged, as the book is so rich, but the plot meanders a bit at times.
The prose itself is much like the story - realistic and grounded. There’s not a lot of pithy metaphors or elegiac sentences, but this works for this novel. There’s a lot going on, so concise language works well here.
Overall, I enjoyed The Faithless even more than The Unbroken, and I really look forward to book 3. Thank you again to Orbit for the e-arc.
I received this arc from NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.
Like The Unbroken, The Faithless is an intricate, politically-focused, intrigue-based fantasy with two leading women who are both formidable in their own right.
Where The Unbroken had a ton of action and magic, this book takes a turn for the political. I read this book very quickly, despite it being a bit of chonker. I’m not as interested in the power plays of nobles, but the way Clark has crafted the city, its varying peoples, and its systems is incredibly intricate and enveloping. The world-building is astoundingly detailed - Balladaire is clearly based on France (the story is influenced by the colonial history of France and North Africa) but it also retains its own flavours of being a fantasy world. Clark does an amazing job taking elements of real history and blending it into her fantasy novel. This makes for a rich and immersive experience that feels like a real place.
One of my favourite elements of the world-building is the addition of what are clearly French Revolutionary aspects. As much as I like Luca, I’m also all for tearing down the aristocracy, so this part was really intriguing to me and I hope there will be more in book three.
The characters, as with last time, are excellent. Touraine, for being a badass, really has issues with her place in the world - which makes sense given her upbringing and her love of Luca. Touraine clearly loves things about Balladaire as much as she resents (rightfully so) their colonialism. Her struggle is very apparent and well done, as it addresses ideas of systemic problems which force complicity because there are no real practical solutions to these problems. This is seen in so many countries, including my own, where the effects of centuries of colonialism have created lingering effects that are so complex even those affected aren’t sure how to approach it.
I loved how Touraine has flaws when it comes to fighting - she’s not this perfect fighter who can pick up any weapon and kick ass with it. This aspect comes into play in this novel, and it’s so realistic. I also loved that she clearly has PTSD from the events of the last book - rarely in fantasy is this addressed, so that was fantastic. This truly is a realism-based fantasy through and through, despite the magic aspects.
Luca is not much different from book one - she’s outwardly strong but inwardly struggling. The best parts between these two women are their attraction and emotion towards one another and how they wrestle with it for different reasons. Their love story is big part of the plot but it’s not overly “romancey” which was great.
The side characters are wonderful. Pruett is my favourite. She’s tough and rough around the edges - she’s bitter and angry and full of grit. Ghadin and Sabine were also fun.
The best character is Sevroush, though, the pet vulture. I loved him. So fun!
The fight scenes, while few and far between in this novel, are well-described and exciting. Clark has a grittiness to her fights that remind me of Joe Abercrombie in a way or even Kameron Hurley in that they focus on the not-so-pretty aspects of anatomy and wounds.
There was a bit of pacing issue throughout the novel though, as things progressed but I never really felt any urgency on the face of it. Perhaps there isn’t supposed to be, but this led to a lack of tension in certain parts of the novel. I was still fully engaged, as the book is so rich, but the plot meanders a bit at times.
The prose itself is much like the story - realistic and grounded. There’s not a lot of pithy metaphors or elegiac sentences, but this works for this novel. There’s a lot going on, so concise language works well here.
Overall, I enjoyed The Faithless even more than The Unbroken, and I really look forward to book 3. Thank you again to Orbit for the e-arc.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Child death