The Blacktongue Thief by Christopher Buehlman, Book Review

Kinch Na Shannack is a low-level thug with good education and some magical talent. He’ll start a journey that will exceed our worst nightmares.

First of all, this is a beautiful-looking book. The pages, cover, typography, and overall design are all great. Kudos to the publisher for doing a nice job here, and also kudos for them for giving me a book for free, after messing up the order and sending me something else.

The Blacktongue Thief starts off really well. It’s set in a fantasy world of biting goblins, giants, magical tattoos, and vanished horses. Our thief possesses some rare magical skills that are supposed to help him finish the quest, which is objectively way out of his league.

I don’t know why this wonderful setup had to turn into epic fantasy. As the book progressed, it became increasingly complex and difficult to follow. If it had been another hundred pages longer, I’m not sure I would have finished it. Fortunately, it ended just in time.

I think it’s a nice book, grows up on me, and I’d compare it to Orconomics as a general feel but better because it’s shorter.

5*/5 from me. Looking forward to the continuation.

Wisdom from Empire of the Vampire

I’m reading a second book over 1000 pages this year, called Empire of the Vampire by Jay Kristoff. The book is full of exceptionally powerful vampires that are quickly turning humans extinct.

The main character says that the vampires are people free from consequences. Not facing consequences is what makes them evil, not the vampirism (well, at least for now). It clicked with me because it makes total sense in a world where people compete to be as free from consequences as possible, yet the consequences are everywhere.

I have the feeling this book will get 5*, if I manage to read the whole thing.