Book #95 of 2023:
The Blacktongue Thief by Christopher Buehlman (Blacktongue #1)
This 2021 fantasy debut has all the gore of the grimdark subgenre, but it skillfully avoids the cynical nihilism that I’d consider typical of such properties. Instead, the tone here is more akin to The Lies of Locke Lamora — archly comic and creatively profane, but deeply rooted in the vulnerable heart of the protagonist, an enterprising thief who’s just too clever for his own good. The wry inner voice of that title figure is a continual delight, and I appreciate that while the plot around him has the general shape of an epic quest, the narrative is more interested in the relationships that are building up among the characters and unafraid to pursue a few extended side adventures with them. The resulting rhythms are somewhat like those of a tabletop roleplaying campaign, which may be a sticking point for certain readers but strikes me as a refreshing and engaging choice.
The worldbuilding has some interesting cultural details and background flourishes, like how humanity barely survived a string of bloody wars with the goblins, an often-comical species that have never been more terrifying than they are here. Amid that setting, the hero attempts to waylay and rob a stern paladin, only to find himself dragged along on her mission to restore her queen to a far-off throne, under secretive orders from his powerful guild leaders who plainly have ulterior motives in facilitating the journey. They acquire a blind cat and other further companions along the way, not all of whom survive the experience, and the overall novel feels self-contained in how its story resolves, yet has been marketed as the first in an eventual series. I know I would definitely return for a sequel or two.
[Content warning for cannibalism and threatened / implied rape.]
★★★★☆
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