Come, sit with me, have a cup of tea.

I have been anticipating this book since it was announced last year. I love The Goblin Emperor with a fierce love that, while shared with many other beloved books, means that I love it no matter its faults or flaws. It came along and soothed my heart at the right time in my life, and I love it, in part, for that. Needless to say, a follow up in that universe has high expectations from me.

We follow the titular Witness for the Dead, a character from the first book, who has since moved on from the capitol and is trying to lead a quiet existence, avoiding politics and intrigue. I don't blame them. The "plot" follows them through many strange and mundane events, loosely connected but feeling like a slice of life. Once I realized that was what we were doing, I settled in for living alongside our Witness for a while. The end came suddenly and abruptly, and I feel that it was a bit rushed. That lost this book a star from me, because up until that point I was enjoying the journey and the mysteries for what they were. Still worth the journey if you have read The Goblin Emperor and want more, but if you have not read that book, go read that one instead. You'll thank yourself for doing so.