TLDR: interesting premise, but didn't deliver on the fantasy aspect. Writing isn't great, characters felt flat, and the plot was telegraphed at every chapter.

Thank you to Quercus Audio for providing me with an ARC of the audiobook in exchange for a review.

First, a note on the audiobook: why do you need to give every single woman an accent? I understand the narrator is a man, and might struggle with making women voices, but it's not that hard, just do the same than for men, you won't sound like a woman either way! When all the women have weird accents, even (and especially) the noble ones, you're confusing the politics of the plot - they're not foreigners, they're not uneducated peasants, they're equal to the men to whom you just gave a posh english accent...

Now, for the book itself: this is a debut, and it feels like one.
It's a paint-by-numbers mystery, set in a barely described fantasy world. Every trope comes one after the other: solemn vow (that never comes up again), old civilization (never described in details), magic (convenient plot device), heists, underground mafia, corrupt clergy, little orphan girl who's so witty and strong (should have died 10 times), band of mismatched underdogs that take on a conspiracy, ...
I like tropes as much as my neighbour, but not when they're stitched together so inelegantly, and the author seems to be crossing off a checklist.

I think I could have liked the main character if the author has been writing satire. Lukan is a perfect frat boy, and i would have loved to see him think so highly of himself, only for the author to make fun of his self-importance. But here it falls flat every time: he's supposed to be so smart, yet fails to see the clues served to him on a silver platter. Supposedly a strong fighter, yet gets beaten up at every turn. Disgraced son from a once powerful noble family, yet knows nothing of the world around him, and is intimidated by anyone with an ounce of power.

The plot is very much a mystery set in a fantasy world. I wouldn't have minded that, except the mystery was awful. So many obvious clues, and yet so many interesting things mentioned and never used again. Way too many close calls and thinly-veiled set ups. Perfectly unbelievable ending that never stood a chance. Oh, and you have to get completely drunk before every action scene, so that you can complain of a headache, and then it has no other consequence on your performance. Frat boy, i told you.

The writing was also mediocre. There is a lot of info dumping, and so much telling not showing. Background characters are all shallow caricatures who refuse to tell Lukan anything ever - until 3 paragraphs later where they reveal their entire backstory and everything Lukan needs but didn't ask for.

So many leads were mentioned and never used again. For example (no spoiler), the book begins by a promise Lukan makes, the *Silverblood Promise*, which involves a fancy name, and little ritual, and???? nothing else! The significance of it is never explained, there doesn't seem to be any consequence of not following through (except vaguely his personal honor). I kept waiting for it to show up again, but it didn't. And that repeats for every single vaguely interesting idea the author had.

I would compare this to Play of Shadow by Sebastien De Castell: same kind of main character and setting. And the same problems with regards to world-building, badly wrangled mystery plot and stereotypical characters. Even the audio had the same problems (it might be the same narrator, i didn't check).
So if you liked one, maybe check out the other! Else, i would pass.

Why did i request this? I say The Broken Binding make a wonderful special edition with gorgeous art, but i don't want to pay 40 euros for a dud, no matter how beautiful lol!

My review on the blog: here