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Mark Lawrence's Reviews > The Tainted City
The Tainted City (Shattered Sigil, #2)
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(Can anyone look at the cover and not read the title as Tilted City?)
This was a 'review' by proxy since my wife nabbed the book on arrival. When she finished she declared it was even better written than The Whitefire Crossing (which she loved) and where was book 3 ...?
Now it's also my review as I finally finished the book during a stay in hospital with my little daughter. And yes, my wife was right (this once) - it's a better book than The Whitefire Crossing, and that was a great book itself.
In The Tainted City things get more complicated and a large cast is involved. The plot in Whitefire was fairly complex and the cast wasn't small - so believe me when I say it's involved. Closer to a murder mystery than a traditional hack & slash fantasy. Though it's not a murder mystery and there is plenty of blood and gore (though no swords or armour).
The world Schafer has built here is a fascinating one revolving around magic of many kinds, mostly lying in the hands of a wizarding elite but devolved into the hands of 'common' men through charms and wards. We see the story unfold through the eyes of a non-magical but extremely resourceful man and through the less cynical eyes of a young man born into magical power but also bound by it.
The first book really focused on the relationship between the two point-of-view characters, Dev and Kiran. The second has much more on its plate and these two spend relatively small amounts of time in each other's company so the emphasis is more on problem solving and it's a less emotional book - but that's not to say you won't get involved, I know I did. Lots of the problems have a large relationship element to them so the book is definitely character driven despite the labyrinthine plot.
Setting aside the plot I'll focus on what (I think) these books are about. It seems to me that Whitefire and to a greater extent, Tainted City, are about freedom. They're concerned with freedom in a host of different flavours and shades, and with the currencies different people use to purchase them, and how high a price they're prepared to pay.
An engrossing and imaginative read that builds on the strong foundations of book 1 and keeps your interest for the third book. You guys should read these!
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Join my 3-emails-a-year newsletter #prizes
..
This was a 'review' by proxy since my wife nabbed the book on arrival. When she finished she declared it was even better written than The Whitefire Crossing (which she loved) and where was book 3 ...?
Now it's also my review as I finally finished the book during a stay in hospital with my little daughter. And yes, my wife was right (this once) - it's a better book than The Whitefire Crossing, and that was a great book itself.
In The Tainted City things get more complicated and a large cast is involved. The plot in Whitefire was fairly complex and the cast wasn't small - so believe me when I say it's involved. Closer to a murder mystery than a traditional hack & slash fantasy. Though it's not a murder mystery and there is plenty of blood and gore (though no swords or armour).
The world Schafer has built here is a fascinating one revolving around magic of many kinds, mostly lying in the hands of a wizarding elite but devolved into the hands of 'common' men through charms and wards. We see the story unfold through the eyes of a non-magical but extremely resourceful man and through the less cynical eyes of a young man born into magical power but also bound by it.
The first book really focused on the relationship between the two point-of-view characters, Dev and Kiran. The second has much more on its plate and these two spend relatively small amounts of time in each other's company so the emphasis is more on problem solving and it's a less emotional book - but that's not to say you won't get involved, I know I did. Lots of the problems have a large relationship element to them so the book is definitely character driven despite the labyrinthine plot.
Setting aside the plot I'll focus on what (I think) these books are about. It seems to me that Whitefire and to a greater extent, Tainted City, are about freedom. They're concerned with freedom in a host of different flavours and shades, and with the currencies different people use to purchase them, and how high a price they're prepared to pay.
An engrossing and imaginative read that builds on the strong foundations of book 1 and keeps your interest for the third book. You guys should read these!
Join my Patreon
Join my 3-emails-a-year newsletter #prizes
..
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Reading Progress
September 13, 2012
– Shelved
April 5, 2013
–
Started Reading
Finished Reading
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Gabrielle
(new)
Apr 05, 2013 07:23PM
I think books published by Night Shade Books are superb ... unf! so many books so little time
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You got ME hooked on these too! Shame on you! Thank you. :)
nearing the end - really top stuff
Karl wrote: "About to read."And 4 years later ... you haven't? :)
Thanks for all your reviews. I have added plenty of to-be-read material after seeing what you recommend. I appreciate you taking the time and giving your opinion, since I tend to like what you recommend.
"Can anyone look at the cover and not read the title as Tilted City"in typography this is called kerning!
