Dazzling. I heartily recommend this one.”―Robin Hobb, New York Timesbestselling author of the Farseer Trilogy His characters aren't so brave that they're never afraid. And they aren't so involved in themselves that they cannot see how insane things are. For example:

Filled with magic, humour, and a slow boiling political plot, this entertaining tale explores the themes of war and the greed of men, while outlining Buehlman’s strength as a storyteller. Most importantly, this was a delight to read, armed with killer punchlines that will make you laugh aloud and bittersweet moments that will draw a jagged breath. Dark, gritty, lightning-fast, intelligent, irreverent… I loved it.”―Anna Smith Spark, author of The Court of Broken Knives The world is 'basic fantasy', but it has some unique takes and twists I enjoyed- mainly related to the consequences of the prior wars, and the way it has affected the world in its aftermath. After a botched robbery causes most of the band of thieves he was working with to flee or worse, our man finds himself receiving instructions from the guild.

See a Problem?

Pero todo cambiará cuando su grupo elige la presa equivocada. Cuando el trabajo sale mal, Kinch se convierte en el compañero de alguien muy letal, pero afortunadamente para él, muy misericordioso, al que acaba de intentar robar en unas escenas que ya te saca unas cuantas carcajadas.

It’s these moments where he reveals this kinder side that make him relatable and more than a crass criminal who desperately wants to get out of his debt to the Taker’s Guild. Kinch, though he’d likely hem and haw about it if you asked him, cares about other people (and cats). That’s not to say that Kinch isn’t above killing someone who has done him wrong, but it’s his moments of mercy that may make readers care about him as well, making the novel more than just a fun, swear-laden read (not that there’s anything wrong with fun, swear-laden reads). If Bully Boy raises an alarm bell – maybe the publisher insisted on a trope Disneyesque animal to melt the reader’s heart amidst the bloodshed and mayhem, and copious profanity in multiple made-up languages – fear not. Bully Boy is as tough as nails and an integral part of the story. The reader’s love for all of these characters is hard-won and well-deserved in the end. There is no manipulative sentiment inserted by Buehlman to sweeten his tale. Indeed, as a writer he is not afraid to make some tough and unexpected choices, which I greatly respect as a reader. We also go further afield in Tyranny, exploring both the Imperial capital, Sova, and the southern frontiers where battered castles cast their shadows on flowered plains while this world’s Templars attempt to colonize the locals.The fantasy world depicted leans towards the magic-heavy end of the spectrum. The peasants aren't magically lighting their fires or levitating to high shelves, but many of the better placed individuals have access to magic through items and tattoos even if they themselves may not be magically skilled. In short, we see a lot of enchantments and spells. A delight from start to finish. Buehlman takes the well-worn tropes of fantasy and weaves them into a new and vibrant tapestry.”—Anthony Ryan, New York Times bestselling author of Blood Song Kinch is amazing, but he's honestly such a good character that the others pale in comparison. His companions are mostly interesting, but it never really feels like we get a good grasp of who they are and they all feel more aloof than they are even presented, as we don't really get to know them all. As mentioned, Kinch’s personality—somewhat reminiscent to me of Marvel Comics’s Pip the Troll—is the engine behind the narrative and our enjoyment thereof. He freely admits to all his bad qualities, while often doing things only a better person would do. He’s horny, scabrous, irreverent—yet oftentimes philosophical, wistful and intellectually inquisitive. Paired with the sober and determined Galva, he assumes a parodic stature based on the classic mistress and liege relationship, as in C.J. Cherryh’s debut, Gate of Ivrel. Yet consider his melancholy and romantic paean to Norrigal that opens Chapter 40, to get a more well rounded sense of his nature. It's hard to explain how much fun this book was and how uniquely original and wildly inventive it was especially in a world post Game of Thrones. Every word, every detail gave us a completely mesmerizing world. The pace is fast, the humor gritty and dark and it's as funny as it is heartbreaking. Not to mention filled with a healthy dose of sarcasm that my Sarcastic ass loved.