James Logan
Adult Fantasy
Lukan Gardova is a cardsharp, academy dropout, and―thanks to a duel that ended badly―the disgraced heir to an ancient noble house. His days consist of cheap wine, rigged card games, and wondering how he might win back the life he threw away.
When Lukan discovers that his estranged father has been murdered in strange circumstances, he finds fresh purpose. Deprived of his chance to make amends for his mistakes, he vows to unravel the mystery behind his father’s death.
His search for answers leads him to Saphrona, fabled city of merchant princes, where anything can be bought if one has the coin. Lukan only seeks the truth, but instead he finds danger and secrets in every shadow.
For in Saphrona, everything has a price―and the price of truth is the deadliest of all.
-Excerpt taken from Goodreads.
Check Goodreads to see the book’s ratings.
My Opinion
(5 / 5) Lukan Gardova is living a carefree life gambling and drinking to his heart’s content. When news of his estranged father’s death arrives, he finds a need for direction in finding his father’s killer. His father left an ominous note as he was dying and Lukan is determined to unravel it’s meaning.
Lukan has a straight path for this journey, but instead the course veers off, like all good paths do, until he is led back to having to rely on himself but also to put trust in others he does not know well. He entrusts few but my favorite had to be Flea. Lukan initially exploits this young girl for her pickpocketing abilities and skill at being invisible. But it turns into much more than that. The bond they create is something neither was looking for but both desperately needed. He didn’t become her father figure, she became his sidekick and it was perfect. I adored their banter and Flea’s quick wit, especially for an 11 year old. She had spunk and a mouth to back it up.
This was exactly the type of fantasy I was needing and I can’t wait to get my hands on book 2!
AUDIO REVIEW: I adored his voice! Brenock O’Connor sounded like he was the storyteller in a tavern amidst many listeners. It felt that if I didn’t pay attention, I would miss out on this wonderful adventure he was crafting. I could listen to him all day. He truly grabbed my attention immediately with his soft accent and easy flow. I have added another to my favorite narrator’s list!
General content summary:
Alcohol (multiple)
Physical violence (multiple, knife threat, weapons, blood, magic, choking)
Killings (swords, blood, in a duel, throats slit, stabbing, arrow in eye, minor descriptions of corpses, sorcery)
Parental death (murder, grief, stabbing, blood, few details)
Pipe weed and smoking (multiple)
Child has finger removed for stealing (previous)
Large creature eats person (few details)
A man’s body burned with magic (pain)
A man’s body burned causing blisters and skin to fall off (pain)
Frostbite (parts falling off)
Masturbation (few details)
Intimacy (courtesan and foreplay, few details)
Child sees parent stabbed to death (previous, few details)
Fire (deaths assumed)
Captivity (prison or tied up)
Thank you to Tor Books and Macmillan Audio for the copies!
The book releases May 7, 2024.
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