DNF. I just could not stand the writing in this book. I made it to something like 40% before having to put the book away. It was a bit typical for this author; the characters aren't as smart as they think they are, and the scenes aren't as cool as I think the author thinks they are. Plus, there seems to constantly be an element of "WTF?" that makes the characters not at all believable.

Unfortunately, I did not get. the chance to read this ARC prior to its release--I'm hoping to work through my backlist now that we're home for the coming weeks!--but we did end up buying this book for the library collection.

Now, I should start by admitting that I've gotten out of practice with reading longer books (450+ page books) and westerns and sci-fi books have always been hit-and-miss for me. This book is over 700 pages and a mix of fantasy, sci-fi, and western -- pretty much guaranteeing that I would have to slog through this book.
And yet, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. 

Did I have to read this in sections and at times force myself through them? Yeah, totally.
Did the writing get on my nerves at times? I mean, yeah? I thought it was a bit wordy. 

But the story is awesome. I ADORE Sal and the side characters. The fact that she is telling this as a confession while arrested, made me giddy. The scenes in present time were such fun-- although I also used them as my stopping points. 

I did think this was going to be a standalone too, so the ending had me confused, but I'm onboard to read the next one. If you like snarky, sarcastic anti-heroes set on revenge set in a complex world -- this is a book you should read.

Seven Blades is perfect for anyone that has read the Gentleman Bastards and is stuck waiting for that fourth title. Fast, brutal, and just as frenetic as Lies of Locke Lamorra or Leigh Bardugo's Six of Crows. I read it in two sittings and almost wanted to flip it over and start again when I was done!

Seven Blades in Black was an AMAZING story! This title had everything I wanted in a story: a great story, strong, LGBTQ+ heroine in an amazing world. There wasn't a time when I didn't gasp. After I finished the story, I wanted to reread the story. Sal is a kickass character. Going after the people who took everything from her. I can't wait for the next one!

This book was a rollercoaster ride of emotions. It isn't everyday that I find a fantasy that does that. I was guessing, I was angry, I was sad, I was even at times bored. But Sykes knows the right amount of time to allow for exposition and when to add action.

'Seven Blades in Black' by Sam Sykes is the first novel in a new trilogy. It's about a snarky killer and her sentient gun.

Sal the Cacophony is a pretty unpleasant character. She is scarred, a reputed killer, leaves a wake of trouble in her wake, and has a serious grudge. It's a wonder she has any friends, and she kind of doesn't, but her lover Liette does her best to help, and Cavric, the soldier she kidnapped, tries somewhat helplessly. Sal is out to kill the ones that betrayed her, but it just may kill her.

I liked this story of revenge, but I got to a point in the book, and there wasn't a lot of character development. It was a lot of new monsters to fight, and new characters that Sal had ticked off in her life. The final third comes together, but I really feel like this book was about 200 pages too long. The writing is good and I would definitely read more by this author.

I received a review copy of this ebook from Orbit Books and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.

I had never read anything by Sam Sykes, but I liked the description of this book. It featured a woman with a sword, a magical gun, and an attitude, so I thought I might like it. I did acquire this book to review as a courtesy from Net Galley.

Seven Blades in Black is the first book in a new series by Sam Sykes, but you can read the first book on its own and get a solid story. While the main plot isn’t over (by far, I’d guess), the main action of this first book is brought to a close.

Sal the Cacophany is a bounty-hunter with a tragic hidden past. She has tried to put her anger aside so that she can live through each day, but she keeps a list of names of those who wronged her in a pocket, waiting for the day that she can satisfy her vengeance. Meanwhile, she spends her time seeking out renegade Imperial mages known as Vagrants. Having served in the same capacity in her own past, she uses her knowledge to track them down, kill them using a magic gun, and then gathers the Dust from their remains, selling it for profit.

At the beginning of the book, Sal is held captive by the Revolution and is questioned by Governor-Militant Tretta Stern just before her planned execution. The two great powers in the world (the Imperials and the Revolution) have been at war for a long time with little regard for the civilians who struggle in the desolate Scar. Most of the novel is written as Sal relates her recent activities to her captor, forestalling her execution by a few hours and then a few days.

Sal’s tale starts as she tracks down Daiga, a nearby Vagrant. After their fight, she searches his tower and finds a note implying that Jindu, one of the names on her list, is recruiting Vagrants for something sinister. She realizes that she may have a chance to find him this time and the story follows her in her pursuit of her former associates.

Sal inadvertently ends up with two companions: Liette, an artificer and her former/current lover, and Low Sergeant Cavric Proud, a Revolutionary officer who is at first forced to pilot a gigantic armored tank-like device, but later stays because he begins to see his glorious Revolution through a perspective.

While the subject matter in this novel is dark and the protagonist is violent and vengeful, there is a lot of fun in the pages. I mean, Sal rides a giant bird named Congeniality and throws sarcasm around more than is good for her. Her gun, the Cacophany, is a powerful weapon, but also has a sinister aspect to it, communicating to her and becoming upset if she doesn’t kill often enough. But her sword is a plain blade and she has named him Jeff.

This is a long book that requires some attention throughout, but was a satisfying story in a unique setting. When the ending unfolds and the truth of Sal’s past is revealed, I was surprised to find her able to function as much as she does. Her backstory is heartbreaking and with knowledge of Jindu’s goals, she can’t escape confronting it, even beyond her goal of revenge. I’ll definitely pick up the next one in this series.

Really fascinating main POV character and a ton of great world buildings. Just enough information to string you along while also saving some reveals as the book progresses. I'm looking forward to more works by Sykes!

The voice of the main character Sal is what drew me in and kept me hooked through out the whole book. I found her witty and relatable despite her incessant thirst for revenge. Great start to a series and I cannot wait to read more from this author.

This book is about wizard-hunting gunslingers. Sal, the main character, is slapped into chains by the revolution and, awaiting execution, gives her final confession which takes the length of the book. Sal is a sarcastic surly, self-deprecating character and that's what I loved about her. Also she's in an f/f relationship, if that's something that will win you over.

Sal's blood-soaked backstory was handled brilliantly. There's a lot of good timing, great action, amazing dialogue, complex characters, humour, romance!

However, it felt like the author assumed the reader knows how the in-book world works and all about the war that was going on in it despite not having read it before., which pulled me back out of the book whenever that happened.

An interesting new series, with some great new characters.
Fans of Sykes's previous series will like what they read here, and newcomers will no doubt also get a great deal out of the adventure.

I loved this one so very much! It was action packed, and so very immersive! I can't wait for book two!

This book was so much fun! It's like Jay Kristoff and Robert Jackson Bennett got together to write high fantasy western, later adapted by Quentin Tarantino, after they all watched Tank Girl while extremely drunk. The world building is ace, the characters are great. The levels of violence are about what I expected (read: high), and the humor is extra. The magic system is cool too -- not entirely original in itself, but unique in how it's integrated with the geopolitical world building. And Sam Sykes can sure write the hell out of a magical action scene!

Main character Sal is pretty badass but not in the hot-chick "SFC" way; she's more complex than that. (And while I love that Sal's gender is completely irrelevant, the constant use of drinking, farting, and ass-scratching as shorthand for a kind of modified "one of the guys" status can get a little old.) Her relationship with Liette, the genius tinkerer, is a highlight. Her relationships with others tend to be a touch less developed, with more telling and less showing.

The language can be a little repetitive, and I didn't totally get a few key plot details, such as why Tretta was so obsessed with retrieving, or at least gathering intelligence on, Low Sergeant Cavric Proud in the first place, given everything else going on in the Rebellion army. There's also an important twist that was telegraphed pretty early on, followed by another related twist that I didn't realize was supposed to be a twist and which also seemed under-examined somehow. I guess that's what Book 2 is for! I shall look forward to reading it.

Nearly 700 pages of pure awesome. This is one of those books that doesn’t feel long at all despite the page count. It's non-stop action from beginning to end with a story of revenge that kept me fully invested. Now I just have to not so patiently wait for the next book, which will definitely be a pre-order for me.

SEVEN BLADES IN BLACK is Sam Sykes’ newest novel and the start of a new series, THE GRAVE OF EMPIRES. I’ve seen it described as “action fantasy,” which I guess is fantasy but with more punching? While there’s plenty of punching (and shooting and eviscerating) in SEVEN BLADES, what makes it memorable is that at every turn Sykes seems to be asking “how could this be even more awesome?” and then delivering. The result is break-neck chase scenes on ostriches, riverboats full of assassins, unspeakable monsters, souped-up magical fights, and a lot of poor decision making.

You could call it action fantasy.

Or you could call it a lot of fun.

Sal the Cacophony has a list of names. It’s the list, really, that brought her to this room where she’s being interrogated by General-Militant Tretta Stern of the Glorious Revolution. Well, that and the fact that she’s kidnapped one of Stern’s soldiers. And burned down a few cities, but she has an explanation.

Sal is a Vagrant, which means that she was once a member of the proud, magic-using Imperium. Now she’s an outcast fighting for survival in the wild west of the Scar, where freemakers, revolutionaries, imperials, and even some of the religious zealots from Haven all scrabble for the upper hand.

Driven by her almost primal need for revenge, Sal’s mission to kill everyone on her list brings her up against insanely powerful magic users. Which means that as much as she hates to admit it, she needs more help than even her semi-sentient, magical firearm (the Cacophony) can provide. Whether that’s willing help, from her lover Liette, or unwilling help, from the kidnapped Cavric Proud of the Revolution, Sal has to take what she can get. And she does take it, pushing herself and her companions to the breaking point as she fights to cross off each name of the mages who left her with so many scars.

Sal is clever–and the writing is, too. Sometimes it seems almost too clever (if that makes sense), like it’s asking for a pat on the head for being funny. Sal is a real personality and most chapters start with an aside from her. It’s a great way to get to know her and her history, especially at the beginning, but as the novel continues the conceit begins to get in the way of the story. It slows the drive of the narrative, but given the turbo-charged action, some readers might welcome a breather.

The same goes for the frame story with Governor Stern. Frame stories can be a drag when not fully integrated into the story itself, but here the frame story does some important heavy lifting as it pulls the reader away from the relentless momentum of Sal’s story. Stern’s skepticism of Sal is a good counterpoint to Sal’s own first-person narrative and it also gives Sykes another avenue for both character and world-building.

Speaking of worldbuilding (did you see that smooth transition?), I really like the world Sykes sketches out in SEVEN BLADES. The first book of a series is a big ask but Sykes handles it well. While we spend most of our time with the Vagrants and the Revolutions, there are tantalizing glimpses of the fanatics from Haven and of the Imperium that should reassure us that there are plenty of show-downs to come. I loved the mix of technology and with typical fantasy elements and each group’s relationship with magic or technology seems carefully thought out.

For a book that includes this sheer volumes of explosives and expletives, SEVEN BLADES is also remarkably reflective, taking the time to develop Sal in all of her brokenness. The trauma of Sal’s past affects every aspect of her relationships and Sykes doesn’t rush past the pain. Instead he holds the pain up, lets it catch the light, shows the reader how it infiltrates every aspect of who Sal is.

One way Sykes attempts to highlight Sal’s vulnerability is by giving her a lover. Liette is a good addition to the story, but her relationship with Sal felt more frustrating than revealing. Sykes kept hitting the same note with them and while I understand that a story like this isn’t necessarily focused on character growth, by the time we reached the end of the novel it felt really repetitive. In fact, the novel’s greatest weakness may be the occasional feeling that despite all the action, we’re not really going anywhere. This is especially true in the last third of the book, which felt like it could have been streamlined without losing any essential elements.

SEVEN BLADES IN BLACK is fun introduction to a character who will stick with you for a while. Sal the Cacophony is witty, profane, broken, wild, and doesn’t give a…hoot…what you think about her. She is also undoubtedly about to make some more bad decisions. I’d like to be there when she does.

**Let me end with a quick PSA: **don’t read the back of the book** Read this review instead. I mean, you already are, so gold star for you. But really. The back of the book will only reveal things that someone (???) thought would draw readers in, but that discerning readers don’t discover until WELL into the book, which is just rude.**

This didn't really do it for me. There were some solid ideas and an interesting fantasy world, but ultimately the characters and the narrative voice (both in third-person and first-person) just didn't do it for me, feeling much more casual and un-centered in the world than what I typically want. So ultimately I think it's just a mismatch relative to style preferences.

4.5 stars
Super book! A really interesting world featuring a young woman, Sal the Cacophony. She is a Vagrant and a killer on a mission with her own agenda. A multi layered character develops as the story unfolds. The story evolves with some really interesting and intriguing characters. I really enjoyed the story and I had mixed feelings about realizing it is a series. Excited to know there will be more with these great characters but sad I have to wait, who knows how long, for the next book. Highly recommend for those who enjoy fantasy.

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If you’re looking for a fantasy vengeance story with a dash of Clint Eastwood thrown in, this might just be the book you’re looking for. This is a gritty world both literally and figuratively and the characters are a wild and dangerous bunch. I was intrigued by the synopsis, appalled by the cover, and remain curious about Sam Sykes’s other books so overall, I have a good impression.

Sal the Cacophony is a vagrant mage and bounty hunter. She takes on jobs that involve killing other vagrant mages hailing from the empire she used to call home and trust me, these are the most dangerous of jobs. Stripped of her magic and out for revenge, Sal totes her trusty sword named Jeff (not kidding) and the Cacophony, a massive and ancient gun with a mind of its own. Sal has a list of names, those who wronged her most directly, and she has her sights set on ridding the world of them at any cost… thus is the gist of this tale.

Sal is a mouthy, angry woman narrating the path that led her to be sitting in a cell at the very beginning of the story. You end up wondering things like, did she get her vengeance? Is she giving up? Is this where the story ends, with a firing squad? Well, if I answered any of those it would spoil all the joy of reading a 600 page book. WORK YOUR WAY THROUGH THAT TOME AND GET THOSE ANSWERS! I liked Sal well enough, though her flaws were frustrating at times. Liette was a masterpiece and in my opinion her talents were a far sight more interesting than those of the traditional mages. Don’t get me wrong, the mages were pretty darn cool as well – the whole trade of power was an excellent touch, but this bookish yet tough woman makes excellent explosives and uses freaky healing potions made out of dead mage dust. WAYYYY COOLER. Did I mention the birds? Sal basically rides a dirty, furious, meat eating chocobo.

There is so much epic darkness from this book and I could see this working as a dark fantasy (with a dash of western) movie. Saloon doors slamming open, Sal stalking in with her luck scarf and the Cacophony whispering for blood at her hip…. Yeah I can see that working. Do yourself a favor and check this out.

Deeply broken and flawed characters in a world where magic ALWAYS has a price and nothing is more important than revenge. Despite all that there is plenty of humor and more than enough to keep me engaged all the way through.