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.

Unputdownable. Constant action without getting bogged down in endless fight scenes. Sal is an utterly compelling character, not exactly likable, but funny and easy to feel sympathy for and basically an unstoppable force. Tightly plotted and told largely through a framing story, I can't wait for more.

I’ve read quite a few books in my day. We can attest to this – even if you’ve never met me, and had only heard of me in passing, you’d know that my thing is BOOKS. But in all my years of reading, I still get surprised. And let me tell you guys, I absolutely adore books that surprise me.

So let’s talk about SEVEN BLADES IN BLACK by Same Sykes, the newest book that’s got me in its clutches.


Our protagonist is Sal the Cacophony (which took me four tries to pronounce right in my first take before Audacity had the audacity to crap out) is a Vagrant, meaning she used to be part of the magic-based ruling class of the Imperium before turning her back on it and going rogue. So not only are they a force to be careful of, she’s also on her toes around the Rebellion, made up of all that non-magic users that want to tear the Imperium down.

Lotta enemies, this girl. And those are just the two general forces – she’s got a list of people who’ve done her wrong, and she won’t stop until every single one’s been crossed off.

There’s way more plot to this story than that, but I truly do not want to spoil this for you. If I could pick one book this month that you were absolutely required to go out and purchase, this would be it.

I mean it! We’ve got crazy unique worldbuilding that’s not so off-the-wall that you can’t catch the slang, we’ve got the discussion of allusions to operas, we get Sam looking at the “bury your gays” trope and kicking it in the dirt while making sure that neither Sal nor her love interest Liette actually die, what more could you want?

That’s the thing, I think, that drew me in. Sal’s a dynamic character, full of turmoil from a singular moment of intense trauma and the self-awareness to know that she’s not behaving in the best manner. Liette – whom Sal is just over the damn moon for, even if she doesn’t want to use those words or admit such an intense attachment – sees this, knows this, and constantly comes back to Sal and tries to help her. Like, don’t get me wrong, it’s not the healthiest relationship in the world, but for the love of god I’ve seen this with so many m/f couples that I could choke on them. Bless Sam Sykes for kicking this trope’s ass and making it his own.

I know the book just came out, but I almost want to reread it. There’s some pretty killer twists that you’re not expecting, but the brickwork was indeed laid. I want to hunt the clues again and just be full of love and excitement over it.

So, in conclusion, you need this book like burning and I am thankful to whatever book deity (cough Netgalley cough) dropped this beautiful book into my world.

Check out the link for the podcast episode GUN AT A SWORD FIGHT for the full review!

"Whatever else they say, they'll say Sal the Cacophony did the right thing. Now and again, at least."

Those of you who have been following my reviews for awhile will realize what an absolute anomaly it is for me to read a high fantasy book that comes in at around 700 pages at all, much less to give it five stars. Usually I find myself nodding off when a book hits 400 pages, but even though it definitely took me awhile to read this I never once found myself getting the least bit bored.

If you're like me and you love the idea of high fantasy books, but often find them to be either very dry or just completely lacking in interesting female characters then this book is definitely a breath of fresh air. Sal is the kind of loud-mouthed morally ambiguous protagonist that you almost never get to see in a female character, and she's bisexual to boot! If there's anything I love more than tough but lovable queer lady magic users then I can't think of it at this moment. Maybe if she was also a pirate? Oh well, we can't have literally everything. ;)

The story and the world-building is also very interesting. I like the many different types of magic that we saw in this first installment and also the different creatures that Sal fought as well. The one thing I wish we had learned a bit more about was the Cacophony itself, but from the last chapter here I'm guessing that is something that will be explored in the second book. Definitely a very unique world overall. Can't wait to read the second book!

For my first Sam Sykes, I am genuinely pleased, and not at all surprised, at the dry humor and snark all over this book. The magic system and world is inventive, and I adored the naming conventions (excuse me while I stand up and applaud.) I also liked framing the 1st person POV with the third person narrative, and felt it really fleshed out the story.

Now, I am a sucker for a main character who names their weapons. Sal the Cacophony screws up. A lot. And she swears. A lot. And then screws up again. I am here for this. She’s a Vagrant, a thief and mercenary-type. Also, here for this. And she's queer, which ticks absolutely all of my boxes. Her relationship with Liette might have been my favorite thing. Raw and real. Sal should be one of my favorite new female characters.

However, the book took me longer that I’d like to get into, and I attribute that to my inability, in the end, to connect with Sal. I crave a strong and flawed female character; love them dark, angry, stabby, and morally reprehensible. But unfortunately Sal came across, to this reader, like what a male author thinks a strong female character should be, or perhaps what a female character bucking traditional gender norms should be. And I am HERE for punching gender norms in the face. I just wish that had been explored a little more with Sal.

I really love the writing style and two different POVs, and how wonderfully violent this book is, so I’ll definitely be checking out more of Sykes' work.

Note: A free ARC was provided to me by the publisher in return for my fair and honest review. 

Sal the Cacophany has a list.  On that list are the names of the thirty people who betrayed her and left her for dead.  Sal the Cacophany has sworn to kill every person on that list.  And Sal the Cacophany is not a liar. 

Normally my book summaries are longer than the above, but honestly, so much of the fun of this read was the discovery of all the little parts of the world-building, characters, and plot, that I hate to giveaway more than that.  Suffice it to say that Sal is a high-end bounty hunter traveling a battle-torn region known as the Scar.  When Sal gets wind that seven of the names on her list are gathering in a nearby town, she immediately sets out to claim her targets.  Nothing - not the Imperium, not the Revolution, not any other mercenary in the area - is going to come between her and her revenge. 

I have a soft spot in my heart for wise-cracking heroes, not simply because of the fun they bring to an adventure, but because, when used properly, they can be an excellent barometer of the gravity of a situation.  When the wise-cracking hero runs out of words, it's a sign that this is the Moment. Pay attention. And Sam Sykes makes great use of that barometer. Sal is both bad-ass and smart-ass in equal measure. She wields a magical gun that is her namesake, the Cacophany, and a sword she has dubbed Jeff.  Whether she is fighting a mage who controls the weather or a run-of-the-mill soldier, she always has a retort - even if the retort is mostly just cursing the series of events that put her in that situation.  So when Sal has no words at a particular moment towards the end of the book, I sat up. All the levity was dashed aside by the emotional wallop of the raw emotions brought on by a confrontation. And it was beautiful. 

That isn't to say that Sal is a hero.  In fact, Sal really isn't a great person.  She is hell-bent on revenge, consequences to the rest of the world be damned.  Sal is chaotic neutral.  She'll put a little extra effort in to save endangered children, and she'll feel really bad about the mess she makes, but that doesn't stop her from making some incredibly selfish decisions.  But Sal is human enough, relatable enough, and (let's be real) funny enough that you're willing to stand by her, even as you go, "Wait, don't - okay you did."

SEVEN BLADES is one of the most excellently paced books I've read in a while, all the more important because of its 700 page length.  Sal hops from one adventure to the next as she tracks the seven names on her list, and I never felt like the story was dragging or wished that it had dropped one of the set pieces.  That, in part, is due to the world-building and the variety of foes Sal faces during her travels.  The magic in this world is suitably balanced.  Most mages have one particular gift, but using that gift comes at a cost. Shapeshifters, for instance, slowly lose their own defined facial features in their "normal" body.  The more a mage uses their ability, the faster those costs are collected.  Its a checks and balances system that means even when things get truly outlandish, they still feel grounded.

At the risk of appearing nitpicking, I did have one negative early on in the book, and that was at certain points, it felt like some of the emotional beats, particularly those expressed by Sal's internal monologue (the book is first-person) felt repetitive. As mentioned above, Sal is plagued by guilt about her actions and their effect on the world at large, particularly to those closest to her. It's something she contemplates quite a bit during the first quarter of the story as she reunites with an old friend, and while it is certainly part of her character, it was a bit overplayed.  

SEVEN BLADES IN BLACK is a read that doesn't feel like it's a 700 page tome.  It's a series of adventures that moves briskly from one event to the next, with a few great reveals along the way.  There's a part of me that would love to discuss more specifics, because there are some truly ridiculous (in the best way) moments in this book, but I leave them to you to discover.  Come to this book for its fun action-adventure, be prepared for feels to sneak up on you when you aren't looking.

TL;DR

Sam Sykes packed "Seven Blades in Black" with action, magic, and heart. Sal the Cacophony’s personal vendetta just may save the world. Highly Recommended.

Review

I have a confession to make. I’m not a huge fan of first person point of view (POV) novels. Why? I don’t really know, but third person perspective gets more of my attention. It could be programming from TV or the movies, but third person POV seems more cinematic and more honest. Inherently, first person POV is unreliable. By being in a human’s head, the reader views the story with the biases and filters of the narrator. Third person POV feels more like a history of the fictional events while first person feels more like an interpretation of said events. That said, one of my favorite series is Jim Butcher’s Dresden Files. First person POV works best with an interesting character that maintains a unique and descriptive recording of events. Just as Harry’s running commentary is as essential to the story as his abilities, Sam Sykes’ newest character, Sal the Cacophony, entertains when talking about anything. She’s funny, highly competent, hyper-violent, and deeply hurt. Hell-bent on revenge, she races across the Scar pursuing bad ass wizards. Throughout "Seven Blades in Black", Sal repeats over and over that she’s a liar. So, how much of her story is true?

Story

Sal the Cacophony, once an Imperial mage, now hunts rogue magic-users through the territory known as the Scar. Her raison d’etre is to visit revenge on those who took away her magic. "Seven Blades in Black" follows Sal’s pursuit of the names on her list. It’s also the opening book in a new trilogy set in a wonderful world. Her magic gun, The Cacophony, sets her on equal grounds as the mages she hunts. During her quest, she enlists the aid of a soldier with a conscience and an inventor/scholar who loves Sal. Her journey for revenge takes across the interesting landscape of the Scar from humble villages to war devastated ruins.

This new series combines fantasty with the western genre. Sal sports a gun, rides around on her trusty stead – a huge badass bird – and hunts magical bounty. It contains gun fights, battles with monsters, and a tragic love story. In short, "Seven Blades in Black" has it all.

World Building

The world of "Seven Blades in Black" contains multitudes. The setting of the story, the Scar, is equivalent to the Wild West, but the dominant political faction is the Revolution, a seeming communist/fascist regime built by ordinary people who are incapable of using magic without the aid of a relic. However, the Revolution excels at creating machines of war. Their enemy is the Imperium ruled over by an Empress, whose heir cannot use magic. Since the Empire’s entire caste system rests on the ability to use magic or not, some of the Imperium’s deadliest soldiers rebel and flee to the Scar. They turn Vagrant. This political dynamic is intriguing, though not explored much in this novel. One would think that the Revolution and the Vagrants could team up to overthrow the Empire, but Vagrants despise the non-mages of the Revolution, who see that the mages simply want to maintain the current caste system. Other factions make small but important appearances during Sal’s quest, and it’s clear there’s fertile ground for stories in this new universe.

The mages in the novel tend to specialize and are more like superheroes than just strict magic-users. In this world, magic has interesting costs that vary depending on discipline. The costs often resemble karmic payments. For instance, illusionists lose parts of their face. One characters has lost his ear lobes. Other magical users that create portals slowly become paralyzed. To balance out the magic, guns, tanks, and machines of war exist for the Revolution to combat the mages. Sal’s gun, the Cacophony, is a handgun often described with a malevolence that undercuts Sal’s heroics.

Unreliable Narrators

First person POV makes the narrative untrusthworthy, and the structure of this novel adds to that distrust. Sal starts the novel off in the custody of the Revolution, confessing her story before being executed. The interludes in the story’s present time are third person POV looking just over the garrison commander’s shoulder, but the real meat of the story takes place in Sal’s retelling of her journey across the Scar. By her very nature, Sal is considered an enemy of the Revolution. Facing her own execution, she’s telling her story, and naturally any person would emphasize the good and down play the bad. In addition, someone with authority issues is unlikely to be completely honest while in custody, and, finally, Sal repeats over and over that she is a liar. So, how much of her tale is true?

A few chapters in I began to see a resemblance to "The Usual Suspects" in the structure of the story. Alternating between the interrogation and the tale worked for me. Sal’s story isn’t a happy one, and during her retelling, she doesn’t pull punches. Sal refuses to paint herself in a favorable light, and this makes me want to believe her. However, she repeats over and over again how she is a liar and manipulator; so, I constantly wondered how she was manipulating me. There exist many ways to lie rather than telling outright falsehoods. Lies by omission, lies by half-truths, letting the audience draw the wrong conclusion are potential tools for the skilled liar, and throughout I wondered which Sal applied while wanting to believe her. I couldn’t trust her. Even having finished the novel, I continue to wonder which parts of her story were true. And most curious of all, did she embellish the emotional damage that she dished out along the way?

Criticisms

Like other books by Mr. Sykes, "Seven Blades in Black" has an impressive page count. It’s a long novel. So, it may seem like a strange complaint, but parts of the world weren’t explored enough. We see a little of the larger world, and some significant things, like the disciples of the Seeing God, show up make a big impression and then are never to be heard from again. The Husks are an amazing setting, ripe for exploration that hopefully will come in future novels. This is another pitfall of first person POV novels. The reader sees what the narrator finds interesting, cares about, or even just knows. When an author sets up something really cool and then never revisits that cool thing, it feels like a missed opportunity. I kept waiting for a certain faction to reappear as either a wild card or unexpected ally to Sal’s foes. Sadly, neither happened. On the positive side, the larger world hooked me, and I’m on board for further exploration of this world.

Conclusion

Sam Sykes "Seven Blades in Black" sizzles. Sorry, but I had to run with the alliteration. This book worked for me on all levels, the language, the setting, the plot, and, most importantly, the characters. 600+ pages flew by as I wondered how Sal would escape the executioner and whether she’d ever realize all the good that she pushed out of her life. "Seven Blades in Black" is just plain fun. It’s intense. It’s emotional, and it’s worth your time.

8.5 out of 10!

DNF @ 55%

Very mixed feelings on this book. It's a massive book, clocking in at over 600/700 pages. While I was engrossed in the plot at the beginning, as the story progressed, I found myself bouncing off it more and more, until I finally decided to give up. My main issues boil down to the following:

1) the characters are decent, but not spectacular enough to warrant my prolonged attention. I did not particularly care for their archetypes, nor did I feel attached enough to journey with them for so many pages.

2) the plot unravels very slowly despite being very action-packed. I am absolutely fond of slower-paced stories that deal more with introspective character work, so it's not the slowness that bothered me. It was that it was slow for what felt like very little purpose. Not much happened in the 300-ish pages I read: Sal would go to one area, discover devastation/horror, fight a mini-boss, and move on to the next area to repeat the same formula. There's a very video game-y aura to the plot, which did not work for me—despite the fact I actually like video games! It felt like I was watching action scene after action, with not enough character moments to glue the pieces together in a satisfactory way. Oddly enough, the book's summary gives away much more about the main character Sal than the first 300 pages did.

3) too much worldbuilding. Again, a very odd complaint coming from me, an ardent fan of Tolkien and all sorts of intense worldbuilding. But this book felt like a showcase of action scenes + worldbuilding info dumps, and it just didn't click for me. There are some cool ideas in this book, and some very familiar ones for fans of Final Fantasy, but overall, it was just too much and too disjointed for me.

4) the writing style. It's not bad, honestly, I've seen much worse. It is competent, and certainly fresh and entertaining at the beginning. But as I read on, Sal's jaunty, casual manner of storytelling fell apart for me, to the point it read more as grating and juvenile. The issue of repetitiveness rears its head here, as I felt so many pages were telling me the exact same thing over and over again about Sal's mysterious traumatic past (without actually telling me what it is for 300 pages), about how complicated the politics between the Imperium and the Revolutionaries is (without getting me to actually care about the situation), etc. I think tighter editing and paring down the pages would have helped enormously in maintaining my interest.

To be clear, this isn't a bad book. I definitely enjoyed parts of it, and the humour did hit all the right spots. It's just not a book I'm in the right state of mind for, I suppose. If you're looking for a fun book filled with action, this will likely scratch that itch.

While I was impressed with the epicness of this novel, I had a lot of trouble getting into it. It centers on a brilliant protagonist, with well-done world building and solid writing talent, I just had trouble getting settled into the flow of the story.

This novel only takes the idiom, “Hell has no fury like a woman scorned,” to the zenith, but it also puts revenge tales on the same level as Quentin Tarantino’s, Kill Bill movies. Sal the Cacophony is one angry woman and she’s on a journey to make sure those who have made her this way pay with their lives. She has a list with 33 names on it. The first book in The Grave of Empires trilogy (or series?) focuses on seven of those names.
Sal the Cacophony is a Vagrant—a mage who no longer fights for the Imperium—who is imprisoned and awaiting execution by the Revolution—a group of non-mages who oppose the dominance of the mages. She is questioned by Governor-Militant Tretta—a figure who is only concerned with earning a promotion so that she’ll become more noticeable to her superiors—who demands an explanation surrounding the disappearance of Revolutionary Low Sergeant Cavric Proud and the attack on one of the towns within the region known as “The Scar.” Sal accepts both the (multiple) charges and her fate and tells the Governor-Militant the recent events, which led to the disappearance of the Low Sergeant. Tretta—and readers—learn of all the events right up to Sal’s arrest. Sal tells of her last bounty job, which turned into the hunt for the names on her list, which uncovered a conspiracy, which became a rescue mission, which turned into a massacre, which led to her arrest. Along the way, we learn what happened to the devout Revolutionary Sergeant Cavric, and Sal’s girlfriend, Liette, who is a mage. Sal is a woman with many aliases, abandonment issues, and a lot of anger. And, it is ALL justified!
The appeal surrounding Seven Blades in Black will introduce SFF readers who haven’t read Sam Sykes’ books before to him. The description surrounding this novel as a “blend of Kill Bill and Final Fantasy” is very accurate. Fans of George R.R. Martin and Brian McClellan will enjoy this new series, too! Readers of epic fantasy will enjoy this story and appreciate the effort the author makes in clarifying both The Scar and Sal’s character. This has been one of the most humorous books I’ve read in a long time, and I’m already anticipating Book 2! Seven Blades in Black is a welcomed addition to the speculative fiction genre.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Sam Sykes has easily become a favorite writer of mine and I've only read one of his books! Granted, it took me awhile but still. He's described his previous series, 'A City Stained Red' I believe, as a love letter to Dungeons and Dragons, which sounds so good, I love D & D so much! I have to pick it up soon. This story on the other hand? Described as a love letter to Final Fantasy and I exploded with excitement as soon as I heard that. Final Fantasy is one of my most beloved game franchises and the fact that Sam is so in-tune with games makes it more so.

This book is a banger, full of action, revenge, wizards, and comedy! I've fallen head-over-heels for Sal the Cacophony, she can stab me and I'd thank her, don't judge me. And his stories are what we need in fantasy, complex character-driven books that rather focus on the ideals and hardships of said characters than repeat the same old extensive worldbuilding = plot. I personally love it compared to being thrown into rich worlds with miniscule character development.

I highly recommend this book and Sam's other books, game geek to another. Hopefully he releases a hostage after I buy this and his other books once it's out. (Also, please follow Sam on twitter, I describe it as 'Fantasy Writer Screams About Books and Politics, Eats Tacos Constantly, and Is Probably an Eldritch Abomination Trying to Get His Books Sold in Order to Overtake the Universe'. Either way, he's having a great time.)

Seven Blades in Black is an epic read written in decadent shades of freshly-cut reds. Sykes paints an inspired world, original to any fantastical setting, and blesses the reader with none the other than a woman sharp and quick enough to wield it. Readers hungering for a heroine unafraid to slit throats and start a few revolutions along the way will devour this read in one fulfilled sitting.

Seven Blades in Black is the first in a new epic fantasy trilogy by author Sam Sykes. I enjoy Sykes on twitter (you may be familiar with his comedic interactions with Chuck Wendig) but my experience with his actual work has been a bit more mixed - I enjoyed the first in his "Bring Down Heaven" fantasy trilogy (A City Stained Red, review here), but found the second in the trilogy (The Mortal Tally, review here) to be a massive disappointment, with some unlikable characters and a way too slow storyline. So I had some mixed feelings going into Sykes' release of the first in a new trilogy, but put in the request for a prerelease ARC anyway to see if I'd feel differently.

The result is....mixed, but mostly positive I'd say. Seven Blades in Black very much feels like a mash-up of "Kill Bill" and "The Usual Suspects" - except you know, if those movies had magic, giant mecha, gunslingers, demons....you know, the usual fantasy smorgasboard. Sykes crafts a really interesting (though crapsack) world for this revenge tale that kept me engaged from beginning to end, even when several of the book's big "reveals" were rather obvious and easy to see coming. Best of all, while this is apparently the first in a trilogy, it works quite well as a stand-alone, so there's less of a commitment needed to go into this book - well, less of a commitment other than committing to reading a 700 page book. Still, there are some pretty serious flaws as well that keep Seven Blades in Black from being a real winner, particularly the way its female protagonist is written.
------------------------------------------------Plot Summary---------------------------------------------------
Sal the Cacophony is scheduled for execution by her captors: the revolutionary army who fights on behalf of non-magical people against the Imperium, the government of mages which Sal used to serve. Sal is a Vagrant - one of the mages of the Imperium who went rogue when the Imperium fell into the hands of a boy without any magic. But the General who captured Sal wants answers to what happened to a Revolutionary Soldier who crossed Sal's path, and so Sal agrees to tell her the story:

The story of how Sal the Cacophony, armed only with a powerful magical gun known as The Cacophony, went out to track down seven of the most powerful Vagrants alive, in order to wreak her revenge. But the seven names on Sal's hit-list are the names of the Imperium's greatest traitors, who each posses incredible power, and seek to use such power once again to transform the world without any thought to the thousands of lives that will perish if they get their way.

Not that Sal cares much for the innocents who get in the way either, mind you. All she cares about is the names on her list dying by her hand, and no one else's. And the result will be bloody and destructive, leaving no one happy by the end....if they even survive.
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Seven Blades in Black is told mostly from the perspective of Sal in first person - using a Usual-Suspects-esque framing device of Sal telling the story to an interrogator right before her execution. The parts that aren't from Sal's perspective are in third person from the point of view of her interrogator, but they're quite clearly more there for the framing device of this novel. Still, the real story told by Sal is compelling enough on its own that it's hard to complain on that front.

Mainly (with the major exception noted below) that's because Sal is a really fun and generally interesting character at the heart of the story. Jaded and bitter, but still with some appreciation for naive idealism (sort-of), Sal's most noted trait is something she notes herself more than once - given a roadblock in front of her, Sal's response is pretty much always to take the option that is seemingly the most stupid insane and impulsive way to go around or through it. Intensely capable and yet not really caring for either of the sides in conflict in this world, but still caring a little bit for a few characters she loves, Sal is a walking contradiction and Sykes makes her work rather well. Which is good, because she's the only really really well developed character in this novel.

Still, the book works really well despite the lack of major developed other characters because it sets up a hell of a world - with two feuding major powers that Sal frequently finds herself caught between and more than a few minor powers causing problems for her as well - and Sykes does an excellent job making them each work well. The combination of technology and magic make for a really strong backdrop for this plot, which only made me want to read more about this really shitty (for the people who live in it) world.

Sykes does an excellent job with the plot and action as well - the book is 700 pages but it moves rather quickly and I got through it in two days, which is pretty quick for me believe it or not. The action scenes - and there are many as you might imagine for a revenge tale - are excellently done and very creative, and while the plot is predictable at times, it is rather satisfying, particularly in the ending. This is the first of a trilogy supposedly, but the book functions perfectly find as a stand-alone, so the result is very satisfying even if you're not looking to start a brand new series.

The biggest flaw in Seven Blades in Black for me is a weird one to describe, but it's so blatant it's impossible to ignore: its protagonist is a (queer) woman, but the way she is written is as if she's a man. As noted above, most of the book is written from Sal's first person point of view and yet it's fairly common for her to use gendered language, and it's always male language - from talking about how you can know "what a man is made of" to calling someone a "bitch" to mocking a male character by saying she's going to give that character a "girl's voice" in her retelling of the story. I kept forgetting she wasn't a man, and once I noticed it, it was kind of distracting - it's too obviously a male author trying to write a female character....and failing (oddly, I don't recall this issue in Sykes' other books).

That's really the only major flaw in the book. There are some minor flaws: for example, the book at times is incredibly predictable, and you will guess some major reveals well ahead of time (I did on twitter, so I can call those). Also, the relationship between one of the two main antagonists and Sal isn't shown enough in the flashbacks to my taste. Still these are minor compared to the above, and the book executes even its most cliched or predictable twists rather well, to make a pretty strong ride all the way through.

Sal the Cacophony. Probably the best character name I’ve heard in a long time. She is a loud, hot, mess of an individual and cacophony suits her to a tee (though the name doesn’t just refer to her as a person, ooh mini spoiler.) Sal is a woman on a mission of vengeance. She strides across the desert with an angry gun on her hip, looking for the wizards who tried to kill her, hoping to return the favor. Sal is a woman who will surely level a town shortly after walking in. When you see her on the street, you don’t run away, you lie down and pray that your impending death will not hurt as much as you think … (sigh) … as you KNOW it will.

The destruction is not ALL her fault. Sal lives in a world at constant war with itself. There is always someone trying to blow someone else up … hopefully not you, but someone. Her story is gripping, tragic, clever, funny and fantastic. She rides around on a giant chicken/ostrich type bird named Congeniality and I love that nasty, grumpy, smelly thing.

She is the epitome of the strong, female badass, but is hard to love. Sal is a woman with a heart, but has lost her way so profoundly that caring about her is practically a terminal disease. You might not die from it, but you will be hurt. Sal is tough and tender-hearted at the same time. She is bi-sexual and her fashion choices are gender non-conforming in a world where that doesn’t seem to make any waves whatsoever and that’s just fabulous.

In short, she is someone you have to meet. Written as an homage to Final Fantasy games it also made me think of the anime, Trigun. At once violent, crazy, entertaining and a little demented. Thoroughly enjoyable! I was a little confused through the first part of the book, but once I slowed down and put a little effort into understanding the back and forth time jump of the setting it got easier. After a while, I realized just how much I was enjoying myself in this story and I really look forward to new installments in the series.

Song for this book: Devil’s Got a Gun – Whitehorse

3.5 Star review- will be posted to all links in my bio 4/6

Seven Blades in Black by Same Sykes has built a dark world that is rife with a Star Wars like Imperium verse Revolutionary war. In its midst are vagrants, mages, mercenaries and their loyal followers. Sal the Cacophony- named so after a gun that shoots magical bullets (yes, the bullets, when they meet their mark cast magical spells of mayhem, suffering and catastrophe), is more than a vagrant- a mage hunter.
While scouring the desert for these Imperium deserters, Sal also takes an Arya Stark approach to life. She has a list of thirty people who have wronged her. And she has no zero qualms taking them out along the way. At the start of the story, Sal is in a precarious position having been caught by the Revolution. She is being interrogated as to what has happened to Cadric.
There so much about a book that I love that this review was really hard to write, mostly because I was torn over thing things that really took away from it, as well. Let’s start with what I LOVED.
As much as I giggled, laughed and cackled reading Sal’s adventures and enjoyed knowing that she was driving the Governor-Militant bat shit crazy with these brilliant tales. Knowing that she wasn’t ever getting to the point while constantly alluding to, or saying she was just getting there. I, too, found myself finally yelling… WHERE IS CADRIC??! However, that is part of what ends up being brilliant about this story. Because when you get to one the brilliant twists at the end (no spoilers…), you realize your screaming is what makes the book fantastic… Sykes gets you right in the gut and he had you the whole time.
About Sal the Cacophony- LOVE HER. Her narration, ingenuity and personality are what kept me going through Seven Blades in Black even when I wanted to DNF it. Her internal dialogue is witty, snarky, self-depreciating and full of you’ve gotta be kidding me moments. Her dialogue with other characters is just as charismatic and you root her on when she knowingly frustrates, outwits and outmaneuvers all around her.
Don’t let that fool you. This is no comedy. It is dark, violent and mysterious. It is set in seedy towns inhabited by seedier personalities. The fight scenes are yield gruesome deaths via guns, knives, magical guns and… well let me not spoil all the fun.
“You’re going to tell me what you’re going to tell your peacekeepers when they ask you who did this.”
Last thing you do if you want to know what a ma is made of, you look him dead in the eye and listen when he says your name.
“Sal the Cacophony”
I put my weapon away, pulled my scarf back up over my head, and made my way back out into the storm. There were going to be a lot of people here before too long with a lot of questions. I didn’t have time for that.
I had a mage to kill, after all.

Sykes’ world building is unparallel. There were so many different areas to keep track of but even without a map to guide me, Sykes’ vivid descriptions made it easy to tell one area, one township from the next. Through the characterization of the geography, the inhabitants, their behaviors, actions and day-to-day lifestyles. He is through and enthralling.

When it rains in Cathama, the pampered Imperials crowd beneath the awnings in their cafes and wait for their mages to change the skills. When it snows in Haven, they file right into church and thank the Lord for it. And when it gets hot in Weiless, as you know, they ascribe the sun to an Imperial plot and vow to redouble their Revolutionary efforts.

But in the Scar… Rin’s Sump, as you can guess by the name, was the sort of town where rain didn’t bother people much. Even when lightning flashed so bright, you’d swear it was day, life in the scar was hard enough that a little apocalyptic weather wouldn’t hinder anyone. And as the streets turned to much under their feet and the roofs shook beneath the weight of the downpour, the people of the township just tucked their chins into their coats, pulled their hats down low and kept going about their business.
So here is where I’m torn with Seven Blades in Black. First there are side characters (I don’t want to say who because… spoilers) that come way to far at the end of the book. They should be introduced up front and developed more. Even if they don’t interact with Sal until later in the book, it would help to know more of their story. Plus, it would bring more weight, a lot more weight, to what happens when they do connect and what takes place at that time.

Secondly, and this goes together with the above, I felt like I was kept without too many of the missing pieces for too long. Yes, a mystery is great, and it is suspenseful and thrilling. However, it can get to be too much when you more than half-way through the book and it becomes more frustrating and confusing because you still feel like you are completely lost to the point that you can’t even fathom and educated guess (even if you are completely wrong).
Lastly, the first 40-45% moved like the wind. The last 70ish%-till the end moved at light speed. In between those two points? If it wasn’t for the amusement of Sal I would not have plodded through. And even that almost didn’t do it. The book didn’t need that middle piece at all. Take it out and this book jumps to a 4/4.5 star review.
I would be interested in the second book in this series. Being this is only the first book I’ve read by Sam Sykes, I don’t know if all of his books follow this formula with the middle of the book being more unnecessary or if they are usually more tightly structured. However, as much as liked other key components I would be more than willing to find out.

Sal the Cacophony--bounty hunter, former mage, and wielder of the damned gun Cacophony--has been captured by the forces of the magic-less Revolution, scheduled to be executed before a cheering crowd. Playing Scheherazade to her executioner, she gives us the tale of how she came to be imprisoned: a hunt for seven rebel mages who did her a terrible wrong.

What that wrong is, she doesn't say until well past the halfway mark. Which is odd, because the story description straight-up announces it. (And because if Sal is a Vagrant, and Vagrants are rebel mages, and Sal doesn't seem to have any magic aside from the Cacophony, then it isn't hard to do the math.)

There's a really fun story in here, with some genuinely witty writing. The problem is that it's buried beneath at least a couple hundred pages of needless bloat. This leads to some pretty severe pacing problems, and a book that was far more of a slog than it should have been. Add in the plot twists that any reader who's paying attention should see coming from a mile away, and this was a pretty unsatisfying read.

A huge thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review!

Rating: ★★★★★

Synopsis:

Sam Sykes returns with a new fantasy that introduces to an unforgettable outcast magician caught between two warring empires.

Among humans, none have power like mages. And among mages, none have will like Sal the Cacophony. Once revered, now vagrant, she walks a wasteland scarred by generations of magical warfare. The Scar, a land torn between powerful empires, is where rogue mages go to disappear, disgraced soldiers go to die and Sal went with a blade, a gun and a list of names she intended to use both on. But vengeance is a flame swift extinguished. Betrayed by those she trusted most, her magic torn from her and awaiting execution, Sal the Cacophony has one last tale to tell before they take her head. All she has left is her name, her story and the weapon she used to carved both.

Vengeance is its own reward.

Review:

Thanks to Orbit and the author for an advanced reading copy of Seven Blades in Black (The Grave of Empires #1) in exchange for an honest review. Receiving this ARC did not influence my thoughts or opinions on the novel.

So, I first found out about Sam Sykes via Twitter (which, if you aren’t following him, I suggest you fix that) and knew that he had written a couple of series already, but for some reason, I hadn’t seen a lot of talk about his books. I’m thinking now that this sentiment will change fairly soon.

Seven Blades in Black is only the second book this year (the other being Josiah Bancroft’s The Hod King) that I have binged in less than 2 days, and that is saying a lot because this book weighs in at over 600 pages. Which, if you want to buy the paperback edition by the end of this review (or if you were already planning on it before my inane rambling), it is only about $12, which is STUPID CHEAP.

Sykes has written the beginning to what I expect to be a powerhouse epic fantasy romp full of mages, bloody battles, a sweet-ass gunslinger, witty humor, and enough swear words to to fill a swear bank. It is exactly what I want in the fantasy novels I read and has already claimed a spot in my top 3 reads of 2019. Yes people, it is THAT GOOD.

Sal the Cacophony (I know, sweet name) is on a revenge-binger across a war-torn land called ‘The Scar’ and looks to off the mages that betrayed her. She wields an immensely powerful hand-cannon, a sword named Jeff (heh), and, somehow, an upbeat attitude that things will go her way. The list of names seems to go on forever, but with a sheer sense of will, and with the help of her Chocobo-like steed, Sal makes her way across the wastes to finish what she started. Only, mages don’t really stand down or give up very easily…

If you are a fan of epic fantasy where the action never slows down or enjoy tons of witty banter and swear words to go along with gritty violence, do yourself a favor and pick up this tome. I would recommend it to all who follow my reviews, all who enjoyed/continue to enjoy the Final Fantasy games, or those who love anime. It is a bundle of fun and opens the door for so much more.

Disclaimer: An advanced copy of this book was provided to me free on NetGalley for a fair and honest review.

WHAT I LOVED: There was so much to love about the style of this book, starting with the voice. I wasn't sure how much I would like the change in POVs on the alternative chapters--the book goes from first person, with Sal the Cacophony as the anti-heroine, to third, where a soldier of the Revolution interrogates Sal--though, make no mistake, it's always Sal who's in the lead, no matter which point of view you're in. The Revolution soldier wants to find a character named Cavric, and, as I'll detail below, that was really my only beef with the book. As a whole, though, I ended up loving it. I almost longed for those third person sections because even the small characters in the book are interesting and unique, and I wanted more.

I also enjoyed the romance between Sal and Liette immensely. It wasn't a fairy tale love, and it wasn't a trope; it was real and harsh and wonderful. Sal's point of view made it even more poignant, because no matter what Liette actually thought, colored through Sal's eyes she was both in pain and disappointed in the woman she'd fallen in love with. But Liette wasn't a stick-figure love interest. She was smart and a little angry, and I loved that about her.

Oddly, Sal's relationship with the Cacophony (her gun) was equally as impressive. There was no question in my mind that the Cacophony had as much of a hold on Sal as Liette (and Sal's need for vengeance) did.

But my favorite part of the story had to be the world-building. Set in a steampunk-like world, where swords (even one named Jeff) and locomotives abound, it was detailed enough that I believed every part. From the Revolution to the vagrants, each faction had their own reality, their own beliefs. The villains and the heroes were equally important, equally as interesting. And the magic...oh, the magic. From beginning to end, it's the magic that captured my attention. It was almost scientific in its execution, and that, for me, was the best part. (Picture a gun that shoots a Hoarfrost bullet.)

WHAT I WANTED LESS OF: This one is a tough one for me to answer without spoiling the book. Before I finished the story, you could have heard me rave about it being too long. Every time we came back to the separate POV, you might have noticed the steam coming out of my head. Perhaps you caught me muttering, "But where IS Cavric?" as I gnashed my teeth together. If you asked me then, I would have said it could have been shorter. It could have gotten to the point in a quicker time with far fewer pages.

But by the time I finished the story, I understood that the point was never what I thought it was. Sam Sykes expertly weaved this story over, under, and around me, and I didn't get it until it slapped me in the face. I'm going to stick by my original assessment that mayyyybe it could have been a little shorter. But overall, the extra pages served to do exactly what the writer--and what Sal--wanted all along. I am greatly looking forward to the next two books in the trilogy!

Ahoy there me mateys!  I received this fantasy eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  So here be me honest musings . . .

seven blades in black (Sam Sykes)
Title: seven blades in black
Author: Sam Sykes
Publisher: Orbit Books
Publication Date: TODAY!! (paperback/e-book)
ISBN: 978-0316363433
Source: NetGalley

While I enjoyed this book, it didn't completely float me boat.  I think that this stems from me misconception that this was a standalone novel.  After finishing this, I really do wish it was and I even know what the ending could have been.  But I can hardly fault the author for writing a series can I?

I absolutely did love the main character, Sal the Cacophony.  She is sarcastic, fierce, intelligent, stubborn, destructive, obnoxious, full of self-preservation, and kinda insane.  I dig it.  Sal is out for revenge.  She is basically an outlaw who hunts down outlaw magicians for money and said revenge.  With an AWESOME gun that might not be completely inert and a sword named Jeff!  So why does Sal want revenge?  I am not going to tell ye wretches that!

The world building in this one be fun.  It has the feel of both a western and a fantasy.  Basically there are four crazy factions - 1) the Empire with its magicians; 2) the Revolutionaries with their machines; 3) the Scar with its independent "neutral" city-states; and 4) the Vagrants who be renegade magicians with allegiance to nobody but themselves.  I loved the magic in this world and how the trade for power works.  This was one of the best aspects of the novel.  I also very much enjoyed the other characters of Cavric, the proud, honorable soldier and Liette, the anti-social, book-loving scientist.  I loved the ridiculously long and poetic names given to people of a certain standing.  I even really enjoyed the framing of the story as Sal is in jail about to be shot for treason with the reader receiving her "confession."

But this did have problems.  The book really moved up until the 50% mark and then the plot and pace slowed down substantially.  Seriously, several large portions of the section from 50 - 75% could have been removed with no real change to the story.  There was a large reveal that I thought was coming (it was) and it irked me.  But then the author did some interesting things after that which drew me back into the story.  And there was Sal.  I loved her for the most part but she got repetitive A LOT in terms of both bravado and self-loathing after the half-way point.  That could have been toned down a whole bunch for the sake of flow.  And I was confused when the story didn't end like the writing led ye to believe it would.

I am glad I got to read this as I really did love the magic systems and Sal.  While I would have preferred a standalone story, I be interested in reading the next book in the series.  Just be forewarned should ye pick this up and go into it with the correct expectations.  Cause the magic and Sal be worth it

.So lastly . . .Thank ye Orbit Books!

Goodreads has this to say about the novel:

Among humans, none have power like mages. And among mages, none have will like Sal the Cacophony. Once revered, now vagrant, she walks a wasteland scarred by generations of magical warfare. The Scar, a land torn between powerful empires, is where rogue mages go to disappear, disgraced soldiers go to die and Sal went with a blade, a gun and a list of names she intended to use both on. But vengeance is a flame swift extinguished. Betrayed by those she trusted most, her magic torn from her and awaiting execution, Sal the Cacophony has one last tale to tell before they take her head. All she has left is her name, her story and the weapon she used to carved both. Vengeance is its own reward.

To visit the author’s website go to:
Sam Sykes - Author

To buy the novel go to:seven blades in black - Book

To add to Goodreads go to:Yer Ports for Plunder List

How does an author decide the amount of information to dole out to the reader? When and how much? These are thoughts that I've had in my head over and over again as a make my way through a novel. What do I need to be happening in the forefront to keep the action and plot moving, but at the same time what is needed to add depth and overall fulfillment. You can't have a character hacking people for no reason! Further thoughts: How connected is this protagonist to the world building? And how does the writing keep the tension in both protagonist's internal conflict and external conflict? I know, a lot of questions, but at times Seven Blades in Black made me contemplate writing just as much as the action on the page. 

The story at is framed as an interrogation: the outcast mage, Sal the Cacophony has been caught and she knows things. Each drip of information allows her execution to be postponed a little while longer. Sal's tale of revenge and a past plot by rogue mages on the crown pull you through the book. And as you could probably tell from my above rant, I was at times frustrated with the storytelling, but there were several factors that kept me reading. 

There were two draws for me in this book. Sal is a complex character who has all the balls and moxie and mouth to match. Full of dirty jokes, insults, and quips, she's tough in character and in physicality. But Sykes draws several good scenes that show a side of her that creates a fullness. Sal has a partner in a Freemaker named Liette. This is a relationship that involves shocked honesty, forced trust, and sometime romance. Sal is required to establish a hardshell on the battlefriend and in the face of conflict, but Liette demands her true self.

The other parts of the book that I enjoyed are the many episodes or challenges that Sal conveys during the course of the interrogation. Originally arrested for the death of a soldier, she begins to weave an intricate story of vengeance. Set mostly in the Scar, a devastated land that has been the site of an ongoing war for decades. Each stop gets Sal closer to her goal of crossing off all the people who have crossed her.

My biggest criticism that I have alluded to is the fact that it wasn't until page 300 that the reader gets any real explanation of the past conflicts between the two warring empires. And that explanation was only about a page and half... It's a lot to put on both the reader and the main character. It's good that Sal is such a strong character whose actions can carry the the main plot for most part. But there is a real gap in world building that made the book suffer a bit. I'm not asking for every plot line to be explained. There has to be some mystery, but what happens when the whole book suffers from holding off and holding out for too long?

Seven Blades in Black is an intricate and enjoyable character-study that at times suffers from Sykes attempt to keep the reader in the dark for a little too long.

3.5 out of 5 stars.