Welp, this is the moment all Maradaine fans have been waiting for. Finally, all of the characters from each series converge into one series of unfortunate events and they basically form the Maradaine Avengers. It was quite the large cast and quite a production - so much magic and mayhem!

In this final installment, the various groups of characters are all investigating reports of missing children (and other nefarious deeds) around the city. Inadvertently, this brings them all together in an epic and somewhat ridiculous final showdown with a magical cult. While they’re focused on this obvious bad guy, the Council of Ten(?) is plotting far more thoroughly and subtly. This may literally be the worst summary of a book I could have put together, but unfortunately it’s been a couple weeks since I actually read this and it’s fairly complicated.

This remains a fun, action packed series and you can’t help but to love most of the characters. Even the stodgy Tarians have begun to grow on me, though they’re vastly improved by having slightly more roguish characters about. The story was really something - a grand finale to be sure, but I did think the actual finale was a bit ridiculous with the mad mix of magic and science. It gave me a most amusing mental image, but it was offset by the peril so many characters faced.

Overall, the final installment of the story arc brought all the characters together in a well-executed and cohesive manner. The story was engaging and the ending certainly left things open for a second story arc. So many things were left incomplete and unanswered! There are a few characters - namely Satrine Rainey and Asti Rynax - who really, really need their own prequel books because my, what interesting pasts they had! This collection of stories is quite a commitment, but well worth the time invested. If you find you enjoy one of the books, you’ll most likely enjoy all of them.

An excellent end (?) to a series! After 11 previous books, my expectations for this book were high and they were, for the most part, met. What I found really interesting, however, was that I expected this book to be a nice bow to the series with a final "The end" at the finish. What this felt like, though, was the end of season 1. There are plenty of hanging hooks for a season 2. I look forward to seeing what Maresca does next!

"This city is full of heroes, both in the light and the shadows. Every part of this city, every alley, and neighborhood, has a champion ready to rise up and do what's right."


People of the City is the third and final installment in author Marshall Ryan Maresca's Maradaine Elite series. I've been known to repeat myself, but in this case, it's the truth. This is a series that needs more readers. It has everything a Fantasy lover needs: Magic, adventure, political machinations mixed with amazing characters, great worldbuilding, mystery, suspense, and intrigue. People of the City brings together the heroes of the authors (4) Maradaine series in an epic, Avengers-style conclusion to this arc in the Maradaine universe.

But the author also brings back an intriguing character named Sister Myriem who was first introduced in The Fenmere Job. The story line is something readers should pay attention to. This story arc began with The Thorn of Dentonhill where we were introduced to Veranix Calbert, magic student at the University of Maradaine. People of the City begins where The Fenmere Job left off. Poor Sister Myriem. She’s either a seer, or someone who fate decided that she should guide our heroes Dayne, Jerinne, Asti, Verci, Thorn, Satrine, and Minox against the evil cabals attempting to taking control of Maradaine.

She carries a copy of Testaments of the Saints which makes you wonder if she’s being guided by a higher calling. Curiously, Myriem’s visions showed her that she needs to find the tall one with the shield (Dayne). Then she wants to ensure that her copy of Testaments is given to (Inspector) Rainey for guidance in the coming days. Myriem will eventually encounter every single member of the fabulous 7 which will slowly come together to investigate who has been stealing children, as well as the return of the Brotherhood, the Grand Ten, a monster named Gurond, and a man called Dragon.

-Dayne Heldrin is still liaison between the Tarian Order and the Marshals despite saving the day, time and time again. He knows that if nothing changes, he will likely be finished with the Order because he’s made lots of enemies who don’t want to see him succeed. It’s not how you treat a hero of the city. Of course, Dayne ends up in the middle of preventing an assassin from killing the King of Maradaine for the True Line. He's also sick of the killing and wants things to change.

Dayne gets a visit from a new Parliament member Mister Haberneck who calls Dayne the guy who gets things done. Kids are missing in Dentonhill, and he believes Dayne can help. Which leads to Fenmere, which leads to an encounter with Veranix, and Gurond, the Brotherhood of Nine, Ithaniel Senek, and Crenaxin, the Dragon who was first mentioned in Lady Henterman’s Wardrobe.

-Dayne's mentee, Jerinne Fendall has a whole lot of issues to deal with. Except for Dayne and Amaya, nobody is taking her seriously as an Initiate. She's always at the bottom of the list even though she, like, Dayne has stood for Justice for the downtrodden and saved the election from being destroyed. Jerinne has also become friends with Satrine's daughter Rian who has a secret that will blow the minds of many people if it were discovered. Jerinne is the only one outside of Satrine who knows the truth.

-Hemmit Eyairin, Lin Shartien, & Maresh Niol of the Veracity Press, gained fame when they uncovered the plot against the Parliament. Now that the press is fully funded by Lady Mirianne Henson, they can continue to call out the corruption against the People of Maradaine by Parliament, Druthal Intelligence, and the Grand Ten conspiracy. Mirianne, though, has something in store for Amaya, Dayne, Jerinne, and the Veracity Press. It's all part of her own machinations allegedly for the country.

-Amaya Tyrell, Adept of the Tarian Order, is on a mission. She knows something isn’t right with the Tarian Order's Grandmaster and she intends to uncover what he’s hiding. She also knows that Colonel Silla Altarn and her diabolical machinations will eventually force a face to face showdown, which spoiler, does happen. The original Grand Ten protected the integrity of the Line of Maradaine during Incursion. But what does this Grand Ten want? Will Amaya survive what happens next?

-Veranix Calbert aka Thorn, is still attending University of Maradaine alongside his friend Delmin Sarren, groundskeeper Kaiana Nell, and new student Mila Kendish who was recently part of the Veranix brother gang. He’s still fighting Fenmere and his gangs trying to keep effitte off campus. Veranix finds that his school is changing and not for the better. Major Dresser of Druth Intelligence upends everything by expecting the magic students to train like soldiers and compete against each other for rank and privilege. Beware of the Altarn Initiatives. Veranix is already aware of the missing children across Maradaine, so his participation in taking down the cabal of enemies is easy to understand.

-Inspector Second Class Minox Welling has been exiled to the Constabulary Archives because of his dangerous hand. He’s also an untrained and an uncircled mage. Secretly, Minox is going through the archives looking for hints at the corruption that has taken root in the Constabulary. His sister, Corrie Welling, is gone, taken by slavers. His cousin Nyla refuses to acknowledge Minox, and his family is splintered. His partnership with Satrine is over, for now. She's agreed to act as though she's mad at him until they can figure out what the hell is going on. There is a surge in missing children in Dentonhill and the fun begins when his reclusive cousin reveals some curious secrets.

-Inspector Satrine Rainey has a new partner in Inspector Kellman but is also secretly investigating Constabulary corruption and missing children. Unfortunately, her own mother, Berana Hace nee Carthas, is free from prison and creating her own form of chaos which means Rainey is now supporting a husband, two children, and her mother on her salary. Rainey is a character who is kind of shoved to the back a bit. She’s not one of the main antagonists against the Brotherhood or Gurond or the Dragon underground, but she’s there when it matters the most thanks to Sister Myriem. I am curious if we are going to get answers about Rainey’s connection with Asti, or if her own daughter is going to find out her origins. We shall see.

-Verci Rynax of Rynax Gadeterium is once again worried that his brother Asti is into something that will get them both bloodied and in trouble. Interestingly, Thorn told Asti to listen to any news about missing children. He, like others will always revert to blaming Fenmere even if someone else is too blame. Verci probably has more to lose if bad things happen to him. After all, he’s married with a newborn and a business he’s trying to get off the ground which comes in handy when the real fight takes place above ground.

-Asti Rynax is still having violent blackouts and muttering to empty air. If you've read any of these books, you know Asti was a former spy who was betrayed by Liora Rand, traded to the Poasians who tortured and broke him and put something in his head. He’s survived thanks to him putting his own blocks in his head and trying to ignore Liora which he can’t do forever. Then Tarvis, a street rat who was taken by Gurond, warns Asti about the giant who has been stealing children. Asti isn’t shy of running into trouble whenever it comes his way. Asti is a character who needs to be watched for the reasons stated above. As I said above, Asti and Satrine worked for the same person. I am wondering if they crossed paths in the past.

This story marks the ending of the Maradaine story arc but hopefully we shall see these characters again soon. I know the author has a new project called Velocity of the Revolution on the horizon, but I want this series to continue now that the cat is out of the back in regards to the Brotherhood, as well as the Grand Ten’s implosion which happened in the story. I have some minor issues that I would love to see solved. I want Corrie found. She’s not a main character, but she deserves to be reunited with her family, especially Minox.

I would love for Rian to discover the truth from her mother and see where the chips fall, especially since Jerinne knows the truth and has fallen in love with her. I want to know if Satrine and Asti will work together against Silla Altarn, Liora Rand, and the Brotherhood who apparently have their claws into everything. Can Satrine save Asti, or will he be lost forever? I’d love for Dayne to find peace in the times to come. He’s been through so much that really does deserve a happy ending. I’d love for Amaya to be given her own storyline since she’s basically in limbo after the events of this story. I’d also like to thank Marshal for putting the chronological note in the beginning of this book so that readers can see which books they should read and in what order. This book is not a standalone. Do not treat it as such.

Maresca has achieved something truly magnificent here. Tying together disparate threads of a multi-POV story is a challenge even in a single novel. To pull together the threads of four series, spanning twelve novels, is an absolutely masterful act.

In PEOPLE OF THE CITY, Maresca delivers on so many promises made across the past several years. Not everything ties up with a neat bow -- life and Maradaine go on, after all -- but this story satisfyingly answers many questions and rounds off an arc. The seven prime figures from all four series -- Veranix, the Rynax brothers, Minox and Satrine, Dayne and Jerinne -- all get sterling moments of heroism, and the chapters mid-book where the reader sees them moving towards each other in an inexorable collision course are so utterly thrilling. If you don't hear the Avengers theme playing in your head at least once during the Big Battle, I don't know what's wrong with you.

I have thrown the Maradaine series at so many people. If you love fantasy that takes place in fully-imagined worlds, so vital and vivid that you feel you could navigate your way through the streets, then you simply must read this saga. Maresca's city is filled with wonderful, complex characters, and he examines so many questions of right and wrong, justice and mercy, the reins of power and how people fight to control them. PEOPLE OF THE CITY does all this and more, celebrating the spirit that causes a hero to rise up and defend the place and people that they love.

It’s not many series that leave me wanting more after 12 books!
These books are all light adventure fantasy but the setting so well though out and the characters so enjoyable that they stand out from. the pack. I have genuinely enjoyed reading each and every book in this series. I will be greatly disappointed if he doesn’t write more books in this work in the future!
If you’re reading this review and you haven’t read the rest of the books the author has a recommended order:
Thorn of Dentonhill
Murder of Mages
Holver Alley Crew
Way of the Shield
The Alchemy of Chaos
An Import of Intrigue
Lady Henterman’s Wardrobe
Shield of the People
The Imposters of Aventil
A Parliament of Bodies
The Fenmere Job
People of the City

I think most of us will agree 2020 is not the best year ever... Escape from reality a while and read this series instead!

I recommend the whole series, as a study in "worldbuilding." It is not Romance Genre or Fantasy or Paranormal Romance, or Science Fiction -- but it is an exploration of a strange new world.

The Maradaine novels have a couple of "love story" threads, but they get buried in the detritus of action-action-action.

As in much fantasy-action, the fighters get badly injured but recover quickly, much more quickly, physically and psychologically, than is realistic. This casts a "comic book" atmosphere around the "Magic" so that "Magic" is just a way of imposing your personal will on the world, and avoiding the consequences of your decisions, which is the adolescent male wish-fulfillment-fantasy. The series uses the main problem solving method of destroying your enemies with force -- if only you have enough force. Revenge is prominently featured among character motivations, though idealism drives some of the characters. The main characters are the underdogs in the struggle.

But Maresca uses Magic as only one small thread of the tapestry he is weaving before our eyes. With PEOPLE OF THE CITY, Maresca brings to simultaneous climax all the threads begun and richly colored, woven and showcased in the previous Maradaine novels.

I do seriously recommend reading them in the order in which they were published, as it is actually one, continuous, long story that, behind the non-stop action-action format, leaves us with many serious issues to consider on a fundamental level. And that is what fiction has traditionally been for -- challenging pre-conceptions, prejudices, and assumptions while at the same time provoking thoughtful consideration of other explanations for how things are, which lead to how things might be "....if only."

The essence of science fiction is the three ingredients, "What if...?" "If this goes on ..." and "If only ..." When mixed with science, these three thinking processes lead to ideas that have never been promulgated before.

With this blast of novels centered on the city of Maradaine, Maresca uses political science, psychology, sociology and anthropology (and Magic) as his "science" ingredient, spending all 12 of these novels explaining "the problem" and setting that problem against a detailed survey of the sociological organization of a city based on neighborhood gang rulerships of territory, drug cartel rulership of imports, people-trafficking, a righteous constabulary, a corrupt constabulary leadership, a King with major political problems, a Throne in question, and a university struggling to teach two antithetical theories of the universe - Mechanics of Machines-vs-Magic. There are also mandatory Magic-user monitoring and controlling organizations called Circles which one enters upon completing certain University training to obtain "power."

But as with humans (and these people are human, though different, and with races and cultures unfamiliar to the reader), it is all about "power" -- physical, psychological, political, knowledge itself, or magic (or the knowledge of magic) and psychological power of trickery, illusion, misdirection, dishonesty. Apparently, Magic is an individual endowment one is born with, but acquiring power takes real work plus some arcane tools nobody really understands or has ready access to.

We, as readers, can see how the analytical thinking of engineers could be profitably applied to investigating how these magical tools and substances can acquire, store and deliver raw Magic-power, but the denizens of Maradaine can't see it.

Except, one suspects in the distant past, they did see the combination of science and magic, and came to a bad end. Thus in the era of "The Maradaine Elite" there is a young generation beginning to awaken to this combination, willing to explore the possibilities to gain enough "power" to counter the corruption destroying their City from the top down.

The title page of PEOPLE OF THE CITY indicated the next book, coming soon from DAW Books, will be titled THE VELOCITY OF REVOLUTION -- a title combining a scientific mechanical concept "velocity" which has both speed and direction, with "revolution" which likewise has mechanical implications but is often used to discuss changing political leaderships.

The next title sounds like a very clever segue into a story about combining Magic and Science -- and that is a combination I find endlessly fascinating.

People of the City is the conclusion of a chapter in Marshall Ryan Maresca’s Maradaine saga. The series has always been a mosaic. Different characters have trilogies or sequences ofd their own, and those stories have interwoven to produce a narrative with a genuinely epic scope. We’ve seen crossovers between them, but here all of our heroes finally meet. The crime fighting superhero Thorn, the hard-working investigators Minox and Rainey, the Rynax brothers, and the Tarians Dayne and Jerinne - they’re all going to be drawn into a plot which has the potential to shake the literal foundations of the city of Maradaine.

This is, above all, a fun book. It’s probably also one you’d want to be familiar with the rest of the series in order to truly enjoy. All of the central cast are established characters, and knowing their issues, what drives them, the costs which they’ve already borne, their quirks and in-jokes, will make the experience far richer. You can still read this as a standalone, I suspect, but it works better as a culmination of threads from all of the other works, being tied together into something larger.

With that in mind, there’s always a lot going on. The story starts off quickly, and ramps up the tension and pressure as it goes, pulling you along with it. There’s plots and counterplots here, new mysteries and the settling of old scores. If you’ve got a favourite character, worry not, they’ll have their moment in the sun. This is a song for the people of Maradaine. A paean for civic co-operation, and for the way that groups of ordinary people, standing as one, can be stronger together, can defeat any evil they put their mind and arm to. It’s also a story about evildoers trying to take over a city, using a wonderfully diabolical plan, and about a band of heroes coming together to kick arse and keep evil off the streets.

Is it good though? Yes. Yes it is.

It has everything I’ve enjoyed in previous Maradaine novels. There’s the complex, compelling world building, which constructs a city with a real sense of itself, one which feels alive, one where the different neighbourhoods feel different. Where the politics has the glitz and glamour and hard graft and seams of corruption we all know from our own lives. Where people make excellent pastries, and I surface from the page feeling hungry. Where magic and science collide, and construct wonders and horrors in equal measure. There’s the characterisation - here informed by books worth of back-adventures for each of the main characters, all of whom seem to be acting in line with their own needs. Some of the villainy is a little over the top, though in fairness, that felt like it added to the fun, but in general, the people on the page are as real as we are. Working hard jobs, going for a pint, looking for love - and, occasionally, trying to overthrow the government, or saving people from assassination attempts.

The story rattles along wonderfully. I always wanted to know what the next page brought, and the conclusion left enough unanswered threads that I came away from the book wanting more. It has revelations, sudden reversals, some genuinely impressive magic, some moments of appalling villainy, and some of genuinely hopeful heroism.

This is a story which will take you into the world of Maradaine, and when you come out on he last page, leave you wanting more, wanting to know what happens next. So go now, and pick a copy up - it’s a genuine delight.