Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher and author for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! Pennyblade was one of my most anticipated reads of 2022 and when I started reading it I was knocked off my feet by how much it surprised me.

It wasn't what I expected at all, and it took me a good few chapters to settle into what it actually was; an absolutely bonkers roller coaster ride. The main character gives me Gideon the Ninth vibes but like, if Gideon was more feral. WAY more feral. And if she yowled like a cat sometimes. The writing is witty and fast paced - the plot dances between two time lines; one in the past, which leads up to explain the situation the main character finds herself in in the second timeline, the present. The world building is?? Amazing? But in the weirdest most hectic way possible and I loved every moment of it.

This genuinely reads like really good fanfiction, by which I mean, I didn't know a book like this could get published. It is, cards on the table, not going to be for everyone. It's exceptionally vulgar, sexual but not always in a sexy way? Like the main character is a Commrach, which is basically an elf, and as a people the women go into heat, there's a lot of yowling and weird vocalisations and presenting, group sex, and there's like, no embarrassment at ALL - they're a very sexual free and liberal people, in ways i've never read about before in a published book. I expect fanfiction to make the wild and weird world building decisions, but Pennyblade basically looks at fanfiction and goes "you think you can do what you want? Hold my sword." So yeah. You might not like it if reading a book and constantly going "whAT?" or "exCUSE ME?" isn't your cup of tea but i absolutely adored it. I went through the entire emotional spectrum from cover to cover. All the emotions, all of them. Is nausea an emotion? Felt that too at times! This world is not for the fainthearted.

It did take me a while to settle in, like I said, but once i had i couldn't get enough. The way the character growth builds with the plot and the tension, the way the different character personalities work together, how this book is actually ruthless at times, ridiculous at other, and so funny overall. I want more books like this. Hell, I want a sequel to this specific book. I really hope the author isn't done playing in this sandbox because I need to know what happens next with these chaotic lovable morally grey characters.

Vulgar tale of how a member of a ruling Elf family ends up a penny blade- a cheap sword for hire. This story happens at two different times yet somehow still feels one-dimensional. Half of it happens in a letter style to some lost lover. Both stories are in first person, and despite great dialogue, lacks visuals. A little more showing and less telling would be advised.

In a world with so many fantasy books being published every day there are bound to be a fair few that just aren't for you - and this was the case with me and Pennyblade.
I will say I wanted to give this book its fair shot and read 100 pages but I reached the 50 page mark (around 13%) and found that I could not persuade myself to go on.
I'm not someone who needs books to be 'clean' (though I despise that word it is useful in this instance) and I've read my fair share of Grimdark fantasy and had a good time with it, but this book seemed to be so profoundly sex-obsessed that not one scene could take place without someone putting something inside someone else - and using frankly bizarre phrases to describe that act?
I'm typically wary of books featuring sapphic main characters which are written by men - I've seen it done very well in the past but more often than not it's uncomfortable at best. I think this book just didn't capture any idea of female desire which - in a less sex-focused book - would not be an issue but this book just makes every encounter feel a bit shallow.
Of course, I did not finish this book and therefore, I cannot comment on the plot, which may well be wonderful, nor on the trajectory of the story beyond the opening chapters. I do not DNF books lightly for this very reason, but in this instance, I can only assume that the story continued in the same tone and until someone tells me otherwise I shall be leaving this book unfinished. My overall impression was that there might be an interesting story but it was hidden behind the tone of the prose which obscured everything else for me.

The term Grimdark can easily be used with this book, nothing wrong with that but the best authors alleviate their tales with humour and I don’t mean farce or slapstick but as a counterpoint to the tension and violence (and in this books there is lots, often sexual) it’s a decent read but could be better

“Pennyblade” by J.L Warrad is vulgar and savage, full of unlikeable characters and disturbingly violent sexual scenes that can be uncomfortable. The saving grace is Kyra Cal’Adra, a fierce female lead with uncouth qualities but a wicked sense of wit and the impeccable skill to cut down any enemy with her badass sword-wielding abilities. She’s a hard character to like but in this epic fantasy of non-stop action and wild adventures, she proves to have some redeeming qualities that will make readers stick with her through her unending torment.

When Kyra Cal’Adra is exiled from her home, her people, her family, and her lover she spends out her years among humans. Though her race is detested among humans and many wish her dead for her unnaturalness, she survives only for her skill with her blade. When a contract goes awry and she is betrayed by her fellow assassins, Kyra’s life among humans and that of her home collide. Set on an adventure of epic proportions, Kyra’s strength and skills are put to a test she may not survive.

This is a story that will have mixed reviews. The swearing, sex scenes, and brutal sexual aspects of the story are certainly not going to be everyone’s cup of tea. Warrad is not shy, subtle, or suggestive in his approach to these themes. There is an unabashed openness and explicit detail that will leave readers uncomfortable. Yet, despite a personal dislike toward those particular scenes, it does provide an interesting contrast to Kyra’s personal rebellion that goes against what her culture and family desire for her. Kyra’s determination to express herself freely in society is something that will resonate with readers as it connects with real-world issues where people are still fighting for their right to live without judgment.

The stylistic narrative choices are awkward and jarring within the first few pages. It takes a while to get used to the language used between characters and the unfamiliar terms, but like any good fantasy novel, it becomes second nature once the reader is immersed in the world and the action. Warrad creates a tale of adventure and wickedness that is grim and offers some pretty detestable characters but is able to add to the genre a tale that doesn’t follow the usual predictable arcs, stereotypes, or patterns of a “normal” fantasy novel. What the reader is given is a hate-love relationship with Kyra (though love triumphs hate in the end, promise), creatures that are both fascinating and horrific, relationships that feel tangible and relatable, and a wildly imaginative fantasy world that will take readers on a journey they’ll either enjoy or wish they’d never embark on.

“Pennyblade” comes highly recommended to lovers of horror, fantasy, sci-fi, epic adventures, and those who are willing to try a novel that isn’t what they would normally pick up. Look for “Pennyblade” by J.L Warrad on its expected publication date of March 15th, 2022.

Thank you to NetGalley and Titan Books for providing me with a free e-arc of this novel and the opportunity to share my honest opinion in this review.

This very dark fantasy is set in a world with two races in conflict. On the mainland “The Main” are humans and on the “Isle” are the “Commrach” (aka elves) with halfbreed “Calibans” rejected by everybody. Humans are portrayed right out of the superstitious dark ages, complete with a rather strict moral code and a powerful church to enforce it. “Perfecti” are clerics that can perform actual miracles. “Pennyblades are mercenaries for private hire (as opposed to an army). The Commrach are a decadent race that is brutally organized to the perfection of their race, with all individuality subordinated that goal. Rank is represented by the location and type of towers the serve as the family seat. I saw echos of Melniboné as the author gradually revealed the details of their society in flashbacks.

The main protagonist/antihero is Kyra, an exiled Commarch working as a Pennyblade on the Main. Her flashbacks are addressed to the ghost of her lost love (which was an interesting use of a first person perspective using a second person perspective … something generally hard to pull off). The flashback eventually converge with the present where Kyra is “recruited” by a sister Perfecti to help investigate rumors of an ancient evil (the commrach know them as the fomorg). She is teamed up with a halfbreed caliban (Nail) and another pennyblade with a history of betrayal (Shortleg).

The general impression is that life in this world is brutal and often short … supported by very course and frequently vulgar/sex oriented language that might put some folks off. I don’t generally enjoy such; and while I can understand the artistic merits for it, it was the main reason this didn’t get 5 stars (the story really is pretty good outside of that).

I was given this free advance review copy (ARC) ebook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
#Pennyblade #NetGalley.

**Please note due to low rating I will not be leaving a public review for this book.**
This book was vulgar. I’m not squeamish about language, violence, or sex so what I mean is that I found the characters and their actions unlikable. This was a very rare DNF for me. My thanks to Titan Books.

Well, there was nothing very wrong with this book, it is pretty decent if you like stories of mercenaries in a fantasy setting. There was just something in the way of the author's writting that kept nagging at me and I couldn't fully enjoy the novel. LEt's just say I half-liked it so I give it 3 stars.