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City of Sacrifice #3
Sin and Sorrow
Cloud Serpent spoke in death and venom.
Half Bastion’s pantheon are dead, and more gods fall with every passing day. The underworld is ash, seared clean of souls by the Staff of the Fifth Sun. The nahual war among themselves, each sect battling to bring their deity to dominance. The veil is torn, the ghosts of dead gods, demons, and banished sorcerers clawing their way back into the city. Eternal Bastion is divided, her ancient stone crumbling.
Left brittle and cracked by the death of her friends, Nuru swears to rid Bastion of parasitic gods. Wielding the Staff of the Fifth Sun, the deranged Mother Death riding her soul, she stalks the pantheon one by one.
Fleeing his failures, riding the ragged edge of brain-burn, Akachi pursues his prey into the inner rings. If he doesn’t catch them before they murder the last god, all Bastion is doomed. For religion does not play a part in a civilization, it defines it.
Half Bastion’s pantheon are dead, and more gods fall with every passing day. The underworld is ash, seared clean of souls by the Staff of the Fifth Sun. The nahual war among themselves, each sect battling to bring their deity to dominance. The veil is torn, the ghosts of dead gods, demons, and banished sorcerers clawing their way back into the city. Eternal Bastion is divided, her ancient stone crumbling.
Left brittle and cracked by the death of her friends, Nuru swears to rid Bastion of parasitic gods. Wielding the Staff of the Fifth Sun, the deranged Mother Death riding her soul, she stalks the pantheon one by one.
Fleeing his failures, riding the ragged edge of brain-burn, Akachi pursues his prey into the inner rings. If he doesn’t catch them before they murder the last god, all Bastion is doomed. For religion does not play a part in a civilization, it defines it.
- GenresFantasy
410 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 4, 2023
About the author
Michael R. Fletcher
56 books1,393 followersMichael R. Fletcher lives in the endless suburban sprawl north of Toronto. He dreams of trees and seeing the stars at night and being a ninja. He is an unrepentant whiskey-swilling reprobate of the tallest order and thinks grilled cheese sandwiches are a food group.
His novels include the Manifest Delusions trilogy (BEYOND REDEMPTION, THE MIRROR'S TRUTH, A WAR TO END ALL), the Obsidian Path trilogy (BLACK STONE HEART, SHE DREAMS IN BLOOD, AN END TO SORROW), the City of Sacrifice trilogy (SMOKE AND STONE, ASH AND BONES, SIN AND SORROW), and the standalone novels, SWARM AND STEEL, GHOSTS OF TOMORROW, THE MILLENNIAL MANIFESTO, NORYLSKA GROANS (co-written with Clayton W. Snyder). He also has a short story collection A COLLECTION OF OBSESSIONS.
http://michaelrfletcher.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MichaelRFlet...
Twitter: @FletcherMR
Instagram: fletcher_michael_r
His novels include the Manifest Delusions trilogy (BEYOND REDEMPTION, THE MIRROR'S TRUTH, A WAR TO END ALL), the Obsidian Path trilogy (BLACK STONE HEART, SHE DREAMS IN BLOOD, AN END TO SORROW), the City of Sacrifice trilogy (SMOKE AND STONE, ASH AND BONES, SIN AND SORROW), and the standalone novels, SWARM AND STEEL, GHOSTS OF TOMORROW, THE MILLENNIAL MANIFESTO, NORYLSKA GROANS (co-written with Clayton W. Snyder). He also has a short story collection A COLLECTION OF OBSESSIONS.
http://michaelrfletcher.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MichaelRFlet...
Twitter: @FletcherMR
Instagram: fletcher_michael_r
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
September 6, 2023
I have been waiting for three years to write this review. The City of Sacrifice series is my absolute favorite of anything written by mega-talented fantasy author Michael R. Fletcher. And that is really saying something because Michael truly has one heck of an extensive catalog of highly entertaining fantasy books. They also tend to lean toward the darker end of the theme, tone and violence spectrum - which in all honesty I enjoy in my reads. So when I caught wind that the third and final book titled SIN AND SORROW was being released at the end of this year, I could barely contain my excitement and knew that I had to get my hands on an early copy if possible. Thankfully author Michael R. Fletcher was gracious enough to provide just that, and I immediately set everything aside to immerse myself in what I hoped would be a brilliant finale.
As this is the third and final book in the series I will avoid getting too specific and straying into spoiler territory, but will nonetheless attempt to convey just how satisfying and thrilling this concluding volume was for me. The story is told through alternating chapters of the two main players in this war among gods, those being Nuru and Akachi. Both continue to be equally zealous in their beliefs and their absolute determination to see their side win out in this titanic struggle for the future of the ringed city of Bastion. Each also has their own companions or those akin to friends who are helping them as they hurtle toward what looks like an unavoidably catastrophic war that could destroy Bastion for good. But are they really friends or do their motivations run much deeper?
I really didn't think that this series could get any more intense and action-packed as it already was up to this point but this book just proved me wrong big time. Not only that but the dark sorcery somehow inexplicably got way darker while these characters turned the insanity level up to 11 on the old Marshall stack. But I guess that's going to happen when you are trying to murder gods who have ruled for hundreds if not thousands of years. The magic system in this series is just so spectacular and I've loved it from the opening scenes of book one. The whole methodology of ingesting different narcotics that each yield a particular benefit, while also teetering on the edge of potentially destroying your mind in the process is simply phenomenal.
As far as the pacing goes I found it to be damn near perfect as emotional stretches of dialogue are counterbalanced beautifully with intense battles and fight scenes throughout. This was a huge reason why I flew through this book in about a week. There was never a moment when I wanted to put it down except to maybe finally get some sleep after countless hours of being engrossed in what was taking place.
Suffice to say SIN AND SORROW met and greatly exceeded all of the lofty expectations I had for it. You can't ask for a better finish to a series in my opinion. I knew going in that the stakes would be incredibly high but I still wasn't fully prepared for just how electrifying the last few chapters were. That payoff alone was well worth the time I spent in eager anticipation of this book. And it's essentially the reason why we read books in the first place, for that unmatched feeling when all is said and done when you realize that you've experienced something immensely special.
If you are looking for an out of the box fantasy read that has unbelievably cool sorcery, vengeful and insane gods that war with and against mortals, a highly inventive and fully realized world, and some of the most skillful writing/dialogue around, well then you should read everything by Michael R. Fletcher but especially his City of Sacrifice trilogy. SIN AND SORROW is a masterful end to a series that will stay with me for a long long time. I'm sad to see it come to an end but I know that whatever Michael cooks up next will find itself right at the very top of my reading list, and I cannot wait.
As this is the third and final book in the series I will avoid getting too specific and straying into spoiler territory, but will nonetheless attempt to convey just how satisfying and thrilling this concluding volume was for me. The story is told through alternating chapters of the two main players in this war among gods, those being Nuru and Akachi. Both continue to be equally zealous in their beliefs and their absolute determination to see their side win out in this titanic struggle for the future of the ringed city of Bastion. Each also has their own companions or those akin to friends who are helping them as they hurtle toward what looks like an unavoidably catastrophic war that could destroy Bastion for good. But are they really friends or do their motivations run much deeper?
I really didn't think that this series could get any more intense and action-packed as it already was up to this point but this book just proved me wrong big time. Not only that but the dark sorcery somehow inexplicably got way darker while these characters turned the insanity level up to 11 on the old Marshall stack. But I guess that's going to happen when you are trying to murder gods who have ruled for hundreds if not thousands of years. The magic system in this series is just so spectacular and I've loved it from the opening scenes of book one. The whole methodology of ingesting different narcotics that each yield a particular benefit, while also teetering on the edge of potentially destroying your mind in the process is simply phenomenal.
As far as the pacing goes I found it to be damn near perfect as emotional stretches of dialogue are counterbalanced beautifully with intense battles and fight scenes throughout. This was a huge reason why I flew through this book in about a week. There was never a moment when I wanted to put it down except to maybe finally get some sleep after countless hours of being engrossed in what was taking place.
Suffice to say SIN AND SORROW met and greatly exceeded all of the lofty expectations I had for it. You can't ask for a better finish to a series in my opinion. I knew going in that the stakes would be incredibly high but I still wasn't fully prepared for just how electrifying the last few chapters were. That payoff alone was well worth the time I spent in eager anticipation of this book. And it's essentially the reason why we read books in the first place, for that unmatched feeling when all is said and done when you realize that you've experienced something immensely special.
If you are looking for an out of the box fantasy read that has unbelievably cool sorcery, vengeful and insane gods that war with and against mortals, a highly inventive and fully realized world, and some of the most skillful writing/dialogue around, well then you should read everything by Michael R. Fletcher but especially his City of Sacrifice trilogy. SIN AND SORROW is a masterful end to a series that will stay with me for a long long time. I'm sad to see it come to an end but I know that whatever Michael cooks up next will find itself right at the very top of my reading list, and I cannot wait.
September 1, 2023
I am very lucky and got a very advanced review copy of Sin and Sorrow by Michael R. Fletcher. I'm so glad I didn't have to wait for December, I needed to know HOW THIS ENDED!
I'll post a full review closer to release, but for now I can guarantee that if you enjoyed the series so far, you'll love this series finale. There's some nice twists, more death, more character growth and the most fitting end, which manages to be both conclusive and satisfying, but leaving room for more later on.
This book is just as insane, addictive, gripping and in the best way disconcerting as I'm used by the author, and I already crave more.
Preorder is live already btw, so if you also can't wait:
https://mybook.to/SinAndSorrow
I'll post a full review closer to release, but for now I can guarantee that if you enjoyed the series so far, you'll love this series finale. There's some nice twists, more death, more character growth and the most fitting end, which manages to be both conclusive and satisfying, but leaving room for more later on.
This book is just as insane, addictive, gripping and in the best way disconcerting as I'm used by the author, and I already crave more.
Preorder is live already btw, so if you also can't wait:
https://mybook.to/SinAndSorrow
December 10, 2023
Sin and Sorrow concludes Fletcher's City of Sacrifice series.
The previous installment showed that gods can indeed be killed. Devastated by the loss of her friends, Nuru is determined to cleanse Bastion of parasitic gods. Armed with the Staff of the Fifth Sun and driven by the deranged Mother Death within her, she pursues the pantheon. Efra's on her side (though you never know with Efra), so gods are f*&cked.
Meanwhile, Akachi chases his prey into the inner rings. The fate of Bastion hangs in the balance, as failure to catch the gods before they slay the last one will spell doom for the entire city.
The narrative follows alternating chapters of Nuru and Akachi. Both are zealots, obsessed with their beliefs. Both are determined to secure victory for their respective sides.
The City of Sacrifice trilogy is impressive, imaginative, and engaging.
The previous installment showed that gods can indeed be killed. Devastated by the loss of her friends, Nuru is determined to cleanse Bastion of parasitic gods. Armed with the Staff of the Fifth Sun and driven by the deranged Mother Death within her, she pursues the pantheon. Efra's on her side (though you never know with Efra), so gods are f*&cked.
Meanwhile, Akachi chases his prey into the inner rings. The fate of Bastion hangs in the balance, as failure to catch the gods before they slay the last one will spell doom for the entire city.
The narrative follows alternating chapters of Nuru and Akachi. Both are zealots, obsessed with their beliefs. Both are determined to secure victory for their respective sides.
The City of Sacrifice trilogy is impressive, imaginative, and engaging.
September 21, 2023
What an ending to a fantastic trilogy, the ties to the other two trilogies, the manic battles of bonkers magics at play. Full review to come closer to release day. But this series was phenomenal, just like everything else Fletcher releases.
September 4, 2023
Over at Fantasy Faction, Chloe Smith provides a useful definition of Epic Fantasy. She maintains such stories include the mysterious, the mythic, and the divine which speak openly to make their actions clear. She talks of how this sub-genre evolved from epic poems in which the narrative addresses what historians call “a world historical scale.” The struggles and journeys of the main characters, its impact on their world and how it changes history.
Epic fantasy faces challenges other genres don’t. Epic fantasies need complex magic systems, sophisticated and diverse cultures along with a cast list larger than any Shakespeare, Tolstoy and Dickens – combined.
I contend Michael R Fletcher’s City of Sacrifice trilogy is a wonderful example of epic fantasy for these reasons. It pits its three protagonists against an entire pantheon of Mesoamerican gods. By doing so, these three must confront those who worship them and their priests. However, what makes these stories stand out, for me, is the persistent doubt that clouds their mission. It is this doubt that pits them against each other too.
So many action film sacrifice characterisation in favour of car chases, explosions, earthquakes and invading aliens. Mike Fletcher avoids this trap by creating engaging characters which resonates with us. They question their motives and the ethics of their gods. Whether their ends justify the means. Because people suffer hugely from their actions. Doubt is everywhere. That’s what hooks us into this tale.
What lifts the story still further is the philosophical provocations that make us question the nature of worship, faith and religion itself. This tale isn’t just fantasy, it’s analogous.
The story is set in the vast desert city of Bastion. As its name implies, it is the only remaining home of humanity. Formed by concentric circles, each social group is separated by high walls. Over the course of the three novels, this structure is slowly destroyed when the gods battle each other via their champions. Three of these ‘hearts’ are Nuru and Efra, lowly ‘dirts’ from the Growers circle. Akachi is a young priest with a privileged background. In this final narrative, we see them driven to desperation. Once again, this happens on an epic level. I’m in awe at the author’s imagination here. His world building creates so many ways to make our heroes suffer, doubt and struggle to survive in order to fulfil a destiny that may, or may not, save their city. It is the epitome of anguish. With an ending, which is heart rending in its emotional fall-out, we are left guessing the outcome up until the final page.
It is truly sublime.
Epic fantasy faces challenges other genres don’t. Epic fantasies need complex magic systems, sophisticated and diverse cultures along with a cast list larger than any Shakespeare, Tolstoy and Dickens – combined.
I contend Michael R Fletcher’s City of Sacrifice trilogy is a wonderful example of epic fantasy for these reasons. It pits its three protagonists against an entire pantheon of Mesoamerican gods. By doing so, these three must confront those who worship them and their priests. However, what makes these stories stand out, for me, is the persistent doubt that clouds their mission. It is this doubt that pits them against each other too.
So many action film sacrifice characterisation in favour of car chases, explosions, earthquakes and invading aliens. Mike Fletcher avoids this trap by creating engaging characters which resonates with us. They question their motives and the ethics of their gods. Whether their ends justify the means. Because people suffer hugely from their actions. Doubt is everywhere. That’s what hooks us into this tale.
What lifts the story still further is the philosophical provocations that make us question the nature of worship, faith and religion itself. This tale isn’t just fantasy, it’s analogous.
The story is set in the vast desert city of Bastion. As its name implies, it is the only remaining home of humanity. Formed by concentric circles, each social group is separated by high walls. Over the course of the three novels, this structure is slowly destroyed when the gods battle each other via their champions. Three of these ‘hearts’ are Nuru and Efra, lowly ‘dirts’ from the Growers circle. Akachi is a young priest with a privileged background. In this final narrative, we see them driven to desperation. Once again, this happens on an epic level. I’m in awe at the author’s imagination here. His world building creates so many ways to make our heroes suffer, doubt and struggle to survive in order to fulfil a destiny that may, or may not, save their city. It is the epitome of anguish. With an ending, which is heart rending in its emotional fall-out, we are left guessing the outcome up until the final page.
It is truly sublime.
October 1, 2023
I received an early ARC of this book, and I could not have been more excited to continue following Efra's rampage across Bastion.
The Enemy of Both Sides sows ever more chaos among the Gods. Akachi just wants to stop the filthy Growers before they tear down the last pieces of Bastion's pantheon.
If you've made it this far in the series you know that our characters sanities are barely holding on at this point. There are no holds barred in this book as the Gods pick sides in the struggle....or do they?
We also have a welcome addition of one of my favorite new characters in recent reads. Fajah, the cheese loving, reluctant Pastor. No more on her to avoid spoilers....but you need to read this book just for her!
An amazing (and shocking) conclusion to a criminally underrated dark fantasy series that should be on your radar.
The Enemy of Both Sides sows ever more chaos among the Gods. Akachi just wants to stop the filthy Growers before they tear down the last pieces of Bastion's pantheon.
If you've made it this far in the series you know that our characters sanities are barely holding on at this point. There are no holds barred in this book as the Gods pick sides in the struggle....or do they?
We also have a welcome addition of one of my favorite new characters in recent reads. Fajah, the cheese loving, reluctant Pastor. No more on her to avoid spoilers....but you need to read this book just for her!
An amazing (and shocking) conclusion to a criminally underrated dark fantasy series that should be on your radar.
May 21, 2024
That was a truly worthy world to enter
His City of Sacrifice trilogy is a study in world building and although he used many of humanity's past theological references, at no point did any of them jar me back into my own barren world filled with seventy odd years and thousands of books of fact, fantasy and diverse fiction. I consider it a splendid work of literature, bursting with real people with all too recognisable failings and lusts, good senses of humour, very identifiable and clearly individual in their nature. I regret leaving his tortured world of Bastion, even though the idea of my existing in his vivid dimension would be one of the worst fates, for a normal human, imaginable. Well done.
His City of Sacrifice trilogy is a study in world building and although he used many of humanity's past theological references, at no point did any of them jar me back into my own barren world filled with seventy odd years and thousands of books of fact, fantasy and diverse fiction. I consider it a splendid work of literature, bursting with real people with all too recognisable failings and lusts, good senses of humour, very identifiable and clearly individual in their nature. I regret leaving his tortured world of Bastion, even though the idea of my existing in his vivid dimension would be one of the worst fates, for a normal human, imaginable. Well done.
June 12, 2024
4.5 rounded up because I really enjoy this author and hope others who enjoy grim dark type books find him. This series is dark and weird like his other work, which I enjoy. Worth reading if you liked the previous books in the series. I’d recommend the obsidian path series before this one to those completely new to his work and like general fantasy, but this would be an easy recommendation if they liked that.
September 27, 2024
Great ending to a great trilogy.
December 11, 2023
Sin and Sorrow is the third and final installement of Michael Fletcher`s City of Sacrifice trilogy. This is the second ending book Fletcher has released this year, after finishing his Manifest Delusions series, and in both instances he has shown his skill to deliver an ending that breaks you. But let`s not get ahead of ourselves.
Sin and Sorrow narrates the final act of the war between the gods of Bastion. After the events of the previous book, war has intensified and threatens to destroy Bastion itself. The previous books were dark, but here the story takes a level in despair and hopelessness. Thankfully, Fletcher completely dominates the grimdark genre, and gives the reader the exact amount of hope necessary to keep the story engaging.
In this final movements of the conflict, the focus of the story is again in Akachi and Nuru.
And i must say, the character writing has improved a lot since the first book. Particularly in Akachi`s case.
The young priest was fascinating to read in previous books, masterfully showing how the mind of a fanatic works. But he was quite one-dimensional, particularly at the beginning. In Sin and Sorrow, he experiences a massive amount of development, delving in his insecurities, regrets and showing a more humane side of him thanks to his relationship with the new character Fajah. She acts as a foil to Akachi, being a Cloud Serpent nahual like him, but caring more about surviving and less about worshipping the gods.
Nuru`s chapters are the most exciting they have ever been. While in the previous two books she was forced to hide and run away constantly, now she and her friends are strong and cunning enough to face gods directly. These fights are some of the best moments in the book, showing how gods are absolutely terrifying enemies.
In conclussion, Sin and Sorrow is an amazing conclusion to the trilogy, a gripping tale that won`t let you stop reading. But before i finish i want to talk a little about the last part of the book. Spoilers,of course
Sin and Sorrow narrates the final act of the war between the gods of Bastion. After the events of the previous book, war has intensified and threatens to destroy Bastion itself. The previous books were dark, but here the story takes a level in despair and hopelessness. Thankfully, Fletcher completely dominates the grimdark genre, and gives the reader the exact amount of hope necessary to keep the story engaging.
In this final movements of the conflict, the focus of the story is again in Akachi and Nuru.
And i must say, the character writing has improved a lot since the first book. Particularly in Akachi`s case.
The young priest was fascinating to read in previous books, masterfully showing how the mind of a fanatic works. But he was quite one-dimensional, particularly at the beginning. In Sin and Sorrow, he experiences a massive amount of development, delving in his insecurities, regrets and showing a more humane side of him thanks to his relationship with the new character Fajah. She acts as a foil to Akachi, being a Cloud Serpent nahual like him, but caring more about surviving and less about worshipping the gods.
Nuru`s chapters are the most exciting they have ever been. While in the previous two books she was forced to hide and run away constantly, now she and her friends are strong and cunning enough to face gods directly. These fights are some of the best moments in the book, showing how gods are absolutely terrifying enemies.
In conclussion, Sin and Sorrow is an amazing conclusion to the trilogy, a gripping tale that won`t let you stop reading. But before i finish i want to talk a little about the last part of the book. Spoilers,of course
June 10, 2026
"Living each day as if it were our last leads to hasty and unwise choices. Instead, live as if each day is but the first in the rest of your life. Make plans and act upon them. Work to leave this city a better place than it was when you arrived. Strive to leave something lasting behind when your last day finally arrives."
—Loa Street Preacher
This is my third completed trilogy by grimdark author Michael R. Fletcher (though The Obsidian Path is now more than a trilogy), and it is by far my favorite conclusion of the three.
Fletcher often excels at crafting narratives built around opposing POV characters locked in a relentless cat-and-mouse pursuit. He employed this structure in The Millennial Manifesto and, to a lesser extent, in his cyberpunk-infused science fiction novel Ghosts of Tomorrow. City of Sacrifice is a trilogy long tale in this style, focusing on Akachi's pursuit of Nuru and Efra, the Growers determined to free Bastion from the narcissistic and deranged gods who rule the stone city.
What impressed me most about this trilogy was Nuru's unwavering determination to build something better. In a genre often dominated by cynicism, she remains committed to the possibility of change, even when the odds seem insurmountable.
The ending is fascinating because it threatens to make the entire journey feel futile, and in many ways, that is precisely the point. Fletcher forces both his characters and his readers to confront an uncomfortable question: does an endeavor lose its value simply because it fails?
For me, the answer is no.
Despite the apparent futility of her struggle, I found Nuru's journey deeply compelling. Her efforts to improve Bastion mattered because of the conviction behind them, not because they were guaranteed to succeed.
A bleak, thought-provoking, and ultimately memorable conclusion to what may be my favorite Michael R. Fletcher trilogy to date.
—Loa Street Preacher
This is my third completed trilogy by grimdark author Michael R. Fletcher (though The Obsidian Path is now more than a trilogy), and it is by far my favorite conclusion of the three.
Fletcher often excels at crafting narratives built around opposing POV characters locked in a relentless cat-and-mouse pursuit. He employed this structure in The Millennial Manifesto and, to a lesser extent, in his cyberpunk-infused science fiction novel Ghosts of Tomorrow. City of Sacrifice is a trilogy long tale in this style, focusing on Akachi's pursuit of Nuru and Efra, the Growers determined to free Bastion from the narcissistic and deranged gods who rule the stone city.
What impressed me most about this trilogy was Nuru's unwavering determination to build something better. In a genre often dominated by cynicism, she remains committed to the possibility of change, even when the odds seem insurmountable.
The ending is fascinating because it threatens to make the entire journey feel futile, and in many ways, that is precisely the point. Fletcher forces both his characters and his readers to confront an uncomfortable question: does an endeavor lose its value simply because it fails?
For me, the answer is no.
Despite the apparent futility of her struggle, I found Nuru's journey deeply compelling. Her efforts to improve Bastion mattered because of the conviction behind them, not because they were guaranteed to succeed.
A bleak, thought-provoking, and ultimately memorable conclusion to what may be my favorite Michael R. Fletcher trilogy to date.
December 10, 2023
Questo volume finale e tutta la serie sono di una bellezza ed epicità uniche!!
L'ho praticamente letto in due giorni, impossibile da mettere giù..
La battaglia tra i due schieramenti si fa sempre più intensa, a mano a mano che ci si avvicina ai Rings più interni..
Con continui colpi di scena e trovate geniali il libro mi ha emozionato sempre di più...
Lo scontro con Turquoise Fire, Signore del Tempo, è stato unico.. graficamente e come resa.. anche il tempio di Shei Baal Ba è stato uno dei mie momenti preferiti, dove tutta la fantasia di Michael si è scatenata.. (La caverna di Cloud Serpent! Aiutooo!!)
Discettando su fede e religione, sulla divinità e sulla libertà, Fletcher fa riflettere oltre che intrattenere..
Ha creato dei personaggi così imperfetti ma così umani da averli resi vivi oltre le pagine stampate.. e anche il finale è in perfetta linea con la sua opera e la sua idea!
A differenza del finale dell'altra sua saga Manifest Delusion che ho trovato un po' sottotono, qui tutto è un crescendo di azione, sentimenti, epicità e disperazione, esattamente come dovrebbe essere un capitolo conclusivo.. il tutto condito da badilate di sangue e interiora, che non fanno mai male..
Notevole anche le rivelazioni finali che si incastrano con le altre sue saghe, intrecciandosi nel suo multi-fletcher-verso e che ampliano il punto di vista globale.. non vorrei mai aver finito un altro suo libro, adesso mi mancherà davvero tanto..
L'ho praticamente letto in due giorni, impossibile da mettere giù..
La battaglia tra i due schieramenti si fa sempre più intensa, a mano a mano che ci si avvicina ai Rings più interni..
Con continui colpi di scena e trovate geniali il libro mi ha emozionato sempre di più...
Lo scontro con Turquoise Fire, Signore del Tempo, è stato unico.. graficamente e come resa.. anche il tempio di Shei Baal Ba è stato uno dei mie momenti preferiti, dove tutta la fantasia di Michael si è scatenata.. (La caverna di Cloud Serpent! Aiutooo!!)
Discettando su fede e religione, sulla divinità e sulla libertà, Fletcher fa riflettere oltre che intrattenere..
Ha creato dei personaggi così imperfetti ma così umani da averli resi vivi oltre le pagine stampate.. e anche il finale è in perfetta linea con la sua opera e la sua idea!
A differenza del finale dell'altra sua saga Manifest Delusion che ho trovato un po' sottotono, qui tutto è un crescendo di azione, sentimenti, epicità e disperazione, esattamente come dovrebbe essere un capitolo conclusivo.. il tutto condito da badilate di sangue e interiora, che non fanno mai male..
Notevole anche le rivelazioni finali che si incastrano con le altre sue saghe, intrecciandosi nel suo multi-fletcher-verso e che ampliano il punto di vista globale.. non vorrei mai aver finito un altro suo libro, adesso mi mancherà davvero tanto..
January 22, 2024
The last book in the City of Sacrifice trilogy was a bloody ride... in a good way.
I wasn't sure how much I'd remember from the first two novels, but the first couple of chapters do a good job at reminding the reader of the previous events. As Nuru and Efra continue their journey to rid Bastion of the remaining gods, Akachi is on the hunt to stop them from causing the very possible destruction of the remnants of mankind.
This story (and series) presents the reader with some familiar themes and questions that continue to hold up. Do we need religion to function as a civilized people? Where does one's loyalties lie when you have to choose between a loved one or your god? Loyalty, friendship, love, destruction, and asshole gods... that's the series for you.
It was tough to root for anyone in particular. Akachi has his prejudices. Nuru, her ignorance. And Efra, insensitive to say the least. But their flaw also came their humanity, and problems we all as people go through. But in the end, I'd have to say Akachi was a personal favorite of mine.
If you've come for more heartbreak, visceral, gritty violence, sprinkled in with some truly hilarious moments, a badass magic system, and not a little amount of Aztec/Mesopotamian influence... then you've come to the right place. Five starts for a fantastic conclusion to a killer series.
I wasn't sure how much I'd remember from the first two novels, but the first couple of chapters do a good job at reminding the reader of the previous events. As Nuru and Efra continue their journey to rid Bastion of the remaining gods, Akachi is on the hunt to stop them from causing the very possible destruction of the remnants of mankind.
This story (and series) presents the reader with some familiar themes and questions that continue to hold up. Do we need religion to function as a civilized people? Where does one's loyalties lie when you have to choose between a loved one or your god? Loyalty, friendship, love, destruction, and asshole gods... that's the series for you.
It was tough to root for anyone in particular. Akachi has his prejudices. Nuru, her ignorance. And Efra, insensitive to say the least. But their flaw also came their humanity, and problems we all as people go through. But in the end, I'd have to say Akachi was a personal favorite of mine.
If you've come for more heartbreak, visceral, gritty violence, sprinkled in with some truly hilarious moments, a badass magic system, and not a little amount of Aztec/Mesopotamian influence... then you've come to the right place. Five starts for a fantastic conclusion to a killer series.
July 11, 2026
Book 1: ★★★★
Book 2: ★★★★
Book 3: ★★★★★
Michael R. Fletcher’s City of Sacrifice trilogy feels almost like witnessing the forge-fire stage of an author who would later become one of the sharpest voices in grimdark fantasy. Even here, before the cosmic insanity of Manifest Delusions fully cemented his reputation, Fletcher already showed the signs of what makes his work so memorable: brutal worlds, desperate people, gods that feel more like predators than saviors, and systems of power built atop mountains of suffering disguised as necessity. Beginning with Smoke and Stone, continuing through Ash and Bones, and ending with the absolutely explosive Sin and Sorrow, the trilogy explores faith, sacrifice, survival, and the terrible things societies convince themselves are acceptable in order to continue existing another day. Bastion itself is one of the strongest settings Fletcher has ever created, a vast ringed city inspired by Mesoamerican aesthetics and theology, layered in social hierarchy so severe it practically becomes a living organism. The wealthy and powerful occupy the inner sanctums while the poor rot in the outer rings beneath constant surveillance, fear, and divine expectation. Every wall in Bastion feels less like protection and more like a prison cell built by religion.
What Fletcher does so well throughout the trilogy is force the reader to question the same things his characters do. Faith is not presented as comforting here. It is heavy. Weaponized. Used as a mechanism of control by gods who themselves are survivors of ancient wars and betrayals. The deeper the story goes, the clearer it becomes that history, theology, justice, even morality itself, may simply be constructs designed to preserve power. Bastion runs on sacrifice in every sense of the word. Blood, obedience, narcotics, bodies, truth. Someone always pays the price. And yet despite the philosophical weight underneath it all, these books absolutely rip with energy. The magic system alone deserves praise. Fletcher’s concept of narcotic-fueled sorcery is one of the coolest systems I have come across in fantasy. Different drugs unlock different powers, but always at the risk of fracturing the mind or outright destroying the user. It creates this constant balancing act where every act of magic feels dangerous, desperate, and corrosive. Nobody walks away untouched. Power here is never clean. It stains the soul and burns holes in sanity.
The first two books are excellent foundations. Smoke and Stone does the hard work of introducing Bastion, its gods, and the brutal mechanics of survival within the city. Ash and Bones deepens the conflict while expanding the moral ambiguity surrounding nearly everyone involved. Fletcher excels at making every side understandable even when they are monstrous. There are no true heroes wandering these pages with polished ideals and tidy morality. Only survivors, zealots, manipulators, and people trying to claw meaning from systems designed to consume them.
But Sin and Sorrow is where the trilogy fully ignites. I genuinely did not think the series could become more intense than it already was, yet Fletcher somehow drags the entire narrative into darker territory while simultaneously sharpening every emotional and thematic blade he has been building since book one. The alternating perspectives of Nuru and Akachi work brilliantly because both are so utterly convinced of their righteousness despite the devastation spiraling around them. Their convictions feel biblical in scale. Every conversation, every betrayal, every battle carries the weight of civilizations collapsing.
What makes the final book so satisfying is not merely the escalation, but how earned it feels. Fletcher carefully stacks tension across the trilogy until the final chapters hit like a collapsing temple drenched in gasoline and prophecy. The pacing is near perfect throughout. Emotional dialogue and quieter philosophical moments are balanced against savage battles, horrifying sorcery, and moments of outright insanity. The pages move with dangerous momentum. It becomes one of those books where sleep starts feeling like an inconvenience because you need to know what terrible thing happens next. And somehow the gods themselves become even more frightening by the end. These are not distant divine abstractions. They are paranoid survivors of older wars, beings willing to betray mortals and each other alike in pursuit of continued existence. The trilogy constantly asks whether survival alone can justify atrocity. Whether preserving order matters if the cost is endless suffering. Whether faith can remain sacred once the machinery behind it is exposed.
The answer Fletcher offers is rarely comforting. Still, there is something deeply admirable about how fully committed these books are to their themes. Nothing feels watered down. The violence is vicious, the dialogue sharp, the world fully realized, and the emotional payoff in Sin and Sorrow lands with tremendous force because Fletcher never abandons the philosophical heart beating beneath the carnage. The ending does exactly what a great trilogy finale should do: it validates the entire journey retroactively. You close the final pages and realize the story knew where it was going all along.
Looking back now after reading more of Fletcher’s catalog, especially works like Manifest Delusions and Ghosts of Tomorrow, it is fascinating seeing the seeds already planted here. You can almost watch his confidence evolving in real time. City of Sacrifice feels like the point where Fletcher stopped merely writing dark fantasy and started carving his own identity into the genre with a sacrificial knife and bloodstained grin. Books one and two are tremendously strong. But Sin and Sorrow elevates the trilogy into something unforgettable. It is the kind of ending that reminds you why people chase stories in the first place: for that rare feeling when everything collides perfectly and you realize you just experienced something special enough to haunt you long after the final page closes.
Book 2: ★★★★
Book 3: ★★★★★
Michael R. Fletcher’s City of Sacrifice trilogy feels almost like witnessing the forge-fire stage of an author who would later become one of the sharpest voices in grimdark fantasy. Even here, before the cosmic insanity of Manifest Delusions fully cemented his reputation, Fletcher already showed the signs of what makes his work so memorable: brutal worlds, desperate people, gods that feel more like predators than saviors, and systems of power built atop mountains of suffering disguised as necessity. Beginning with Smoke and Stone, continuing through Ash and Bones, and ending with the absolutely explosive Sin and Sorrow, the trilogy explores faith, sacrifice, survival, and the terrible things societies convince themselves are acceptable in order to continue existing another day. Bastion itself is one of the strongest settings Fletcher has ever created, a vast ringed city inspired by Mesoamerican aesthetics and theology, layered in social hierarchy so severe it practically becomes a living organism. The wealthy and powerful occupy the inner sanctums while the poor rot in the outer rings beneath constant surveillance, fear, and divine expectation. Every wall in Bastion feels less like protection and more like a prison cell built by religion.
What Fletcher does so well throughout the trilogy is force the reader to question the same things his characters do. Faith is not presented as comforting here. It is heavy. Weaponized. Used as a mechanism of control by gods who themselves are survivors of ancient wars and betrayals. The deeper the story goes, the clearer it becomes that history, theology, justice, even morality itself, may simply be constructs designed to preserve power. Bastion runs on sacrifice in every sense of the word. Blood, obedience, narcotics, bodies, truth. Someone always pays the price. And yet despite the philosophical weight underneath it all, these books absolutely rip with energy. The magic system alone deserves praise. Fletcher’s concept of narcotic-fueled sorcery is one of the coolest systems I have come across in fantasy. Different drugs unlock different powers, but always at the risk of fracturing the mind or outright destroying the user. It creates this constant balancing act where every act of magic feels dangerous, desperate, and corrosive. Nobody walks away untouched. Power here is never clean. It stains the soul and burns holes in sanity.
The first two books are excellent foundations. Smoke and Stone does the hard work of introducing Bastion, its gods, and the brutal mechanics of survival within the city. Ash and Bones deepens the conflict while expanding the moral ambiguity surrounding nearly everyone involved. Fletcher excels at making every side understandable even when they are monstrous. There are no true heroes wandering these pages with polished ideals and tidy morality. Only survivors, zealots, manipulators, and people trying to claw meaning from systems designed to consume them.
But Sin and Sorrow is where the trilogy fully ignites. I genuinely did not think the series could become more intense than it already was, yet Fletcher somehow drags the entire narrative into darker territory while simultaneously sharpening every emotional and thematic blade he has been building since book one. The alternating perspectives of Nuru and Akachi work brilliantly because both are so utterly convinced of their righteousness despite the devastation spiraling around them. Their convictions feel biblical in scale. Every conversation, every betrayal, every battle carries the weight of civilizations collapsing.
What makes the final book so satisfying is not merely the escalation, but how earned it feels. Fletcher carefully stacks tension across the trilogy until the final chapters hit like a collapsing temple drenched in gasoline and prophecy. The pacing is near perfect throughout. Emotional dialogue and quieter philosophical moments are balanced against savage battles, horrifying sorcery, and moments of outright insanity. The pages move with dangerous momentum. It becomes one of those books where sleep starts feeling like an inconvenience because you need to know what terrible thing happens next. And somehow the gods themselves become even more frightening by the end. These are not distant divine abstractions. They are paranoid survivors of older wars, beings willing to betray mortals and each other alike in pursuit of continued existence. The trilogy constantly asks whether survival alone can justify atrocity. Whether preserving order matters if the cost is endless suffering. Whether faith can remain sacred once the machinery behind it is exposed.
The answer Fletcher offers is rarely comforting. Still, there is something deeply admirable about how fully committed these books are to their themes. Nothing feels watered down. The violence is vicious, the dialogue sharp, the world fully realized, and the emotional payoff in Sin and Sorrow lands with tremendous force because Fletcher never abandons the philosophical heart beating beneath the carnage. The ending does exactly what a great trilogy finale should do: it validates the entire journey retroactively. You close the final pages and realize the story knew where it was going all along.
Looking back now after reading more of Fletcher’s catalog, especially works like Manifest Delusions and Ghosts of Tomorrow, it is fascinating seeing the seeds already planted here. You can almost watch his confidence evolving in real time. City of Sacrifice feels like the point where Fletcher stopped merely writing dark fantasy and started carving his own identity into the genre with a sacrificial knife and bloodstained grin. Books one and two are tremendously strong. But Sin and Sorrow elevates the trilogy into something unforgettable. It is the kind of ending that reminds you why people chase stories in the first place: for that rare feeling when everything collides perfectly and you realize you just experienced something special enough to haunt you long after the final page closes.
May 4, 2024
Read the whole series in less than a week. Kept going for the Mike Fletcher unique vibe, but I hate to admit this series is the least of my favourites. Too much repetition and inconsistencies and less than adequate character development and conflict. I write too, so I know it's no easy task. But the author had done way better before and that's what set my expectation for this work.
October 8, 2023
Another fantastic book by Mr Fletcher. Grimdark to the hilt.
February 28, 2024
Meh...
May 17, 2026
More of the same, and more of the same. Didn’t keep my interest, which seems to have become a standard with his third books in a series.
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