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City of Rain
An ancient mystery. A sorceress in hiding. And the wizards who hunt her.
Daughter of a minor house and fledgling mage, Summer Fontenay yearns for a life beyond her cloistered world. But when her dying master entrusts her with a mysterious parchment, she must use all that she has learned to survive. For there are those in the imperial court who would kill to obtain it and the secrets that it holds.
Suspected of murder and pursued by the emperor’s wizards, Summer must deliver the parchment to the distant city of Torrick. But the city is a place of both splendour and peril, its labyrinthine canals and alleyways a mirror of the ever-shifting factions and loyalties that Summer must navigate in order to reach her goal and restore her name.
The first in a series of novels, CITY OF RAIN is epic fantasy at its finest, set in a world of honour and treachery, swords and sorcery, plots, counterplots and the deadliest of intrigues; where the Great Houses jostle for power beneath the Nephrite Throne and where the parchment’s secrets threaten to change the very course of the empire itself.
"...packed with political intrigue .... City of Rain is an immersive, imaginative series opener that will appeal to fantasy fans seeking a quality new saga to enjoy." — BlueInk Review
"...brims with vivid details and gorgeous descriptions .... City of Rain combines political intrigue with high fantasy for a series reminiscent of A Song of Ice and Fire." — BookLife Prize
"...a captivating story of power and destruction ... A thrilling start to a world filled with more adventures." — IndieReader (rated 'IR Approved')
“...it’s Lejeune’s sharp details that shine brightest .... This lengthy, measured and character-driven tale of magic kicks off what promises to be an engrossing saga.” — Kirkus Review
"...a spectacular story .... marvelously portrayed .... with rich characters, a detailed plot ... and a healthy dose of politics, City of Rain is not to be missed" — Reedsy Discovery
"...I would recommend it to those who like lots of characters, lots of moving pieces, old school epic fantasy" — Weatherwax Report
Daughter of a minor house and fledgling mage, Summer Fontenay yearns for a life beyond her cloistered world. But when her dying master entrusts her with a mysterious parchment, she must use all that she has learned to survive. For there are those in the imperial court who would kill to obtain it and the secrets that it holds.
Suspected of murder and pursued by the emperor’s wizards, Summer must deliver the parchment to the distant city of Torrick. But the city is a place of both splendour and peril, its labyrinthine canals and alleyways a mirror of the ever-shifting factions and loyalties that Summer must navigate in order to reach her goal and restore her name.
The first in a series of novels, CITY OF RAIN is epic fantasy at its finest, set in a world of honour and treachery, swords and sorcery, plots, counterplots and the deadliest of intrigues; where the Great Houses jostle for power beneath the Nephrite Throne and where the parchment’s secrets threaten to change the very course of the empire itself.
"...packed with political intrigue .... City of Rain is an immersive, imaginative series opener that will appeal to fantasy fans seeking a quality new saga to enjoy." — BlueInk Review
"...brims with vivid details and gorgeous descriptions .... City of Rain combines political intrigue with high fantasy for a series reminiscent of A Song of Ice and Fire." — BookLife Prize
"...a captivating story of power and destruction ... A thrilling start to a world filled with more adventures." — IndieReader (rated 'IR Approved')
“...it’s Lejeune’s sharp details that shine brightest .... This lengthy, measured and character-driven tale of magic kicks off what promises to be an engrossing saga.” — Kirkus Review
"...a spectacular story .... marvelously portrayed .... with rich characters, a detailed plot ... and a healthy dose of politics, City of Rain is not to be missed" — Reedsy Discovery
"...I would recommend it to those who like lots of characters, lots of moving pieces, old school epic fantasy" — Weatherwax Report
- GenresFantasy
730 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 19, 2023
10 people are currently reading
72 people want to read
About the author
William Lejeune
1 book3 followersWilliam Lejeune is a New Zealand writer. He lives in South East London with his wife and daughters.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
July 30, 2024
࿐ ࿔*:･ﾟCity of Rain࿐ ࿔*:･
(Mild Spoilers)
- Plot
- World-building
- Pace
- Characters
ᯓ ᡣ𐭩Plot
Daughter of a minor house and fledgling mage, Summer Fontenay yearns for a life beyond her cloistered world. But when her dying master entrusts her with a mysterious parchment, she must use all that she has learned to survive. For there are those in the imperial court who would kill to obtain it and the secrets that it holds.
Essentially that is the plot, (yes I copied it from Goodreads, and?) with a few other central characters and so the story spans four different povs. While the storyline in itself was very interesting, the transition to a different pov at every chapter left me feeling a little frustrated as I would just be getting into the flow of that pov and feeling excited because it was just getting interesting, when everything would stop and I’d have to drag myself through another story’s slow part.
ᯓ ᡣ𐭩World-building
Firstly, my deepest respect to the author for all the hard work they put into this book because the world-building was DETAILED and it was incredibly planned out, I cannot even imagine the picture they have in their head because of the intricacies at play.
Unfortunately I personally felt that there was a lot of info-dumping and so so so many different locations and families at play that it felt really confusing and I was constantly losing track of what was being referred to and who all the different characters were and how they fit in with the overall character tree of the book. I just kept reading, having given up on understanding how it all fit together.
ᯓ ᡣ𐭩Pace
Honestly this was probably my main gripe with this book. The pacing was very off as I probably dragged myself through about 93%... or 87% of it if we’re being generous. Not that it wasn’t interesting before but I had to push myself to keep reading and hoping it would pick up whereas at the end I was in more of a ‘Oooh what’s going to happen noww?’ mood. If the intrigue had been spread out a little more throughout the plot I feel that it would have kept me going out of interest instead of a stubbornness to finish the book rather than let it finish me lol.
ᯓ ᡣ𐭩Characters
I will say that I wish I had been able to emotionally connect more to the characters and develop a stronger bond with them instead of reading them simply as characters. I think the issue was that as people, they weren’t developed as well as they could have been.
Summer . My favourite character from this book without any hesitation. She was brave, she was smart, she was kind and she was honourable. Her loyalty to Alcidimus, her selflessness in throwing aside all her comforts and safety to carry out this mission for him was so admirable and I just loved that she was an intelligent fmc who wasn’t stupid or had unrealistic expectations in her own abilities and so prepared her plans accordingly.
Cole . Ehhh… I’m sorry I didn’t like him. Firstly he was so disloyal to that poor girl waiting back in that city for him, weeping for him while he had a fling with a girl (who honestly was just using him) which he THEN, feeling guilty, described as ‘a flight of passion’ and then CONTINUED to cheat on her. After that he just developed into a rather pathetic and sullen character who’s only redeeming point was at the prompting of someone else.
Fenya . You b*tch. You conniving, evil, twisted, psycho.
Fenya is a case of a woman limited by her greed, her pride and arrogance, thinking herself superior and believing that she deserves more importance than she received. In the pursuit of that superiority and driven by a personal vendetta against Summer, she pursues that desire, the costs, the means to the end be damned. As long as she gets what she wants. Funnily enough when she wasn’t acting like a complete psycho she acted like a spoilt, immature little girl.
Overall, I think the story has a lot of potential if only there was more focus on developing the characters, less information to absorb with regards to all the different aspects of the world and if the pace was improved. I did enjoy the political aspects of the story but again, it was hard to keep track of all the characters and how they fit into it all. I think I’d consider reading the sequel (if there ever is one) but I think that would mostly be because I’ve invested too much time into this book not to know what happens next lol.
࿐ ࿔*:･ﾟThank you for reading࿐ ࿔*:･ﾟ
(Mild Spoilers)
- Plot
- World-building
- Pace
- Characters
ᯓ ᡣ𐭩Plot
Daughter of a minor house and fledgling mage, Summer Fontenay yearns for a life beyond her cloistered world. But when her dying master entrusts her with a mysterious parchment, she must use all that she has learned to survive. For there are those in the imperial court who would kill to obtain it and the secrets that it holds.
Essentially that is the plot, (yes I copied it from Goodreads, and?) with a few other central characters and so the story spans four different povs. While the storyline in itself was very interesting, the transition to a different pov at every chapter left me feeling a little frustrated as I would just be getting into the flow of that pov and feeling excited because it was just getting interesting, when everything would stop and I’d have to drag myself through another story’s slow part.
ᯓ ᡣ𐭩World-building
Firstly, my deepest respect to the author for all the hard work they put into this book because the world-building was DETAILED and it was incredibly planned out, I cannot even imagine the picture they have in their head because of the intricacies at play.
Unfortunately I personally felt that there was a lot of info-dumping and so so so many different locations and families at play that it felt really confusing and I was constantly losing track of what was being referred to and who all the different characters were and how they fit in with the overall character tree of the book. I just kept reading, having given up on understanding how it all fit together.
ᯓ ᡣ𐭩Pace
Honestly this was probably my main gripe with this book. The pacing was very off as I probably dragged myself through about 93%... or 87% of it if we’re being generous. Not that it wasn’t interesting before but I had to push myself to keep reading and hoping it would pick up whereas at the end I was in more of a ‘Oooh what’s going to happen noww?’ mood. If the intrigue had been spread out a little more throughout the plot I feel that it would have kept me going out of interest instead of a stubbornness to finish the book rather than let it finish me lol.
ᯓ ᡣ𐭩Characters
I will say that I wish I had been able to emotionally connect more to the characters and develop a stronger bond with them instead of reading them simply as characters. I think the issue was that as people, they weren’t developed as well as they could have been.
Summer . My favourite character from this book without any hesitation. She was brave, she was smart, she was kind and she was honourable. Her loyalty to Alcidimus, her selflessness in throwing aside all her comforts and safety to carry out this mission for him was so admirable and I just loved that she was an intelligent fmc who wasn’t stupid or had unrealistic expectations in her own abilities and so prepared her plans accordingly.
Cole . Ehhh… I’m sorry I didn’t like him. Firstly he was so disloyal to that poor girl waiting back in that city for him, weeping for him while he had a fling with a girl (who honestly was just using him) which he THEN, feeling guilty, described as ‘a flight of passion’ and then CONTINUED to cheat on her. After that he just developed into a rather pathetic and sullen character who’s only redeeming point was at the prompting of someone else.
Fenya . You b*tch. You conniving, evil, twisted, psycho.
Fenya is a case of a woman limited by her greed, her pride and arrogance, thinking herself superior and believing that she deserves more importance than she received. In the pursuit of that superiority and driven by a personal vendetta against Summer, she pursues that desire, the costs, the means to the end be damned. As long as she gets what she wants. Funnily enough when she wasn’t acting like a complete psycho she acted like a spoilt, immature little girl.
Overall, I think the story has a lot of potential if only there was more focus on developing the characters, less information to absorb with regards to all the different aspects of the world and if the pace was improved. I did enjoy the political aspects of the story but again, it was hard to keep track of all the characters and how they fit into it all. I think I’d consider reading the sequel (if there ever is one) but I think that would mostly be because I’ve invested too much time into this book not to know what happens next lol.
࿐ ࿔*:･ﾟThank you for reading࿐ ࿔*:･ﾟ
September 27, 2024
We are told a story of mystery, heavy politics and betrayal. An ancient parchment, written in a mysterious language triggers the whole intrigue. A wise man is killed. A young mage flees for her life. The die is cast. Summer, Cole, Fenya and Arlen's stories are seriously intertwined.
Each chapter starts with a different POV. In the beginning that adds up to the mystery, but because it is done over and over again it gets a little disconcerting.
Sometimes there is just too much information to go through and organise in your head.
The pace is very slow, but finally things got going and they had me sitting at the edge of my seat at the end of the last chapter. But then… that epilogue just killed me. It is not fair. The story is too long (more than 700 pages) for the reader to end up without having one single question answered. Just not fair…
Editing needed. Please.
I cannot say I didn't like the book; I can't. But the aspects I mentioned before do not allow me to rate it any better. Nevertheless, I will give the second book of the saga a chance.
I received a free e-ARC from NetGalley and this is my honest opinion about the story.
Each chapter starts with a different POV. In the beginning that adds up to the mystery, but because it is done over and over again it gets a little disconcerting.
Sometimes there is just too much information to go through and organise in your head.
The pace is very slow, but finally things got going and they had me sitting at the edge of my seat at the end of the last chapter. But then… that epilogue just killed me. It is not fair. The story is too long (more than 700 pages) for the reader to end up without having one single question answered. Just not fair…
Editing needed. Please.
I cannot say I didn't like the book; I can't. But the aspects I mentioned before do not allow me to rate it any better. Nevertheless, I will give the second book of the saga a chance.
I received a free e-ARC from NetGalley and this is my honest opinion about the story.
November 20, 2024
This is the type of books I usually love.
Very detailed world building, with ancient history and mysteries from the past, a complex story full of political intrigues involving several factions, a lot of magic, different characters, all with their own agenda, most of the times hidden.
Even the slow pace, that would make several readers unhappy, for me is usually a plus, because when I read a book I love to lose myself in the world, especially when it's so detailed and rich.
There are only a couple of issues that kept me from giving the fifth star.
I like the slow pace, but I have to admit that sometimes here it's too slow, that's why it took me longer than usual to read this book.
Then the main characters, which left me quite cold.
I enjoyed much more several of the secondary characters.
Anyway, I really liked the story and the world, so I will definitely continue the series.
Very detailed world building, with ancient history and mysteries from the past, a complex story full of political intrigues involving several factions, a lot of magic, different characters, all with their own agenda, most of the times hidden.
Even the slow pace, that would make several readers unhappy, for me is usually a plus, because when I read a book I love to lose myself in the world, especially when it's so detailed and rich.
There are only a couple of issues that kept me from giving the fifth star.
I like the slow pace, but I have to admit that sometimes here it's too slow, that's why it took me longer than usual to read this book.
Then the main characters, which left me quite cold.
I enjoyed much more several of the secondary characters.
Anyway, I really liked the story and the world, so I will definitely continue the series.
June 14, 2024
City of Rain by William Lejeune is an epic fantasy novel featuring remarkable world-building and a cast that feels incredibly lifelike.
The story centers around Summer Fontenay, a sorceress who witnesses the murder of her master. In his final moments, he entrusts her with a parchment containing a mysterious secret and asks her to deliver it to his friend in another city. However, powerful forces are also after the parchment. They falsely accuse Summer of her master's murder and relentlessly pursue her to recover it.
This novel is not just about one character; it's a complex tale of various factions and individuals striving to recover a parchment with a world-altering message, all while trying to outmaneuver each other.
Kudos to the author for crafting such a spectacular story. The novel begins with different narratives that eventually converge into one epic climax. The emotional dilemmas the characters face and the intersections of their paths are marvelously portrayed.
The details and backstories about characters give them a lot of depth, even if they are minor characters. The details are done in such a way that they add to the personality of the characters.
The effort and hard work put in by the author in creating the world and the lore is evident from the extensive glossary mentioned at the end of the book. The quotes from different books and historical figures of that fantasy world at the beginning of each chapter give a very authentic feel to the story. It feels like we actually live in that world!
However, the level of detail and political history of the world sometimes feel overwhelming. While it makes the fantasy world more genuine, it can occasionally be too much to absorb.
This first book seems like an introduction to the characters and sets the stage for the rest of the series.
If you're interested in a story with rich characters, a detailed plot, friendship, romance, and a healthy dose of politics, City of Rain is not to be missed!
Thank you Reedsy Discovery for the ARC!
The story centers around Summer Fontenay, a sorceress who witnesses the murder of her master. In his final moments, he entrusts her with a parchment containing a mysterious secret and asks her to deliver it to his friend in another city. However, powerful forces are also after the parchment. They falsely accuse Summer of her master's murder and relentlessly pursue her to recover it.
This novel is not just about one character; it's a complex tale of various factions and individuals striving to recover a parchment with a world-altering message, all while trying to outmaneuver each other.
Kudos to the author for crafting such a spectacular story. The novel begins with different narratives that eventually converge into one epic climax. The emotional dilemmas the characters face and the intersections of their paths are marvelously portrayed.
The details and backstories about characters give them a lot of depth, even if they are minor characters. The details are done in such a way that they add to the personality of the characters.
The effort and hard work put in by the author in creating the world and the lore is evident from the extensive glossary mentioned at the end of the book. The quotes from different books and historical figures of that fantasy world at the beginning of each chapter give a very authentic feel to the story. It feels like we actually live in that world!
However, the level of detail and political history of the world sometimes feel overwhelming. While it makes the fantasy world more genuine, it can occasionally be too much to absorb.
This first book seems like an introduction to the characters and sets the stage for the rest of the series.
If you're interested in a story with rich characters, a detailed plot, friendship, romance, and a healthy dose of politics, City of Rain is not to be missed!
Thank you Reedsy Discovery for the ARC!
May 15, 2024
Review: This was really quite good as we follow Cole and Summer throughout their inevitable collision. Freya and Arlen make for a great supporting cast that may have their own story to tell. These meandering paths are integral within the build and coalesce with impunity, although they are not entirely free from punishment. Just a bit confusing at first as the characters seemingly wander around without focus.
And why is Cole so good with limited coverage? Movement, plain and simple. He is constantly casting about for reason while chasing some hottie thief across the rooftops while plunging to his death from great heights. What is not to love? Summer is also deeply involved in avoiding detection and plotting an escape from Torrick while infusing her personality into it.
It was almost like I had to go through pages of backstory and history as pennance for the characters I wanted to follow. Most readers will not give a fuk about the Kings of this and that, the Honeybird lovers song or princess whatevers familial history, yet it builds a great foundation for a continued series.
Rating: 4.6/5
And why is Cole so good with limited coverage? Movement, plain and simple. He is constantly casting about for reason while chasing some hottie thief across the rooftops while plunging to his death from great heights. What is not to love? Summer is also deeply involved in avoiding detection and plotting an escape from Torrick while infusing her personality into it.
It was almost like I had to go through pages of backstory and history as pennance for the characters I wanted to follow. Most readers will not give a fuk about the Kings of this and that, the Honeybird lovers song or princess whatevers familial history, yet it builds a great foundation for a continued series.
Rating: 4.6/5
May 24, 2024
I would like to thank Netgalley for giving a chance to read this book. I thought this was a great story it had me hooked from the bringing. I loved that had magic in it. I loved how it reminded me of game of thrones a little bit. I loved going on this adventure. I loved getting to know the characters. I can't wait for the 2nd book.
October 14, 2024
Incredible epic fantasy! Don't miss this one!
City of Rain by William Lejeune is a truly remarkable epic fantasy debut that instantly draws you in. The decision to focus on just two main protagonists at the start was brilliant—it made the story far more engaging and allowed for a deeper connection with the characters right from the beginning. With too many protagonists, things can get muddled, but Lejeune keeps the focus tight, which enhances the overall experience.
The writing is rich and immersive, immediately pulling you into the world. Lejeune has an incredible command of dialogue; every conversation feels authentic and reveals a deep understanding of human behaviour. The characters are intricate and fully realized, with layers of complexity that add so much depth to the story. There's even a great touch of humour woven throughout, balancing the epic scope of the narrative.
Lejeune’s prose is advanced, delivering a level of sophistication that makes the story even more satisfying. I also have to mention the lore—I'm utterly in love with this world and obsessed with learning more. The chapter introductions are a personal favourite, as they offer such valuable insight into the lore and themes, making each new section of the book feel rich with meaning.
This is a book that deserves to be seen on the shelves of major bookstores, encased in a beautiful hardbound copy. For Kindle Unlimited readers, it's an absolute treat. Without a doubt, City of Rainis the best fantasy book I've read since Red Sister and The Name of the Wind. Lejeune has crafted something special here, and I can't wait to see what comes next.
City of Rain by William Lejeune is a truly remarkable epic fantasy debut that instantly draws you in. The decision to focus on just two main protagonists at the start was brilliant—it made the story far more engaging and allowed for a deeper connection with the characters right from the beginning. With too many protagonists, things can get muddled, but Lejeune keeps the focus tight, which enhances the overall experience.
The writing is rich and immersive, immediately pulling you into the world. Lejeune has an incredible command of dialogue; every conversation feels authentic and reveals a deep understanding of human behaviour. The characters are intricate and fully realized, with layers of complexity that add so much depth to the story. There's even a great touch of humour woven throughout, balancing the epic scope of the narrative.
Lejeune’s prose is advanced, delivering a level of sophistication that makes the story even more satisfying. I also have to mention the lore—I'm utterly in love with this world and obsessed with learning more. The chapter introductions are a personal favourite, as they offer such valuable insight into the lore and themes, making each new section of the book feel rich with meaning.
This is a book that deserves to be seen on the shelves of major bookstores, encased in a beautiful hardbound copy. For Kindle Unlimited readers, it's an absolute treat. Without a doubt, City of Rainis the best fantasy book I've read since Red Sister and The Name of the Wind. Lejeune has crafted something special here, and I can't wait to see what comes next.
November 22, 2024
I have mixed feelings about this book. On the one hand I really liked it and on the other hand I wasn't quite feeling it.
You know sometimes you pick up a book by a new author and get drawn in straight away but this time I'll be honest I did kind of struggle. That's not to say it's a bad book, it's a great book which has a lot of promise. I just think perhaps as it's the first book of the series the author was building the world and setting the scene.
Essentially the book hinges around 4 central characters, summer, Cole, Freya and Arlen. Summer is tasked with look after this mysterious parchment and on her travels you meet Cole and the rest, it is quite cleverly done how he does eventually weave all the threads of the book together.
The one thing I disliked about the book was it was too wordy! Or overly descriptive, but perhaps that's the authors style.
The magic system is interesting and makes sense in a typical magic system kinda way.
So my thoughts overall, it's a good book and the author does put hooks at the end of each chapter to keep you invested but when the second one comes out I just hope it's less descriptive as he's now built the world.
You know sometimes you pick up a book by a new author and get drawn in straight away but this time I'll be honest I did kind of struggle. That's not to say it's a bad book, it's a great book which has a lot of promise. I just think perhaps as it's the first book of the series the author was building the world and setting the scene.
Essentially the book hinges around 4 central characters, summer, Cole, Freya and Arlen. Summer is tasked with look after this mysterious parchment and on her travels you meet Cole and the rest, it is quite cleverly done how he does eventually weave all the threads of the book together.
The one thing I disliked about the book was it was too wordy! Or overly descriptive, but perhaps that's the authors style.
The magic system is interesting and makes sense in a typical magic system kinda way.
So my thoughts overall, it's a good book and the author does put hooks at the end of each chapter to keep you invested but when the second one comes out I just hope it's less descriptive as he's now built the world.
May 21, 2024
I wanted to like this book, I really did, but the format of the novel made it difficult. The main characters occasionally have flashbacks that aren’t indicated in any way, except that suddenly the timeline changes and it’s more or less clear from context that the character is remembering a previous event. The story is told from the points of view of various characters, originally on two, but then new characters are introduced suddenly throughout the story. Multiple plot lines are introduced that are not resolved - not in the way of a novel leaving room for a sequel, but in the way of a serial. In this vein, the novel simply ends, in a way that is becoming increasingly common. There are so many things going in that it’s hard to track the plot and the relationships between the characters. The use of common terms in new contexts - such as “disputation” being used to mean a formal exam in of a person’s abilities (in magic, here) - adds to the difficulty in following the plot.
Despite these issues, many of which could be solved with a decent editor, this is an interesting story, but it stops so abruptly that it leaves a feeling of incompleteness. The author has created a rich and varied world with engaging characters, which draws the reader in despite the issues that make it difficult to read. Hopefully, any sequel will complete the many hanging plot lines, and will be better edited for readability.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Despite these issues, many of which could be solved with a decent editor, this is an interesting story, but it stops so abruptly that it leaves a feeling of incompleteness. The author has created a rich and varied world with engaging characters, which draws the reader in despite the issues that make it difficult to read. Hopefully, any sequel will complete the many hanging plot lines, and will be better edited for readability.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
May 14, 2024
What an enchanting book this was!
🏰 World building
🏰 Multiple POV
🏰 Quest
The magic and mystery flows throughout the book. It left me with some cliffhangers that I really need explained in the second book of this series (I’m curious when that will be because I need more).
I appreciate the quest, along with its side quests. There was an element of surprise in this book because it kept me guessing as to what would happen next.
Special thanks to #NetGalley and the author for this #ARC to review.
🏰 World building
🏰 Multiple POV
🏰 Quest
The magic and mystery flows throughout the book. It left me with some cliffhangers that I really need explained in the second book of this series (I’m curious when that will be because I need more).
I appreciate the quest, along with its side quests. There was an element of surprise in this book because it kept me guessing as to what would happen next.
Special thanks to #NetGalley and the author for this #ARC to review.
December 16, 2024
I give it 4.5 stars
I thought the novel was great! Fantastic characters and plot. Where it loses the 1/2 star for me is that it has a lot of flash backs. I do not generally have an issue with flash backs, but there us almost always an indicator. Something that makes it obvious that we have gone back in time, such as the age of characters, a listed Date, or the chapter title. Maybe it's just me, I don't know. But I spent way too much of the book confused. But it is a good read and maybe if you are aware in advance..........
I thought the novel was great! Fantastic characters and plot. Where it loses the 1/2 star for me is that it has a lot of flash backs. I do not generally have an issue with flash backs, but there us almost always an indicator. Something that makes it obvious that we have gone back in time, such as the age of characters, a listed Date, or the chapter title. Maybe it's just me, I don't know. But I spent way too much of the book confused. But it is a good read and maybe if you are aware in advance..........
May 23, 2024
a very very interesting book. i really enjoyed the vibes of it very traditional fantasy. what i found most fascinating was the cast of characters who all had their own motivations in the story, sometimes worked together sometimes against each other. that and the wonderful worldbuilding made the story feel alive in my mind.
February 23, 2025
amazing book
Loved this book, complex characters and plot, unexpected twists, hardly can wait for the next one. Lejeune did great research, his work is ,Udher appreciated, now the writing should be easier for the next books. I sincerely hope to read the next one soon!
Loved this book, complex characters and plot, unexpected twists, hardly can wait for the next one. Lejeune did great research, his work is ,Udher appreciated, now the writing should be easier for the next books. I sincerely hope to read the next one soon!
May 27, 2024
3.5 stars, Metaphorosis reviews
Summary
Summer, assistant to the Imperial College's Master Reader, is thrust into danger when he is abruptly murdered, tasking her to deliver a mysterious parchment with his dying breath and making her the prime suspect in his death. Her quest takes her to Torrick a rainy city with far more under its surface than it originally appears.
Review
This book first caught my eye because I thought the title implied a city where it always rained. the blurb belied that, but somehow the idea stuck in my mind. It’s not accurate; the key city is rainy, but no more so than many. In fact, the plot does matches the blurb – a complex, political quest story – which has its pluses and minuses.
Lejeune has clearly put a lot of effort into his worldbuilding, particularly the political aspects. There are Guilds and Circles and families and governments, etc. While the worldbuilding is thorough, the presentation is much less clear. Despite a glossary and cast of characters at the back, I found it all difficult to keep track of, and I eventually stopped trying. This meant that much of the motivation of the different factions passed me by, but I don’t feel I missed much by it. In fact, I think the book would have been better off with much of that elided or simplified. The ending of this book relies in part on understanding (or acceptance) of complex interrelations among the groups, but I didn’t find I really cared.
The characters are where the book should have shined. It’s got initially appealing characters placed in intriguing and tense situations. Unfortunately, virtually across the board, the characters are underdeveloped, with quite a number never really expanded beyond their stock beginnings. I found that disappointing; I wanted to root for several, but they stubbornly refused to extend beyond their initial appearance. The detailed origin story of one core character, Cole, is withheld until past the halfway point, and I saw no benefit to the delay. It’s these flaws that ultimately makes me unlikely to go on to the next book.
There’s an interesting original setup (as described in the blurb) – a mysterious document, lore of the ancients, etc. – all the kind of thing that draws me in. Unfortunately, it’s all about magic, and it felt to me like Lejeune made little effort to develop the magic here. I don’t insist on a carefully regulated Sandersonian magic system, but I do want magic to be a little more than vague D&D-type spells and wands and rings, and I felt that was what was on offer here.
Overall, I thought there was good promise here, but I think the book would have benefited from a developmental editor that cut out some of the extraneous elements and encourage the author to build up (what I saw as) the story’s core. A good concept, but fussy and flawed in execution.
Additionally, and recognizing that what I saw was an ARC, there were far more typos and semantic errors than I’d have expected to see at this point. The dialogue was sometimes on the stilted side as well, which seems even less likely to change. Worth picking up if you enjoy complex political fantasy, but less appealing for those wanting epic quests and engaging characters.
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.
Summary
Summer, assistant to the Imperial College's Master Reader, is thrust into danger when he is abruptly murdered, tasking her to deliver a mysterious parchment with his dying breath and making her the prime suspect in his death. Her quest takes her to Torrick a rainy city with far more under its surface than it originally appears.
Review
This book first caught my eye because I thought the title implied a city where it always rained. the blurb belied that, but somehow the idea stuck in my mind. It’s not accurate; the key city is rainy, but no more so than many. In fact, the plot does matches the blurb – a complex, political quest story – which has its pluses and minuses.
Lejeune has clearly put a lot of effort into his worldbuilding, particularly the political aspects. There are Guilds and Circles and families and governments, etc. While the worldbuilding is thorough, the presentation is much less clear. Despite a glossary and cast of characters at the back, I found it all difficult to keep track of, and I eventually stopped trying. This meant that much of the motivation of the different factions passed me by, but I don’t feel I missed much by it. In fact, I think the book would have been better off with much of that elided or simplified. The ending of this book relies in part on understanding (or acceptance) of complex interrelations among the groups, but I didn’t find I really cared.
The characters are where the book should have shined. It’s got initially appealing characters placed in intriguing and tense situations. Unfortunately, virtually across the board, the characters are underdeveloped, with quite a number never really expanded beyond their stock beginnings. I found that disappointing; I wanted to root for several, but they stubbornly refused to extend beyond their initial appearance. The detailed origin story of one core character, Cole, is withheld until past the halfway point, and I saw no benefit to the delay. It’s these flaws that ultimately makes me unlikely to go on to the next book.
There’s an interesting original setup (as described in the blurb) – a mysterious document, lore of the ancients, etc. – all the kind of thing that draws me in. Unfortunately, it’s all about magic, and it felt to me like Lejeune made little effort to develop the magic here. I don’t insist on a carefully regulated Sandersonian magic system, but I do want magic to be a little more than vague D&D-type spells and wands and rings, and I felt that was what was on offer here.
Overall, I thought there was good promise here, but I think the book would have benefited from a developmental editor that cut out some of the extraneous elements and encourage the author to build up (what I saw as) the story’s core. A good concept, but fussy and flawed in execution.
Additionally, and recognizing that what I saw was an ARC, there were far more typos and semantic errors than I’d have expected to see at this point. The dialogue was sometimes on the stilted side as well, which seems even less likely to change. Worth picking up if you enjoy complex political fantasy, but less appealing for those wanting epic quests and engaging characters.
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.
May 1, 2024
Literally, all of my annotations on this except one (and I'm not kidding) are me pleading for Cole to live...
City of Rain is an epic fantasy set in a world of wizards and temples and magic. There are a lot of political fantasy elements as well, which isn't usually my thing, but they were balanced well with the other fantasy aspects.
The story follows four POVs, starting with Summer - a young mage who comes across the murder of an older wizard and is entrusted with carrying a dangerous parchment to another wizard. However, she is framed for murder and pursued by Fenya (another student and lady of a house) and Arlen (basically a detective). The final POV is Cole, who is also a mage and student but who falls in with the wrong crowd through a series of unfortunate events. There's plenty of betrayal, a lot of political scheming, and a handful of action scenes. My only complaint is that it was a bit slow at times, especially when certain POVs tended to end on cliffhangers and others felt so incredibly long. However, the ending was very fast-paced at about the 85% mark and there were exciting parts throughout.
There were so many characters, so I'll stick to the I POV characters. Of the POV characters, Fenya was probably my least favorite just because I found her a bit boring until the end. However, her moral grayness and potential character arcs are intriguing. I also didn't love Arlen that much, but I think if we get more of his backstory in future books, I'll like him more. Summer was pretty cool, and I liked her as a main character, although I do wish she had a bit more initiative besides staying in the same town for, like, four months. Cole was my favorite (because he was a scholar, maybe), and I thought he had an interesting backstory plus a good deal of action throughout the book, and I'm excited to see him reach his destiny. As far as villains go, I did find Vasqo a bit disappointing just because he wasn't really relevant after the first chapter.
City of Rain is the first novel in a new epic fantasy series filled with realistic characters, plenty of turmoil, and the beginnings of an exciting adventure (and maybe found family?).
Thanks to Netgally and the publisher for the free e-ARC!
3.5/5
City of Rain is an epic fantasy set in a world of wizards and temples and magic. There are a lot of political fantasy elements as well, which isn't usually my thing, but they were balanced well with the other fantasy aspects.
The story follows four POVs, starting with Summer - a young mage who comes across the murder of an older wizard and is entrusted with carrying a dangerous parchment to another wizard. However, she is framed for murder and pursued by Fenya (another student and lady of a house) and Arlen (basically a detective). The final POV is Cole, who is also a mage and student but who falls in with the wrong crowd through a series of unfortunate events. There's plenty of betrayal, a lot of political scheming, and a handful of action scenes. My only complaint is that it was a bit slow at times, especially when certain POVs tended to end on cliffhangers and others felt so incredibly long. However, the ending was very fast-paced at about the 85% mark and there were exciting parts throughout.
There were so many characters, so I'll stick to the I POV characters. Of the POV characters, Fenya was probably my least favorite just because I found her a bit boring until the end. However, her moral grayness and potential character arcs are intriguing. I also didn't love Arlen that much, but I think if we get more of his backstory in future books, I'll like him more. Summer was pretty cool, and I liked her as a main character, although I do wish she had a bit more initiative besides staying in the same town for, like, four months. Cole was my favorite (because he was a scholar, maybe), and I thought he had an interesting backstory plus a good deal of action throughout the book, and I'm excited to see him reach his destiny. As far as villains go, I did find Vasqo a bit disappointing just because he wasn't really relevant after the first chapter.
City of Rain is the first novel in a new epic fantasy series filled with realistic characters, plenty of turmoil, and the beginnings of an exciting adventure (and maybe found family?).
Thanks to Netgally and the publisher for the free e-ARC!
3.5/5
November 2, 2024
A mage is murdered for a mysterious parchment, and a young woman mage flees to keep the paper from the killers. A young mage-to-be is studying to become a mage so he can have standing to court his lady love. Another young woman mage, trying to make a name and position for herself, is drawn into a really dark crowd. And an assistant to the Marshall, with a less than lawful background of his own, is drawn to do the right thing and investigate the murders of the poor and cast off. Very, very, very slowly, these stories all come, just barely, together.
The world building was excellent. The editing was dreadful. There is too much of it (lots of data dumps) and it is scrambled a bit with chapters out of order and/or flashbacks suddenly appearing that would have explained earlier events. There are always typos and grammatical errors, but there were hundreds, plus missing words and even the wrong character name once. And it never goes anywhere. Almost no progress has been made by any of the characters after over 700 pages. They made more progress in Robert Jordan's series, and that took 12 books. I don't even want to think how long this will take. The characters are not that likeable or intriguing. The plotting isn't bad, there's just so much of it and it goes around and around in circles, and everything always goes wrong. Always. I didn't throw it across the room because it was on my kindle, but I would happily have dropped the characters over a cliff. I will not be continuing the series, it was far too frustrating. Very disappointing.
The world building was excellent. The editing was dreadful. There is too much of it (lots of data dumps) and it is scrambled a bit with chapters out of order and/or flashbacks suddenly appearing that would have explained earlier events. There are always typos and grammatical errors, but there were hundreds, plus missing words and even the wrong character name once. And it never goes anywhere. Almost no progress has been made by any of the characters after over 700 pages. They made more progress in Robert Jordan's series, and that took 12 books. I don't even want to think how long this will take. The characters are not that likeable or intriguing. The plotting isn't bad, there's just so much of it and it goes around and around in circles, and everything always goes wrong. Always. I didn't throw it across the room because it was on my kindle, but I would happily have dropped the characters over a cliff. I will not be continuing the series, it was far too frustrating. Very disappointing.
August 2, 2024
This is a captivating fantasy debut that merges magic, political intrigue, and adventure into an enthralling narrative. The story follows Summer Fontenay, a young mage who becomes entangled in a deadly conspiracy after receiving a mysterious parchment from her dying master. The book is set in a richly detailed world where mages, wizards, and political factions vie for power.
The novel's strengths lie in its well-crafted plot and complex characters. Summer is a compelling protagonist whose journey is fraught with danger and suspense, making her a character readers can easily root for. The narrative is told from multiple perspectives, including Summer, a young scholar named Cole, a clerk from the Wizarding Guild named Fenya, and Arlen, Torrick’s deputy marshal, which adds depth to the story.
The world-building is intricate, with a vivid depiction of the empire's history, political dynamics, and societal structures. The inclusion of maps, glossaries, and character breakdowns helps readers navigate this complex world. The pacing is well-balanced, blending action, mystery, and introspection effectively.
Overall, "City of Rain" is a promising start to the Cinqhawk Saga, offering a mix of action, intrigue, and magic that is sure to captivate fantasy enthusiasts.
The novel's strengths lie in its well-crafted plot and complex characters. Summer is a compelling protagonist whose journey is fraught with danger and suspense, making her a character readers can easily root for. The narrative is told from multiple perspectives, including Summer, a young scholar named Cole, a clerk from the Wizarding Guild named Fenya, and Arlen, Torrick’s deputy marshal, which adds depth to the story.
The world-building is intricate, with a vivid depiction of the empire's history, political dynamics, and societal structures. The inclusion of maps, glossaries, and character breakdowns helps readers navigate this complex world. The pacing is well-balanced, blending action, mystery, and introspection effectively.
Overall, "City of Rain" is a promising start to the Cinqhawk Saga, offering a mix of action, intrigue, and magic that is sure to captivate fantasy enthusiasts.
June 26, 2024
I love fantasy with a well-crafted setting, strong characters, and a plot that delivers emotions and excitement. "City of Rain" is one of those books that captures the reader's attention. At first, I thought I was plunged into an overly complicated story, dominated by confusion and with no clear idea of what was being told. However, once I got past the first part of the narrative, everything became clearer and more straightforward. The characters each tell a part of the story until the threads of the plot are pulled together and everything is explained with great clarity.
It's undeniable, though, that the almost obsessive attention to creating a richly detailed setting can make the reader feel a certain anxiety. There were points in the narrative where I felt nearly overwhelmed by the richness of details—nuances that, if too numerous, can create anxiety and perhaps divert attention from the main course of the story.
Regardless, this is the saga's first novel, and I truly appreciate it. I highly recommend it because the author can create a detailed, captivating world and characters with personalities that can move within the space and weave an engaging story.
It's undeniable, though, that the almost obsessive attention to creating a richly detailed setting can make the reader feel a certain anxiety. There were points in the narrative where I felt nearly overwhelmed by the richness of details—nuances that, if too numerous, can create anxiety and perhaps divert attention from the main course of the story.
Regardless, this is the saga's first novel, and I truly appreciate it. I highly recommend it because the author can create a detailed, captivating world and characters with personalities that can move within the space and weave an engaging story.
May 28, 2024
3.5 stars
The positives:
For me, this was a very character driven book. I was really invested in several of the characters (Summer, Cole, Arlen), which is what kept me reading, even when I wanted to DNF this one, at times.
The worldbuilding was very good. It's a massive world with lots of different people, houses, magic, places, history, etc. It's a lot to take in and can be kind of hard to keep everything straight at times, but it's well done.
The negatives:
The pacing was very slow. At times, this book really dragged. This was when I most wanted to give up on it. It was also far longer than it needed to be, and I feel like it could use a really good editor to cut down on a lot of it to make it more streamlined.
The writing style of the author was both a little pretentious and inconsistent. At times, it's as if it was supposed to be some kind of formal or archaic English, but this lapses in places and isn't always maintained throughout. Again, a good editor could help maintain consistency.
The positives:
For me, this was a very character driven book. I was really invested in several of the characters (Summer, Cole, Arlen), which is what kept me reading, even when I wanted to DNF this one, at times.
The worldbuilding was very good. It's a massive world with lots of different people, houses, magic, places, history, etc. It's a lot to take in and can be kind of hard to keep everything straight at times, but it's well done.
The negatives:
The pacing was very slow. At times, this book really dragged. This was when I most wanted to give up on it. It was also far longer than it needed to be, and I feel like it could use a really good editor to cut down on a lot of it to make it more streamlined.
The writing style of the author was both a little pretentious and inconsistent. At times, it's as if it was supposed to be some kind of formal or archaic English, but this lapses in places and isn't always maintained throughout. Again, a good editor could help maintain consistency.
August 21, 2024
3.0 / 5.0
City of Rain by William Lejeune is the first book in an epic high fantasy series. From the description I was getting LOTR vibes with the fledgling mage being entrusted with an epic adventure that has far-reaching ramifications. Unfortunately, this does not quite hold up.
My main issue with this was the pacing and the way the POV jumps around. This is SLOW and will take a dedicated reader to make it through. There could have been two books here with how much world-building and character investment that is written. It also feels slightly as though it is preparations for the next book(s).
Overall, I am not interested in continuing this series. The world and plot were not interesting enough for me to invest beyond this first book. It was not a complete dud either, so it may just be for a different kind of reader.
Until Next Time,
MC
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for access to the eARC.
City of Rain by William Lejeune is the first book in an epic high fantasy series. From the description I was getting LOTR vibes with the fledgling mage being entrusted with an epic adventure that has far-reaching ramifications. Unfortunately, this does not quite hold up.
My main issue with this was the pacing and the way the POV jumps around. This is SLOW and will take a dedicated reader to make it through. There could have been two books here with how much world-building and character investment that is written. It also feels slightly as though it is preparations for the next book(s).
Overall, I am not interested in continuing this series. The world and plot were not interesting enough for me to invest beyond this first book. It was not a complete dud either, so it may just be for a different kind of reader.
Until Next Time,
MC
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for access to the eARC.
September 7, 2024
The book is too long. The page count is 700+ pages.
There is an engaging story and potentially interesting characters in this story but they are overwhelmed by filler and an abundance of world building. Pacing is meandering and too slow in places which makes the book feel too long.
If the book had less filler, and not as much world building (which would have been more interesting in smaller doses), the story would be tighter with a more developed plot and developed character arcs.
Even with these issues, this book is still a very good effort for this author's first novel.
I look forward to the sequel.
There is an engaging story and potentially interesting characters in this story but they are overwhelmed by filler and an abundance of world building. Pacing is meandering and too slow in places which makes the book feel too long.
If the book had less filler, and not as much world building (which would have been more interesting in smaller doses), the story would be tighter with a more developed plot and developed character arcs.
Even with these issues, this book is still a very good effort for this author's first novel.
I look forward to the sequel.
May 2, 2024
This is another story that loses its fun due to the writing. It seems the writer is more interested in showing their off their vocabulary than writing a story. The language needs to be less formal and more relaxed.
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