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The Trials of Irody Hasp #1
Mortedant's Peril
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Expected 19 May 26Win a free print copy of this book!
4 days and 23:47:10
50 copies available
U.S. and Canada only
In a city of ancient automata, strange spirits, and sleeping gods, a cleric of death finds his own life on the line in this vividly imagined fantasy murder mystery from the acclaimed author of
The Bone Ships
and
Age of Assassins.
Irody Hasp is a Mortedant, a cleric tasked with reading the last thoughts of the dead—though no one thanks him for it. No Mortedant is popular, but Irody is scarcely tolerated even by the other members of his own guild, and rarely selected for anything but the lowliest of jobs.
This impoverished existence would be dismal enough—but after reading the corpse of a low-level records keeper, Irody's troubles quickly multiply when his own apprentice is murdered, and all fingers point to him as a suspect. The only way to save his own skin is to find the real culprit himself, an investigation that quickly attracts powerful enemies with few scruples, and draws him into a plot that threatens the entire corrupt yet wondrous city he calls home.
Perfect for fans of The Lies of Locke Lamora, Foundryside, and Witness for the Dead, this investigative misadventure begins a perilous new series by award-winning author RJ Barker.
Irody Hasp is a Mortedant, a cleric tasked with reading the last thoughts of the dead—though no one thanks him for it. No Mortedant is popular, but Irody is scarcely tolerated even by the other members of his own guild, and rarely selected for anything but the lowliest of jobs.
This impoverished existence would be dismal enough—but after reading the corpse of a low-level records keeper, Irody's troubles quickly multiply when his own apprentice is murdered, and all fingers point to him as a suspect. The only way to save his own skin is to find the real culprit himself, an investigation that quickly attracts powerful enemies with few scruples, and draws him into a plot that threatens the entire corrupt yet wondrous city he calls home.
Perfect for fans of The Lies of Locke Lamora, Foundryside, and Witness for the Dead, this investigative misadventure begins a perilous new series by award-winning author RJ Barker.
432 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication May 19, 2026
11 people are currently reading
6894 people want to read
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R.J. Barker
27 books1,815 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
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August 19, 2025I was sold at "a city of ancient automata, strange spirits, and sleeping gods."
March 15, 2026
Mortedant’s Peril by RJ Barker weaves a deft tale of mystery and corruption, set in a strangely wondrous world, where three unlikely heroes band together to unravel a dark plot before it’s too late.
Irody Hasp, as a Mortedant, can see and read a deceased last thoughts and moments before their death. This is a thankless and lowly paid job but Hasp takes his abilities seriously and is highly skilled among his peers. Yet when Hasp is accused of murder he faces execution unless he can prove his innocence. Who is framing him and worse still who is trying to kill him too?
It was so refreshing to have such an obviously prejudiced and flawed character like Hasp and still find him likeable and endearing. Hasp isn’t cruel nor mean spirited but he does look down upon those of lower status and non human races. His talents as a Mortedant are under appreciated and he’s always given the jobs that no one else will take all because of some past discrepancy involving his family. Essentially he is ridiculed by his peers and he himself is looked down upon. Yet Hasp’s growth is phenomenally crafted. Barker gives a subtle gradual change to his character, his views of others alter as he learns more about them and as his knowledge and experiences broaden. He begins to treat those closest to him with more respect and by the end he even puts others before himself, which was something he would never have done at the beginning of the novel. This makes him a sympathetic character to root for.
Barker gives us some fantastic side characters too with Whisper, an Oster guard and Mirial, a street urchin. What I loved about Whisper’s non human race was that they seemed quite spiritual and in tune with the sea and nature. Her native language was quite melodic and had such beautiful meaning behind it. Despite everybody’s trepidation of her, she could see the good in people and readily gave them her loyalty and that’s what I loved most about Whisper. Mirial had the capability of being an overly defiant immature street urchin, but Barker shapes her much more clever than that, he makes her perceptive and strong willed but also eager to learn. Together they all formed such a fantastic friendship.
Of course Barker immerses us into such a fascinating world. The tiered city of Elbay is divided into rings with the lower ones being for the poor and the highest being for the rich. Further divisions are included as there are sectors for the Worshippers who follow the creed of the Howling Lord, the Spurriers who bring spiritform to life and the Mortedants. Barker’s prose vividly brings this city to life with all its oddities and wonder. Every nugget of information built up the world fantastically. It’s not a city I’d ever want to live in, but it was one I enjoyed reading about!
Barker’s signature inventive style and his heartfelt storytelling really shines in this novel. I absolutely loved it and cannot wait to discover what’s in store in future installments.
Irody Hasp, as a Mortedant, can see and read a deceased last thoughts and moments before their death. This is a thankless and lowly paid job but Hasp takes his abilities seriously and is highly skilled among his peers. Yet when Hasp is accused of murder he faces execution unless he can prove his innocence. Who is framing him and worse still who is trying to kill him too?
It was so refreshing to have such an obviously prejudiced and flawed character like Hasp and still find him likeable and endearing. Hasp isn’t cruel nor mean spirited but he does look down upon those of lower status and non human races. His talents as a Mortedant are under appreciated and he’s always given the jobs that no one else will take all because of some past discrepancy involving his family. Essentially he is ridiculed by his peers and he himself is looked down upon. Yet Hasp’s growth is phenomenally crafted. Barker gives a subtle gradual change to his character, his views of others alter as he learns more about them and as his knowledge and experiences broaden. He begins to treat those closest to him with more respect and by the end he even puts others before himself, which was something he would never have done at the beginning of the novel. This makes him a sympathetic character to root for.
Barker gives us some fantastic side characters too with Whisper, an Oster guard and Mirial, a street urchin. What I loved about Whisper’s non human race was that they seemed quite spiritual and in tune with the sea and nature. Her native language was quite melodic and had such beautiful meaning behind it. Despite everybody’s trepidation of her, she could see the good in people and readily gave them her loyalty and that’s what I loved most about Whisper. Mirial had the capability of being an overly defiant immature street urchin, but Barker shapes her much more clever than that, he makes her perceptive and strong willed but also eager to learn. Together they all formed such a fantastic friendship.
Of course Barker immerses us into such a fascinating world. The tiered city of Elbay is divided into rings with the lower ones being for the poor and the highest being for the rich. Further divisions are included as there are sectors for the Worshippers who follow the creed of the Howling Lord, the Spurriers who bring spiritform to life and the Mortedants. Barker’s prose vividly brings this city to life with all its oddities and wonder. Every nugget of information built up the world fantastically. It’s not a city I’d ever want to live in, but it was one I enjoyed reading about!
Barker’s signature inventive style and his heartfelt storytelling really shines in this novel. I absolutely loved it and cannot wait to discover what’s in store in future installments.
November 24, 2025
This book took me on quite the ride! As usual RJ Barker's world building is unique and incredible. Mortendant Irody Hasp is a quirky and multi-faceted main character with very relatable flaws. The side characters all have their own motivations and goals. Plenty of foreshadowing, but it does not give away the twists and turns. Wonderful for fans of intrigue and mystery as well as fantasy. It tackles many difficult topics such as classism and xenophobia as well as questioning the status quo of governance and tradition. When it was listed as being for fans of Witness for the Dead and the Lies of Locke Lamora I knew I had to get my hands on a copy, and it did not disappoint. It does not include any romantic sub-plots which its a refreshing change of pace. I would love to see this world expand, and possibly even more about Mortedant Hasp's youth which is alluded to throughout the story.
March 23, 2026
I received a free advance review copy of this book via NetGalley.
This book feels like a herald, in some ways.
THE TAINTED CUP won the Hugo for Best Novel last year, and A DROP OF CORRUPTION was another hit. Robert Jackson Bennett has revitalized interest in detective fantasy. MORTEDANT'S PERIL, on the other hand, feels like the signal that RJB isn't just a flash in the pan. Irody Hasp, Mirial, and Whisper are the perfect found family dynamic to hit in the mid-2020s, along with the zest of gothic worldbuilding, twisty murder plots, and brisk action.
Barker's writing is effective if simple. He builds the world of Elbay quickly and vividly, but rarely wowed me with his wordsmithing. He's got the sort of Sanderson-esque prose that will appeal to a wide range of readers even if it doesn't earn him artistic acclaim. Similarly, the plotting of MORTEDANT'S PERIL is layered enough to engage, but approachable enough to not overwhelm. Many of the twists and turns were easy to see coming; despite that predictability, they were often still satisfying.
The result is a fun book with a breezy pace. It's also a book with a dark backbone and dreary furnishings, opening up the potential for deeper exploration in sequels if it performs well enough. I enjoyed the read, and I'll probably read any potential sequels when they pop up.
3.5/5 stars
This book feels like a herald, in some ways.
THE TAINTED CUP won the Hugo for Best Novel last year, and A DROP OF CORRUPTION was another hit. Robert Jackson Bennett has revitalized interest in detective fantasy. MORTEDANT'S PERIL, on the other hand, feels like the signal that RJB isn't just a flash in the pan. Irody Hasp, Mirial, and Whisper are the perfect found family dynamic to hit in the mid-2020s, along with the zest of gothic worldbuilding, twisty murder plots, and brisk action.
Barker's writing is effective if simple. He builds the world of Elbay quickly and vividly, but rarely wowed me with his wordsmithing. He's got the sort of Sanderson-esque prose that will appeal to a wide range of readers even if it doesn't earn him artistic acclaim. Similarly, the plotting of MORTEDANT'S PERIL is layered enough to engage, but approachable enough to not overwhelm. Many of the twists and turns were easy to see coming; despite that predictability, they were often still satisfying.
The result is a fun book with a breezy pace. It's also a book with a dark backbone and dreary furnishings, opening up the potential for deeper exploration in sequels if it performs well enough. I enjoyed the read, and I'll probably read any potential sequels when they pop up.
3.5/5 stars
December 10, 2025
Thank you to Tor Books for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
RJ Barker brings to life another fascinating world with layered characters you want to know more about rather than being sick of by the end of the nearly 500 page journey. Found family is a trope I can always get behind and enjoyed again, though I personally would’ve loved even more of the darkly gleeful crow, Harpsimast. Bottom line, this was another solid, intricate fantasy set in an interesting world with characters you invest in making it well worth the read.
RJ Barker brings to life another fascinating world with layered characters you want to know more about rather than being sick of by the end of the nearly 500 page journey. Found family is a trope I can always get behind and enjoyed again, though I personally would’ve loved even more of the darkly gleeful crow, Harpsimast. Bottom line, this was another solid, intricate fantasy set in an interesting world with characters you invest in making it well worth the read.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
4.5 rounded down to 4 stars for Goodreads
Mortedant’s Peril by R.J. Barker is the first in his new trilogy The Trials of Irody Hasp. A delightfully unique, layered novel, it follows the misadventures of Irody Hasp, a Mortedant - a priest-like figure who reads the last thoughts of the deceased to pass on knowledge, last wishes, and treasure locations to their bereaved loved ones. Accused of murder following the death of Hasp’s apprentice, and an attempt on his own life, Irody sets off to clear his name, acquiring friends along the way as they unravel the mysteries of the City of Elbay and the many factions within in a race against time.
Written in first person singular POV, the narration follows Irody Hasp. This is a fantasy murder mystery, and contains no spice or romantic subplot. There is no obvious LGBTQ representation. There is very little gore depicted, and no modern- day profanity used.
The publisher comps are The Lies of Locke Lamora, Foundryside, and Witness for the Dead, and I found them to be generally appropriate comps. The tone and concepts of Witness for the Dead are especially apt. The city of Elbay itself is a major part of the story and it reminded me of Josiah Bancroft’s The Books of Babel.
The world-building is robust, with a lovely quirky grittiness to it. However, there is a ton of info-dumping front-loaded into the story. The first 65-70 pages are extremely information laden, and if you do not find Tolkien’s rapturous discussion of trees engaging you may have a hard time with both the style and quantity of info dumps.
I loved the stratified city of Elbay, redolent, covered in crows, guilds, mysticism, and inequality. It’s comprised of seven layers, with the wealthy at the top and the poor at the bottom, and each higher tier viewing the ones below it as inferior. The city is very much so divided on class lines, and guild lines. The city holds a sleeping god - The Howling God - whose worshippers are called the Worshipful and believe that the god will rise and destroy the city in its waking. The city is ruled by the Roundhorn Niofa, who gave me strong Ember/Umber of Lev Grossman’s The Magicians vibes, a quasi-mythical creature that no one has seen in centuries but rules through the Ventran, invincible bronze-clad warrior constructs.
The magic system falls toward soft, as there are different types of magic employed - the Mortedants, the Spurriers, and the Howling God - containing their own rules, but the rules aren’t explained in a robust way. I thought the Spurriers were especially interesting, as they employ souls that are harnessed into technology, from quasi-alive servants, messengers, firearms, and carriages and a host of things in between. The automata almost had a steampunk feel to them. The mysticism of the city is great, and I really enjoyed the interplay between the different sects.
The prose was a little tough for me to access for the first quarter of the book. Irody, especially at the start, has an extremely annoying voice, and is generally arrogant, unaware, and unpleasant. This is definitely deliberate, as the tone of his voice shifts as the story proceeds and indicates his shifting perspectives along his character arc. But it can be rough reading especially combined with the info-dump. As I went along I got into the rhythm of the story and felt more comfortable with the prose, so I’d recommend sticking it out if you struggle with it. Despite some obnoxious traits, Irody is sympathetic, and I found him to be relatable.
The side characters provided relief and interest and helped carry me forward when I wanted to slap Irody. Irody is definitely the Main Character, but there are two Supporting Characters that do robust plot work, Mirial and Whisper. Mirial is your classic scrappy streetwise orphan from the rough part of town, and provided levity and pathos - she has attached herself to Irody through a desire to avenge her brother Malkin, Irody’s murdered neophyte. Whisper is an oster, one of the Sea People, and is a powerful warrior assigned to guard Irody Hasp after the murder of Malkin, but she later becomes a friend as they seek to find answers to the strange and terrible events occurring in the city. I definitely want to see more of the Sea People in future installments, as the peek we get of their culture and society is fascinating.
I really enjoy having female characters who are not love interests in fantasy stories, but are instead valuable members of the story on their own merit. Both Mirial and Whisper do solid plot work. There is a host of smaller side characters, some important and some not, but you have to pay attention to see which is which. The side characters feel distinct, and I like the interaction they provide.
The plot being a murder mystery was fun and interesting. It is not a dark detective style, but rather more inquisitive adventuring. Not everything is explained, but I found that added to the story. I was able to predict most of the movement but found it still engaging and thought the plot resolved well. The series is definitely designed to be serial in nature, and I’m looking forward to Irody’s further misadventures. All around a fun, interesting read with lovely world-building and enjoyable MCs.
I will definitely be getting a copy for the shelf, and hope that The Broken Binding picks it up for a signed special edition as they previously featured Barker’s The Bone Ships in their subscription service.
Mortedant’s Peril by R.J. Barker is the first in his new trilogy The Trials of Irody Hasp. A delightfully unique, layered novel, it follows the misadventures of Irody Hasp, a Mortedant - a priest-like figure who reads the last thoughts of the deceased to pass on knowledge, last wishes, and treasure locations to their bereaved loved ones. Accused of murder following the death of Hasp’s apprentice, and an attempt on his own life, Irody sets off to clear his name, acquiring friends along the way as they unravel the mysteries of the City of Elbay and the many factions within in a race against time.
Written in first person singular POV, the narration follows Irody Hasp. This is a fantasy murder mystery, and contains no spice or romantic subplot. There is no obvious LGBTQ representation. There is very little gore depicted, and no modern- day profanity used.
The publisher comps are The Lies of Locke Lamora, Foundryside, and Witness for the Dead, and I found them to be generally appropriate comps. The tone and concepts of Witness for the Dead are especially apt. The city of Elbay itself is a major part of the story and it reminded me of Josiah Bancroft’s The Books of Babel.
The world-building is robust, with a lovely quirky grittiness to it. However, there is a ton of info-dumping front-loaded into the story. The first 65-70 pages are extremely information laden, and if you do not find Tolkien’s rapturous discussion of trees engaging you may have a hard time with both the style and quantity of info dumps.
I loved the stratified city of Elbay, redolent, covered in crows, guilds, mysticism, and inequality. It’s comprised of seven layers, with the wealthy at the top and the poor at the bottom, and each higher tier viewing the ones below it as inferior. The city is very much so divided on class lines, and guild lines. The city holds a sleeping god - The Howling God - whose worshippers are called the Worshipful and believe that the god will rise and destroy the city in its waking. The city is ruled by the Roundhorn Niofa, who gave me strong Ember/Umber of Lev Grossman’s The Magicians vibes, a quasi-mythical creature that no one has seen in centuries but rules through the Ventran, invincible bronze-clad warrior constructs.
The magic system falls toward soft, as there are different types of magic employed - the Mortedants, the Spurriers, and the Howling God - containing their own rules, but the rules aren’t explained in a robust way. I thought the Spurriers were especially interesting, as they employ souls that are harnessed into technology, from quasi-alive servants, messengers, firearms, and carriages and a host of things in between. The automata almost had a steampunk feel to them. The mysticism of the city is great, and I really enjoyed the interplay between the different sects.
The prose was a little tough for me to access for the first quarter of the book. Irody, especially at the start, has an extremely annoying voice, and is generally arrogant, unaware, and unpleasant. This is definitely deliberate, as the tone of his voice shifts as the story proceeds and indicates his shifting perspectives along his character arc. But it can be rough reading especially combined with the info-dump. As I went along I got into the rhythm of the story and felt more comfortable with the prose, so I’d recommend sticking it out if you struggle with it. Despite some obnoxious traits, Irody is sympathetic, and I found him to be relatable.
The side characters provided relief and interest and helped carry me forward when I wanted to slap Irody. Irody is definitely the Main Character, but there are two Supporting Characters that do robust plot work, Mirial and Whisper. Mirial is your classic scrappy streetwise orphan from the rough part of town, and provided levity and pathos - she has attached herself to Irody through a desire to avenge her brother Malkin, Irody’s murdered neophyte. Whisper is an oster, one of the Sea People, and is a powerful warrior assigned to guard Irody Hasp after the murder of Malkin, but she later becomes a friend as they seek to find answers to the strange and terrible events occurring in the city. I definitely want to see more of the Sea People in future installments, as the peek we get of their culture and society is fascinating.
I really enjoy having female characters who are not love interests in fantasy stories, but are instead valuable members of the story on their own merit. Both Mirial and Whisper do solid plot work. There is a host of smaller side characters, some important and some not, but you have to pay attention to see which is which. The side characters feel distinct, and I like the interaction they provide.
The plot being a murder mystery was fun and interesting. It is not a dark detective style, but rather more inquisitive adventuring. Not everything is explained, but I found that added to the story. I was able to predict most of the movement but found it still engaging and thought the plot resolved well. The series is definitely designed to be serial in nature, and I’m looking forward to Irody’s further misadventures. All around a fun, interesting read with lovely world-building and enjoyable MCs.
I will definitely be getting a copy for the shelf, and hope that The Broken Binding picks it up for a signed special edition as they previously featured Barker’s The Bone Ships in their subscription service.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I received a free copy from Tor Books via Netgalley in exchange for a fair review. Release date May 19th, 2026.
I had mixed feelings about Barker's Bone Ships, but it had some compelling elements and his latest premise was excellent, so I thought I'd give his writing another shot. In Mortedant's Peril, Irody Hasp is the poorest and least popular Mortedant, a cleric who reads the last moments of the recently deceased. When his neophyte is unexpectedly murdered, Hasp must find the murderer among the chaotic city-state of Elbay—or due to the city's illogical justice system, he'll be executed as the last person to see Malkin.
Mortedant's Peril is structured like a mystery novel, albeit not in the Golden Age style of ferreting out clues and following leads. Instead, Hasp follows the nearly equally classic method: walk around asking questions and causing problems until the guilty party tries to kill you. And since Malkin's murderer was mixed up in a political scheme much larger than the death of one neophyte, Hasp is about to stumble into a world of trouble. Unfortunately, his inherent prejudices against everybody from the poor to foreigners to other sects of priests mean he spends a solid chunk of the novel annoying completely the wrong people until they try to kill him. Hasp is so egocentric and abrasive that he becomes an unreliable narrator through sheer force of bad judgement. But while he spends most of the novel parroting bigotry about anyone from outside the city, he also has a secret soft spot and commitment to justice. Yes, he spends two thirds of the book calling his assigned bodyguard Whisper slurs, but he'd also quietly buy her a meat pie with his last pennies. However, while a narrator determined to investigate entirely the wrong leads keeps the reader guessing, the foreshadowing was a bit heavy-handed. I like when plot twists are logical and intuitive, but I don't need a big flashing neon arrow every couple of chapters telling me that the bad guys are plotting [redacted]. I get it!!!
I'd class the worldbuilding as vaguely steampunk rather than more typically medieval fantasy, but it's rich and detailed with no cliched top hats in sight. Elbay is a tiered city segregating the rich from the poor, with mechanical marvels powered by souls, a periodic death ray that blasts everything outside the walls, and three warring sects of priests plus a mythical fourth type of priest solely devoted to pipes. Also, Hasp has a ceremonial big floppy hat. Alas, in the eternal death match between the rich and the poor in Elbay, Hasp is decidedly on the losing side: while Mortedants are famous for corruption and skimming off the estate of the deceased, Hasp lives on a low tier and can barely pay his rent. Due to his lack of wealthy connections and general abrasiveness, the officials in the priory avoid assigning him any work as a Mortedant, and without work, he can't gather even the smallest fees.
While Mortedant's Peril lacks the intense emotional stakes I tend to prefer in novels, Barker has an excellent hand with the worldbuilding and creating the labyrinthine politics of Elbay. It's a solid fantasy novel, and I liked it much more than Bone Ships. The ending of the book clearly sets it up for a series of sequels, and I'll probably read them when they come out.
I had mixed feelings about Barker's Bone Ships, but it had some compelling elements and his latest premise was excellent, so I thought I'd give his writing another shot. In Mortedant's Peril, Irody Hasp is the poorest and least popular Mortedant, a cleric who reads the last moments of the recently deceased. When his neophyte is unexpectedly murdered, Hasp must find the murderer among the chaotic city-state of Elbay—or due to the city's illogical justice system, he'll be executed as the last person to see Malkin.
Mortedant's Peril is structured like a mystery novel, albeit not in the Golden Age style of ferreting out clues and following leads. Instead, Hasp follows the nearly equally classic method: walk around asking questions and causing problems until the guilty party tries to kill you. And since Malkin's murderer was mixed up in a political scheme much larger than the death of one neophyte, Hasp is about to stumble into a world of trouble. Unfortunately, his inherent prejudices against everybody from the poor to foreigners to other sects of priests mean he spends a solid chunk of the novel annoying completely the wrong people until they try to kill him. Hasp is so egocentric and abrasive that he becomes an unreliable narrator through sheer force of bad judgement. But while he spends most of the novel parroting bigotry about anyone from outside the city, he also has a secret soft spot and commitment to justice. Yes, he spends two thirds of the book calling his assigned bodyguard Whisper slurs, but he'd also quietly buy her a meat pie with his last pennies. However, while a narrator determined to investigate entirely the wrong leads keeps the reader guessing, the foreshadowing was a bit heavy-handed. I like when plot twists are logical and intuitive, but I don't need a big flashing neon arrow every couple of chapters telling me that the bad guys are plotting [redacted]. I get it!!!
I'd class the worldbuilding as vaguely steampunk rather than more typically medieval fantasy, but it's rich and detailed with no cliched top hats in sight. Elbay is a tiered city segregating the rich from the poor, with mechanical marvels powered by souls, a periodic death ray that blasts everything outside the walls, and three warring sects of priests plus a mythical fourth type of priest solely devoted to pipes. Also, Hasp has a ceremonial big floppy hat. Alas, in the eternal death match between the rich and the poor in Elbay, Hasp is decidedly on the losing side: while Mortedants are famous for corruption and skimming off the estate of the deceased, Hasp lives on a low tier and can barely pay his rent. Due to his lack of wealthy connections and general abrasiveness, the officials in the priory avoid assigning him any work as a Mortedant, and without work, he can't gather even the smallest fees.
While Mortedant's Peril lacks the intense emotional stakes I tend to prefer in novels, Barker has an excellent hand with the worldbuilding and creating the labyrinthine politics of Elbay. It's a solid fantasy novel, and I liked it much more than Bone Ships. The ending of the book clearly sets it up for a series of sequels, and I'll probably read them when they come out.
March 5, 2026
Disclaimer: I received an e-ARC of this book from the publisher through Netgalley.
If your TBR needs a fun and imaginative fantasy mystery full of investigative misadventures then Mortedant’s Peril by RJ Barker is the book for you. This is my first book by RJ Barker and it definitely won’t be the last.
Perfect for fans of Robert Jackson Bennett with the feel of the Tainted Cup and a splash of Witness for the Dead by Katherine Addison. It is a delightfully witty and quirky story with a well-layered mystery and fascinating world-building that steals the show. I had a really great time with it.
It follows Irody Hasp, a cleric, tasked with reading the last thoughts of the dead. Barely tolerated amongst the members of his own guild and with jobs scarce to be found, Hasp reluctantly agrees to read the corpse of a low-level records keeper. But when his apprentice is killed shortly after and Hasp is framed for the murder, he sets off to clear his name with the help of an industrious street urchin named Mirial and Whisper, a mysterious sea person assigned as his guard. With his own life on the line, Hasp unravels the mysteries of the chaotic tiered city of Elbay, its strange automata and its sleeping god and stumbles into a dangerous conspiracy that threatens the city in its entirety.
Hasp as a narrator is quite unlikeable at the start of the book, with his arrogant nature and slightly prejudiced view to those ‘below’ him in the city. That, along with the heavy levels of world building at the beginning meant it took about a third of the book to really pull me in. But once the mystery really got going and our side characters were established the plot really picked up momentum and Hasp’s perspective starts to shift subtly over time until I found myself really liking him and the dynamic between him, Miriam and Whisper.
The world feels somewhat steampunk which is always a hit for me. The City of Elbay consists of 6 tiers, segregating the rich from the poor with rumours of a sleeping god in the city’s core, a mysterious ruler in the castle at the top of the hill, a periodic deadly ring of fire blasting from the city wills, and three Priories vying for power. There is the Mortedant’s Priory, the religious priory of the Worshipful, and the Spurrier’s Priory - who harvest animal souls to power mechanical marvels and ingenious creations for the wealthy and powerful. The complex politics between the priories and the class divide in the cities are a central part of the story’s conflict and well-explored throughout the mystery. As much as Mortedant’s Peril delves into the mysteries of Elbay, there is so much more to uncover with the city, not to mention the culture of the sea people and the world beyond the city that I really look forward to in future instalments.
There were a few points in the mystery where plot conveniences took me out of the story and felt inauthentic or Hasp was particularly dense and ignorant and made me want to shake him, however as the book developed these were lightly addressed and while they weren’t totally explained or resolved the ending clearly set up elements of future books and I will definitely read them when they come out!
Overall this was a 4 star read for me. A quirky cast of characters, unique world building and a mystery that balanced foreshadowing well will with keeping the reader guessing made for a fun read and a new series to keep your eye out for!
If your TBR needs a fun and imaginative fantasy mystery full of investigative misadventures then Mortedant’s Peril by RJ Barker is the book for you. This is my first book by RJ Barker and it definitely won’t be the last.
Perfect for fans of Robert Jackson Bennett with the feel of the Tainted Cup and a splash of Witness for the Dead by Katherine Addison. It is a delightfully witty and quirky story with a well-layered mystery and fascinating world-building that steals the show. I had a really great time with it.
It follows Irody Hasp, a cleric, tasked with reading the last thoughts of the dead. Barely tolerated amongst the members of his own guild and with jobs scarce to be found, Hasp reluctantly agrees to read the corpse of a low-level records keeper. But when his apprentice is killed shortly after and Hasp is framed for the murder, he sets off to clear his name with the help of an industrious street urchin named Mirial and Whisper, a mysterious sea person assigned as his guard. With his own life on the line, Hasp unravels the mysteries of the chaotic tiered city of Elbay, its strange automata and its sleeping god and stumbles into a dangerous conspiracy that threatens the city in its entirety.
Hasp as a narrator is quite unlikeable at the start of the book, with his arrogant nature and slightly prejudiced view to those ‘below’ him in the city. That, along with the heavy levels of world building at the beginning meant it took about a third of the book to really pull me in. But once the mystery really got going and our side characters were established the plot really picked up momentum and Hasp’s perspective starts to shift subtly over time until I found myself really liking him and the dynamic between him, Miriam and Whisper.
The world feels somewhat steampunk which is always a hit for me. The City of Elbay consists of 6 tiers, segregating the rich from the poor with rumours of a sleeping god in the city’s core, a mysterious ruler in the castle at the top of the hill, a periodic deadly ring of fire blasting from the city wills, and three Priories vying for power. There is the Mortedant’s Priory, the religious priory of the Worshipful, and the Spurrier’s Priory - who harvest animal souls to power mechanical marvels and ingenious creations for the wealthy and powerful. The complex politics between the priories and the class divide in the cities are a central part of the story’s conflict and well-explored throughout the mystery. As much as Mortedant’s Peril delves into the mysteries of Elbay, there is so much more to uncover with the city, not to mention the culture of the sea people and the world beyond the city that I really look forward to in future instalments.
There were a few points in the mystery where plot conveniences took me out of the story and felt inauthentic or Hasp was particularly dense and ignorant and made me want to shake him, however as the book developed these were lightly addressed and while they weren’t totally explained or resolved the ending clearly set up elements of future books and I will definitely read them when they come out!
Overall this was a 4 star read for me. A quirky cast of characters, unique world building and a mystery that balanced foreshadowing well will with keeping the reader guessing made for a fun read and a new series to keep your eye out for!
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
RJ Barker is a world builder. From the very first page, you are introduced to someplace unique, someplace you have never been, someplace you are never going to forget.
Irody Hasp is a Mortedant, someone who can divine the last words of the dead. As a member of the Mortedants' Priory, he is hired, mostly for very little coin, to perform this last rite. He and his neophyte, Malkin, take a job reading the last thoughts of one Dirrivan Murser, whose widow is hoping he will reveal some hidden stash of coin. When it doesn't quite turn out that way, the widow gets violent, and Irody and his neophyte flee for their lives.
Thus begins one Mortedant's journey into the schemes and politics of the city of Elbay, a city unlike any other, a city of seven tiers, where the higher you go, the more wealthy the residents. It's a city where the Spurriers' Priory uses arcane chemicals and the life energy of dead animals to create fantastical creatures and conveyances. It's a city where the Worshipful Priory prays for the return of the Howling God, long imprisoned within the city itself. It's a city of crows, who are protected by law; no man will kill a crow in Elbay.
Irody files a complaint to collect his fee from the murderous widow, and returns to his rooms to find his neophyte dead, and the murderer ready to add Irody to the ranks of the deceased. But Irody has a secret of his own: he dabbles in spurrying, quite illegal for anyone outside that Priory. He fends off his murderer with some chemicals, and sets off to find out who murdered Malkin, and why.
I'm not going to spoil this book for anyone, because I think readers need to come to this story with fresh eyes. I will say that if you enjoyed The Bone Ships trilogy, you will not be disappointed in Mortedant's Peril. I'm going to be eagerly awaiting the next books in this series, though. I'm not ready to leave Elbay yet.
I received this ARC as part of a Goodreads giveaway, and I am eternally grateful!
Irody Hasp is a Mortedant, someone who can divine the last words of the dead. As a member of the Mortedants' Priory, he is hired, mostly for very little coin, to perform this last rite. He and his neophyte, Malkin, take a job reading the last thoughts of one Dirrivan Murser, whose widow is hoping he will reveal some hidden stash of coin. When it doesn't quite turn out that way, the widow gets violent, and Irody and his neophyte flee for their lives.
Thus begins one Mortedant's journey into the schemes and politics of the city of Elbay, a city unlike any other, a city of seven tiers, where the higher you go, the more wealthy the residents. It's a city where the Spurriers' Priory uses arcane chemicals and the life energy of dead animals to create fantastical creatures and conveyances. It's a city where the Worshipful Priory prays for the return of the Howling God, long imprisoned within the city itself. It's a city of crows, who are protected by law; no man will kill a crow in Elbay.
Irody files a complaint to collect his fee from the murderous widow, and returns to his rooms to find his neophyte dead, and the murderer ready to add Irody to the ranks of the deceased. But Irody has a secret of his own: he dabbles in spurrying, quite illegal for anyone outside that Priory. He fends off his murderer with some chemicals, and sets off to find out who murdered Malkin, and why.
I'm not going to spoil this book for anyone, because I think readers need to come to this story with fresh eyes. I will say that if you enjoyed The Bone Ships trilogy, you will not be disappointed in Mortedant's Peril. I'm going to be eagerly awaiting the next books in this series, though. I'm not ready to leave Elbay yet.
I received this ARC as part of a Goodreads giveaway, and I am eternally grateful!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
A fun, inventive, and witty fantasy murder mystery set in the city of Elbay, where Irody Hasp, a cleric who talks to the dead (a Mortedant), is framed for the murder of his own apprentice.
To save himself from execution, Irody must uncover a conspiracy with the help of a snarky street girl and a non-human, Sea People mercenary.
For fans of The Hexologists, The Tainted Cup, and Foundryside.
An unpopular talker-to-the-dead; a chatty, street-smart urchin; and an honourable scary guard. I hear misfit crew of found family.
RJ Barker is an author who has a wild imagination and can build such an exciting and immersive world, rich with innovation and secrets to unravel.
‘And we are not judged by what we must do’ –the low growl of her voice filled the room –‘but by what we choose to do.’
Like his other books, the pacing is odd and will keep you guessing.
I struggled to visualise the city of Elbay as vividly as I was able to with Barker’s The Tide Child and Wyrdwood, but, like Barker’s author’s note says, this is a fun book he wrote in a hard time that gave him a way to escape.
This book can stand by itself satisfyingly, but this is the start of a series. Think The Hexologists by Josiah Bancroft.
Physical arc gifted by Tor.
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To save himself from execution, Irody must uncover a conspiracy with the help of a snarky street girl and a non-human, Sea People mercenary.
For fans of The Hexologists, The Tainted Cup, and Foundryside.
An unpopular talker-to-the-dead; a chatty, street-smart urchin; and an honourable scary guard. I hear misfit crew of found family.
RJ Barker is an author who has a wild imagination and can build such an exciting and immersive world, rich with innovation and secrets to unravel.
‘And we are not judged by what we must do’ –the low growl of her voice filled the room –‘but by what we choose to do.’
Like his other books, the pacing is odd and will keep you guessing.
I struggled to visualise the city of Elbay as vividly as I was able to with Barker’s The Tide Child and Wyrdwood, but, like Barker’s author’s note says, this is a fun book he wrote in a hard time that gave him a way to escape.
This book can stand by itself satisfyingly, but this is the start of a series. Think The Hexologists by Josiah Bancroft.
Physical arc gifted by Tor.
Bookstagram
Tiktok
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thanks, Netgalley, for providing me with an Advance Copy!
I'm a sucker for stories about regular folks who are pulled, all unwilling, into the universe's shenanigans, and this does not disappoint! Living on the edge of respectability, Irody Hasp is a Mortedant, able to commune with the newly dead and guide their spirits onward. He needs every penny he can get, so when he finds an under-the-table job to find out where a dead husband hid his money, he leaps at it. Little does he know that the dead guy possessed a dangerous secret, and unfortunately for him, some very violent people think he now possesses it, too.
Magic, soul-stealing, ancient machines beneath the city, and hair-raising escapades. Can't wait for the next one!
I'm a sucker for stories about regular folks who are pulled, all unwilling, into the universe's shenanigans, and this does not disappoint! Living on the edge of respectability, Irody Hasp is a Mortedant, able to commune with the newly dead and guide their spirits onward. He needs every penny he can get, so when he finds an under-the-table job to find out where a dead husband hid his money, he leaps at it. Little does he know that the dead guy possessed a dangerous secret, and unfortunately for him, some very violent people think he now possesses it, too.
Magic, soul-stealing, ancient machines beneath the city, and hair-raising escapades. Can't wait for the next one!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I really enjoyed this. Barker says in the acknowledgements that he had a lot of fun writing it and I think, as with the Mal and Jackie books, you can really tell. His Big Serious Fantasy Novels are great but they're not 'fun' exactly. (Indeed I found the final Wyrd Wood book exhausting, and certainly no one's ever having a laugh.) As ever his world-building is exemplary and I loved finding out about the city of Elbay. Irody, Mirial and Whisper are all great characters and Irody's awkward efforts to solve a mystery that gets unexectedly larger and more dangerous at every turn whilst finding himself obliged to get on with people, ugh, was a pacy and entertaining read. I look forward to the next one.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This was provided as an EARC by the publisher but the review is all my own.
I enjoyed meeting our main character Irody Hasp the way you enjoy meeting an eccentric stranger at a dinner party. Takes a few drinks to warm up to him but you find yourself really intrigued and by the end of the conversation you realize, hey, that was actually really dope! Let's do it again! NOT right away. But ... yeah ... call me Irody Hasp, Moredant of Elbay. I like your style.
I enjoyed meeting our main character Irody Hasp the way you enjoy meeting an eccentric stranger at a dinner party. Takes a few drinks to warm up to him but you find yourself really intrigued and by the end of the conversation you realize, hey, that was actually really dope! Let's do it again! NOT right away. But ... yeah ... call me Irody Hasp, Moredant of Elbay. I like your style.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
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4.5*
One of my favourite books by this author. Murder mystery is probably my favourite sub genre in fantasy and this one delivered.
It still has that Barker charm with some interesting characters and creative world building but I found this one to be quite accessible and I flew through it. If you’re a fan of The Tainted Cup then I couldn’t recommend this enough. My only gripe is that I found the city setting to be a little lacking but overall, the events that played out had me invested.
4.5*
One of my favourite books by this author. Murder mystery is probably my favourite sub genre in fantasy and this one delivered.
It still has that Barker charm with some interesting characters and creative world building but I found this one to be quite accessible and I flew through it. If you’re a fan of The Tainted Cup then I couldn’t recommend this enough. My only gripe is that I found the city setting to be a little lacking but overall, the events that played out had me invested.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
I might need to read this a little slower and revisit it. It's at least a 4 stars. I had some trouble with the start, it began incredibly dense, but after the first quarter or so the pace picked up and I ended up skipping my lunchtime walk to finish it. I think I'd like to have a physical copy of this one, and am certainly looking forward to the sequel now that the world is setup.
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December 13, 2025New series from RJ Barker?! Sign me up and take my money!
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
Fun, bold and super entertaining. Massive recommendation. Barker is a master of storytelling.
Review of advance copy
Delightful - well written, compelling, and gripping the entire way through.
March 23, 2026
Full review to come!
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