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An Edge Sharp Enough #1
An Edge Sharp Enough
Not yet published
Expected 17 Nov 26In a brilliant departure from the novels that made Jesse Q. Sutanto a USA Today bestselling author—including Dial A for Aunties—comes the first book in a debut dark fantasy duology, following an assassin, a scholar, a con man, and a guard in a race to rediscover powerful lost magic and save their world...
Mara has no memory of life before her assassin training behind the fortress-like walls of Tchu-Morrokhai, which has been her world since she was five. Practicing discipline and strategy, sacrifice and solitude, she has dedicated herself to resisting the Divine Empress’s plans of eradicating the all-but-forgotten magic. She longs for a world once again filled with magic—and freedom and love. And she’ll do whatever it takes to find those things.
In the faraway city of Velingard, Livya is the privileged daughter of the revered scientist whose invention of an indestructible new metal was the catalyst for a great revolution. Yet Livya’s bored of suitors and balls, more interested in philosophical debates. But when an invite to a secret salon leads to a kidnapping attempt, Livya is suddenly on the run—with the unlikely aid of charming con man Kaian, a once dear childhood friend inexplicably turned frosty stranger.
Captain Fonde has served Velingard faithfully in the twenty years since the revolution, and all has been peaceful... until now, when he’s informed that their “indestructible” metal is inexplicably starting to crumble. Ships, bridges, buildings, statues—their entire post-revolution world is literally about to come apart. Could it be that the metal—and therefore the revolution—was flawed all along? Or is there something darker—evil, ancient, inhuman—at play?
With stunning world-building, Jesse Q. Sutanto weaves an epic tale of characters whose lives irrevocably intertwine—and unravel—as paths collide across continents, racing toward an explosive twist that will forever change all of their fates...
Mara has no memory of life before her assassin training behind the fortress-like walls of Tchu-Morrokhai, which has been her world since she was five. Practicing discipline and strategy, sacrifice and solitude, she has dedicated herself to resisting the Divine Empress’s plans of eradicating the all-but-forgotten magic. She longs for a world once again filled with magic—and freedom and love. And she’ll do whatever it takes to find those things.
In the faraway city of Velingard, Livya is the privileged daughter of the revered scientist whose invention of an indestructible new metal was the catalyst for a great revolution. Yet Livya’s bored of suitors and balls, more interested in philosophical debates. But when an invite to a secret salon leads to a kidnapping attempt, Livya is suddenly on the run—with the unlikely aid of charming con man Kaian, a once dear childhood friend inexplicably turned frosty stranger.
Captain Fonde has served Velingard faithfully in the twenty years since the revolution, and all has been peaceful... until now, when he’s informed that their “indestructible” metal is inexplicably starting to crumble. Ships, bridges, buildings, statues—their entire post-revolution world is literally about to come apart. Could it be that the metal—and therefore the revolution—was flawed all along? Or is there something darker—evil, ancient, inhuman—at play?
With stunning world-building, Jesse Q. Sutanto weaves an epic tale of characters whose lives irrevocably intertwine—and unravel—as paths collide across continents, racing toward an explosive twist that will forever change all of their fates...
368 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication November 17, 2026
About the author
Jesse Q. Sutanto
30 books10.5k followersJesse Q Sutanto grew up shuttling back and forth between Jakarta and Singapore and sees both cities as her homes. She has a Masters degree from Oxford University, though she has yet to figure out a way of saying that without sounding obnoxious. She is currently living back in Jakarta on the same street as her parents and about seven hundred meddlesome aunties. When she's not tearing out her hair over her latest WIP, she spends her time baking and playing FPS games. Oh, and also being a mom to her two kids.
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Want to Read
July 22, 2026 ⌗ ──🍋🟩🐈⬛ᝰ .ᐟ pre-read.
I GOT THE ARC OF ONE OF MY FAVORITE AUTHORS, OMG, I'M CRYING
thanks to netgalley, avon & harper voyager and jesse q. sutanto for an arc in exchange of an honest review.
I GOT THE ARC OF ONE OF MY FAVORITE AUTHORS, OMG, I'M CRYING
thanks to netgalley, avon & harper voyager and jesse q. sutanto for an arc in exchange of an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The worldbuilding is interesting, but not worth the ridiculous amount of infodumping, repetition, or the frankly abysmal prose.
Quotes taken from my review copy, so any and all of these could be edited in the final version of the book.
I’m assuming ‘from she got hit’ is a genuine typo with a word missing, but even if it’s meant to be ‘from where she got hit and surged everywhere’, that’s just…really clunky and basic?
???
Yeah no duh, that’s how stoning someone to death works?
Usually this kind of thing is phrased as 'somewhere of vital importance to BE', so although this isn't WRONG, it SOUNDS wrong to me.
That’s definitely meant to be ‘grind’.
You can’t melt something into ash, wtf?
After rereading this a couple of times, I THINK this is saying that Mara has survived her previous classes by preparing for them, and that won’t work this time because she doesn’t know what to prepare for. But WOW is that badly phrased.
For context, Kaian IS Velingard’s only Earth Artist. This sounds like as far as he knows, his own life is good. When I THINK what this is meant to say is that he’s the only Earth Artist around as far as he knows.
Some other what?
‘Pricking up’ sounds terrible.
Again, this is so unbelievably clunky.
Yeah sorry-not-sorry, I hate it.
Quotes taken from my review copy, so any and all of these could be edited in the final version of the book.
Then the pain, bursting like an overripe fruit, bloomed from she got hit and surged everywhere, until even the tips of her hair hurt.
I’m assuming ‘from she got hit’ is a genuine typo with a word missing, but even if it’s meant to be ‘from where she got hit and surged everywhere’, that’s just…really clunky and basic?
Only Mara didn’t feel threatened. She was more than enthralled.
???
The boy’s skull was crushed and he died sometime between the first stone and the last.
Yeah no duh, that’s how stoning someone to death works?
walking like they had somewhere of vital importance to go.
Usually this kind of thing is phrased as 'somewhere of vital importance to BE', so although this isn't WRONG, it SOUNDS wrong to me.
just as ready to raise its colossal fist and ground its own people into dust.
That’s definitely meant to be ‘grind’.
the flames licked at Queen Seyrah’s face, slowly melting it into black ash.
You can’t melt something into ash, wtf?
As such, there was no way of predicting how the classes would go, and no way of preparing for them, which was how Mara had managed to–hah–survive most of her classes so far.
After rereading this a couple of times, I THINK this is saying that Mara has survived her previous classes by preparing for them, and that won’t work this time because she doesn’t know what to prepare for. But WOW is that badly phrased.
Life was good for Velingard’s only Earth Artist. Well, as far as Kaian knew, anyway.
For context, Kaian IS Velingard’s only Earth Artist. This sounds like as far as he knows, his own life is good. When I THINK what this is meant to say is that he’s the only Earth Artist around as far as he knows.
He’d dismissed them as sons of Prestige employees or some other, but one in particular caught his eye.
Some other what?
His instincts were no longer pricking up, they were full-on shouting, trying to catch his attention.
‘Pricking up’ sounds terrible.
But when he met Sergeant’s Cormack’s eye, something inside it reached past all those layers of conscious thought, ripping through them and going straight into the part of his brain that reacted based on just one single need: survival.
Again, this is so unbelievably clunky.
Yeah sorry-not-sorry, I hate it.
Read
January 5, 2026Releases Aug 2026
I was very fortunate to receive an e-ARC super early. I won’t rate because honestly I’m still wrapping my head around the whole thing. Props to the author for the beautiful writing style and wording - just made it flow so effortlessly.
A fantasy story filled with a lot of political intrigue. This land/continent is on the brink of collapse. The elemental magic in their land (referred to as “Art”) is gone, an empress is waging war and taking over territories one by one and more plots are underway. On one side of the continent we have Tchu - our main character here is Mara. Mara is in training at the institute to become an emissary (a soldier), taken at the age of 5 to enter training, she is the runt, physically weak - but her mind and affinity for magic are strong. What keeps her going is her forbidden love/crush on her fellow trainee Lia. On the other side, we have Velingard - a more civilized society on the other side of a shaky revolution. The main characters here are Livya, Cerra, Kaian and Commander Fonde. A scholar/socialite, her lady’s maid/adopted sister, a low class thief/magic wielder and a soldier. All four are interconnected when murders, a political plots and odd magical occurrences start to ramp up. There is a complicated mix of beliefs (gods and demons), metallurgy and an elemental magic system. And I won’t get into the details because it won’t be brief. This story was filled with twists and turns, and honestly a plot twist I never saw coming. I think I went into this thinking romantasy - and I don’t think it’s quite that - I think this is more fantasy/science fiction, there is romance/love, but it’s not the focus. (At least I didn’t think so)
I was very fortunate to receive an e-ARC super early. I won’t rate because honestly I’m still wrapping my head around the whole thing. Props to the author for the beautiful writing style and wording - just made it flow so effortlessly.
A fantasy story filled with a lot of political intrigue. This land/continent is on the brink of collapse. The elemental magic in their land (referred to as “Art”) is gone, an empress is waging war and taking over territories one by one and more plots are underway. On one side of the continent we have Tchu - our main character here is Mara. Mara is in training at the institute to become an emissary (a soldier), taken at the age of 5 to enter training, she is the runt, physically weak - but her mind and affinity for magic are strong. What keeps her going is her forbidden love/crush on her fellow trainee Lia. On the other side, we have Velingard - a more civilized society on the other side of a shaky revolution. The main characters here are Livya, Cerra, Kaian and Commander Fonde. A scholar/socialite, her lady’s maid/adopted sister, a low class thief/magic wielder and a soldier. All four are interconnected when murders, a political plots and odd magical occurrences start to ramp up. There is a complicated mix of beliefs (gods and demons), metallurgy and an elemental magic system. And I won’t get into the details because it won’t be brief. This story was filled with twists and turns, and honestly a plot twist I never saw coming. I think I went into this thinking romantasy - and I don’t think it’s quite that - I think this is more fantasy/science fiction, there is romance/love, but it’s not the focus. (At least I didn’t think so)
Want to Read
October 16, 2026Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Voyager for access to this ARC
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to Daphne Press and NetGalley for the ARC
3.5 stars
The concepts and world building are the real strength of this story. It's very detailed and feels both immersive and expansive. The political machinations, religious doctrine, and magic system all feel distinct and interesting. In saying that, it did take a large chunk of the book for me to start feeling like I was understanding the politics and history backgrounding events, and I'm not sure I totally got there with the magic system. Once the politics started to click though, it felt worth sticking it out for me and the plot becomes more compelling.
In terms of the characters, I do think I would have liked to see some more relationship building and development. They seemed quite surface level, and I felt like I was being told more about the dynamics between them than shown which really impacted how emotionally invested I felt.
The storyline overall is quite violent and as a book it has a dark and gritty feel to it, but it also read quite young at points, so that element did feel a bit inconsistent. The writing style itself was enjoyable though and nice to read.
Once I got towards the ending, the big events started to unfold and it becomes clear how the characters all connect and fit into the overall picture, it's obvious that there is some clever construction in the plot. Although some of the reveals were quite obvious and there are some moments that feel quite convenient, others did take me by surprise. It does also have a bit of a cliffhanger ending, and on the whole, I did enjoy this and am intrigued enough the I'll be picking up the next book in the duology to see how it's all resolved.
3.5 stars
The concepts and world building are the real strength of this story. It's very detailed and feels both immersive and expansive. The political machinations, religious doctrine, and magic system all feel distinct and interesting. In saying that, it did take a large chunk of the book for me to start feeling like I was understanding the politics and history backgrounding events, and I'm not sure I totally got there with the magic system. Once the politics started to click though, it felt worth sticking it out for me and the plot becomes more compelling.
In terms of the characters, I do think I would have liked to see some more relationship building and development. They seemed quite surface level, and I felt like I was being told more about the dynamics between them than shown which really impacted how emotionally invested I felt.
The storyline overall is quite violent and as a book it has a dark and gritty feel to it, but it also read quite young at points, so that element did feel a bit inconsistent. The writing style itself was enjoyable though and nice to read.
Once I got towards the ending, the big events started to unfold and it becomes clear how the characters all connect and fit into the overall picture, it's obvious that there is some clever construction in the plot. Although some of the reveals were quite obvious and there are some moments that feel quite convenient, others did take me by surprise. It does also have a bit of a cliffhanger ending, and on the whole, I did enjoy this and am intrigued enough the I'll be picking up the next book in the duology to see how it's all resolved.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
⚔️✦✧✧ 𝐀𝐧 𝐄𝐝𝐠𝐞 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐩 𝐄𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 Review ✧✧✦⚔️
•Rating: ★★★★★/5
•Duology
•Pub Date: 11/17.
"Desde la primera página hasta la última mi mandíbula se cayó al suelo y tuve esta expresión de pez koy durante toooodo el último 50% del libro. Entonces dije, 'mejor no la recojamos del suelo, ya que a cada rato se va a estar cayendo con todo lo que está pasando!!' ".
-Yo, explicándole a mi hermana mi experiencia con este libro.
Ya me explico. Pero primero...
✨Thank you so much to Harper Voyager and the author for the e-arc opportunity through Netgalley! ✨
𝐁𝐥𝐮𝐫𝐛
⊹ ࣪ ﹏𓊝﹏𓂁﹏⊹ ࣪ ˖
Mara has no memory of life before her assassin training behind the fortress-like walls of Tchu-Morrokhai, which has been her world since she was five. Practicing discipline and strategy, sacrifice and solitude, she has dedicated herself to resisting the Divine Empress’s plans of eradicating the all-but-forgotten magic. She longs for a world once again filled with magic—and freedom and love. And she’ll do whatever it takes to find those things.
In the faraway city of Velingard, Livya is the privileged daughter of the revered scientist whose invention of an indestructible new metal was the catalyst for a great revolution. Yet Livya’s bored of suitors and balls, more interested in philosophical debates. But when an invite to a secret salon leads to a kidnapping attempt, Livya is suddenly on the run—with the unlikely aid of charming con man Kaian, a once dear childhood friend inexplicably turned frosty stranger.
Captain Fonde has served Velingard faithfully in the twenty years since the revolution, and all has been peaceful... until now, when he’s informed that their “indestructible” metal is inexplicably starting to crumble. Ships, bridges, buildings, statues—their entire post-revolution world is literally about to come apart. Could it be that the metal—and therefore the revolution—was flawed all along? Or is there something darker—evil, ancient, inhuman—at play?
⊹ ࣪ ﹏𓊝﹏𓂁﹏⊹ ࣪ ˖
𝐎𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐨𝐧
Empecé 𝑨𝒏 𝑬𝒅𝒈𝒆 𝑺𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒑 𝑬𝒏𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉 sin tener la menor idea de lo que me esperaba. Pero lo poco que sabía me pareció interesante, así que aposté todo a mi curiosidad y BAM! Terminé dando con ORO PURO.
(Al menos en lo que a libros se refiere)
Desde que empecé a leer, sentí intriga y fascinación por todo lo que se describía. Los personajes que narraban. El mundo que se ampliaba más y más en cada página. Después descubriría el lore que había inspirado gran parte de este mundo (del que no tengo conocimiento real) pero que de ninguna manera, con la habilidad de la autora, me hizo sentir perdida o abrumada. Fue simplemente increíble.
El world building es complejo pero no incomprensible. Hay tantos elementos que al principio no parecen tener relación hasta que poco a poco empiezan a conectar entre sí. Hay política, religión, guerra, campañas de conquista, tecnología, magia, ciencia y mitología. Hay monarquías, revoluciones, ideologías... Y todo se explora a través de los ojos de 4 personajes:
𝑼𝒏𝒂 𝒂𝒔𝒆𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒂.
𝑼𝒏 𝒍𝒂𝒅𝒓𝒐́𝒏.
𝑼𝒏𝒂 𝒂𝒄𝒂𝒅𝒆́𝒎𝒊𝒄𝒂.
𝑼𝒏 𝒔𝒐𝒍𝒅𝒂𝒅𝒐.
El rol que juega cada uno dentro de esta historia...eso, es mejor averiguarlo al leer.
Sólo puedo decir que me tuvieron al borde del asiento todo el tiempo, y en más de una ocasión también gritándole a la kindle con desespe como si pudieran oírme o algo.
También debo decir que, particularmente para mí, fue un libro lleno de acción, adrenalina y sí, sangre. Las descripciones fueron especialmente útiles para darle forma a las diferentes escenas, aunque en varias ocasiones tuve que bajar el libro para procesar 🤣
Quiero decir mucho, y al mismo tiempo, lo más valioso de mi experiencia fue entrar con la mente en blanco respecto a todo, así que no voy a entrar en mucho detalle.
(Bueno, más)
Disfruté este libro ENORMEMENTE.
Se llevó mi mente a una aventura de la que no quería salir y a la que me muero por regresar ahora que se terminó esta primera parte. Aunque soy muy consciente de que, si este libro me rompió la mente, el segundo me hará puré.
Pero ni modo qué hacer 😎
* . °•★|•°∵
Algunas de mis frases favoritas:
•"𝑴𝒂𝒓𝒂 𝒉𝒂𝒅 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒎𝒊𝒔𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒅𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒚 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒍𝒅 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝑳𝒊𝒂, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑽𝒆𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒂𝒓𝒅 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒋𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒇𝒊𝒓𝒔𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝒎𝒂𝒏𝒚 𝒑𝒊𝒆𝒄𝒆𝒔 𝒔𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒕𝒆𝒂𝒓 𝒅𝒐𝒘𝒏."
•"𝑵𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝒑𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒓𝒇𝒖𝒍 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒏 𝒂𝒏 𝒖𝒏𝒒𝒖𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒇𝒂𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒃𝒐𝒓𝒏𝒆 𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝒇𝒆𝒂𝒓.”
•"𝒀𝒆𝒔, 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒚 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒅 𝒆𝒂𝒄𝒉 𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓. 𝑻𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒊𝒕, 𝒔𝒖𝒄𝒉 𝒂 𝒔𝒊𝒎𝒑𝒍𝒆, 𝒄𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒏 𝒇𝒂𝒄𝒕. 𝑰𝒏 𝒂 𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒄𝒆 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒚’𝒅 𝒃𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝒓𝒂𝒊𝒔𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒆 𝒏𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒔𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒑𝒆𝒏𝒆𝒅 𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒅𝒂𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒔, 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒚’𝒅 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒉𝒐𝒘 𝒇𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅 𝒂 𝒘𝒂𝒚 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒆 𝒉𝒖𝒎𝒂𝒏, 𝒕𝒉𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉 𝒆𝒂𝒄𝒉 𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓."
•“𝑩𝒖𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒆𝒏𝒕, 𝒘𝒆 𝒎𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒑𝒂𝒔𝒕.
•Rating: ★★★★★/5
•Duology
•Pub Date: 11/17.
"Desde la primera página hasta la última mi mandíbula se cayó al suelo y tuve esta expresión de pez koy durante toooodo el último 50% del libro. Entonces dije, 'mejor no la recojamos del suelo, ya que a cada rato se va a estar cayendo con todo lo que está pasando!!' ".
-Yo, explicándole a mi hermana mi experiencia con este libro.
Ya me explico. Pero primero...
✨Thank you so much to Harper Voyager and the author for the e-arc opportunity through Netgalley! ✨
𝐁𝐥𝐮𝐫𝐛
⊹ ࣪ ﹏𓊝﹏𓂁﹏⊹ ࣪ ˖
Mara has no memory of life before her assassin training behind the fortress-like walls of Tchu-Morrokhai, which has been her world since she was five. Practicing discipline and strategy, sacrifice and solitude, she has dedicated herself to resisting the Divine Empress’s plans of eradicating the all-but-forgotten magic. She longs for a world once again filled with magic—and freedom and love. And she’ll do whatever it takes to find those things.
In the faraway city of Velingard, Livya is the privileged daughter of the revered scientist whose invention of an indestructible new metal was the catalyst for a great revolution. Yet Livya’s bored of suitors and balls, more interested in philosophical debates. But when an invite to a secret salon leads to a kidnapping attempt, Livya is suddenly on the run—with the unlikely aid of charming con man Kaian, a once dear childhood friend inexplicably turned frosty stranger.
Captain Fonde has served Velingard faithfully in the twenty years since the revolution, and all has been peaceful... until now, when he’s informed that their “indestructible” metal is inexplicably starting to crumble. Ships, bridges, buildings, statues—their entire post-revolution world is literally about to come apart. Could it be that the metal—and therefore the revolution—was flawed all along? Or is there something darker—evil, ancient, inhuman—at play?
⊹ ࣪ ﹏𓊝﹏𓂁﹏⊹ ࣪ ˖
𝐎𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐨𝐧
Empecé 𝑨𝒏 𝑬𝒅𝒈𝒆 𝑺𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒑 𝑬𝒏𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉 sin tener la menor idea de lo que me esperaba. Pero lo poco que sabía me pareció interesante, así que aposté todo a mi curiosidad y BAM! Terminé dando con ORO PURO.
(Al menos en lo que a libros se refiere)
Desde que empecé a leer, sentí intriga y fascinación por todo lo que se describía. Los personajes que narraban. El mundo que se ampliaba más y más en cada página. Después descubriría el lore que había inspirado gran parte de este mundo (del que no tengo conocimiento real) pero que de ninguna manera, con la habilidad de la autora, me hizo sentir perdida o abrumada. Fue simplemente increíble.
El world building es complejo pero no incomprensible. Hay tantos elementos que al principio no parecen tener relación hasta que poco a poco empiezan a conectar entre sí. Hay política, religión, guerra, campañas de conquista, tecnología, magia, ciencia y mitología. Hay monarquías, revoluciones, ideologías... Y todo se explora a través de los ojos de 4 personajes:
𝑼𝒏𝒂 𝒂𝒔𝒆𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒂.
𝑼𝒏 𝒍𝒂𝒅𝒓𝒐́𝒏.
𝑼𝒏𝒂 𝒂𝒄𝒂𝒅𝒆́𝒎𝒊𝒄𝒂.
𝑼𝒏 𝒔𝒐𝒍𝒅𝒂𝒅𝒐.
El rol que juega cada uno dentro de esta historia...eso, es mejor averiguarlo al leer.
Sólo puedo decir que me tuvieron al borde del asiento todo el tiempo, y en más de una ocasión también gritándole a la kindle con desespe como si pudieran oírme o algo.
También debo decir que, particularmente para mí, fue un libro lleno de acción, adrenalina y sí, sangre. Las descripciones fueron especialmente útiles para darle forma a las diferentes escenas, aunque en varias ocasiones tuve que bajar el libro para procesar 🤣
Quiero decir mucho, y al mismo tiempo, lo más valioso de mi experiencia fue entrar con la mente en blanco respecto a todo, así que no voy a entrar en mucho detalle.
(Bueno, más)
Disfruté este libro ENORMEMENTE.
Se llevó mi mente a una aventura de la que no quería salir y a la que me muero por regresar ahora que se terminó esta primera parte. Aunque soy muy consciente de que, si este libro me rompió la mente, el segundo me hará puré.
Pero ni modo qué hacer 😎
* . °•★|•°∵
Algunas de mis frases favoritas:
•"𝑴𝒂𝒓𝒂 𝒉𝒂𝒅 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒎𝒊𝒔𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒅𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒚 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒍𝒅 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝑳𝒊𝒂, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑽𝒆𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒂𝒓𝒅 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒋𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒇𝒊𝒓𝒔𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝒎𝒂𝒏𝒚 𝒑𝒊𝒆𝒄𝒆𝒔 𝒔𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒕𝒆𝒂𝒓 𝒅𝒐𝒘𝒏."
•"𝑵𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝒑𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒓𝒇𝒖𝒍 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒏 𝒂𝒏 𝒖𝒏𝒒𝒖𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒇𝒂𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒃𝒐𝒓𝒏𝒆 𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝒇𝒆𝒂𝒓.”
•"𝒀𝒆𝒔, 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒚 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒅 𝒆𝒂𝒄𝒉 𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓. 𝑻𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒊𝒕, 𝒔𝒖𝒄𝒉 𝒂 𝒔𝒊𝒎𝒑𝒍𝒆, 𝒄𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒏 𝒇𝒂𝒄𝒕. 𝑰𝒏 𝒂 𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒄𝒆 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒚’𝒅 𝒃𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝒓𝒂𝒊𝒔𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒆 𝒏𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒔𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒑𝒆𝒏𝒆𝒅 𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒅𝒂𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒔, 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒚’𝒅 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒉𝒐𝒘 𝒇𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅 𝒂 𝒘𝒂𝒚 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒆 𝒉𝒖𝒎𝒂𝒏, 𝒕𝒉𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉 𝒆𝒂𝒄𝒉 𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓."
•“𝑩𝒖𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒆𝒏𝒕, 𝒘𝒆 𝒎𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒑𝒂𝒔𝒕.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This book is very hard for me to review. It took me a good while to get into this story. This is supposed to be high fantasy but large chuncks of it, especially all the relationship and love talk, reads like YA. Which would be fine but something big was going on in all characters lives but that get largely ignored in favor of lots of inner thoughs about the person they love. Which made the story very slow as well. I didn't get pulled into the story until the last third of the book, I guess. There things finally start happening and the worldbuilding got better explained. And that part I did love! Finally the pace and the story felt like I was reading an actual high fantasy book. And some revalations I really didn't see coming!
Thanks to NetGalley and Daphne Press for providing me with an early e-copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
Thanks to NetGalley and Daphne Press for providing me with an early e-copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
ARC review.
An Edge Sharp Enough is a sci-fi fantasy with queer rep that kept me engaged from page one.
I found its strengths particularly in the magic system and in the world building, which is well-thought, rich with history, culture and religion.
There are a total of 4 POVs, which I’m usually not a fan of, but here only 2 of those are from characters that interact with each other, so it felt more like 3 distinct POVs in time and space.
The writing style is fluent and engaging. There’s lots of descriptions and inner thoughts, but they never felt heavy or unnecessary. Sometimes they’re a tiny bit too over explained, but with all the political and social mess going on I honestly didn’t mind it at all.
I’m not sure how to explain this without giving spoilers, so I’ll just say that some elements of this book reminded me of Rin from The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang, and Kell from A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab.
Overall this was a great book from start to end. I guessed one of the main plot twists but that didn’t change my enjoyment of the story, and to me that indicates a great read. I really can’t wait for book 2, with all the buildup that happened here I expect a lot.
Thanks again so much NetGalley and the author Jesse Q. Sutanto for the ARC copy. This has been one of my best reads of the year.
TW: gore, lots of blood, death, murder, violence, police brutality, religious bigotry.
— nyx ♡
An Edge Sharp Enough is a sci-fi fantasy with queer rep that kept me engaged from page one.
I found its strengths particularly in the magic system and in the world building, which is well-thought, rich with history, culture and religion.
There are a total of 4 POVs, which I’m usually not a fan of, but here only 2 of those are from characters that interact with each other, so it felt more like 3 distinct POVs in time and space.
The writing style is fluent and engaging. There’s lots of descriptions and inner thoughts, but they never felt heavy or unnecessary. Sometimes they’re a tiny bit too over explained, but with all the political and social mess going on I honestly didn’t mind it at all.
I’m not sure how to explain this without giving spoilers, so I’ll just say that some elements of this book reminded me of Rin from The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang, and Kell from A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab.
Overall this was a great book from start to end. I guessed one of the main plot twists but that didn’t change my enjoyment of the story, and to me that indicates a great read. I really can’t wait for book 2, with all the buildup that happened here I expect a lot.
Thanks again so much NetGalley and the author Jesse Q. Sutanto for the ARC copy. This has been one of my best reads of the year.
TW: gore, lots of blood, death, murder, violence, police brutality, religious bigotry.
— nyx ♡
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
This pains me, but I cannot continue I’m just simply not enjoying this book.
DNF - 128 pages.
The beginning had me hooked, Mara and assassin I was like hell yes! Give me some badass training. The world building was so fun and even more insane that the author took inspiration from WoW. I couldn’t be more excited to venture into this world.
Usually I love a multi POV book give me 7 POV’s and you have me hooked. I love getting to know characters individually and then trying to learn how they’re connected. This book had 4 POV’s, I was mostly excited by Mara’s. Unfortunately I felt there wasn’t a continuation or any further development, I kept waiting for the ‘click’ to happen or plot to give me some kind of reason to keep going but nothing did and ultimately I have lost interest.
Thank you so much Daphne Press For the gifted ARC, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
DNF - 128 pages.
The beginning had me hooked, Mara and assassin I was like hell yes! Give me some badass training. The world building was so fun and even more insane that the author took inspiration from WoW. I couldn’t be more excited to venture into this world.
Usually I love a multi POV book give me 7 POV’s and you have me hooked. I love getting to know characters individually and then trying to learn how they’re connected. This book had 4 POV’s, I was mostly excited by Mara’s. Unfortunately I felt there wasn’t a continuation or any further development, I kept waiting for the ‘click’ to happen or plot to give me some kind of reason to keep going but nothing did and ultimately I have lost interest.
Thank you so much Daphne Press For the gifted ARC, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this early review copy.
When I started reading this book, it was slated for an August 2026 publication, but after I finished, I see a publication date of March 2027 is now listed. So I don't know when it will be published!
world-building: solid
POV: four - I wished there were not as many POVs (although I can't pick one that I would get rid of, either)
characters: a bit frustrating, some of them were very stupid.
pacing: slow - I often lost my focus and set the book down, I wished for a tighter plot. This is my biggest complaint about the book: it just did not hold my attention.
magic-system: interesting, but confusing, "Art" is like a chi, a spirit that is present in everything (people, animals, plants, stars, shadows, rocks, even "the space between air"), and can be drawn out and woven into spells; it used to be abundant and commonly used, but in the last century is has mysteriously dried up. And from this "Art" are also dark demons from another dimension. Maybe.
Things I liked:
I thought I had this all figured out, but I missed one key detail, and that's all due to Sutanto's cleverness. Well done!
Things I didn't like:
Things took too long to get started.
Read alikes:
This is high fantasy, set in a world where magic has inexplicably disappeared. Some of the characters are very young, and at times this reads like YA. This might appeal to fans of Robert Jackson Bennett.
Is this a series? Maybe! The ending seems to set things up for a sequel.
This is one of those straight-up fantasy-world fantasies, complete with place names, jobs, weapons, abilities, religions, cultures, continents, and histories that I had to quickly learn to keep track of. It's ... a lot at first. Once published, there will be a map (and hopefully a glossary) to help new readers, but I read an arc so I was on my own! Each chapter is from a different POV, and at first the connections between characters was unknown, so I found myself getting attached to one character and then poof! dumped into a completely different world with different characters. I had a hard time staying engaged.
Mara, in Tchu-Morrokhai, was taken as a baby and raised in The Institute, a school of “Emissaries” (aka assassins), trained by the Elders, and forbidden to make friends with any classmates (and they seem to be encouraged to attack and even kill each other - I'm not sure how THAT fosters national pride, but what do I know about training to be an Emissary). Kaian, across the ocean, is a Kazgarthian orphan now living in Velingard, and surviving on his wits and the money he makes as a tavern worker and a petty thief. Livya Bellevue, also in Velingard, is an elite rich girl, the child of two famed scientists, and formerly Kaian's childhood friend; Livya is so elite that she lives with a paid companion, aka Sectator, Cerra. (I struggled with the fact that a "Sectator" felt a lot like a slave). Commander Fonde, the only adult in the mix, is captain of the police (aka Vigils) in Velingard.
Some of the characters do act a bit too "YA" and this made the tone of the book feel a little confusing at times. Mara is absolutely obsessed with her classmate, Lia, to the point where this is her complete personality. (I confess I kept getting the names “Mara” and “Lia” confused, and I wish Sutanto had chosen more dissimilar names so I could keep them straight - it doesn't help that there's also a Livya in the book. All the names in the universe, and we get Mara, Lia, Cerra, and Livya to contend with.) Lia returns the feelings, but unfortunately for both of them, friendship and romance is absolutely forbidden in their school, on pain of death by stoning. This seemed extreme, but I was willing to accept it, since, ya know, "fantasy world rules" and all that.
Kaian is also feeling pretty obsessed with rich socialite Livya, and that was a whole lot of teenaged obsession to be carried in a non-YA novel. Luckily, the fifth character, Fonde, does not have googly eyes for anyone. In fact, his character was so different that I sometimes wondered why he was there. I think he provided backstory for how the revolution happened and how it affected the country, since he lived through that.
Livya is kind of stupid. I lost count of the number of tines Kaian cautioned her to hang back, and she darted past him insisting she had to do whatever. Once, I can see. Twice, maybe. But why didn't she learn her lesson? Her stupid headstrong insistence got people killed. How many people have to die before you catch a clue, Livya?
Metallurgy is important to the plot. A deified former emperor, Eziri, discovered that dracerium was effective in repelling “demons,” so he gathered a lot of that. Lyvia’s mother, Dr. Yohana Bellevue, invented adther, (created by putting adtherium on dracerium), which is now used everywhere, since it was believed to be indestructible. This is a key plot element, and it didn't completely make sense. If a metal is indestructible, how do you form it and carve it? That’s never explained. And why would it be cheap, if it's not plentiful? And who builds houses out of metal??
In the Author's Notes, Sutanto explains that this was actually her very first book, it was based on the many hours she spent playing World of Warcraft, but it was never accepted by a publisher back then so she shelved it. Until now! I never played WoW so I missed any easter eggs she hid in the book. I'm sure that will be fun for any fans.
When I started reading this book, it was slated for an August 2026 publication, but after I finished, I see a publication date of March 2027 is now listed. So I don't know when it will be published!
world-building: solid
POV: four - I wished there were not as many POVs (although I can't pick one that I would get rid of, either)
characters: a bit frustrating, some of them were very stupid.
pacing: slow - I often lost my focus and set the book down, I wished for a tighter plot. This is my biggest complaint about the book: it just did not hold my attention.
magic-system: interesting, but confusing, "Art" is like a chi, a spirit that is present in everything (people, animals, plants, stars, shadows, rocks, even "the space between air"), and can be drawn out and woven into spells; it used to be abundant and commonly used, but in the last century is has mysteriously dried up. And from this "Art" are also dark demons from another dimension. Maybe.
Things I liked:
I thought I had this all figured out, but I missed one key detail, and that's all due to Sutanto's cleverness. Well done!
Things I didn't like:
Things took too long to get started.
Read alikes:
This is high fantasy, set in a world where magic has inexplicably disappeared. Some of the characters are very young, and at times this reads like YA. This might appeal to fans of Robert Jackson Bennett.
Is this a series? Maybe! The ending seems to set things up for a sequel.
This is one of those straight-up fantasy-world fantasies, complete with place names, jobs, weapons, abilities, religions, cultures, continents, and histories that I had to quickly learn to keep track of. It's ... a lot at first. Once published, there will be a map (and hopefully a glossary) to help new readers, but I read an arc so I was on my own! Each chapter is from a different POV, and at first the connections between characters was unknown, so I found myself getting attached to one character and then poof! dumped into a completely different world with different characters. I had a hard time staying engaged.
Mara, in Tchu-Morrokhai, was taken as a baby and raised in The Institute, a school of “Emissaries” (aka assassins), trained by the Elders, and forbidden to make friends with any classmates (and they seem to be encouraged to attack and even kill each other - I'm not sure how THAT fosters national pride, but what do I know about training to be an Emissary). Kaian, across the ocean, is a Kazgarthian orphan now living in Velingard, and surviving on his wits and the money he makes as a tavern worker and a petty thief. Livya Bellevue, also in Velingard, is an elite rich girl, the child of two famed scientists, and formerly Kaian's childhood friend; Livya is so elite that she lives with a paid companion, aka Sectator, Cerra. (I struggled with the fact that a "Sectator" felt a lot like a slave). Commander Fonde, the only adult in the mix, is captain of the police (aka Vigils) in Velingard.
Some of the characters do act a bit too "YA" and this made the tone of the book feel a little confusing at times. Mara is absolutely obsessed with her classmate, Lia, to the point where this is her complete personality. (I confess I kept getting the names “Mara” and “Lia” confused, and I wish Sutanto had chosen more dissimilar names so I could keep them straight - it doesn't help that there's also a Livya in the book. All the names in the universe, and we get Mara, Lia, Cerra, and Livya to contend with.) Lia returns the feelings, but unfortunately for both of them, friendship and romance is absolutely forbidden in their school, on pain of death by stoning. This seemed extreme, but I was willing to accept it, since, ya know, "fantasy world rules" and all that.
Kaian is also feeling pretty obsessed with rich socialite Livya, and that was a whole lot of teenaged obsession to be carried in a non-YA novel. Luckily, the fifth character, Fonde, does not have googly eyes for anyone. In fact, his character was so different that I sometimes wondered why he was there. I think he provided backstory for how the revolution happened and how it affected the country, since he lived through that.
Livya is kind of stupid. I lost count of the number of tines Kaian cautioned her to hang back, and she darted past him insisting she had to do whatever. Once, I can see. Twice, maybe. But why didn't she learn her lesson? Her stupid headstrong insistence got people killed. How many people have to die before you catch a clue, Livya?
Metallurgy is important to the plot. A deified former emperor, Eziri, discovered that dracerium was effective in repelling “demons,” so he gathered a lot of that. Lyvia’s mother, Dr. Yohana Bellevue, invented adther, (created by putting adtherium on dracerium), which is now used everywhere, since it was believed to be indestructible. This is a key plot element, and it didn't completely make sense. If a metal is indestructible, how do you form it and carve it? That’s never explained. And why would it be cheap, if it's not plentiful? And who builds houses out of metal??
In the Author's Notes, Sutanto explains that this was actually her very first book, it was based on the many hours she spent playing World of Warcraft, but it was never accepted by a publisher back then so she shelved it. Until now! I never played WoW so I missed any easter eggs she hid in the book. I'm sure that will be fun for any fans.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This bad boy can hold so much doomed yuri.
Thank you to NetGalley and Avon/Harper Voyager for the e-ARC!
Thank you to NetGalley and Avon/Harper Voyager for the e-ARC!
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
What a beautiful entry for Sutanto into the world of adult fantasy with An Edge Sharp Enough.
The first book in a duology An Edge Sharp Enough kept me engaged from the very beginning with a fascinating magic system and subtle world building that feels grounded and familiar while new and engaging. I think fans of Leigh Bardugo, or possibly even Jay Kristoff, would really love this. It's gritty and dark in the way of Six of Crows, has characters with questionable morals and intentions, and not to mention the hidden fortress training assassins with elements of dark magic to keep you invested.
With four different POV characters to flit between there wasn't a dull moment. The slow building pressure of knowing at some point they're all likely to converge kept me guessing and going the whole way through. While I managed to have an inkling of two of the final major twists they way they were revealed was above and beyond my expectations - queue audible gasping and not feeling like I could read fast enough as it was all unfolding! Sutanto utilises each characters position in society and the world to subtly build knowledge of the landscape for the reader proving that good exposition is barely noticeable.
So delighted I got a chance to read this early thanks to the publishers through edelweiss and cannot wait to get my hands on a physical copy!
The first book in a duology An Edge Sharp Enough kept me engaged from the very beginning with a fascinating magic system and subtle world building that feels grounded and familiar while new and engaging. I think fans of Leigh Bardugo, or possibly even Jay Kristoff, would really love this. It's gritty and dark in the way of Six of Crows, has characters with questionable morals and intentions, and not to mention the hidden fortress training assassins with elements of dark magic to keep you invested.
With four different POV characters to flit between there wasn't a dull moment. The slow building pressure of knowing at some point they're all likely to converge kept me guessing and going the whole way through. While I managed to have an inkling of two of the final major twists they way they were revealed was above and beyond my expectations - queue audible gasping and not feeling like I could read fast enough as it was all unfolding! Sutanto utilises each characters position in society and the world to subtly build knowledge of the landscape for the reader proving that good exposition is barely noticeable.
So delighted I got a chance to read this early thanks to the publishers through edelweiss and cannot wait to get my hands on a physical copy!
Did Not Finish
September 3, 2026The first chapter, with five year old Mara, didn’t work for me. The info dumping made sense in the context of a five year old character, but the vocabulary and voice was that of an adult.
Chapter 2, Livya’s first chapter, was better, but didn’t achieve the balance it was looking for between a young woman of society and the passionate scholar she wanted to be. I found the tone discordant.
Chapter 3, Captain Fonde’s first chapter, was better yet, with interesting worldbuilding details, but I had no sense of his character.
Overall, I wasn’t invested in any of the characters or the worldbuilding, and I was turned off by all the bullying and violence in Mara’s chapters. I was disappointed, because I was eager to support an epic fantasy from a female author of color!
Trigger warnings for bullying, prejudice, stoning, violence, gore.
Many thanks to Harper Voyager and Netgalley for my free e-ARC! It has not affected my honest review.
Chapter 2, Livya’s first chapter, was better, but didn’t achieve the balance it was looking for between a young woman of society and the passionate scholar she wanted to be. I found the tone discordant.
Chapter 3, Captain Fonde’s first chapter, was better yet, with interesting worldbuilding details, but I had no sense of his character.
Overall, I wasn’t invested in any of the characters or the worldbuilding, and I was turned off by all the bullying and violence in Mara’s chapters. I was disappointed, because I was eager to support an epic fantasy from a female author of color!
Trigger warnings for bullying, prejudice, stoning, violence, gore.
Many thanks to Harper Voyager and Netgalley for my free e-ARC! It has not affected my honest review.
Read
March 7, 2026*early work perk read*
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
It's impressive for a debut into fantasy, but I think the Quad-POV was a bit too much. It really felt like Mara and Lia's plotline was only there so this could be labeled as a gay-romantasy taking place at a dark-assassin school. Had the plot been 100% focused on Livya and this world's equivalent of adamantium beginning to fail underneath a society that has built itself around it, this easily could've been 5 stars. The world-building starts off a little weak, I was interested when they tell you that art, in this world, is quite literally lost; however, I was very disappointed to learn "art" is just this world's word for magic. Hearing how, and why it failed? Fantastic. We never really learn anything about how it works or is used, and it kind just does things with no real understanding as to how/why it does that specific thing.
It was very well written, minus some awkward repetition in the last 1/3rd of the book, but if I have to hear one more time about how "Mara's subtlety binding were slipping" I swear I'm going to stab Mara myself. The girl can be reluctant killer without being fucking useless. I would genuinely consider reading the 2nd book in this duology, but I fear it's going to be another instance of Turncloak which made me ill after how much I enjoyed the first book.
It was very well written, minus some awkward repetition in the last 1/3rd of the book, but if I have to hear one more time about how "Mara's subtlety binding were slipping" I swear I'm going to stab Mara myself. The girl can be reluctant killer without being fucking useless. I would genuinely consider reading the 2nd book in this duology, but I fear it's going to be another instance of Turncloak which made me ill after how much I enjoyed the first book.
September 30, 2026
This was so good! If you like the Poppy War or the Ember in the Ashes series, you’ll love this. There’s action, politics, science, dark academia, war, you name it. Super interesting story with great writing - the characters really come to life and you can really see, feel, and understand the bustle of the city and the tension of the institute.
My only gripes with this are the ending surrounding Livya and the use of common terms like art and demons used in a very different application. The ending, however, set up very nicely for a series, and I’m excited to continue reading.
RECEIVED AN ARC FROM THE PUBLISHER IN EXCHANGE FOR A REVIEW.
My only gripes with this are the ending surrounding Livya and the use of common terms like art and demons used in a very different application. The ending, however, set up very nicely for a series, and I’m excited to continue reading.
RECEIVED AN ARC FROM THE PUBLISHER IN EXCHANGE FOR A REVIEW.
Read
May 4, 2026Thank you NetGalley for the eARC!
September 16, 2026
4.5🌟 i actually need a minute to collect my thoughts bc im sick to my stomach over that ending so ill be back with my review soon
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Rating: 3.5 stars
An Edge Sharp Enough is Jesse Q. Sutanto’s latest entry into the fantasy genre. Our story follows four different perspectives: three in the city of Velinguard, a modern metropolis built on science, and one in the assassin training of Tchu-Morrokhai. The four perspectives weave and connect as our characters untangle the structures that threaten to crumble around them.
This story has good twists and turns, creating moments of shock. I expected one of the two major twists, which felt like it was being set up but would subvert tropes in a nice way, but I was pleasantly surprised by the other. The writing was solid, with interesting world building and engaging characters. Some of our characters feel very young, which could frustrate some readers; parts of this book feel very YA, despite being an adult fantasy.
I understand why Sutanto did four perspectives, but I think it was one too many. Pacing with this many different storylines is nearly impossible, and the story is bound to drag occasionally. After coming to the end of the book, I understand why the points of view were all present, but I don’t know that all felt necessary. One of the perspectives felt like it was there solely for a macro-perspective to explain the worldbuilding and situation, but I feel like that information could have been disseminated differently, and there were two perspectives that experienced the same events that could have been condensed to one. For most of the story it felt like two books placed next to each other rather than woven together, and it wasn’t until the end that the dots connected. I think the next book will be a little more cohesive, but the pacing of this book really suffered from all the back-and-forth. I think Sutanto did the best that could be done given the circumstances, but so many perspectives will inevitably cause your story to suffer.
A small side note: it took me longer than I expected to get used to calling magic Art. Art as a discipline is so specifically coded in our lexicon that the mental shift to describe it as a system of magic felt distracting. I’m fine when authors rename everyday things (though that can occasionally get distracting, too) but this felt just unnecessary. The magic system itself was interesting, and built slowly to bring complexity without being overwhelming, but I would have preferred a different name.
Despite the pacing, I felt very engaged with the story once we got through the early chapters. The mystery built well, the thriller and horror elements weren’t too overwhelming, and the characters were believable. The magic system was complicated and built well, and the relationships in our story felt lived in.
Thank you to Jesse Q. Sutanto, Harper Voyager and NetGalley for this advanced reader copy!
An Edge Sharp Enough is Jesse Q. Sutanto’s latest entry into the fantasy genre. Our story follows four different perspectives: three in the city of Velinguard, a modern metropolis built on science, and one in the assassin training of Tchu-Morrokhai. The four perspectives weave and connect as our characters untangle the structures that threaten to crumble around them.
This story has good twists and turns, creating moments of shock. I expected one of the two major twists, which felt like it was being set up but would subvert tropes in a nice way, but I was pleasantly surprised by the other. The writing was solid, with interesting world building and engaging characters. Some of our characters feel very young, which could frustrate some readers; parts of this book feel very YA, despite being an adult fantasy.
I understand why Sutanto did four perspectives, but I think it was one too many. Pacing with this many different storylines is nearly impossible, and the story is bound to drag occasionally. After coming to the end of the book, I understand why the points of view were all present, but I don’t know that all felt necessary. One of the perspectives felt like it was there solely for a macro-perspective to explain the worldbuilding and situation, but I feel like that information could have been disseminated differently, and there were two perspectives that experienced the same events that could have been condensed to one. For most of the story it felt like two books placed next to each other rather than woven together, and it wasn’t until the end that the dots connected. I think the next book will be a little more cohesive, but the pacing of this book really suffered from all the back-and-forth. I think Sutanto did the best that could be done given the circumstances, but so many perspectives will inevitably cause your story to suffer.
A small side note: it took me longer than I expected to get used to calling magic Art. Art as a discipline is so specifically coded in our lexicon that the mental shift to describe it as a system of magic felt distracting. I’m fine when authors rename everyday things (though that can occasionally get distracting, too) but this felt just unnecessary. The magic system itself was interesting, and built slowly to bring complexity without being overwhelming, but I would have preferred a different name.
Despite the pacing, I felt very engaged with the story once we got through the early chapters. The mystery built well, the thriller and horror elements weren’t too overwhelming, and the characters were believable. The magic system was complicated and built well, and the relationships in our story felt lived in.
Thank you to Jesse Q. Sutanto, Harper Voyager and NetGalley for this advanced reader copy!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.5 stars
Thank you to NetGalley and to Avon & Harper Voyager for the ARC of An Edge Sharp Enough by Jesse Q. Sutanto.
Reading the author's note at the end of the book has me the most conflicted about how to write this review. When I first saw a Jesse Q. Sutanto novel that was in the sci fi and fantasy genre I assumed that her agent or her publisher had approached her about this being a genre worth pivoting to due to the increased interest from the past decade thanks to Leigh Bardugo, Rachel Gillig, Sarah J. Maas, Rebecca Yarros, Devney Perry, etc. I am so used to being a fan of her for Vera Wong and her Aunties series, so I was surprised and a bit intrigued, but I was keeping my expectations low. In the author's note, Sutanto talks about how the characters from this book were part of her master's thesis over a decade ago, but were never picked up by publishers. This was her first genre of choice, not some sort of cash grab. Knowing this, I much more appreciate the overall story and Sutanto's love and passion for finally having this book published. That being said, this also makes me so mad at the publishing industry, because, in many ways, this book would have hit the market super successfully a decade ago and in 2026, with the market so oversaturated, it only hits mid range and it makes me so mad at myself to even type that. Jesse Q. Sutanto deserved better on this one.
An Edge Sharp Enough is a fantasy novel that takes place in a world that once had magic, called Art. About 25 years ago, Art completely disappeared from the Northern Continent as a woman known as the Divine Empress waged war against the seven districts to take control and keep Art eradicated forever. On the Southern Continent, Art has been gone for nearly 1000 years, but about 25 years ago the city experienced a revolution where the common folk overthrew the kingdom of the Revven family. The Revven family was said to have the power to keep demons at bay through their control of a specific building material that much of the capital city is now made of, but with the creation of a new material that is just as indestructible, the people found a way to rise up. Now, 25 years after the loss of Art in the North, and the death of the Revvens in the South, our four main characters are brought together when the new indestructible material starts to collapse and upend the world order in the North and South.
An Edge Sharp Enough starts out dropping you into the action with a complex magic / political / religious system that does begin to make more sense once you get about 1/5th of the way through, just like Leigh Bardugo does in her books. I do wish more was said about the term artifices and subtlety and how they work, but I think past that the magic system does make a lot of sense and is well thought out and interesting once you can place the terminology.
The multi POV of 4 separate characters each have their own purposes and twists, but I had trouble connecting with them. I think this was because the book reads a lot more YA than Adult, and so the characters and their interactions and reactions felt just a bit shallower and basic than I needed to really feel for them - so much of their movement is plot driven, which is great, but when they reflect on their pasts its both to set you in the world-building AND create compassion for them but its spread too thin with all the other action and POVs also needing their own time. I think many of the characters just felt immature, even for being age 20. Mara is solely driven by "I like this one person", Livya stopped talking to Kaian at age 12 for the silliest of reasons and she is still very immature and sheltered from diverse opinions, Kaian is solely driven that he likes Livya - I think Fonde is the only one acting with any direction. I wonder if the book is only listed as Adult because there is a fair amount of violence and one mention of sexual assault, but past that it is very tame in terms of conversation (barely any swearing), no sex, etc.
A lot happens in the last 22% and, while it was super engaging and entertaining, I didn't feel shocked or hurt by the outcomes even though they will drastically change the second part, which fans of Rachel Gillig may really appreciate. But it's not that the book is bad in any way - it's just average for the overall market at this point. It's hard to hide a twist when people are expecting one, and so much has been overdone or become predictable in fantasy that this duology isn't yet setting itself drastically apart. I still really enjoyed the book - I read it in two sittings and every time I thought it might be getting into a lull, Sutanto pulled you right into the next bit of action. Her writing overall in this is fantastic and she is still excellent at plotting and timing. I also would still recommend this book to any of her fans and any fantasy readers (again, especially those who like Bardugo and Gillig) and I definitely do want to read the conclusion in the next book.
Thank you to NetGalley and to Avon & Harper Voyager for the ARC of An Edge Sharp Enough by Jesse Q. Sutanto.
Reading the author's note at the end of the book has me the most conflicted about how to write this review. When I first saw a Jesse Q. Sutanto novel that was in the sci fi and fantasy genre I assumed that her agent or her publisher had approached her about this being a genre worth pivoting to due to the increased interest from the past decade thanks to Leigh Bardugo, Rachel Gillig, Sarah J. Maas, Rebecca Yarros, Devney Perry, etc. I am so used to being a fan of her for Vera Wong and her Aunties series, so I was surprised and a bit intrigued, but I was keeping my expectations low. In the author's note, Sutanto talks about how the characters from this book were part of her master's thesis over a decade ago, but were never picked up by publishers. This was her first genre of choice, not some sort of cash grab. Knowing this, I much more appreciate the overall story and Sutanto's love and passion for finally having this book published. That being said, this also makes me so mad at the publishing industry, because, in many ways, this book would have hit the market super successfully a decade ago and in 2026, with the market so oversaturated, it only hits mid range and it makes me so mad at myself to even type that. Jesse Q. Sutanto deserved better on this one.
An Edge Sharp Enough is a fantasy novel that takes place in a world that once had magic, called Art. About 25 years ago, Art completely disappeared from the Northern Continent as a woman known as the Divine Empress waged war against the seven districts to take control and keep Art eradicated forever. On the Southern Continent, Art has been gone for nearly 1000 years, but about 25 years ago the city experienced a revolution where the common folk overthrew the kingdom of the Revven family. The Revven family was said to have the power to keep demons at bay through their control of a specific building material that much of the capital city is now made of, but with the creation of a new material that is just as indestructible, the people found a way to rise up. Now, 25 years after the loss of Art in the North, and the death of the Revvens in the South, our four main characters are brought together when the new indestructible material starts to collapse and upend the world order in the North and South.
An Edge Sharp Enough starts out dropping you into the action with a complex magic / political / religious system that does begin to make more sense once you get about 1/5th of the way through, just like Leigh Bardugo does in her books. I do wish more was said about the term artifices and subtlety and how they work, but I think past that the magic system does make a lot of sense and is well thought out and interesting once you can place the terminology.
The multi POV of 4 separate characters each have their own purposes and twists, but I had trouble connecting with them. I think this was because the book reads a lot more YA than Adult, and so the characters and their interactions and reactions felt just a bit shallower and basic than I needed to really feel for them - so much of their movement is plot driven, which is great, but when they reflect on their pasts its both to set you in the world-building AND create compassion for them but its spread too thin with all the other action and POVs also needing their own time. I think many of the characters just felt immature, even for being age 20. Mara is solely driven by "I like this one person", Livya stopped talking to Kaian at age 12 for the silliest of reasons and she is still very immature and sheltered from diverse opinions, Kaian is solely driven that he likes Livya - I think Fonde is the only one acting with any direction. I wonder if the book is only listed as Adult because there is a fair amount of violence and one mention of sexual assault, but past that it is very tame in terms of conversation (barely any swearing), no sex, etc.
A lot happens in the last 22% and, while it was super engaging and entertaining, I didn't feel shocked or hurt by the outcomes even though they will drastically change the second part, which fans of Rachel Gillig may really appreciate. But it's not that the book is bad in any way - it's just average for the overall market at this point. It's hard to hide a twist when people are expecting one, and so much has been overdone or become predictable in fantasy that this duology isn't yet setting itself drastically apart. I still really enjoyed the book - I read it in two sittings and every time I thought it might be getting into a lull, Sutanto pulled you right into the next bit of action. Her writing overall in this is fantastic and she is still excellent at plotting and timing. I also would still recommend this book to any of her fans and any fantasy readers (again, especially those who like Bardugo and Gillig) and I definitely do want to read the conclusion in the next book.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I received an e book arc of this book from Daphne Press from @netgalley.
I want to say a huge thank you to Daphne Press for letting me read this e book arc early.
This book will be published on 17th nov 2026.
In this book, you get 4 different pov’s of different characters, we start of with Mara, livya, commander Fonde, kaian.
I would say it has adult themes so definitely to be prepared for the book to have following; gory, police brutality, extreme violence and etc.
Something to note in this book, that magic is referred to as art.
I would say magic and presence of demons is prevalent in this book the more you read in the book.
This books starts with the pov of Mara who attends an institute training to be an assassin in tchu-morrokhai, where she is attracted to a girl at the institute with her called Lia.
We get to see the closeness Lia and Mara had, they both knew they were drawn to each other but relationship were forbidden at the institute, so both Mara and Lia are not trying to show any physical contact with each other because of the no relationship rule at the institute.
The start chapters of Mara pov shows a good glimpse into the life for Mara and Lia at the institute.
Livya (alivya also known as full name) is from wealthy background and has all these servants and attends balls with the upper class, and she is know be studying history of art(magic in this world).
She gets an invitation to an elite club for debating where the educated elite are invited to attend.
But things go wrong when on the way attending the prestigious club.
She has a sectator who is her companion called cerra.
Commander fonde, we know him as being in charge of the safety of valliguard.
He has to deal with the issues of 2 vigils (police officers) death to be led with having to investigating more mysterious murders along the book.
We got to know kaian petty thief and is from a poor background.
I absolutely loved the ending so much, the twists and revelations that happened near the end last 100 pages of the book were such a good suprise and was so unexpected, can’t wait for book2.
Overall, I loved the writing it was good it made it easier to follow the plot and characters and connect with them.
I loved how well the author did a good job of providing a backstory for each character which really gave readers the opportunity to really understand the each of the characters and provide context.
I would say I enjoyed this book I feel it was breath of fresh air to read book a like this that different where it has horror elements, Warcraft, dark fantasy.
The writing was good so it was easy to still fly through the book despite it being intense with gore and violence.
The negative I would say is the world building was pretty complex in this book and heavy, so at times to understand the world was hard at times to follow through the book.
But, despite the heavy world building, I do still feel it made the world interesting to read in the book.
Also another negative was the horror aspect to the book being abit gory and violent in scenes with Mara and some of the other characters too, which made it abit intense to keep reading, I probably took breaks in between to get through to book being like that.
Overall, I loved the writing it was good it made it easier to follow the plot and characters and connect with them.
I loved how well the author did a good job of providing a backstory for each character which really gave readers the opportunity to really understand the each of the characters and provide context.
I would say I enjoyed this book I feel it was breath of fresh air to read book a like this that different where it has horror elements, Warcraft, dark fantasy.
The writing was good so it was easy to still fly through the book despite it being intense with gore and violence.
I feel after reading this book, does make me wonder maybe the books should have marketed to be abit horror as the books includes aspects of gore and violence, which probably make sure that the people who enjoy horror books or similar books to nature would pick up the book and better understand and appreciate this book.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you Netgalley and Harper Voyager for the advanced copy. I was SO excited to be approved for this and it did NOT disappoint.
This is a 5 star for me, for so many reasons: 1. I love multi-POV, especially when you know they’re all going to converge at a certain point. In this case, I was stunned by the twists and turns it took to get the paths to converge and felt it was well worth the ride. 2. The world building was top notch. It reminded me of the grimdark world of Locke Lamora, which I love. Readers of Fourth Wing and similar will also enjoy Mara’s POV as her time in the institute has shades of Basgiath. (I hate to make comparisons to other books out there as when I read the acknowledgements section I know Jesse has been working on this for over a decade, but I mean this with the most sincere praise). 3. I think several POVs is the only way to really get the reader fully immersed in the complexities of this world. When you follow characters that hold different levels in a society as layered as this, it really helps showcase the different sides of religion and politics without too much info-dumping. At least, in my opinion. I also really enjoyed each of the characters and their stories. 4. This is not a romantasy but the relationships are very much a huge part of what drives the characters. Without that, it would be really hard to understand their motivations. But I think Jesse did a fantastic job laying the groundwork for certain backstories to really make sense of characters’ actions and choices. (And, I won’t spoil anything since this is an ARC, but I was shocked and delighted at one of the foundational relationships being written a certain way since I didn’t see it advertised anywhere…).
Jesse took on a lot with this one: politics, religion, magic (or Art) and built a world that I could really sink my teeth into. Granted, it is a little complex, but I think she did a wonderful job divulging it to the reader at a pace that wasn’t overwhelming. Not only that, but I love when a fantasy book takes on some characteristics of a thriller. In this case, the back half was fast paced, kept the reader on their toes, and had several plot twists that just knocked my socks off. I saw one of them coming, which was more a credit to great set up than any failure of writing, and one that simply had my jaw on the floor. The last ¼ of the book cleared up any confusion I may have had about the world, the politics, the stakes, and really had me ITCHING to get the next book in my hands. The epilogue was a mic drop, and honestly, I felt all of the characters’ emotions come off the page when I closed the book and thought about how book 2 would evolve.
All in all, I loved this. I can’t wait to order a physical copy, and I will be eagerly anticipating book 2. I hope Jesse continues to write fantasy, because I think she’s proven this is a great place for all her skills to be on full display.
This is a 5 star for me, for so many reasons: 1. I love multi-POV, especially when you know they’re all going to converge at a certain point. In this case, I was stunned by the twists and turns it took to get the paths to converge and felt it was well worth the ride. 2. The world building was top notch. It reminded me of the grimdark world of Locke Lamora, which I love. Readers of Fourth Wing and similar will also enjoy Mara’s POV as her time in the institute has shades of Basgiath. (I hate to make comparisons to other books out there as when I read the acknowledgements section I know Jesse has been working on this for over a decade, but I mean this with the most sincere praise). 3. I think several POVs is the only way to really get the reader fully immersed in the complexities of this world. When you follow characters that hold different levels in a society as layered as this, it really helps showcase the different sides of religion and politics without too much info-dumping. At least, in my opinion. I also really enjoyed each of the characters and their stories. 4. This is not a romantasy but the relationships are very much a huge part of what drives the characters. Without that, it would be really hard to understand their motivations. But I think Jesse did a fantastic job laying the groundwork for certain backstories to really make sense of characters’ actions and choices. (And, I won’t spoil anything since this is an ARC, but I was shocked and delighted at one of the foundational relationships being written a certain way since I didn’t see it advertised anywhere…).
Jesse took on a lot with this one: politics, religion, magic (or Art) and built a world that I could really sink my teeth into. Granted, it is a little complex, but I think she did a wonderful job divulging it to the reader at a pace that wasn’t overwhelming. Not only that, but I love when a fantasy book takes on some characteristics of a thriller. In this case, the back half was fast paced, kept the reader on their toes, and had several plot twists that just knocked my socks off. I saw one of them coming, which was more a credit to great set up than any failure of writing, and one that simply had my jaw on the floor. The last ¼ of the book cleared up any confusion I may have had about the world, the politics, the stakes, and really had me ITCHING to get the next book in my hands. The epilogue was a mic drop, and honestly, I felt all of the characters’ emotions come off the page when I closed the book and thought about how book 2 would evolve.
All in all, I loved this. I can’t wait to order a physical copy, and I will be eagerly anticipating book 2. I hope Jesse continues to write fantasy, because I think she’s proven this is a great place for all her skills to be on full display.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Jesse Q. Sutanto, widely known for her cozy mysteries and warmly comic fiction, has undertaken something genuinely audacious with this novel: she has entered the grimdark genre and, with considerable craft and conviction, made it entirely her own.
The world Sutanto constructs is among the most fully realized fantasy settings in recent memory. Set twenty years after a revolution catalyzed by the invention of an indestructible new metal, this is a society still bleeding from its own transformation, one that dismantled a tyranny only to quietly erect another in its place. The Divine Empress's campaign to eradicate the last traces of magic operates not as conventional fantasy villainy but as something colder and more recognizable: the systematic erasure of the ancient by the efficient, the irreplaceable displaced by the expedient. It is a tension that resonates far beyond the page.
What elevates the novel above its considerable world-building, however, are its four central characters. Mara, the assassin raised behind fortress walls since the age of five, carries the novel's moral weight without ever collapsing into martyrdom. She desires freedom, love, and a restored world, and Sutanto never permits her to want those things without cost. Livya, the scholar daughter of the man whose invention sparked the revolution, is the novel's great complication: privileged, exceptionally intelligent, and implicated in a history she is only beginning to fully comprehend. The con man and the guard complete a quartet that ought not to cohere, four voices, four competing agendas, four corners of a fractured world drawn inexorably toward collision, and yet Sutanto orchestrates their convergence with the assurance of a writer who has been building toward precisely this work.
The prose merits particular attention. This is not the stripped momentum of commercial fantasy. Sutanto writes with texture, deliberateness, and a keen sense of consequence; even minor scenes carry weight. The action is taut and visceral. The quieter moments are, somehow, more devastating still. And the novel's concluding twist, which shall remain undisclosed here, though readers would do well to brace for it, demands a long moment of stillness before one is capable of moving on.
*An Edge Sharp Enough* is a genre debut in the narrowest sense only. In every meaningful regard, it is the work of a writer at full command of her abilities, given at last the canvas she has always deserved. For admirers of R.F. Kuang's moral fury, Joe Abercrombie's unflinching complexity, and fantasy that extends its readers the dignity of being treated as adults, this is not merely recommended reading. It is essential.
Sutanto has not simply crossed genres. She has, with this novel, laid claim to one. I can't wait for the audiobook 😊
The world Sutanto constructs is among the most fully realized fantasy settings in recent memory. Set twenty years after a revolution catalyzed by the invention of an indestructible new metal, this is a society still bleeding from its own transformation, one that dismantled a tyranny only to quietly erect another in its place. The Divine Empress's campaign to eradicate the last traces of magic operates not as conventional fantasy villainy but as something colder and more recognizable: the systematic erasure of the ancient by the efficient, the irreplaceable displaced by the expedient. It is a tension that resonates far beyond the page.
What elevates the novel above its considerable world-building, however, are its four central characters. Mara, the assassin raised behind fortress walls since the age of five, carries the novel's moral weight without ever collapsing into martyrdom. She desires freedom, love, and a restored world, and Sutanto never permits her to want those things without cost. Livya, the scholar daughter of the man whose invention sparked the revolution, is the novel's great complication: privileged, exceptionally intelligent, and implicated in a history she is only beginning to fully comprehend. The con man and the guard complete a quartet that ought not to cohere, four voices, four competing agendas, four corners of a fractured world drawn inexorably toward collision, and yet Sutanto orchestrates their convergence with the assurance of a writer who has been building toward precisely this work.
The prose merits particular attention. This is not the stripped momentum of commercial fantasy. Sutanto writes with texture, deliberateness, and a keen sense of consequence; even minor scenes carry weight. The action is taut and visceral. The quieter moments are, somehow, more devastating still. And the novel's concluding twist, which shall remain undisclosed here, though readers would do well to brace for it, demands a long moment of stillness before one is capable of moving on.
*An Edge Sharp Enough* is a genre debut in the narrowest sense only. In every meaningful regard, it is the work of a writer at full command of her abilities, given at last the canvas she has always deserved. For admirers of R.F. Kuang's moral fury, Joe Abercrombie's unflinching complexity, and fantasy that extends its readers the dignity of being treated as adults, this is not merely recommended reading. It is essential.
Sutanto has not simply crossed genres. She has, with this novel, laid claim to one. I can't wait for the audiobook 😊
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A change from the author’s usual quirky mysteries, this is a dark fantasy, an homage to the author’s twenty-old self “who got so addicted to the World of Warcraft” which inspired the book. This is also the first of two books in a duology about “an assassin, a scholar, a con man and a guard in a race to rediscover powerful lost magic and save the world.
The premise of the book is discovering whether the fantasy world is being undone and “an ancient, inhuman evil is returning.” Art (or magic) has been eliminated and one of the world’s post-revolutionary metals, adther, has fractured, setting off a chain reaction of fear and concern. Set between Tchu-Morrokhai (a fortress of assassin trainees of the Divine Empress) and Velingard (a city build on post revolutionary science and metals), the book follows Mara, an assassin in-training, who longs for the return of the will world; Livya, a scholar who is on the run from a would-be assassin likely due to her mother, Yohana who created the indescribable metal that helped topple the Velingard’s ruling family ; Kaian, a con man in love with Livya; and Captain Fonde who is investigating strange killings and the crumbling infrastructure.
It’s a pretty fast paced and suspenseful read. Lots of characters and lots of action and twists - I did enjoy the world building better than in some fantasy books I’ve read. The book alternates between the POVs of the four main characters in its storytelling - which adds to the mystery of this changing world. We quickly learn some of the characters aren’t whom they seem - which adds a bit of interest and shock. The book ends with a new narrator, Cerra, Libya’s servant, and on a cliffhanger A pretty much expected
if you go into reading it knowing you really won’t have the true ending until that second book comes out. All of this is pretty good stuff especially if you like fantasy worlds.
I can’t say I wasn’t captivated at times by the unfolding story especially as we reached the climactic ending and its cliffhanger - no spoilers you have to read the book to find out. But I realized as good as the writing was at times, dark fantasy isn’t my genre. Referencing the writing, there were moments I felt the author added words that took away from the fantasy aura, intruding a 21st C vibe that would startle me at times. But Sutanto is a great storyteller.
Readers who love Jesse Sutanto definitely need to give this book a try and lovers of dark fantasy need to put this on their TBR list.
My thanks to NetGalley and Harper Voyager for granting me access to this ARC.
The premise of the book is discovering whether the fantasy world is being undone and “an ancient, inhuman evil is returning.” Art (or magic) has been eliminated and one of the world’s post-revolutionary metals, adther, has fractured, setting off a chain reaction of fear and concern. Set between Tchu-Morrokhai (a fortress of assassin trainees of the Divine Empress) and Velingard (a city build on post revolutionary science and metals), the book follows Mara, an assassin in-training, who longs for the return of the will world; Livya, a scholar who is on the run from a would-be assassin likely due to her mother, Yohana who created the indescribable metal that helped topple the Velingard’s ruling family ; Kaian, a con man in love with Livya; and Captain Fonde who is investigating strange killings and the crumbling infrastructure.
It’s a pretty fast paced and suspenseful read. Lots of characters and lots of action and twists - I did enjoy the world building better than in some fantasy books I’ve read. The book alternates between the POVs of the four main characters in its storytelling - which adds to the mystery of this changing world. We quickly learn some of the characters aren’t whom they seem - which adds a bit of interest and shock. The book ends with a new narrator, Cerra, Libya’s servant, and on a cliffhanger A pretty much expected
if you go into reading it knowing you really won’t have the true ending until that second book comes out. All of this is pretty good stuff especially if you like fantasy worlds.
I can’t say I wasn’t captivated at times by the unfolding story especially as we reached the climactic ending and its cliffhanger - no spoilers you have to read the book to find out. But I realized as good as the writing was at times, dark fantasy isn’t my genre. Referencing the writing, there were moments I felt the author added words that took away from the fantasy aura, intruding a 21st C vibe that would startle me at times. But Sutanto is a great storyteller.
Readers who love Jesse Sutanto definitely need to give this book a try and lovers of dark fantasy need to put this on their TBR list.
My thanks to NetGalley and Harper Voyager for granting me access to this ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
*Thank you to the publisher via Netgalley for an e-arc. All thoughts and opinions are my own!*
This is a bit of a confusing one for me. It started out pretty interesting, particularly where the plot was concerned, but there were a few things that threw me off. The writing is a big one. It's weird; it felt like the author was attempting, at times, to emulate the language of a more high fantasy novel, but there were some... almost anachronistic bits thrown in that really ended up cutting into the vibe it felt like the author was trying to set. This lead to a very uneven tone, particularly when the writing edged toward the humorous in a way that didn't fully fit in the places it was put.
The characters were mostly interesting, but it felt like the way the relationships were built didn't really translate. A lot of it felt forced, mostly told rather than shown. Truthfully, there was a lot more telling than showing, in general, but it stood out the most when it came to the relationships and character-building. As a result, I never felt connected to any of the characters in the way I wanted to be. I was viewing everything from a distance when it felt like the novel wanted me to be on the ground with them.
While the plot was interesting and creative, the way it resolved was not. It was honestly disappointing because it all felt so very convenient. I'm not going to spoil anything, but the way the author chose to do it sapped the tension entirely out of the novel. It felt like a lack of trust in the reader to put things together, which was particularly frustrating because the author actually did lay out the peaces of the plot decently well. It's just that it ended up being a monologue of exactly how everything went down, spelling everything out in a way that was honestly boring. The mystery and reveals ended up being broken by this decision.
This book ended on a cliffhanger, but I'm not even remotely interested in reading the sequel based solely on how this book handled the plot. Truthfully, I'd probably have given this one star if there weren't interesting things happening, if there weren't some moments of writing that made me stood up. It's just that the larger resolution and character development really fumbled hard and I don't care enough to continue.
This is a bit of a confusing one for me. It started out pretty interesting, particularly where the plot was concerned, but there were a few things that threw me off. The writing is a big one. It's weird; it felt like the author was attempting, at times, to emulate the language of a more high fantasy novel, but there were some... almost anachronistic bits thrown in that really ended up cutting into the vibe it felt like the author was trying to set. This lead to a very uneven tone, particularly when the writing edged toward the humorous in a way that didn't fully fit in the places it was put.
The characters were mostly interesting, but it felt like the way the relationships were built didn't really translate. A lot of it felt forced, mostly told rather than shown. Truthfully, there was a lot more telling than showing, in general, but it stood out the most when it came to the relationships and character-building. As a result, I never felt connected to any of the characters in the way I wanted to be. I was viewing everything from a distance when it felt like the novel wanted me to be on the ground with them.
While the plot was interesting and creative, the way it resolved was not. It was honestly disappointing because it all felt so very convenient. I'm not going to spoil anything, but the way the author chose to do it sapped the tension entirely out of the novel. It felt like a lack of trust in the reader to put things together, which was particularly frustrating because the author actually did lay out the peaces of the plot decently well. It's just that it ended up being a monologue of exactly how everything went down, spelling everything out in a way that was honestly boring. The mystery and reveals ended up being broken by this decision.
This book ended on a cliffhanger, but I'm not even remotely interested in reading the sequel based solely on how this book handled the plot. Truthfully, I'd probably have given this one star if there weren't interesting things happening, if there weren't some moments of writing that made me stood up. It's just that the larger resolution and character development really fumbled hard and I don't care enough to continue.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and to Avon & Harper Voyager for the ARC!
I honestly am very conflicted about this book. To me, it wasn't the most structurally sound in terms of story and writing but I do think a lot of people could enjoy and have fun reading it. That just wasn't the case for me.
My main issue was that it was written like a YA book but at the same time felt like it was attempting to be more adult fantasy with the more horror-esc elements. There was a ton of gory scenes and violence, yet the stakes never mattered to me because I couldn't get into the book.
I did really enjoy the idea of following multiple perspectives specifically mara because of how large it made the world feel since most of her story took place in a separate area than the other characters. The downside to the multiple POVs was that there was definitely one to many. With Livya and Kaian's story's being so intertwined I don't feel like both was necessary. Honestly, I think the story would have served its purpose to follow Captain Fonde and Mara which would definitely cause a need for a reconstruction of the plot, but I just personally did not care for Livya and Kaian's chapters.
Everything also felt very tell instead of show especially for character emotions. This made the characters feel very flat and reduced their motivations only to their love interest (minus Captain Fonde who was the most interesting character to me by far). This also resulted in the magic system and world feeling very flat because we are told about it so many times but never get to see any of it.
Ending
Overall, this book just did not hit for me, but I do think the author has potential in crafting fantasy worlds.
I honestly am very conflicted about this book. To me, it wasn't the most structurally sound in terms of story and writing but I do think a lot of people could enjoy and have fun reading it. That just wasn't the case for me.
My main issue was that it was written like a YA book but at the same time felt like it was attempting to be more adult fantasy with the more horror-esc elements. There was a ton of gory scenes and violence, yet the stakes never mattered to me because I couldn't get into the book.
I did really enjoy the idea of following multiple perspectives specifically mara because of how large it made the world feel since most of her story took place in a separate area than the other characters. The downside to the multiple POVs was that there was definitely one to many. With Livya and Kaian's story's being so intertwined I don't feel like both was necessary. Honestly, I think the story would have served its purpose to follow Captain Fonde and Mara which would definitely cause a need for a reconstruction of the plot, but I just personally did not care for Livya and Kaian's chapters.
Everything also felt very tell instead of show especially for character emotions. This made the characters feel very flat and reduced their motivations only to their love interest (minus Captain Fonde who was the most interesting character to me by far). This also resulted in the magic system and world feeling very flat because we are told about it so many times but never get to see any of it.
Ending
Overall, this book just did not hit for me, but I do think the author has potential in crafting fantasy worlds.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I was given the opportunity to receive an ARC of this book from Net Galley in return for an honest review.
I love Jesse Sutanto. Her Vera Wong books are some of the funniest books I've ever read and I'm anxiously awaiting book 3 (I've already pre-ordered from Audible). I recently read You Made Me Do This (due to be released Feb 2027) and I enjoyed it as well. Going into this book I knew it was a definite departure from the cozy fun of Vera Wong as it was described as a dark sci-fi fantasy. I'm not a huge fantasy fan but know how much I enjoy Sutanto's writing, I wanted to give it a try.
I'm left conflicted. I had a hard time getting into the revolving storytelling - you have four peoples' perspectives: Mara, being trained as an emissary in Tchu-Morrokhai; Alivya, a pampered student with high ranking parents in Velingard; Kaian, a trickster with a crush on Alivya; and Fonde, the commander of the Vigils in Velingard.
The seemingly indiscernible metal (Adher) developed by Livya's scientist mother is starting to crumble and no one knows why. It all comes together in a rather confusing (for me) tale but it could just be that since this isn't a genre I love I just didn't understand it. I *did* enjoy how as in all her books, Sutanto has interesting characters. Even some of the secondary characters were well developed.
One thing that irritated me was the constant use of the F bomb. As I'm said before, the overuse of profanity never enhances the story. I don't think I'm a total prude but it gets really tiring when authors use it as a crutch instead of developing actual dialog.
I think those who enjoy sci-fi/fantasy/romantasy as a genre would probably enjoy this book. It had a little too much gore for me but overall the storyline was solid and it was interesting to see Sutanto branch outside of her more comfortable genres.
The way the storyline came together in the end was good. It seems this story is being set up for a sequel and I'm a little hesitant to continue on. However, there are a few characters I really enjoyed and I may want to see what the future holds for them.
#netgalley #AnEdgeSharpEnough
I love Jesse Sutanto. Her Vera Wong books are some of the funniest books I've ever read and I'm anxiously awaiting book 3 (I've already pre-ordered from Audible). I recently read You Made Me Do This (due to be released Feb 2027) and I enjoyed it as well. Going into this book I knew it was a definite departure from the cozy fun of Vera Wong as it was described as a dark sci-fi fantasy. I'm not a huge fantasy fan but know how much I enjoy Sutanto's writing, I wanted to give it a try.
I'm left conflicted. I had a hard time getting into the revolving storytelling - you have four peoples' perspectives: Mara, being trained as an emissary in Tchu-Morrokhai; Alivya, a pampered student with high ranking parents in Velingard; Kaian, a trickster with a crush on Alivya; and Fonde, the commander of the Vigils in Velingard.
The seemingly indiscernible metal (Adher) developed by Livya's scientist mother is starting to crumble and no one knows why. It all comes together in a rather confusing (for me) tale but it could just be that since this isn't a genre I love I just didn't understand it. I *did* enjoy how as in all her books, Sutanto has interesting characters. Even some of the secondary characters were well developed.
One thing that irritated me was the constant use of the F bomb. As I'm said before, the overuse of profanity never enhances the story. I don't think I'm a total prude but it gets really tiring when authors use it as a crutch instead of developing actual dialog.
I think those who enjoy sci-fi/fantasy/romantasy as a genre would probably enjoy this book. It had a little too much gore for me but overall the storyline was solid and it was interesting to see Sutanto branch outside of her more comfortable genres.
The way the storyline came together in the end was good. It seems this story is being set up for a sequel and I'm a little hesitant to continue on. However, there are a few characters I really enjoyed and I may want to see what the future holds for them.
#netgalley #AnEdgeSharpEnough
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.5 stars
Content Guide:
🤬Frequent use of the F-word, and some more moderate language.
🌶️One scene with implied sex that is fade-to-black. Same-sex relationship. Kissing.
🗡️Lots of violence that gets pretty gruesome, including torture and murder.
🍺Brief alcohol use by adults. Reference to use of other magical substances.
TW: Gruesome violence, trafficking, torture, and psychosis.
Pub date: Nov 17, 2026
This book is primarily a dark fantasy, but also has strong elements of horror and thriller in it. I personally don’t enjoy the horror genre, so those elements were off-putting for me, but might delight other readers.
The world-building is subtly woven in with character stories that keep things interesting. One example of this is Fonde’s story. In his youth, he fought in a revolution that sets the stage for the problems are currently facing. Now he is a commander for law-enforcement, investigating mysterious crimes that could somehow be connected.
What I loved most was the character development of Mara, who we meet as a traumatized child, ripped from her family and forced into assassin training. She is chosen for her proficiency with Art - a magic akin to chi or the force. Her journey to harnessing her gift with Art, and her choices along the way, are fascinating, particularly at the end, when her story converges with the other characters.
The ending was exciting, and answered a lot of questions for me, while also setting up for a sequel that is promising to be even more exciting.
I do think that this book needs more proofreading and editing before official publication, because there were quite a few grammar errors. And I would have liked more character depth from the other POVs. But Mara’s story and the overall plot are excellent. So long as those grammar errors are corrected, I would recommend this book to those who enjoy dark fantasy with horror and thriller elements.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Voyager for the free ebook in exchange for my honest review.
Content Guide:
🤬Frequent use of the F-word, and some more moderate language.
🌶️One scene with implied sex that is fade-to-black. Same-sex relationship. Kissing.
🗡️Lots of violence that gets pretty gruesome, including torture and murder.
🍺Brief alcohol use by adults. Reference to use of other magical substances.
TW: Gruesome violence, trafficking, torture, and psychosis.
Pub date: Nov 17, 2026
This book is primarily a dark fantasy, but also has strong elements of horror and thriller in it. I personally don’t enjoy the horror genre, so those elements were off-putting for me, but might delight other readers.
The world-building is subtly woven in with character stories that keep things interesting. One example of this is Fonde’s story. In his youth, he fought in a revolution that sets the stage for the problems are currently facing. Now he is a commander for law-enforcement, investigating mysterious crimes that could somehow be connected.
What I loved most was the character development of Mara, who we meet as a traumatized child, ripped from her family and forced into assassin training. She is chosen for her proficiency with Art - a magic akin to chi or the force. Her journey to harnessing her gift with Art, and her choices along the way, are fascinating, particularly at the end, when her story converges with the other characters.
The ending was exciting, and answered a lot of questions for me, while also setting up for a sequel that is promising to be even more exciting.
I do think that this book needs more proofreading and editing before official publication, because there were quite a few grammar errors. And I would have liked more character depth from the other POVs. But Mara’s story and the overall plot are excellent. So long as those grammar errors are corrected, I would recommend this book to those who enjoy dark fantasy with horror and thriller elements.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Voyager for the free ebook in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This is the first in a planned fantasy duology. It is Sutanto’s 18th published work but the first book she ever wrote (although she has extensively reworked it before publishing). I’ve enjoyed some of her mysteries and romance so I was very excited to see what this would be like.
So we have four points of view in two parallel storylines. First is Mara. She was sold to the Institute at age five to train as an assassin against the Empress who has driven her people to hide in a secret mountain fortress in the North. Mara is not physically strong but she is very smart and adept at Art. Art seems to be like the Force: it’s everywhere, in everything and people can use it to make themselves beautiful or create things or hide in the shadows, all sorts of things. It vanished from the world suddenly several years ago and the Elders are hoping Mara can help figure out how to bring it back so they can defeat the Empress. Then in the South we have Commander Fonde the police captain, Kaian a war refugee who grew up on the streets and is now a thief, and Livya, a wealthy debutante, struggling to find her place outside of the shadow of her famous mother. Trouble is brewing in their city and while the leaders, including Livya’s mother, seem to know what’s up these three do not. As things start to fall apart they join forces to unlock past secrets and try to save their city.
I quite liked this. It has clear, easy to read language. The story flowed well. There was a lot of world building and character introductions at the beginning but I was able to keep everything straight and she did it without doing a big info dump. It’s a duology so you know there are going to be some plot twists and cliff hangers and while I saw somethings coming the gasp I gave at other parts was audible. Super solid fantasy story and I cant wait for the conclusion.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.5 rounded down.
I have previously read 2 other books by Ms. Sutanto that I enjoyed despite the fact that they were different from my usual genre of choice, so I eagerly picked this up because fantasy is my happy place. I was blown away that the same author who wrote those quirky, humorous books could shape shift and create this dark high fantasy.
“An Edge Sharp Enough” is the first installment to a duology and as such, spends quite a bit of time world-building and establishing new magical and religious systems. She achieves this through four POVs– Mara, Livya, Fonde, & Kaian. They are distinct enough that they don’t blend in your mind as you read and learn about the magic system (named Art) that has inexplicably become obsolete. The downside to having so many POVs is that it takes about two cycle-throughs of these characters to truly get the plot set into motion, which makes it difficult to get into it. Every time you begin to understand within one character’s POV, the chapter ends and you are thrown into another character’s POV. The POV shift is generally set in an entirely different setting (opposed to the same storyline told through someone else’s perspective), so it adds significant speedbumps to the pacing. And while they do initially read as separate tales, they eventually become woven together and things become clearer as you get deeper into the story.
Despite the pacing, the twists and ending have me itching to read the sequel. Be sure to grab a copy on November 17, 2026 so you can come speculate how this duology is going to conclude with me!
Thank you to Jesse Q. Sutanto and Avon and Harper Voyager for providing this eARC for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
I have previously read 2 other books by Ms. Sutanto that I enjoyed despite the fact that they were different from my usual genre of choice, so I eagerly picked this up because fantasy is my happy place. I was blown away that the same author who wrote those quirky, humorous books could shape shift and create this dark high fantasy.
“An Edge Sharp Enough” is the first installment to a duology and as such, spends quite a bit of time world-building and establishing new magical and religious systems. She achieves this through four POVs– Mara, Livya, Fonde, & Kaian. They are distinct enough that they don’t blend in your mind as you read and learn about the magic system (named Art) that has inexplicably become obsolete. The downside to having so many POVs is that it takes about two cycle-throughs of these characters to truly get the plot set into motion, which makes it difficult to get into it. Every time you begin to understand within one character’s POV, the chapter ends and you are thrown into another character’s POV. The POV shift is generally set in an entirely different setting (opposed to the same storyline told through someone else’s perspective), so it adds significant speedbumps to the pacing. And while they do initially read as separate tales, they eventually become woven together and things become clearer as you get deeper into the story.
Despite the pacing, the twists and ending have me itching to read the sequel. Be sure to grab a copy on November 17, 2026 so you can come speculate how this duology is going to conclude with me!
Thank you to Jesse Q. Sutanto and Avon and Harper Voyager for providing this eARC for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
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