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Blacktongue #2
The Thrice-Bound Fool
The Thrice-Bound Fool is the epic, rollicking next chapter in the bestselling and “awesome as hell” (Nicholas Eames) fantasy adventure series that began with The Blacktongue Thief.
Professional thief and inveterate trickster Kinch Na Shannack has always enjoyed a good book. But now his life, and the future of all of Manreach, depends on him deciphering a very bad book indeed; a stolen, sentient tome that tries to kill him every time he opens it—and often when it’s closed.
Galva, veteran of the goblin wars and death’s sworn handmaiden, has vowed to protect Kinch while he mines the book for its dark magic and even darker secrets. She does so not for Kinch’s sake—though the cheeky bastard is growing on her—but because the book is the key to stopping the shadowy tyrants out to kill the queen she serves, and loves.
The ruthless, all-seeing Taker’s Guild dogs their every step, and thief and knight must flee the known world entirely if they hope to succeed in their mission. But trouble finds Kinch wherever he goes, and the pair may have traded the devil they know for horrors far darker and hungrier as they enter lands unknown.
Professional thief and inveterate trickster Kinch Na Shannack has always enjoyed a good book. But now his life, and the future of all of Manreach, depends on him deciphering a very bad book indeed; a stolen, sentient tome that tries to kill him every time he opens it—and often when it’s closed.
Galva, veteran of the goblin wars and death’s sworn handmaiden, has vowed to protect Kinch while he mines the book for its dark magic and even darker secrets. She does so not for Kinch’s sake—though the cheeky bastard is growing on her—but because the book is the key to stopping the shadowy tyrants out to kill the queen she serves, and loves.
The ruthless, all-seeing Taker’s Guild dogs their every step, and thief and knight must flee the known world entirely if they hope to succeed in their mission. But trouble finds Kinch wherever he goes, and the pair may have traded the devil they know for horrors far darker and hungrier as they enter lands unknown.
432 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 13, 2026
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Review of advance copy received from Publisher
First, the caveat. I received a free copy of this book from the publisher. I do not think that affects my review.
Kinch is back!
I very much enjoyed The Black Tongue Thief which is the first volume of Kinch's adventures. The Thrice Bound Fool continues where Thief left off, and leaves lots of threads for continuation.
That said, for maximum enjoyment, I suggest you read Black Tongue Thief before jumping into Thrice Bound Fool.
What you will find in this book? A lot of humor, some scatological. A head-long pace of adventures and misadventures. An evil book of spells capable of more mischief than you'd expect a book to get into. A partnership between a thief and a warrior. A vocabulary indigenous to this world. Some very accurate passages about trying to hike through mountains in winter.
I very much enjoy Kinch and Galva, and the relationship between these two unlikely companions on a difficult quest. The twists and turns and the swift pace of the book kept me turning the pages.
A lot of fantasy books that feature humor do so at the expense of the characters. Thrice Bound Fool manages to be fast paced and humorous while keeping the reader always on Kinch's side.
Kinch is back!
I very much enjoyed The Black Tongue Thief which is the first volume of Kinch's adventures. The Thrice Bound Fool continues where Thief left off, and leaves lots of threads for continuation.
That said, for maximum enjoyment, I suggest you read Black Tongue Thief before jumping into Thrice Bound Fool.
What you will find in this book? A lot of humor, some scatological. A head-long pace of adventures and misadventures. An evil book of spells capable of more mischief than you'd expect a book to get into. A partnership between a thief and a warrior. A vocabulary indigenous to this world. Some very accurate passages about trying to hike through mountains in winter.
I very much enjoy Kinch and Galva, and the relationship between these two unlikely companions on a difficult quest. The twists and turns and the swift pace of the book kept me turning the pages.
A lot of fantasy books that feature humor do so at the expense of the characters. Thrice Bound Fool manages to be fast paced and humorous while keeping the reader always on Kinch's side.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I don't like reading e-books. Give me paper or give me dea- Scratch that. I'll read an e-book if you give me a really good reason, and "being the only way to read 'The Thrice-Bound Fool' now" was more than good enough.
So, despite being beset by many other duties, distractions, and disasters I have now finished the book. I'm left with the problem of putting into words why it's so good...
The bottom line is simply that it's Christopher Buehlman, and Mr B is one of the very best authors I've read. If you've read any of his other work you'll understand. He might have appealed to you with his excellent humour (he spent many years entertaining crowds as a comedian). He might have caught you with his story-telling, or his ability to get past your guard and side-swipe you with a low blow to the feels. Or, he might just have hooked you with his prose which is as effective as it is unpretentious.
The book carries on from The Blacktongue Thief directly, with Kinch and Galva and the Book of the Full Shadow.
I'd be hard-pressed to tell you what the plot of The Blacktongue Thief was, despite enjoying it so much. What I remember is a sequence of shocking, horrifying, funny, captivating scenes, sometimes one or two of these things, sometimes all of the above. This book in a similar way has a direction to it that appears to be shredded and thrown to the wind by circumstance.
What we're left with could be uncharitably described as "a series of things that happened". But so could many great books, like The Wise Man's Fear. The series of things that happen are so variously shocking, funny, horrifying, and captivating that it was a delight to simply wander through them in the company of this odd couple that we grew to love so much in The Blacktongue Thief.
Kinch is our point of view, but we know so much more about what's going on behind Galva's largely expressionless exterior because The Daughters' War made her into a deep multi-faceted character that we couldn't help but care about. And there's rather lovely link into that narrative in the book.
So, we are rapidly derailed into a delightful chaos where Kinch and Galva are subject to all manner of danger and a variety of encounters until they are washed up on the shores (figuratively speaking) of a desert-bound city filled with wonder and horror in equal measure.
The book doesn't miss any emotional beats either, with the characters having deeper moments amongst the amusing and the terrifying, and with more complex issues to deal with as well.
Some readers are all about plot. If the plot isn't developing (as they imagine the plot) then they feel that "nothing has happened". Moreover, they might call the book "slow" even if it's a non-stop action-fest. It's a different kind of reading to the sort that I'm familiar with, but having seen it in action, I've come to understand it. Hopefully, even such readers will be so taken with the wild ride that Buehlman takes us on that they won't at the end of it measure the worth of the journey by how far it has taken us along this notional plotline.
This is a wonderful, criminally entertaining book about a journey that is not guaranteed to advance us in terms of over-arching plot or even geography, but is still, nonetheless, a helluva trip. We dive deep into our characters, their relationship, and a world that fascinates me.
Warning: This book may contain traces of goblin.
The goblin content is considerably lower than that of either of the two previous books, but they are a factor, an important one, and when they are absent, Buehlman fills the void with the products of his fascinating imagination.
If you've read The Blacktongue Thief and The Daughters' War then you will already want to read this book. I'm here to tell you that you need to!
Join my Patreon
Join my 3-emails-a-year newsletter #prizes
.
So, despite being beset by many other duties, distractions, and disasters I have now finished the book. I'm left with the problem of putting into words why it's so good...
The bottom line is simply that it's Christopher Buehlman, and Mr B is one of the very best authors I've read. If you've read any of his other work you'll understand. He might have appealed to you with his excellent humour (he spent many years entertaining crowds as a comedian). He might have caught you with his story-telling, or his ability to get past your guard and side-swipe you with a low blow to the feels. Or, he might just have hooked you with his prose which is as effective as it is unpretentious.
The book carries on from The Blacktongue Thief directly, with Kinch and Galva and the Book of the Full Shadow.
I'd be hard-pressed to tell you what the plot of The Blacktongue Thief was, despite enjoying it so much. What I remember is a sequence of shocking, horrifying, funny, captivating scenes, sometimes one or two of these things, sometimes all of the above. This book in a similar way has a direction to it that appears to be shredded and thrown to the wind by circumstance.
What we're left with could be uncharitably described as "a series of things that happened". But so could many great books, like The Wise Man's Fear. The series of things that happen are so variously shocking, funny, horrifying, and captivating that it was a delight to simply wander through them in the company of this odd couple that we grew to love so much in The Blacktongue Thief.
Kinch is our point of view, but we know so much more about what's going on behind Galva's largely expressionless exterior because The Daughters' War made her into a deep multi-faceted character that we couldn't help but care about. And there's rather lovely link into that narrative in the book.
So, we are rapidly derailed into a delightful chaos where Kinch and Galva are subject to all manner of danger and a variety of encounters until they are washed up on the shores (figuratively speaking) of a desert-bound city filled with wonder and horror in equal measure.
The book doesn't miss any emotional beats either, with the characters having deeper moments amongst the amusing and the terrifying, and with more complex issues to deal with as well.
Some readers are all about plot. If the plot isn't developing (as they imagine the plot) then they feel that "nothing has happened". Moreover, they might call the book "slow" even if it's a non-stop action-fest. It's a different kind of reading to the sort that I'm familiar with, but having seen it in action, I've come to understand it. Hopefully, even such readers will be so taken with the wild ride that Buehlman takes us on that they won't at the end of it measure the worth of the journey by how far it has taken us along this notional plotline.
This is a wonderful, criminally entertaining book about a journey that is not guaranteed to advance us in terms of over-arching plot or even geography, but is still, nonetheless, a helluva trip. We dive deep into our characters, their relationship, and a world that fascinates me.
Warning: This book may contain traces of goblin.
The goblin content is considerably lower than that of either of the two previous books, but they are a factor, an important one, and when they are absent, Buehlman fills the void with the products of his fascinating imagination.
If you've read The Blacktongue Thief and The Daughters' War then you will already want to read this book. I'm here to tell you that you need to!
Join my Patreon
Join my 3-emails-a-year newsletter #prizes
.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This is the perfect continuity to The Blacktongue Thief, both in story and tone.
I think I was even more invested in the characters and the world because of The Daughter's War, which gave more depth to Galva and the universe.
I loved it. The writing layers action, love, hope, horror and humour.
Christopher Buehlman narrates the audiobook, as he did for The Blacktongue Thief, and gives the perfect tone to Kinch's story.
I think I was even more invested in the characters and the world because of The Daughter's War, which gave more depth to Galva and the universe.
I loved it. The writing layers action, love, hope, horror and humour.
Christopher Buehlman narrates the audiobook, as he did for The Blacktongue Thief, and gives the perfect tone to Kinch's story.
Currently Reading
November 27, 2025Rao. I guess we are going to Giantlands. :)
I am seated, I love this world and I would die for Galva.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I’m going to say it: Christopher Buehlman is a better character writer than Joe Abercrombie.
Kinch, a professional thief and trickster, and Galva, veteran of the goblin wars and death's sworn handmaiden, are unlikely partners on the run from the ruthless Taker's Guild, harbouring a dangerous sentient spellbook that actively tries to kill them.
Kinch’s voice is strong, immersive, and unique. The word choice, sentence style, and overall narrative is cleverly crafted. This is difficult to pull off. You get an insight into Kinch’s personality and psyche with each sentence, making this an intimate account.
There’s a Guild saying: Better a thrice-bound thief than a fool who thinks he’s free.
The humour is crass, the world dark, and Kinch fairly juvenile in his disposition. The grimdark presence of immature, rude, bodily jokes usually irritates me, but - conveyed by Kinch - adds to the delivery.
The dynamic between Galva and Kinch shouldn’t work. They are opposites in more than personality, cultures, and disposition. A warrior and a coward. Stoic and sarcastic. Loyal and a coward.
"Do you want me to sing?" I said.
“Do you want me to stab you?"
"I’m good at singing."
"I am good at stabbing."
I didn’t sing.
I definitely preferred The Daughter’s War (the prequel). I enjoyed Galva’s character more (probably due to Kinch’s crudeness) and found her story more compelling. Galva in The Blacktongue Thief and The Thrice-Bound Fool felt more distant.
The plot in this book is where it faltered. It felt quite filler. Whilst engaging, it didn’t feel like we made much progress. It also used a plot device that I despise (which I won’t divulge due to spoilers). I predicted this might be the case, yet I still found it frustrating and a cop out; creating an emotional dissonance.
Ultimately, I am in awe of Buehlman‘s genius character voice and how he plays with language and tone. It is clear he is as witty and clever as Kinch. However, the plot wasn’t as strong in progressing the overall arc as I might have expected.
Arc gifted by Gollancz.
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Kinch, a professional thief and trickster, and Galva, veteran of the goblin wars and death's sworn handmaiden, are unlikely partners on the run from the ruthless Taker's Guild, harbouring a dangerous sentient spellbook that actively tries to kill them.
Kinch’s voice is strong, immersive, and unique. The word choice, sentence style, and overall narrative is cleverly crafted. This is difficult to pull off. You get an insight into Kinch’s personality and psyche with each sentence, making this an intimate account.
There’s a Guild saying: Better a thrice-bound thief than a fool who thinks he’s free.
The humour is crass, the world dark, and Kinch fairly juvenile in his disposition. The grimdark presence of immature, rude, bodily jokes usually irritates me, but - conveyed by Kinch - adds to the delivery.
The dynamic between Galva and Kinch shouldn’t work. They are opposites in more than personality, cultures, and disposition. A warrior and a coward. Stoic and sarcastic. Loyal and a coward.
"Do you want me to sing?" I said.
“Do you want me to stab you?"
"I’m good at singing."
"I am good at stabbing."
I didn’t sing.
I definitely preferred The Daughter’s War (the prequel). I enjoyed Galva’s character more (probably due to Kinch’s crudeness) and found her story more compelling. Galva in The Blacktongue Thief and The Thrice-Bound Fool felt more distant.
The plot in this book is where it faltered. It felt quite filler. Whilst engaging, it didn’t feel like we made much progress. It also used a plot device that I despise (which I won’t divulge due to spoilers). I predicted this might be the case, yet I still found it frustrating and a cop out; creating an emotional dissonance.
Ultimately, I am in awe of Buehlman‘s genius character voice and how he plays with language and tone. It is clear he is as witty and clever as Kinch. However, the plot wasn’t as strong in progressing the overall arc as I might have expected.
Arc gifted by Gollancz.
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Tiktok
July 26, 2026
Damn damn damn damn damn.
this series kills me.
galva remains the love of my life. i wanna get “bolnu” tattooed over my heart.
this series kills me.
galva remains the love of my life. i wanna get “bolnu” tattooed over my heart.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Thrice Bound Fool is every bit as amusing a work of gritty, dark fantasy as The Blacktongue Thief, brimming with the same verve, wit and wonderfully irreverent humor, not to mention emotional depth. Much of its appeal comes from the protagonist's enormously entertaining narrative voice, whose self-deprecating wit, sardonic observations, and sarcasm buoy the story as he is flung from one predicament to another.
Buehlman's richly developed, war-ravaged, monster-haunted world remains one of the great pleasures of the series. Its strange cultures and races, lurking mysteries, capricious deities and wonderfully inventive system of magic continually produce bizarre surprises and amusing twists, giving the sense that almost anything might be waiting around the next corner.
The story itself is somewhat looser, unfolding more as a succession of picaresque adventures than a tightly driven narrative, but the sheer pleasure of spending time in this world and in the company of its narrator makes that easy to forgive. And in the audiobook, Buehlman once again proves an ideal interpreter of his own work, delivering a stellar performance that brings every ounce of the book's humor, personality, and colorful dialogue to life.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a Digital Advanced Reader's Copy in exchange for a honest review.
Buehlman's richly developed, war-ravaged, monster-haunted world remains one of the great pleasures of the series. Its strange cultures and races, lurking mysteries, capricious deities and wonderfully inventive system of magic continually produce bizarre surprises and amusing twists, giving the sense that almost anything might be waiting around the next corner.
The story itself is somewhat looser, unfolding more as a succession of picaresque adventures than a tightly driven narrative, but the sheer pleasure of spending time in this world and in the company of its narrator makes that easy to forgive. And in the audiobook, Buehlman once again proves an ideal interpreter of his own work, delivering a stellar performance that brings every ounce of the book's humor, personality, and colorful dialogue to life.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a Digital Advanced Reader's Copy in exchange for a honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
It feels like it's been a long wait for this book, (it wasn't), and I've already started the eager wait for the next one. Kinch and Galva, ONWARD HO!
Having read the second book in the BlackTongue Thief series, (which was a prequel to the first book), I felt like I had a much greater insight into and empathy for Galva this time around. Knowing more about her background, we are privy to the reasons why she is who she is. What a woman! Brave, fierce and loyal. Having missed Kinch in that book, I was more than ready to join up with him again. Funny, also loyal, and endlessly resourceful, he is so real to me that I want to hug him.
These books are longish, but they also fly by. This is an epic journey and as such, I'm enjoying it. In fact, I am up for many, many, more books about this journey and I don't care if we ever reach the destination as long as these two beloved characters stay alive. The Thrice-Bound Fool unites us with both characters at once and it was freaking extraordinary! We flash from scene to scene, both action-packed and quiet and whenever they were separated my heart ached for them to be together again. There is no sexual spark between these two, but the fact remains; they belong together.
I was invited to listen to an ARC of the audiobook by Macmillan Audio, and since it was narrated by Chris Buehlman himself, I jumped on the chance. I think it must be Buehlman's experience with playing different characters in real life that make him such a sensational narrator. OMG, there is one particular scene I am thinking of that nearly broke my heart. There was SO MUCH feeling given to the words, I had to take a break to calm myself.
I don't know what else to say. Ever since I've discovered Christopher Buehlman's work I have become a huge fan, and now he's pretty high up on my favorite authors list; and near the tippy-top of my auto-buy list, even though I am usually able to request digital ARCs. I want Mr. Buehlman's work here, in my house with me, so I can pick it up and flip through the pages, (and maybe sniff them too, don't judge!), any time I want. It's comforting and works to make me feel better while I'm waiting for him to write more books. I need the audiobooks too, because as I said: SENSATIONAL!
My HIGHEST recommendation!
*ARC from publisher, available Tuesday, October 13
Having read the second book in the BlackTongue Thief series, (which was a prequel to the first book), I felt like I had a much greater insight into and empathy for Galva this time around. Knowing more about her background, we are privy to the reasons why she is who she is. What a woman! Brave, fierce and loyal. Having missed Kinch in that book, I was more than ready to join up with him again. Funny, also loyal, and endlessly resourceful, he is so real to me that I want to hug him.
These books are longish, but they also fly by. This is an epic journey and as such, I'm enjoying it. In fact, I am up for many, many, more books about this journey and I don't care if we ever reach the destination as long as these two beloved characters stay alive. The Thrice-Bound Fool unites us with both characters at once and it was freaking extraordinary! We flash from scene to scene, both action-packed and quiet and whenever they were separated my heart ached for them to be together again. There is no sexual spark between these two, but the fact remains; they belong together.
I was invited to listen to an ARC of the audiobook by Macmillan Audio, and since it was narrated by Chris Buehlman himself, I jumped on the chance. I think it must be Buehlman's experience with playing different characters in real life that make him such a sensational narrator. OMG, there is one particular scene I am thinking of that nearly broke my heart. There was SO MUCH feeling given to the words, I had to take a break to calm myself.
I don't know what else to say. Ever since I've discovered Christopher Buehlman's work I have become a huge fan, and now he's pretty high up on my favorite authors list; and near the tippy-top of my auto-buy list, even though I am usually able to request digital ARCs. I want Mr. Buehlman's work here, in my house with me, so I can pick it up and flip through the pages, (and maybe sniff them too, don't judge!), any time I want. It's comforting and works to make me feel better while I'm waiting for him to write more books. I need the audiobooks too, because as I said: SENSATIONAL!
My HIGHEST recommendation!
*ARC from publisher, available Tuesday, October 13
September 17, 2026
I'm sure there are a lot of Buehlman fans out there. Between Two Fires is one of my favorite books. Blacktongue Thief was pretty great, too, and this is a direct successor to that hapless thief, misheif-maker, fool.
I will mention right here that you shouldn't bother to read this if you're a plot-bound maniac. But if you truly appreciate JOURNEY, then I'm certain you're going to enjoy the hell out of this.
One damn thing after another. That's how I'd describe this. Crazy situations, fantastic dialogues, curses-a-million, and increasingly horrible results.
It's like watching a train wreck. With gods, goblins, slavers, princesses, and a very glib, sometimes fairly intelligent FOOL.
It's an experience. I would ask you, dear reader, to just sit back and enjoy the ride.
I will mention right here that you shouldn't bother to read this if you're a plot-bound maniac. But if you truly appreciate JOURNEY, then I'm certain you're going to enjoy the hell out of this.
One damn thing after another. That's how I'd describe this. Crazy situations, fantastic dialogues, curses-a-million, and increasingly horrible results.
It's like watching a train wreck. With gods, goblins, slavers, princesses, and a very glib, sometimes fairly intelligent FOOL.
It's an experience. I would ask you, dear reader, to just sit back and enjoy the ride.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
The Thrice-Bound Fool by Christopher Buehlman, the direct sequel to The Blacktongue Thief... I don't have the words to do it justice. It is an absolutely cracking read from start to finish. Kinch and Galva, adventure, vulgarity, hilarity, inescapable misery. The whole gamut.
I don't know that I've ever had as much fun with a fantasy adventure series than I have had with Blacktongue. Buehlman is a master wordsmith and his ability to turn a phrase is in a class of its own, alongside Kinch who just steals the show each and every page.
I don't know that I've ever had as much fun with a fantasy adventure series than I have had with Blacktongue. Buehlman is a master wordsmith and his ability to turn a phrase is in a class of its own, alongside Kinch who just steals the show each and every page.
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
I won an ARC of this (thank you, Goodreads and Gollancz), so I know what I'm doing this weekend -- yay!! I did dip into it long enough to read the dedication page, which...wow. Well, you'll see when you buy your copy in October ;)
-------
Ok, so I tore through this in a day and a half, unable to put it down -- longer review to come when I have words and can speak again, but in the meantime OMG AMAZING
-------
Alright, I'm back. Now, if you're looking for a book where everything that happens clearly and substantively advances the plot, step by step by step, this is not the book for you. There is meandering. There is wandering. People get kidnapped, then rescued, then kidnapped again, then rescued again. There are many brushes with death. There is a sentient cuttlefish, a Jekyll-and-Hyde cyclops, an aging tiger, and a magical version of serious air power. (The Murder Book is also still around and causing trouble, as well.) BUT: If you are looking for a book where it's not about the destination but the weird and wonderful journey, and where when you get to the end there is this kick-ass moment when you understand why All The Things had to happen just the way they did and you shout YESSSS!!!!! and then everyone (mostly) gets just what they deserve, this is definitely the book for you.
There are a hundred little details that don't need to be there but they make the story so much richer, the journey so much more fun, and Kinch's and Galva's world so much more real. The secondary characters -- the aging court jester, the woman who trains the gladiators, the cyclops who loves to read (at certain times of the day) -- are lovingly drawn and full of life. And the relationship between Kinch and Galva is just a joy: they argue and insult each other, but they always, always have each other's backs. Their friendship is something truly special.
I tell you, the books in this series just get better and better. I cannot WAIT for the next one.
-------
Ok, so I tore through this in a day and a half, unable to put it down -- longer review to come when I have words and can speak again, but in the meantime OMG AMAZING
-------
Alright, I'm back. Now, if you're looking for a book where everything that happens clearly and substantively advances the plot, step by step by step, this is not the book for you. There is meandering. There is wandering. People get kidnapped, then rescued, then kidnapped again, then rescued again. There are many brushes with death. There is a sentient cuttlefish, a Jekyll-and-Hyde cyclops, an aging tiger, and a magical version of serious air power. (The Murder Book is also still around and causing trouble, as well.) BUT: If you are looking for a book where it's not about the destination but the weird and wonderful journey, and where when you get to the end there is this kick-ass moment when you understand why All The Things had to happen just the way they did and you shout YESSSS!!!!! and then everyone (mostly) gets just what they deserve, this is definitely the book for you.
There are a hundred little details that don't need to be there but they make the story so much richer, the journey so much more fun, and Kinch's and Galva's world so much more real. The secondary characters -- the aging court jester, the woman who trains the gladiators, the cyclops who loves to read (at certain times of the day) -- are lovingly drawn and full of life. And the relationship between Kinch and Galva is just a joy: they argue and insult each other, but they always, always have each other's backs. Their friendship is something truly special.
I tell you, the books in this series just get better and better. I cannot WAIT for the next one.
October 13, 2026
I feel like I've been waiting FOR EVER for this (though it is actually just 2 years, 4 months, which isn't excessive, esp since the prequel came out in that time too.) Did I remember anything about The Blacktongue Thief before starting this, honestly, no. Did that make a difference to my enjoyment, also no -- the plot points that were important came back to me in the course of the book, and otherwise, I'm really just here to see what Kinch gets up to next.
I am feral for the way language is used in this book! At the general level, since we're exploring the languages of enslaved and oppressor, and in places the ancestry of those languages. And at the extremely specific word choice level, because we get such a solid sense of who Kinch is and how he thinks based on how he talks/writes. Which is by turns coarse, fruity, lavish and sometimes fully poetic. It's enormous fun!
The plot ... I am a bit less enamoured of. After the first book, I felt that we had a clear arc established and direction of travel, and that this would be a series with a beginning, a middle and an end. This installment reads to me more like an ongoing series, where Stuff Happens in a discrete way in each book. (As opposed to 'discreet' which word cannot ever reasonably be used about Kinch's shenanigans.) Possibly I've misread what type of series this is, or misunderstood what arc we're building, so hopefully the next book comes out soonish so I can see what the plan is.
This probably could stand alone if you really had to, but would really recommend going back to Book 1 for the full and glorious effect. Am not sure how to recommend The Daughter's War, as I've not read it and the tone sounds very different. Perhaps consider it a connected standalone, rather than essential to kick off the series?
Rating: 16/20
This review is based upon a complimentary advance review copy provided by the publisher at NetGalley.
I am feral for the way language is used in this book! At the general level, since we're exploring the languages of enslaved and oppressor, and in places the ancestry of those languages. And at the extremely specific word choice level, because we get such a solid sense of who Kinch is and how he thinks based on how he talks/writes. Which is by turns coarse, fruity, lavish and sometimes fully poetic. It's enormous fun!
The plot ... I am a bit less enamoured of. After the first book, I felt that we had a clear arc established and direction of travel, and that this would be a series with a beginning, a middle and an end. This installment reads to me more like an ongoing series, where Stuff Happens in a discrete way in each book. (As opposed to 'discreet' which word cannot ever reasonably be used about Kinch's shenanigans.) Possibly I've misread what type of series this is, or misunderstood what arc we're building, so hopefully the next book comes out soonish so I can see what the plan is.
This probably could stand alone if you really had to, but would really recommend going back to Book 1 for the full and glorious effect. Am not sure how to recommend The Daughter's War, as I've not read it and the tone sounds very different. Perhaps consider it a connected standalone, rather than essential to kick off the series?
Rating: 16/20
This review is based upon a complimentary advance review copy provided by the publisher at NetGalley.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Now three books into his blacktongue series, Buehlman shows himself to be one of the best fantasy writers going.
October 8, 2026
Kinch and Galva! What a duo. On the run with a sentient spellbook that is making itself everyone’s problem. It’s a great setup, but their dynamic is what makes it work. Kinch has a comment for absolutely everything, and Galva has very little patience for most of them.
Kinch’s narration is such a huge part of this series’ appeal. His crude jokes and ridiculous observations give the world personality, while also revealing how he handles fear. Apparently, if something might kill you, you should insult it first. Beneath that running commentary, there’s a vulnerability that makes him more interesting than just the funny thief. And Galva gives all that chaos weight. Her loyalty, her experience of war, and the things she carries into even the quiet moments make their partnership feel like more than an entertaining mismatch. They can annoy each other and still be the person the other needs beside them.
There’s also something wonderfully unsettling about knowledge becoming a physical threat. The book they need to understand is capable of betraying them, which makes the pursuit of power feel dangerous in a very immediate, very Buehlman way. Filthy humor, strange magic, and an underlying sense that something horrible could be waiting just on the next page. A combination that makes spending more time in this world very enjoyable indeed!
Thank you to Tor for the ARC! Book releases 10/13/26!
Kinch’s narration is such a huge part of this series’ appeal. His crude jokes and ridiculous observations give the world personality, while also revealing how he handles fear. Apparently, if something might kill you, you should insult it first. Beneath that running commentary, there’s a vulnerability that makes him more interesting than just the funny thief. And Galva gives all that chaos weight. Her loyalty, her experience of war, and the things she carries into even the quiet moments make their partnership feel like more than an entertaining mismatch. They can annoy each other and still be the person the other needs beside them.
There’s also something wonderfully unsettling about knowledge becoming a physical threat. The book they need to understand is capable of betraying them, which makes the pursuit of power feel dangerous in a very immediate, very Buehlman way. Filthy humor, strange magic, and an underlying sense that something horrible could be waiting just on the next page. A combination that makes spending more time in this world very enjoyable indeed!
Thank you to Tor for the ARC! Book releases 10/13/26!
Currently Reading
October 13, 2026I got about halfway through the audiobook. While I was loving the story, I was having trouble following along because of the author/narrators strong accent. Now that my physical copy has arrived, I'm going to start again from the beginning:)
August 11, 2026
Big thanks to the publisher for sending me an ARC of this book
This was great, to no one’s surprise. I will say that the beginning felt a bit on the slow side, and at times I felt it was all a bit meandering, but man did it all come together in the end. The final third of the book was SO strong and probably bumped my rating by a full star.
Kinch and Galva are one of my favorite fantasy duos and I won’t tire of seeing their stories play out. The stakes were high and there were several times in this book when my jaw actually dropped, when I audibly gasped, when I cheered and when I held my breath.
Christopher Buehlman did it again and I really cannot wait to see what is next from this author.
This was great, to no one’s surprise. I will say that the beginning felt a bit on the slow side, and at times I felt it was all a bit meandering, but man did it all come together in the end. The final third of the book was SO strong and probably bumped my rating by a full star.
Kinch and Galva are one of my favorite fantasy duos and I won’t tire of seeing their stories play out. The stakes were high and there were several times in this book when my jaw actually dropped, when I audibly gasped, when I cheered and when I held my breath.
Christopher Buehlman did it again and I really cannot wait to see what is next from this author.
Want to Read
September 27, 2026Jamie gives this sequel a 5-star review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Excerpt:
"The Thrice Bound Fool is every bit as amusing a work of gritty, dark fantasy as The Blacktongue Thief, brimming with the same verve, wit and wonderfully irreverent humor, not to mention emotional depth."
Since I gave Blacktongue one of my rare full 5-star reviews, I'll definitely be reading the sequel. TBP 13 Oct 26.
My review of Blacktongue #1: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
This is a perfectly splendid fantasy-romance quest novel, and it's funny too. Plus, there's a very unusual cat!
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Excerpt:
"The Thrice Bound Fool is every bit as amusing a work of gritty, dark fantasy as The Blacktongue Thief, brimming with the same verve, wit and wonderfully irreverent humor, not to mention emotional depth."
Since I gave Blacktongue one of my rare full 5-star reviews, I'll definitely be reading the sequel. TBP 13 Oct 26.
My review of Blacktongue #1: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
This is a perfectly splendid fantasy-romance quest novel, and it's funny too. Plus, there's a very unusual cat!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
2021 was a great year for books and one of my top books of that year was The Blacktongue Thief by Christopher Buehlman. I enjoyed the audiobook so much that as soon as I was done with it, I listened to it again. I just loved the humor and the characters so much that I had a hard time parting with them.
After listening to its sequel, The Thrice-Bound Fool, I feel the same way: I just want to listen to it again. It was so incredibly hard to put down. In fact, I stayed up way past my bedtime two nights in a row to finish this bad boy.
I have no regrets.
If you read or listened to The Blacktongue Thief or The Daughters’ War, this one is a must-read or must-listen. This book picks up pretty much where The Blacktongue Thief left off with Kinch & Galva fleeing the dangerous forces that threaten their lives and the life of Galva’s beloved Queen.
As they continue their epic journey, the pressure is on Kinch to unlock the secrets of a magic book. As they move farther and farther away from everything and everyone they’ve ever known, they have to deal with many dangers along the way, the biggest one of which is the book which tries to murder Kinch every time he opens it up (and sometimes when he doesn’t).
I really love the way Christopher Buehlman writes. His prose is beautiful and he somehow managed to give us a book that is both fast-paced and really pulls on the heartstrings. It literally made me laugh out loud at times but also brought tears to my eyes at other times.
So, this book was a 5 star listen for me: great narration of a great, action-packed book that was un-put-downable. Highly recommended for fans of both The Blacktongue Thief and The Daughters’ War: it is a great continuation of the series and I can’t wait to listen to the next one.
After listening to its sequel, The Thrice-Bound Fool, I feel the same way: I just want to listen to it again. It was so incredibly hard to put down. In fact, I stayed up way past my bedtime two nights in a row to finish this bad boy.
I have no regrets.
If you read or listened to The Blacktongue Thief or The Daughters’ War, this one is a must-read or must-listen. This book picks up pretty much where The Blacktongue Thief left off with Kinch & Galva fleeing the dangerous forces that threaten their lives and the life of Galva’s beloved Queen.
As they continue their epic journey, the pressure is on Kinch to unlock the secrets of a magic book. As they move farther and farther away from everything and everyone they’ve ever known, they have to deal with many dangers along the way, the biggest one of which is the book which tries to murder Kinch every time he opens it up (and sometimes when he doesn’t).
I really love the way Christopher Buehlman writes. His prose is beautiful and he somehow managed to give us a book that is both fast-paced and really pulls on the heartstrings. It literally made me laugh out loud at times but also brought tears to my eyes at other times.
So, this book was a 5 star listen for me: great narration of a great, action-packed book that was un-put-downable. Highly recommended for fans of both The Blacktongue Thief and The Daughters’ War: it is a great continuation of the series and I can’t wait to listen to the next one.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Thrice-Bound Fool by Christopher Buehlman is the third book in the Blacktongue Thief series. Although it's the third book, it's only the second book in the trilogy, since a prequel has already been released.
Note: This review is about the audio ARC. Christopher Buehlman narrates his own book, and mind you, he is a solid performer who used to tour the Renaissance Faire Circuit as Christophe The Insulter, and I was fortunate to see him rip many a fella apart. For this story, he put on a baroque that is “Irish-ish.” As a non-Irish, it worked for me and brought me right to a fantasy version of their lovely accent, but I’ve seen people more familiar with Irish accents complain that it is derivative. So, Irish friends, beware: this is a “kinda Irish, but not actually Irish” accent. As long as you can accept that it isn’t perfect for your accent, you should be able to enjoy the book.
The Thrice-Bound Fool finds Kinch Na Shannack traveling with Galva, the fantastic Ispanthian warrior knight, through adventures that I won’t write about without spoiler tags.
Since this is the third book in the series, I’m not comfortable discussing plot points. Instead, let’s discuss how this made me feel: This book worked.
Potential Negatives:
This book has a narrator telling you what happened. It releases the scene's tension.
For audio listeners: The narrator’s accent can be off-putting.
The story rambles and has a lot of side quests.
Potential Advantages:
Our Kinch gets to meet a lady that he likes! Our anti-romance has some kindness on the relationship front.
Lots of good lore that explains the previous books.
I enjoyed this one at least as much as The Blacktongue Thief, and it works so much better for me than The Daughter’s War.
4-stars. It is an enjoyable yarn, and I need to know how the series ends.
Many thanks to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Note: This review is about the audio ARC. Christopher Buehlman narrates his own book, and mind you, he is a solid performer who used to tour the Renaissance Faire Circuit as Christophe The Insulter, and I was fortunate to see him rip many a fella apart. For this story, he put on a baroque that is “Irish-ish.” As a non-Irish, it worked for me and brought me right to a fantasy version of their lovely accent, but I’ve seen people more familiar with Irish accents complain that it is derivative. So, Irish friends, beware: this is a “kinda Irish, but not actually Irish” accent. As long as you can accept that it isn’t perfect for your accent, you should be able to enjoy the book.
The Thrice-Bound Fool finds Kinch Na Shannack traveling with Galva, the fantastic Ispanthian warrior knight, through adventures that I won’t write about without spoiler tags.
Since this is the third book in the series, I’m not comfortable discussing plot points. Instead, let’s discuss how this made me feel: This book worked.
Potential Negatives:
This book has a narrator telling you what happened. It releases the scene's tension.
For audio listeners: The narrator’s accent can be off-putting.
The story rambles and has a lot of side quests.
Potential Advantages:
Our Kinch gets to meet a lady that he likes! Our anti-romance has some kindness on the relationship front.
Lots of good lore that explains the previous books.
I enjoyed this one at least as much as The Blacktongue Thief, and it works so much better for me than The Daughter’s War.
4-stars. It is an enjoyable yarn, and I need to know how the series ends.
Many thanks to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Review to come tomorrow but for now I'll just say: ദ്ദി( ;´ - `;)
eta:
"this is my roman empire"—kinch after he winds up in theroman empire
Thanks to Tor for providing an ARC in exchange for this honest review!
Welp, Christopher Buehlman has done it again. But like, done it a bit darker and in more emotionally dynamic fashion.
Don't get me wrong, this sequel continues to provide the things I loved from Book 1—namely, a humorous narrator voice, picaresque adventure, and creative fantasy world building (though this installment is more weighted toward clever subversions and remixes of familiar tropes than uniqueness for uniqueness's sake.) But it also feels as though the themes have matured (do check content warnings for this one!) along with the protagonists' relationship.
And that was the other thing I loved about The Thrice-Bound Fool: it's a Kinch-and-Galva lovefest. I adore when stories are devoted to a non-romantic central dynamic, and here it's explored and fleshed out with meticulous care and thoughtfulness. In Book 1 they were a great straight man/comic relief duo, but in this book they're forced to truly learn who they are beneath that surface dynamic as the narrative reeeeeally puts them through The Horrors™. And of course, it doesn't hurt that this is all happening against a backdrop of steampunk giants, inexplicably Marxist slave traders, fickle gods that may or may not be real, and my personal favorite, giant cuttlefish.
The last act in particular was so heart-pounding and visceral I needed to lie down with a cold compress after it.Forget Wheel of Time and Rings of Power, can this series become the next high fantasy adaptation with more money than God, please? In conclusion, this is easily my favorite ARC I've read this year. Hold on to your hats.
tl;dr Book good. Grab your friends and wear your Russell Crowe Gladiator miniskirt (Russell Crowe Cinderella Man jockstrap optional)
eta:
"this is my roman empire"—kinch after he winds up in the
Thanks to Tor for providing an ARC in exchange for this honest review!
Welp, Christopher Buehlman has done it again. But like, done it a bit darker and in more emotionally dynamic fashion.
Don't get me wrong, this sequel continues to provide the things I loved from Book 1—namely, a humorous narrator voice, picaresque adventure, and creative fantasy world building (though this installment is more weighted toward clever subversions and remixes of familiar tropes than uniqueness for uniqueness's sake.) But it also feels as though the themes have matured (do check content warnings for this one!) along with the protagonists' relationship.
And that was the other thing I loved about The Thrice-Bound Fool: it's a Kinch-and-Galva lovefest. I adore when stories are devoted to a non-romantic central dynamic, and here it's explored and fleshed out with meticulous care and thoughtfulness. In Book 1 they were a great straight man/comic relief duo, but in this book they're forced to truly learn who they are beneath that surface dynamic as the narrative reeeeeally puts them through The Horrors™. And of course, it doesn't hurt that this is all happening against a backdrop of steampunk giants, inexplicably Marxist slave traders, fickle gods that may or may not be real, and my personal favorite, giant cuttlefish.
The last act in particular was so heart-pounding and visceral I needed to lie down with a cold compress after it.
tl;dr Book good. Grab your friends and wear your Russell Crowe Gladiator miniskirt (Russell Crowe Cinderella Man jockstrap optional)
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
🎧📚 Tandem Review 🎧📚
Thank you @Macmillanaudio for the gifted audiobook copy. Thank you @tor for the gifted physical copy.
Title: Thrice Bound Fool
Author: Christopher Buehlman
Pages: 370
Narrator: Author
Duration: 11 hours 31 minutes
Genre: Fantasy
Pub Date: October 2026
🎧📚 Synopsis 🎧📚
Kinch and Galva set out on an epic journey to uncover the secrets of a sentient book that tries to kill them every chance it gets. But cracking this book is the only way to stop the Takers Guild a dark organization that threatens everything they love.
🎧📚 My Thoughts 🎧📚
I wanna start off strong by saying the dedication is one of the best I have read in recent years. When you read it, you'll know why.
Holy character development!! I feel like I got to intimately know the characters in this novel. Kinch and Galva were impeccable from start to finish. There was great points of action and adventure as well as downtime where you got to learn and sit with the characters. The storyline was immerse an interesting, and accompanied with the audiobook was just such a pleasure to read.
There was a little bit more downtime than action. And I wish the action had been a little more heightened. But the book also had extremely emotional parts that made the downtime really important.
I cannot wait for the next installment in this series.
🎧📚 Narration 🎧📚
Narration is done by the author and it is bloody fantastic! This is one of the best done audiobooks I've read in quite some time. The characters are emotional and hilarious. The dark moments definitely grab you and pull you in. Very well done, bravo!!!
~~~~~~~~~
🎧📚 Read if You Like 🎧📚
* Humorous characters
* Vast worlds
* Interesting characters
* Magic
~~~~~~~~~
🏷️
#audiobookreview #audiobookrecommendation #bookstagram #thriceboundfool #christopherbuehlman
Thank you @Macmillanaudio for the gifted audiobook copy. Thank you @tor for the gifted physical copy.
Title: Thrice Bound Fool
Author: Christopher Buehlman
Pages: 370
Narrator: Author
Duration: 11 hours 31 minutes
Genre: Fantasy
Pub Date: October 2026
🎧📚 Synopsis 🎧📚
Kinch and Galva set out on an epic journey to uncover the secrets of a sentient book that tries to kill them every chance it gets. But cracking this book is the only way to stop the Takers Guild a dark organization that threatens everything they love.
🎧📚 My Thoughts 🎧📚
I wanna start off strong by saying the dedication is one of the best I have read in recent years. When you read it, you'll know why.
Holy character development!! I feel like I got to intimately know the characters in this novel. Kinch and Galva were impeccable from start to finish. There was great points of action and adventure as well as downtime where you got to learn and sit with the characters. The storyline was immerse an interesting, and accompanied with the audiobook was just such a pleasure to read.
There was a little bit more downtime than action. And I wish the action had been a little more heightened. But the book also had extremely emotional parts that made the downtime really important.
I cannot wait for the next installment in this series.
🎧📚 Narration 🎧📚
Narration is done by the author and it is bloody fantastic! This is one of the best done audiobooks I've read in quite some time. The characters are emotional and hilarious. The dark moments definitely grab you and pull you in. Very well done, bravo!!!
~~~~~~~~~
🎧📚 Read if You Like 🎧📚
* Humorous characters
* Vast worlds
* Interesting characters
* Magic
~~~~~~~~~
🏷️
#audiobookreview #audiobookrecommendation #bookstagram #thriceboundfool #christopherbuehlman
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Overall, I enjoyed The Thrice-Bound Fool, but it didn’t quite live up to The Blacktongue Thief for me. The middle part of the book slowed down quite a bit, and I found myself less interested in what was happening. I still enjoyed Kinch’s humor and sarcasm, even if some of his jokes felt a little immature, but the humor didn’t land as well for me as it did in the first book. I also enjoyed seeing more of Galva, although I think I liked her more in The Daughter’s War, where her character stood out more to me.
One thing I did like was a certain plot device used toward the end. I thought it was an interesting choice, but at the same time, it also felt a little like a cop-out. I can appreciate what the author was going for, but I’m still not entirely sure how I feel about it. The audiobook narrator was also really good and made the listening experience enjoyable, even during the slower parts.
Kinch Na Shannack finds himself in possession of a stolen, sentient book that tries to kill him whenever he opens it. With the future of Manreach at stake, he must uncover the book’s secrets while Galva protects him from the people hunting them. Their mission eventually takes them beyond the known world, where they face even more dangerous threats.
Out of all three books, The Blacktongue Thief is still my favorite. I enjoyed its humor and overall story the most, and it left a stronger impression on me. While this one had some slower moments, I still enjoyed returning to this world and spending more time with these characters. I’m definitely interested in reading the third book whenever it comes out!
Thank you to netgalley and tor publishing group for this ARC!
One thing I did like was a certain plot device used toward the end. I thought it was an interesting choice, but at the same time, it also felt a little like a cop-out. I can appreciate what the author was going for, but I’m still not entirely sure how I feel about it. The audiobook narrator was also really good and made the listening experience enjoyable, even during the slower parts.
Kinch Na Shannack finds himself in possession of a stolen, sentient book that tries to kill him whenever he opens it. With the future of Manreach at stake, he must uncover the book’s secrets while Galva protects him from the people hunting them. Their mission eventually takes them beyond the known world, where they face even more dangerous threats.
Out of all three books, The Blacktongue Thief is still my favorite. I enjoyed its humor and overall story the most, and it left a stronger impression on me. While this one had some slower moments, I still enjoyed returning to this world and spending more time with these characters. I’m definitely interested in reading the third book whenever it comes out!
Thank you to netgalley and tor publishing group for this ARC!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Thanks so much to Macmillan Audio via NetGalley for the early listening copy in exchange for an honest review! As always, all opinions are my own (even if I’m slightly biased because Buehlman is an auto-buy author and I feel like he can do no wrong).
Guys, I loved The Blacktongue Thief and The Daughters War. Buehlman is definitely one of my auto buy authors and he’s also a wonderful performer, as evidenced by hearing him read from Daughters still lives rent free in my head.
I know his sense of humor in these books won’t be for everyone, but I mashed that five star button real quick once he finished reading The Thrice-Bound Fool. I think audiobooks read by the authors are something special, and Buehlman has the brogue and sarcasm down to a science.
Kinch and Galva are trekking across a dangerous mountain range to find a safe place to discover the murder-book’s secrets. They encounter some seriously f*cked up owls, slavers, giants, assassins, and everything else you could never imagine along the way. We get the full gambit from Galva in gladiator form to Kinch in slavery to the most spoiled giantess ever.
It’s dark, it’s light, the humor is crude but clever, and I just think this entire series is brilliant from start to finish so far. The ending had my head reeling; what could possibly come next?
I liked the audio from start to finish and Galva’s story from The Daughters War added a lot to the book. I would recommend reading in either chronological or publication order. Galva learning how to do a sarcasm was hilarious and a high point in the banter for me. This is a book that will make you laugh and cry and be all over the GrimDark spectrum of emotions.
I hiiiighly recommend the series to anyone interested, either via page or audio (or both)!
P.S. I did notice that the ALC and the ARC had different author’s notes, very sorry for the recent loss of his pup ♥️
Guys, I loved The Blacktongue Thief and The Daughters War. Buehlman is definitely one of my auto buy authors and he’s also a wonderful performer, as evidenced by hearing him read from Daughters still lives rent free in my head.
I know his sense of humor in these books won’t be for everyone, but I mashed that five star button real quick once he finished reading The Thrice-Bound Fool. I think audiobooks read by the authors are something special, and Buehlman has the brogue and sarcasm down to a science.
Kinch and Galva are trekking across a dangerous mountain range to find a safe place to discover the murder-book’s secrets. They encounter some seriously f*cked up owls, slavers, giants, assassins, and everything else you could never imagine along the way. We get the full gambit from Galva in gladiator form to Kinch in slavery to the most spoiled giantess ever.
It’s dark, it’s light, the humor is crude but clever, and I just think this entire series is brilliant from start to finish so far. The ending had my head reeling; what could possibly come next?
I liked the audio from start to finish and Galva’s story from The Daughters War added a lot to the book. I would recommend reading in either chronological or publication order. Galva learning how to do a sarcasm was hilarious and a high point in the banter for me. This is a book that will make you laugh and cry and be all over the GrimDark spectrum of emotions.
I hiiiighly recommend the series to anyone interested, either via page or audio (or both)!
P.S. I did notice that the ALC and the ARC had different author’s notes, very sorry for the recent loss of his pup ♥️
October 11, 2026
Buehlman, you absolute karker. I’m not like to forgive you for what you’ve done, but I am like to praise you for it just the same.
Thanks to NetGalley and Tor for the ARC. The Thrice Bound Fool is a phenomenal sequel to the Black Tongue Thief, offering all of its wit and charm and losing none of its momentum. It’s the kind of fantasy I miss reading when I’m done. Not because I want to live in the shyte world, but because the characters mean so much to me. Kinch’s narrative is so colorful and silly that I often forget just how dark this story can be. I am then promptly reminded time and time again.
Bravo. I’ll see you for book three lads.
Thanks to NetGalley and Tor for the ARC. The Thrice Bound Fool is a phenomenal sequel to the Black Tongue Thief, offering all of its wit and charm and losing none of its momentum. It’s the kind of fantasy I miss reading when I’m done. Not because I want to live in the shyte world, but because the characters mean so much to me. Kinch’s narrative is so colorful and silly that I often forget just how dark this story can be. I am then promptly reminded time and time again.
Bravo. I’ll see you for book three lads.
October 13, 2026
4.5 of 5 stars
https://lynns-books.com/2026/10/13/re...
My Five Word TL:DR Review: Wow, I loved This Book
It was simply brilliant.
I feel like there’s been a bit of a wait for this second instalment. But, I’m not complaining, I read and adored The Daughters’ War, which was, strictly speaking, the start of the story, and I completely understand the author’s desire to tell that tale because its so, so good.
Be warned that this review may contain spoilers for the previous two books. Also, I recommend that you read those books before delving into this one. In fact I will make it a special request – please read The Daughters War and The Blacktongue Thief – I implore you.
This story picks up with our two characters Kinch and Galva and, may I say, it was an absolute pleasure to follow the two of them around. And, trust me, there is a lot of meandering – not a criticism. The two are trying to keep one step ahead of the Taker’s Guild, whilst carrying along a sentient book that is trying to kill them – at the same time as trying to cross deadly mountains during the cold season. What could possibly go wrong. The main objective seems to be to buy time so that Kinch can try and uncover the secrets from the deadly book they carry, whilst Galva tries to protect him. What ensues is the strangest and most unexpected journey that you can imagine – and I do have a pretty good imagination.
Strangely enough I went back to check out my previous two reviews and I would say a lot of the feelings and comments I made for those are still relevant here.
If you’re looking for some sort of epic fantasy with a clearly structured plot that carries the story forward then you might need to give your head a wobble. This is definitely the type of tale that is more about the journey than the destination. And this journey is one major life threatening and twisty story. It’s incredibly entertaining, there is no shortage of action, its a conundrum in that it can be bleak and bloody, laugh out loud funny and indisputably crass and with a range of characters that really do run the gamut of humankind – kindness where you’d least expect, vicious cruelty without need and plenty of emotional scenes that will pull at your heartstrings.
We have giants, fickle and tricky Gods, corvids and although not as many as in previous books, goblins that will give you the heebies.
Lets be honest as well, the stakes in this one are again high. Mankind is possibly on the brink of being wiped out and what Kinch and Galva uncover in this latest instalment makes this possibility more than a little likely.
But, without doubt, the winning element to The Thrice-Bound Fool is the relationship between Kinch and Galva. I mean, to be fair, I absolutely adore Galva and so you could be forgiven for thinking Kinch plays second fiddle for me, but, to be honest, I really like his character too, he’s got such a lot of charm and he comes out with the most outrageous things that I simply explode, unexpectedly with laughter. It’s absolutely crazy. I love it when a book does that – particularly when a turn of the page can equally have me either on the edge of my seat or close to tears.
And I really liked the role that Kinch ends up playing – I’m not going to say what it is because it would give away spoilers, but it feels so ridiculously fitting somehow.
In conclusion, another great instalment. I’d say that The Daughters’ War is still my favourite but the three books are so close together that there’s barely anything in it. An excellent series. Well written, entertaining, outrageous, dark, brutal, bloody, funny and unexpectedly emotional. Also, can I just mention the title – which is absolutely perfect – I love it when the title is really meaningful.
I received a copy through Netgalley, courtesy of the publisher, for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.
https://lynns-books.com/2026/10/13/re...
My Five Word TL:DR Review: Wow, I loved This Book
It was simply brilliant.
I feel like there’s been a bit of a wait for this second instalment. But, I’m not complaining, I read and adored The Daughters’ War, which was, strictly speaking, the start of the story, and I completely understand the author’s desire to tell that tale because its so, so good.
Be warned that this review may contain spoilers for the previous two books. Also, I recommend that you read those books before delving into this one. In fact I will make it a special request – please read The Daughters War and The Blacktongue Thief – I implore you.
This story picks up with our two characters Kinch and Galva and, may I say, it was an absolute pleasure to follow the two of them around. And, trust me, there is a lot of meandering – not a criticism. The two are trying to keep one step ahead of the Taker’s Guild, whilst carrying along a sentient book that is trying to kill them – at the same time as trying to cross deadly mountains during the cold season. What could possibly go wrong. The main objective seems to be to buy time so that Kinch can try and uncover the secrets from the deadly book they carry, whilst Galva tries to protect him. What ensues is the strangest and most unexpected journey that you can imagine – and I do have a pretty good imagination.
Strangely enough I went back to check out my previous two reviews and I would say a lot of the feelings and comments I made for those are still relevant here.
If you’re looking for some sort of epic fantasy with a clearly structured plot that carries the story forward then you might need to give your head a wobble. This is definitely the type of tale that is more about the journey than the destination. And this journey is one major life threatening and twisty story. It’s incredibly entertaining, there is no shortage of action, its a conundrum in that it can be bleak and bloody, laugh out loud funny and indisputably crass and with a range of characters that really do run the gamut of humankind – kindness where you’d least expect, vicious cruelty without need and plenty of emotional scenes that will pull at your heartstrings.
We have giants, fickle and tricky Gods, corvids and although not as many as in previous books, goblins that will give you the heebies.
Lets be honest as well, the stakes in this one are again high. Mankind is possibly on the brink of being wiped out and what Kinch and Galva uncover in this latest instalment makes this possibility more than a little likely.
But, without doubt, the winning element to The Thrice-Bound Fool is the relationship between Kinch and Galva. I mean, to be fair, I absolutely adore Galva and so you could be forgiven for thinking Kinch plays second fiddle for me, but, to be honest, I really like his character too, he’s got such a lot of charm and he comes out with the most outrageous things that I simply explode, unexpectedly with laughter. It’s absolutely crazy. I love it when a book does that – particularly when a turn of the page can equally have me either on the edge of my seat or close to tears.
And I really liked the role that Kinch ends up playing – I’m not going to say what it is because it would give away spoilers, but it feels so ridiculously fitting somehow.
In conclusion, another great instalment. I’d say that The Daughters’ War is still my favourite but the three books are so close together that there’s barely anything in it. An excellent series. Well written, entertaining, outrageous, dark, brutal, bloody, funny and unexpectedly emotional. Also, can I just mention the title – which is absolutely perfect – I love it when the title is really meaningful.
I received a copy through Netgalley, courtesy of the publisher, for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.
October 15, 2026
9.0/10
I think Buehlman has managed to write another spellbinding fantasy novel, and one that maintains the razor sharp and focused voice of its sequel while allowing it to blossom and grow into something new and majestic on its own by the end.
That Voice belongs to Kinch, and because so little else in this grand and cruel world belongs to him, you can feel him clinging to it at times with almost desperate abandon. Even more so than in Black-Tongue Thief, we find our hero and his fiercely competitive friend and companion Galva truly at the mercy of the world around them. There is very little agency to be had and for much of the first half of the book they feel almost like driftwood, narrative flotsam cast to and fro on the waves, completely at the whim of some mad god, uncaring and unaware. It is therefore understandable, if not natural, that Kinch's narration at times feels almost incapable of keeping up with the plot being hurled at him, like some hapless drunk who fell asleep on a bench only to wake up by being kicked out of a plane to parachute into an active warzone.
In a way, Kinch's voice and narration becomes more than simply the veil through which we observe the horrors of the world, but the way we view Kinch. How he at times goes on tangents to obfuscate something he'd rather not speak of. How he rambles and raves at length to underscore the terrible splendor he beholds. How suddenly he can become oh so quiet, oh so frank, when wit fails him and he is forced to lay his pain bare on the page.
Buehlman threads the needly damn near perfectly in these parts, writing out in perfect clarity what was left partially obscured in Black-tongue. Why wouldn't it after all, with how much our plucky protagonist changes over course of this story? Kinch was always the type to carry not only the scars he is dealt, but the scars he deals out as well. It speaks to the intimacy of the narration and the trust that develops across the books, that he here gradually allows us to truly see them in all their tender glory.
Ultimately, I think it is this sharing of scars that is central to The Thrice-Bound Fool. When confronted with cruelty and despair on scales both banal and almost unfathomable, what meagre respite remains is to be found among companions, as we laugh and cry at the mad and beautiful terror of it all, squeezing each others hands till our knuckles turn white.
If reading Black-Tongue Thief is like walking into a dingy tavern and realizing everyone in there is side-eying you and also carrying a knife, then reading Thrice-Bound Fool is like being caught in a rapturous storm with a dear friend, clinging on to each other and the foolish hope that either you will both somehow survive the night, or that you both perish, so that one need not bear the pain of being alone.
Heartbreaking, bizzare, brutal and strange, but beauty abounds when accompanied with a friend.
I think Buehlman has managed to write another spellbinding fantasy novel, and one that maintains the razor sharp and focused voice of its sequel while allowing it to blossom and grow into something new and majestic on its own by the end.
That Voice belongs to Kinch, and because so little else in this grand and cruel world belongs to him, you can feel him clinging to it at times with almost desperate abandon. Even more so than in Black-Tongue Thief, we find our hero and his fiercely competitive friend and companion Galva truly at the mercy of the world around them. There is very little agency to be had and for much of the first half of the book they feel almost like driftwood, narrative flotsam cast to and fro on the waves, completely at the whim of some mad god, uncaring and unaware. It is therefore understandable, if not natural, that Kinch's narration at times feels almost incapable of keeping up with the plot being hurled at him, like some hapless drunk who fell asleep on a bench only to wake up by being kicked out of a plane to parachute into an active warzone.
In a way, Kinch's voice and narration becomes more than simply the veil through which we observe the horrors of the world, but the way we view Kinch. How he at times goes on tangents to obfuscate something he'd rather not speak of. How he rambles and raves at length to underscore the terrible splendor he beholds. How suddenly he can become oh so quiet, oh so frank, when wit fails him and he is forced to lay his pain bare on the page.
Buehlman threads the needly damn near perfectly in these parts, writing out in perfect clarity what was left partially obscured in Black-tongue. Why wouldn't it after all, with how much our plucky protagonist changes over course of this story? Kinch was always the type to carry not only the scars he is dealt, but the scars he deals out as well. It speaks to the intimacy of the narration and the trust that develops across the books, that he here gradually allows us to truly see them in all their tender glory.
Ultimately, I think it is this sharing of scars that is central to The Thrice-Bound Fool. When confronted with cruelty and despair on scales both banal and almost unfathomable, what meagre respite remains is to be found among companions, as we laugh and cry at the mad and beautiful terror of it all, squeezing each others hands till our knuckles turn white.
If reading Black-Tongue Thief is like walking into a dingy tavern and realizing everyone in there is side-eying you and also carrying a knife, then reading Thrice-Bound Fool is like being caught in a rapturous storm with a dear friend, clinging on to each other and the foolish hope that either you will both somehow survive the night, or that you both perish, so that one need not bear the pain of being alone.
Heartbreaking, bizzare, brutal and strange, but beauty abounds when accompanied with a friend.
September 28, 2026
tl;dr: Fun but hand-holdy worldbuilding. Didn’t feel very invested. Awkward pacing. Meh humor. Interesting, if not somewhat misleading, plot. 3 stars, maybe 3.5 if I’m in a good mood
My thoughts:
The premise — In the first few chapters I really had no idea what the plan was. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but my hopes and interests were dashed early on. The Book of Full Shadow opened up several questions that I was interested in learning, but only a few chapters later and it seemed like the story was going an entirely different route which, up until the last few chapters, didn’t have me very invested.
The pacing — The Thrice-Bound Fool has several “big” moments in it which are actually interesting and keep me reading (the ending included) but besides that there are some places that drag and generally feel unnecessary.
The world — Buehlman’s worldbuilding is nice, but sometimes a little hand-holdy in that he rarely introduces something (i.e. a name, item, concept) without immediately explaining it, which kind of loses me. Kinch as a character tends to explain whatever he is talking about, therefore being hand-holdy, but it doesn’t leave much time to get invested in whats happening. The interesting things are glossed over and never brought up again (architecture, natural gases, new “technologies”)—while the mundane is over-explained and sometimes overused.
The characters — There are a fair amount of named characters in this entry. Several were introduced with heavy emphasis but were either never utilized or never actually spoken to. Towards the end, it felt like I was supposed to feel a certain way towards certain characters, but I simply didn’t have enough to go off. One thing I can say, however, is that Buehlman does a great job this series (and Between Two Fires) of showing that there doesn’t need to be “good” people for an effective story. If you don’t like bad people, don’t read this series.
The humor — Compared to The Blacktongue Thief, I feel this sequel under-delivers in comedy. Mind you, Kinch is still a humorous character and his interactions with Galva are still enjoyable, but these come far fewer in The Thrice-Bound Fool (for understandable reasons). However, *bad* comedy can take me out of a story, such as the word “fart” being used an unnecessary number of times (“kark” is fine because it fits in-world, but any more than one “fart” received an eye roll).
The ending — The ending was alright, but I think a lot of moments that should have been impacting fell short. To Kinch himself, I think the events of the ending would greatly affect him, but only at one point in the last few chapters do we see him feel a certain way. Several dramatic moments occur in the last 2-3 chapter, all of which I liked, but some of them felt like setup to evoke a deeper feeling that never hit me. In the very end, I had a hunch for what was going to happen and was correct, but it wasn’t an “Aha! I was right!” moment. It was more “Ah, yeah.” Concepts and characters were introduced and left unresolved that I’m *hoping* will come back in the future, but I feel like so much was built up and (literally) left behind.
I thought I’d be less critical because I received an ARC for this book, but if anything I feel a bit MORE critical. I still plan to read whatever comes next in this series, but I am not chomping at the bit waiting for it.
My thoughts:
The premise — In the first few chapters I really had no idea what the plan was. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but my hopes and interests were dashed early on. The Book of Full Shadow opened up several questions that I was interested in learning, but only a few chapters later and it seemed like the story was going an entirely different route which, up until the last few chapters, didn’t have me very invested.
The pacing — The Thrice-Bound Fool has several “big” moments in it which are actually interesting and keep me reading (the ending included) but besides that there are some places that drag and generally feel unnecessary.
The world — Buehlman’s worldbuilding is nice, but sometimes a little hand-holdy in that he rarely introduces something (i.e. a name, item, concept) without immediately explaining it, which kind of loses me. Kinch as a character tends to explain whatever he is talking about, therefore being hand-holdy, but it doesn’t leave much time to get invested in whats happening. The interesting things are glossed over and never brought up again (architecture, natural gases, new “technologies”)—while the mundane is over-explained and sometimes overused.
The characters — There are a fair amount of named characters in this entry. Several were introduced with heavy emphasis but were either never utilized or never actually spoken to. Towards the end, it felt like I was supposed to feel a certain way towards certain characters, but I simply didn’t have enough to go off. One thing I can say, however, is that Buehlman does a great job this series (and Between Two Fires) of showing that there doesn’t need to be “good” people for an effective story. If you don’t like bad people, don’t read this series.
The humor — Compared to The Blacktongue Thief, I feel this sequel under-delivers in comedy. Mind you, Kinch is still a humorous character and his interactions with Galva are still enjoyable, but these come far fewer in The Thrice-Bound Fool (for understandable reasons). However, *bad* comedy can take me out of a story, such as the word “fart” being used an unnecessary number of times (“kark” is fine because it fits in-world, but any more than one “fart” received an eye roll).
The ending — The ending was alright, but I think a lot of moments that should have been impacting fell short. To Kinch himself, I think the events of the ending would greatly affect him, but only at one point in the last few chapters do we see him feel a certain way. Several dramatic moments occur in the last 2-3 chapter, all of which I liked, but some of them felt like setup to evoke a deeper feeling that never hit me. In the very end, I had a hunch for what was going to happen and was correct, but it wasn’t an “Aha! I was right!” moment. It was more “Ah, yeah.” Concepts and characters were introduced and left unresolved that I’m *hoping* will come back in the future, but I feel like so much was built up and (literally) left behind.
I thought I’d be less critical because I received an ARC for this book, but if anything I feel a bit MORE critical. I still plan to read whatever comes next in this series, but I am not chomping at the bit waiting for it.
September 6, 2026
Thank you to Tor for providing this book for review consideration via netgalley ✨ truly honored!
The Thrice-Bound Fool wastes zero time jumping back into the action— and the insults! Within the first few pages we have “skinmitten pisspuddle muttonfart” and with that, folks, we know we are back in The Blacktongue universe.
Kinch Na Shannack and Galva have just battled an assassin adept and made off with The Book of Shadows, which means they have the entirety of The Takers Guild wanting them dead. Naturally, things only get worse from there.
Buehlman excels at pushing boundaries but most impressively he does so with a sophistication that makes even the most puerile fart joke land. Kinch is crude, roguish, and cheeky, but all is equalized in Buehlman’s brilliant execution. Such excessive vulgarity should feel gratuitous but Buehlman’s command of language, timing, character, and story, makes every “kark” and “arse”feel precisely necessary.
Buehlman truly understands balance. Which is why we have Kinch AND Galva— forever my queen, my dear beautiful warrior woman. Her stoic, steady integrity and death-before-dishonor devotion make her the perfect foil for Kinch’s crass, fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants personality.
For all the crudeness and absurdity, there is still an immense amount of tenderness. Buehlman will make you laugh at something obscenely stupid on one page and have you tear up by the next. Kinch’s irreverence never diminishes the sincerity of his love; if anything, it amplifies his vulnerability.
This novel is gloriously picaresque- a cascade of failures, narrow escapes, silly side quests, strange encounters, and a whole lot of obnoxious plans that go spectacularly to shit. Just when you start to wonder if maybe the story is meandering too far from the path— or what even is the path?— it turns, and you realize the wandering was the point all along. Don’t lose faith in our narrator! Every detour has a purpose, and dammit, does Buehlman know how to surprise you!
I was delighted, offended, devastated, empowered, fulfilled— and now desperate to follow my favorite fool into whatever terrible decision awaits him next. Bolnu Buehlman👏🏽
The Thrice-Bound Fool wastes zero time jumping back into the action— and the insults! Within the first few pages we have “skinmitten pisspuddle muttonfart” and with that, folks, we know we are back in The Blacktongue universe.
Kinch Na Shannack and Galva have just battled an assassin adept and made off with The Book of Shadows, which means they have the entirety of The Takers Guild wanting them dead. Naturally, things only get worse from there.
Buehlman excels at pushing boundaries but most impressively he does so with a sophistication that makes even the most puerile fart joke land. Kinch is crude, roguish, and cheeky, but all is equalized in Buehlman’s brilliant execution. Such excessive vulgarity should feel gratuitous but Buehlman’s command of language, timing, character, and story, makes every “kark” and “arse”feel precisely necessary.
Buehlman truly understands balance. Which is why we have Kinch AND Galva— forever my queen, my dear beautiful warrior woman. Her stoic, steady integrity and death-before-dishonor devotion make her the perfect foil for Kinch’s crass, fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants personality.
For all the crudeness and absurdity, there is still an immense amount of tenderness. Buehlman will make you laugh at something obscenely stupid on one page and have you tear up by the next. Kinch’s irreverence never diminishes the sincerity of his love; if anything, it amplifies his vulnerability.
This novel is gloriously picaresque- a cascade of failures, narrow escapes, silly side quests, strange encounters, and a whole lot of obnoxious plans that go spectacularly to shit. Just when you start to wonder if maybe the story is meandering too far from the path— or what even is the path?— it turns, and you realize the wandering was the point all along. Don’t lose faith in our narrator! Every detour has a purpose, and dammit, does Buehlman know how to surprise you!
I was delighted, offended, devastated, empowered, fulfilled— and now desperate to follow my favorite fool into whatever terrible decision awaits him next. Bolnu Buehlman👏🏽
October 12, 2026
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Tor for the opportunity to read and review this ARC!
It was so fun to read about Kinch’s shenanigans again. While there are definitely gross and crass aspects to these books, I really enjoy the wit and banter between these characters. I love Kinch’s dynamic with Galva. The creepy, dangerous book was really interesting and I was loving where the story was going with the three-god. Unfortunately, it really went off the rails after that.
My problem with this book is that the first half was great, but I really did not enjoy the latter half. The entire slavery storyline was not fun to read and honestly felt like it didn’t fit. It was almost like it was plucked from a different story. I kept hoping to get through it and on to something better, but it was the entire second half. Ultimately, it was a lot of filler instead of actual meaningful plot, and then the ending made it largely not have even mattered. I wish it had gone in a different direction after they met the god in the cave. I’m disappointed in the turn this took, but the ending set it up so the next book might be better.
It was so fun to read about Kinch’s shenanigans again. While there are definitely gross and crass aspects to these books, I really enjoy the wit and banter between these characters. I love Kinch’s dynamic with Galva. The creepy, dangerous book was really interesting and I was loving where the story was going with the three-god. Unfortunately, it really went off the rails after that.
My problem with this book is that the first half was great, but I really did not enjoy the latter half. The entire slavery storyline was not fun to read and honestly felt like it didn’t fit. It was almost like it was plucked from a different story. I kept hoping to get through it and on to something better, but it was the entire second half. Ultimately, it was a lot of filler instead of actual meaningful plot, and then the ending made it largely not have even mattered. I wish it had gone in a different direction after they met the god in the cave. I’m disappointed in the turn this took, but the ending set it up so the next book might be better.
August 16, 2026
4.5 stars rounded up.
"The Thrice-Bound Fool" picks up a little while after "The Blacktongue Thief" with Kinch and Galva crossing some terribly deadly mountains with a terribly deadly book. While the setup to this adventure is clear, it quickly deviates into a survival tale of fighting, slavery, and revolution – one with a truly mindblowing ending for our cast. The weakest link of "The Blacktongue Thief" is mostly missing in action here - Norrigal, I keep trying to love you, you underdeveloped witchlet – but honestly "The Thrice-Bound Fool" is better for a smaller, tighter cast. Kinch and Galva's friendship is on full display here, and is truly emotional. "The Thrice-Bound Fool" is less overtly funny than its predecessor, but that isn't surprising – there's a lot to be stressed and depressed about happening here! I found it overall a stronger story, too – the payoff for the ending in particular felt like a truly terrible catharsis. This series is so fun and defies my expectations each time!
"The Thrice-Bound Fool" picks up a little while after "The Blacktongue Thief" with Kinch and Galva crossing some terribly deadly mountains with a terribly deadly book. While the setup to this adventure is clear, it quickly deviates into a survival tale of fighting, slavery, and revolution – one with a truly mindblowing ending for our cast. The weakest link of "The Blacktongue Thief" is mostly missing in action here - Norrigal, I keep trying to love you, you underdeveloped witchlet – but honestly "The Thrice-Bound Fool" is better for a smaller, tighter cast. Kinch and Galva's friendship is on full display here, and is truly emotional. "The Thrice-Bound Fool" is less overtly funny than its predecessor, but that isn't surprising – there's a lot to be stressed and depressed about happening here! I found it overall a stronger story, too – the payoff for the ending in particular felt like a truly terrible catharsis. This series is so fun and defies my expectations each time!
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