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The Fae Feast
Sinners
Beautiful. Predatory. Self-obsessed to an extreme degree. All of those can be applied to the sidhe, the ancient rulers of the worlds of fae. They are also addicts - and symbols of human pollution are their drug of choice. Toxic and industrial waste, chemicals and radiation are sweeter to the sidhe than the most exceptional vintage.
Noble Lord Niavin of House Arkezea is as close to a traditional drug lord as the fae worlds will ever see. Between the scheming of his opponents, fickle customers, and the constant need to explain his strange opposition to carnal depravities, Niavin's hands are always full. And of course, his noble peers are ever happy to create even more trouble...
Noble Lord Niavin of House Arkezea is as close to a traditional drug lord as the fae worlds will ever see. Between the scheming of his opponents, fickle customers, and the constant need to explain his strange opposition to carnal depravities, Niavin's hands are always full. And of course, his noble peers are ever happy to create even more trouble...
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First published December 19, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
March 11, 2015
(I was provided with a free copy of this book by the author for honest review.)
I have to admit I didn't start this book with the most open of minds. After an adolescence mostly spent reading variations on urban fantasy, I was pretty sure I'd seen every possible twist on the fairy concept, and I wasn't sure Sinners was going to offer anything new. A few pages in, I was pleasantly surprised to discover the most unapologetically brutal interpretation of the fey I'd ever encountered. Many, many people die in this book, and they do so bloodily, nastily, and generally for the amusement of one of the more twisted antagonists. Meanwhile, our hero is a drug dealer who is entirely indifferent to the horrific effects his products have on buyers, and who will cheerfully murder his competitors if they get in his way. No-one in Sinners is really likeable, which makes for an interesting if somewhat unsettling read.
So, on to the story: the author describes her protagonist as 'an asexual sidhe drug lord who is perpetually done with everyone', and that's really not a description I can better. Noble Lord Niavin of the somewhat disgraced House Arkezea is so sick of other people. He just wants to be left alone for long enough to have a bath; preferably one that doesn't involve washing off the blood of whichever luckless competitor dared to cross him last. Unfortunately for both his peace of mind and his laundry, pretty much everyone else in the sidhe realm has other ideas. The sheer complexity of the plot can get a bit bewildering at times - I think I lost track of precisely who was double-crossing who about halfway in - but the world-building is compelling and the startling extent of the sidhe powers provides a neat excuse for a literal deus ex machina ending.
The main reason I asked for a review copy of this book in the first place is because the main character is asexual, and as an asexual person I'm always hungry for more media representation. Some parts of the story I actually found a little too close to the mark: in the sidhe world, carrying on one's family line is considered a duty and asexuality is more or less unknown. Niavin, our point of view character, describes his asexuality as a 'condition' which complicates his life. It's a pretty accurate image of what life is like as an outsider in a sex-normative society. It's also a conversation I've had with myself one too many times, and it definitely doesn't make for comfortable reading. And while Niavin seems to accept his asexuality by the end of the book, I would have welcomed a more explicit confirmation from the narrative that there was no need for him to be 'cured'. There's also the fact that he apparently made it to his position as the best drug-dealer in all the land because, not being distracted by sex, he had more time and energy for work. Personally, I do not put the time I gain from not having sex into any greater purpose; I use it for messing about on the internet. Although to be fair, that's how I ended up reviewing this book in the first place, so perhaps Sinners isn't so far off the mark (and at least I'm not running a supernatural narcotics empire).
Sinners isn't perfect - there's plenty of other things I could quibble about, such as the author's habit of switching disorientingly between her protagonist's first and last name when sticking with one would have done just fine - but it's an entertaining read and a good train book. (As someone who's been commuting for an hour every weekday for the past six months, believe me, this is a compliment.) It's fun, with a surprisingly dark side, and while I'd like to see the asexual representation move away from its slightly tropey start, I'm still going to be keeping an eye out for the next installment.
I have to admit I didn't start this book with the most open of minds. After an adolescence mostly spent reading variations on urban fantasy, I was pretty sure I'd seen every possible twist on the fairy concept, and I wasn't sure Sinners was going to offer anything new. A few pages in, I was pleasantly surprised to discover the most unapologetically brutal interpretation of the fey I'd ever encountered. Many, many people die in this book, and they do so bloodily, nastily, and generally for the amusement of one of the more twisted antagonists. Meanwhile, our hero is a drug dealer who is entirely indifferent to the horrific effects his products have on buyers, and who will cheerfully murder his competitors if they get in his way. No-one in Sinners is really likeable, which makes for an interesting if somewhat unsettling read.
So, on to the story: the author describes her protagonist as 'an asexual sidhe drug lord who is perpetually done with everyone', and that's really not a description I can better. Noble Lord Niavin of the somewhat disgraced House Arkezea is so sick of other people. He just wants to be left alone for long enough to have a bath; preferably one that doesn't involve washing off the blood of whichever luckless competitor dared to cross him last. Unfortunately for both his peace of mind and his laundry, pretty much everyone else in the sidhe realm has other ideas. The sheer complexity of the plot can get a bit bewildering at times - I think I lost track of precisely who was double-crossing who about halfway in - but the world-building is compelling and the startling extent of the sidhe powers provides a neat excuse for a literal deus ex machina ending.
The main reason I asked for a review copy of this book in the first place is because the main character is asexual, and as an asexual person I'm always hungry for more media representation. Some parts of the story I actually found a little too close to the mark: in the sidhe world, carrying on one's family line is considered a duty and asexuality is more or less unknown. Niavin, our point of view character, describes his asexuality as a 'condition' which complicates his life. It's a pretty accurate image of what life is like as an outsider in a sex-normative society. It's also a conversation I've had with myself one too many times, and it definitely doesn't make for comfortable reading. And while Niavin seems to accept his asexuality by the end of the book, I would have welcomed a more explicit confirmation from the narrative that there was no need for him to be 'cured'. There's also the fact that he apparently made it to his position as the best drug-dealer in all the land because, not being distracted by sex, he had more time and energy for work. Personally, I do not put the time I gain from not having sex into any greater purpose; I use it for messing about on the internet. Although to be fair, that's how I ended up reviewing this book in the first place, so perhaps Sinners isn't so far off the mark (and at least I'm not running a supernatural narcotics empire).
Sinners isn't perfect - there's plenty of other things I could quibble about, such as the author's habit of switching disorientingly between her protagonist's first and last name when sticking with one would have done just fine - but it's an entertaining read and a good train book. (As someone who's been commuting for an hour every weekday for the past six months, believe me, this is a compliment.) It's fun, with a surprisingly dark side, and while I'd like to see the asexual representation move away from its slightly tropey start, I'm still going to be keeping an eye out for the next installment.
September 29, 2016
OH THIS BOOK.
It is, first of all, beautifully and imaginatively written (I really, really dig the style), and it's well paced, and very engaging. I'm honestly impressed with the amount of plot twists and intrigue that somehow fits in quite a short book.
I believe the last time I've read something with such interesting interpretation of elves (or, more properly in this case, sidhe) was when I was reading Dancing with Aute. And oh, the sidhe of this book, with all the rules, deals, oaths, politics, astonishing beauty and breathtaking cruelty. And cats.
As for the reason I picked it up in the first place: the protagonist is indeed asexual. And, despite not being human, he faces much the same shit most asexual have to deal with, and he deals with it BEAUTIFULLY.
Also, that Tam Lin cameo.
I just LOVED THE BOOK, okay? :)
It is, first of all, beautifully and imaginatively written (I really, really dig the style), and it's well paced, and very engaging. I'm honestly impressed with the amount of plot twists and intrigue that somehow fits in quite a short book.
I believe the last time I've read something with such interesting interpretation of elves (or, more properly in this case, sidhe) was when I was reading Dancing with Aute. And oh, the sidhe of this book, with all the rules, deals, oaths, politics, astonishing beauty and breathtaking cruelty. And cats.
As for the reason I picked it up in the first place: the protagonist is indeed asexual. And, despite not being human, he faces much the same shit most asexual have to deal with, and he deals with it BEAUTIFULLY.
Also, that Tam Lin cameo.
I just LOVED THE BOOK, okay? :)
May 8, 2015
Sinners is a book with quite eye catching selling line. "An asexual drug lord fae uncovering the schemes of Winter Court" and whatnot. It also ended up being a good read, even for someone like me who isn't actually all that familiar with fae lore in general. Aside from feeling a bit disconnected in the beginning, getting caught up into the world was easy. The story itself had some quite nice surprises up its sleeve, enough to make me feel a bit stupid at the end.
The fae characters in this book didn't feel like "humans in anything but name" to me, which I liked because it's quite easy to fall into that trap when it comes to writing non-human characters. Because of this, the interactions between characters was one of my favourite things in the book.
Niavin Arkezea himself is the type of character who grows on you as you read on. He has some quite humorous inner and outer dialogue and his general doneness makes him quite relatable at times. There's just something very strange in catching yourself going "I feel ya, bruh" to someone with a drug empire.
Arkezea is also the first character in any book I've ever read who's explicitly asexual and has zero interest in sex, which was one of the biggest reason I wanted to read this book. I think the matter was handled very well and I imagine asexual people would find his woes on that front relatable.
All in all, I found the book a good read and I would read it again, if only to soak into the little things I might or might not have missed during my first and quite speedy read. While waiting for the sequel, that is.
The fae characters in this book didn't feel like "humans in anything but name" to me, which I liked because it's quite easy to fall into that trap when it comes to writing non-human characters. Because of this, the interactions between characters was one of my favourite things in the book.
Niavin Arkezea himself is the type of character who grows on you as you read on. He has some quite humorous inner and outer dialogue and his general doneness makes him quite relatable at times. There's just something very strange in catching yourself going "I feel ya, bruh" to someone with a drug empire.
Arkezea is also the first character in any book I've ever read who's explicitly asexual and has zero interest in sex, which was one of the biggest reason I wanted to read this book. I think the matter was handled very well and I imagine asexual people would find his woes on that front relatable.
All in all, I found the book a good read and I would read it again, if only to soak into the little things I might or might not have missed during my first and quite speedy read. While waiting for the sequel, that is.
February 5, 2015
A book about an asexual sidhe drug dealer! Does it sound cool or what?
But aside from the interesting premise, this book is really well-done. Within a scope of a short novel, there is a tight plot filled with twists and intrigue, solid characterization, colorful descriptions and great world-building rich with fae lore. Now, that’s something I’m not incredibly familiar with, so I cannot comment on how much research went into it, but there’s a lot of detail and genuine love for the setting, and the book does a damn good job at introducing you to it without being confusing. The whole drug-dealing angle was very interesting, I only wish it was more involved in the main plot.
(and mind you, asexual representation is not something I’m personally interested in, but I still liked the way it was done, without being preachy or in your face, but as an interesting character trait; and actually, it was really refreshing to read a modern fantasy story about fae without it being all about sex and how sexy everyone is)
I also ended up liking the main character a lot more than I initially expected; the book does a great job at balancing his personality, making him sympathetic and flawed, but also not humanizing him too much - because, well, he is not human. I'd love to see what the author has in store for him next.
But aside from the interesting premise, this book is really well-done. Within a scope of a short novel, there is a tight plot filled with twists and intrigue, solid characterization, colorful descriptions and great world-building rich with fae lore. Now, that’s something I’m not incredibly familiar with, so I cannot comment on how much research went into it, but there’s a lot of detail and genuine love for the setting, and the book does a damn good job at introducing you to it without being confusing. The whole drug-dealing angle was very interesting, I only wish it was more involved in the main plot.
(and mind you, asexual representation is not something I’m personally interested in, but I still liked the way it was done, without being preachy or in your face, but as an interesting character trait; and actually, it was really refreshing to read a modern fantasy story about fae without it being all about sex and how sexy everyone is)
I also ended up liking the main character a lot more than I initially expected; the book does a great job at balancing his personality, making him sympathetic and flawed, but also not humanizing him too much - because, well, he is not human. I'd love to see what the author has in store for him next.
January 15, 2016
Sinners is probably one of the best books I've read and I literally recommend it to anyone who will listen. LGBT+ books are lacking, and asexual representation specifically is difficult to come by. It's especially difficult to come by a book that takes such a nuanced look at it- at no point does Niavin think he's a monster. He forms close relationships. I just want to commend this writer on doing what so few bother to do. Obviously, they did their research.
Also, the Fae are written with absolutely no holds barred here. I loved how they didn't appear to be overly perfect or beautiful. These are very much not the pretty and ethereal fairies the reader is used to. And it makes sense- we are not getting the shell-shocked, awe-struck human point of view. Niavin has been among the fae and their ways all of his life, and he makes it his business to know what they want.
Sorry, I'm just telling you the summary. But that's because like, THE STORY IS EVERYTHING I LOVED. Like, I want to gush about all the stuff that happened. I want to tell you how excited I was to see this fresh spot in my favorite genre.
Also, the Fae are written with absolutely no holds barred here. I loved how they didn't appear to be overly perfect or beautiful. These are very much not the pretty and ethereal fairies the reader is used to. And it makes sense- we are not getting the shell-shocked, awe-struck human point of view. Niavin has been among the fae and their ways all of his life, and he makes it his business to know what they want.
Sorry, I'm just telling you the summary. But that's because like, THE STORY IS EVERYTHING I LOVED. Like, I want to gush about all the stuff that happened. I want to tell you how excited I was to see this fresh spot in my favorite genre.
July 23, 2016
I just couldn't get into the world.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews