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Alistair Fall and the Restless Dead
Not yet published
Expected 27 Apr 27A cantankerous sorcerer and a thief with a heart of gold join forces to solve a murder after colliding at the crime scene in this charming new fantasy detective series by the author of The Gilded Crown.
Alistair Fall is a misanthropic piece of work. On the road as a Wandering Investigator, he wants nothing more than to focus on crimes that are worth his time, and to use his sorcery outside of the meddling of the State. When he receives a letter from an old friend asking for his help with an enticing case that may finally utilize his talents, he returns eagerly to the city of Osk.
Sunny is everything Fall is not: street-smart, loveable, and—so she thinks —deeply mysterious. She’s a woman with a love of calico cats, baked goods, and stealing shiny things. But when she’s found over the dead body of a High Court barrister, Alistair Fall’s friend, she finds herself on the run and completely on her own. That is, until Fall offers her his help.
Together, they navigate the labyrinthine streets of Osk, a city of forbidden magic, forgotten gods, fractious dragons, and the corruption of necromancy, and discover far greater forces at work than they’d ever imagined.
But the city is not the only one hiding secrets...
Book One of the Alistair Fall Series
Alistair Fall is a misanthropic piece of work. On the road as a Wandering Investigator, he wants nothing more than to focus on crimes that are worth his time, and to use his sorcery outside of the meddling of the State. When he receives a letter from an old friend asking for his help with an enticing case that may finally utilize his talents, he returns eagerly to the city of Osk.
Sunny is everything Fall is not: street-smart, loveable, and—so she thinks —deeply mysterious. She’s a woman with a love of calico cats, baked goods, and stealing shiny things. But when she’s found over the dead body of a High Court barrister, Alistair Fall’s friend, she finds herself on the run and completely on her own. That is, until Fall offers her his help.
Together, they navigate the labyrinthine streets of Osk, a city of forbidden magic, forgotten gods, fractious dragons, and the corruption of necromancy, and discover far greater forces at work than they’d ever imagined.
But the city is not the only one hiding secrets...
Book One of the Alistair Fall Series
352 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication April 27, 2027
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
Want to Read
August 27, 2026The way I screamed when I got the arc
tbr-arc
August 26, 2026Was approved for the ARC today and can’t wait to read it! Sounds great, and that cover is 👌
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The reason I persevere in picking up books for review via Netgalley, despite many of them being mediocre or worse, is that sometimes I get one like this.
In a lot of authors' hands, this would have been predictable and bland. The setup looks like a slow-burn grumpy/sunshine romance, based on the blurb - the FMC is actually called Sunny. But it's not that. She isn't the perky, cheery sort her name suggests; she has a dark backstory, and she engages with it, doesn't bury it under a fake sugary veneer. She's sarcastic and smart and capable, but also realistically self-doubting and slow to trust. Sure, she'd like to be a cozy fantasy protagonist - she loves baked goods, and has a favourite little tea shop and a calico cat named Butterscotch - but who she is and where she is mean that she ends up fighting a conspiracy of necromancers instead.
Her opposite number, Alistair Fall, is bad with people, but he knows and regrets it. He'd like more friends, but unfortunately almost his only real friend is murdered early in the book, and he's tasked with investigating. Sunny looks like the prime suspect, but he's a good investigator and doesn't believe it, instead recruiting her to help him find the real killer, which would clear her name. They build a partnership and what might well become a friendship over the course of the book, but it's not a romance, which I appreciate; from time to time it's nice to read about two people who are just good colleagues. Both of them bring genuine strengths to the partnership, as equals.
Solving the mystery happens well before the end of the book, because just knowing who was behind it isn't enough; the pair also have to thwart the antagonists' plot, making the last part of the book more of a thriller. They are significantly at a disadvantage in doing so, and it takes all their courage and ingenuity. And they don't do it in either of the two ways I thought of.
I'm also so used to inadequate worldbuilding in current fantasy novels that it's cause for celebration to read one with worldbuilding that actually matters to the plot, and has had some effort put into it, and is different from the usual generic off-the-shelf scenarios. In this setting, through events which aren't explored in depth, almost 40 years before the story starts the prevailing pagan religion was banned in favour of atheism, imposed by the State of Order, which... is less authoritarian and despotic and dystopian than it could easily have been, though certainly some people are discontented under it, while others are good Statists and parrot the prejudices that the State encourages. One of those prejudices is against the use of magic, which is associated with paganism, and since Fall is a sorcerer (albeit sanctioned by the State), he comes in for a lot of persecution, petty and otherwise.
Yes, the trope of oppressed mages has its problems. Here, though, it's a bit more justified than usual, more of a parallel with, say, the persecution of intellectuals under some Communist regimes. These mages are oppressed because they potentially threaten the State's declaration that the gods are mythical, and the mechanism of their oppression is not so much official persecution as encouraging ordinary people to despise and distrust them.
The worldbuilding, in other words, matters to the characters' circumstances, and it also turns out to be highly relevant to the plot (for spoilerific reasons).
Names (and phrases, and concepts) from our world did make their way in, and the names are the usual mixture of made-up fantasy names and familiar ones from various cultures in our world (including a couple of biblical ones in a world without that cultural context, which is something I should probably give up complaining about, since nearly everyone does it).
There are also married same-sex couples in this setting that's otherwise similar to our world's late 18th/early 19th century. But that's a passing detail, not a central feature as it would be in so many current fantasy books.
Other things I appreciated: Fall's sorcery is limited; not something he can deploy quickly, and it can't just do anything, so it isn't used to cheat on the plot. The editing is also excellent, unlike most books I see via Netgalley (or BookBub), with just a couple of minor vocabulary issues that I'll flag to the publisher, meaning they may well be corrected before publication.
Overall, it's sound, solid, and achieves enough depth in its exploration of the characters and their society that I'm giving it five stars, not something I do often. I definitely want to read more from the author and in this world, and it looks like being a series, so I should get my wish.
In a lot of authors' hands, this would have been predictable and bland. The setup looks like a slow-burn grumpy/sunshine romance, based on the blurb - the FMC is actually called Sunny. But it's not that. She isn't the perky, cheery sort her name suggests; she has a dark backstory, and she engages with it, doesn't bury it under a fake sugary veneer. She's sarcastic and smart and capable, but also realistically self-doubting and slow to trust. Sure, she'd like to be a cozy fantasy protagonist - she loves baked goods, and has a favourite little tea shop and a calico cat named Butterscotch - but who she is and where she is mean that she ends up fighting a conspiracy of necromancers instead.
Her opposite number, Alistair Fall, is bad with people, but he knows and regrets it. He'd like more friends, but unfortunately almost his only real friend is murdered early in the book, and he's tasked with investigating. Sunny looks like the prime suspect, but he's a good investigator and doesn't believe it, instead recruiting her to help him find the real killer, which would clear her name. They build a partnership and what might well become a friendship over the course of the book, but it's not a romance, which I appreciate; from time to time it's nice to read about two people who are just good colleagues. Both of them bring genuine strengths to the partnership, as equals.
Solving the mystery happens well before the end of the book, because just knowing who was behind it isn't enough; the pair also have to thwart the antagonists' plot, making the last part of the book more of a thriller. They are significantly at a disadvantage in doing so, and it takes all their courage and ingenuity. And they don't do it in either of the two ways I thought of.
I'm also so used to inadequate worldbuilding in current fantasy novels that it's cause for celebration to read one with worldbuilding that actually matters to the plot, and has had some effort put into it, and is different from the usual generic off-the-shelf scenarios. In this setting, through events which aren't explored in depth, almost 40 years before the story starts the prevailing pagan religion was banned in favour of atheism, imposed by the State of Order, which... is less authoritarian and despotic and dystopian than it could easily have been, though certainly some people are discontented under it, while others are good Statists and parrot the prejudices that the State encourages. One of those prejudices is against the use of magic, which is associated with paganism, and since Fall is a sorcerer (albeit sanctioned by the State), he comes in for a lot of persecution, petty and otherwise.
Yes, the trope of oppressed mages has its problems. Here, though, it's a bit more justified than usual, more of a parallel with, say, the persecution of intellectuals under some Communist regimes. These mages are oppressed because they potentially threaten the State's declaration that the gods are mythical, and the mechanism of their oppression is not so much official persecution as encouraging ordinary people to despise and distrust them.
The worldbuilding, in other words, matters to the characters' circumstances, and it also turns out to be highly relevant to the plot (for spoilerific reasons).
Names (and phrases, and concepts) from our world did make their way in, and the names are the usual mixture of made-up fantasy names and familiar ones from various cultures in our world (including a couple of biblical ones in a world without that cultural context, which is something I should probably give up complaining about, since nearly everyone does it).
There are also married same-sex couples in this setting that's otherwise similar to our world's late 18th/early 19th century. But that's a passing detail, not a central feature as it would be in so many current fantasy books.
Other things I appreciated: Fall's sorcery is limited; not something he can deploy quickly, and it can't just do anything, so it isn't used to cheat on the plot. The editing is also excellent, unlike most books I see via Netgalley (or BookBub), with just a couple of minor vocabulary issues that I'll flag to the publisher, meaning they may well be corrected before publication.
Overall, it's sound, solid, and achieves enough depth in its exploration of the characters and their society that I'm giving it five stars, not something I do often. I definitely want to read more from the author and in this world, and it looks like being a series, so I should get my wish.
September 8, 2026
magic, murder, and pagan gods… what more could you want?
Thank you NetGalley for the E-ARC.
Sunny, a member of the Thief’s Guild who is in the process of leaving the group, finds herself standing over a dead body she definitely didn’t kill.
Enter Alistair, a detective and sorcerer in a world where paganism and magic are banned unless they’re state-sanctioned. Already viewed with suspicion because of his abilities, Alistair is called back to town by an old friend to investigate a case, only to discover that his friend is dead and Sunny is standing over the body.
What follows is a twisting mystery and an unlikely alliance between two people who probably shouldn’t trust each other. Alistair is the one person who should believe Sunny is a murderer, yet he’s also the only one willing to believe that she didn’t do it. As they secretly work together to clear Sunny’s name and uncover the truth behind the murder, things become much more complicated than either of them expected.
We get complex magical rituals and formulas, dark pasts catching up with the characters, a corrupt government, walking corpses, pagan gods, and a cult hiding in plain sight among the rich and powerful. The mystery kept taking turns I wasn’t expecting, and I loved watching everything slowly come together.
But one of my favourite parts was Sunny and Alistair’s relationship. Their bond develops naturally as they work together, and they each help the other confront and accept parts of themselves they’ve spent a long time hiding. It added so much heart to an already fascinating story.
I absolutely loved the combination of mystery, dark fantasy, magic, and mythology in this book. And that ending has me NEEDING a sequel.
I can’t wait to see what happens next with the Sundown Agency and what the future has in store for Sunny and Alistair!
Thank you NetGalley for the E-ARC.
Sunny, a member of the Thief’s Guild who is in the process of leaving the group, finds herself standing over a dead body she definitely didn’t kill.
Enter Alistair, a detective and sorcerer in a world where paganism and magic are banned unless they’re state-sanctioned. Already viewed with suspicion because of his abilities, Alistair is called back to town by an old friend to investigate a case, only to discover that his friend is dead and Sunny is standing over the body.
What follows is a twisting mystery and an unlikely alliance between two people who probably shouldn’t trust each other. Alistair is the one person who should believe Sunny is a murderer, yet he’s also the only one willing to believe that she didn’t do it. As they secretly work together to clear Sunny’s name and uncover the truth behind the murder, things become much more complicated than either of them expected.
We get complex magical rituals and formulas, dark pasts catching up with the characters, a corrupt government, walking corpses, pagan gods, and a cult hiding in plain sight among the rich and powerful. The mystery kept taking turns I wasn’t expecting, and I loved watching everything slowly come together.
But one of my favourite parts was Sunny and Alistair’s relationship. Their bond develops naturally as they work together, and they each help the other confront and accept parts of themselves they’ve spent a long time hiding. It added so much heart to an already fascinating story.
I absolutely loved the combination of mystery, dark fantasy, magic, and mythology in this book. And that ending has me NEEDING a sequel.
I can’t wait to see what happens next with the Sundown Agency and what the future has in store for Sunny and Alistair!
September 6, 2026
i’m not very demanding reader in sense that everything has to be literary masterpiece. sometimes, you just need nice cosy story with interesting plot, some fun characters and a bit of mystery
this one had all ingredients for that
also, i really liked worldbuilding! author went pretty big with it and i actually got feeling that this world exists beyond what characters were seeing. i always appreciate that🩷
pacing was quite fast, although sometimes story took us on little errands away from main plot. honestly, i didn’t mind it too much, at least those parts didn’t drag on forever
for me, the biggest challenge was connecting with main characters. Sunny reminded me of Celaena (if you know what i mean), but i never quite formed same attachment to her. then there was Allistar. i don’t know how to explain it, but he felt a bit too… cardboard-like? almost too perfect? a little too stiff? it made difficult for me to really connect with him and to stay fully invested in the story
thank you to netgalley for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review🫶🏻
this one had all ingredients for that
also, i really liked worldbuilding! author went pretty big with it and i actually got feeling that this world exists beyond what characters were seeing. i always appreciate that🩷
pacing was quite fast, although sometimes story took us on little errands away from main plot. honestly, i didn’t mind it too much, at least those parts didn’t drag on forever
for me, the biggest challenge was connecting with main characters. Sunny reminded me of Celaena (if you know what i mean), but i never quite formed same attachment to her. then there was Allistar. i don’t know how to explain it, but he felt a bit too… cardboard-like? almost too perfect? a little too stiff? it made difficult for me to really connect with him and to stay fully invested in the story
thank you to netgalley for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review🫶🏻
September 8, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC of Alistair Fall and the Restless Dead
Sunny is a thief and the best one in the Guild. You’d think with her name she would be the happy, optimistic FMC that you’d come across in almost every book.
Alistair is a sorcerer, a sanctioned one so he’s allowed to weld his powers - seeing as it would be seen as paganism otherwise. He is an investigator with terrible people skills.
Alistair is trying to catch whoever killed his friend, but in doing so he finds himself paired with the person of interest. Sunny wants to clear her name, she’s getting pinned with theft and murder - of which she didn’t do.
Magic, mayhem and the old pagan God of Death leads Alistair and Sunny on a hunt for answers. Over time the friendship form between Alistair and Sunny grows, they begin to trust each other with their secrets, thus leading to the acceptance of their own self-doubts.
Sunny is a thief and the best one in the Guild. You’d think with her name she would be the happy, optimistic FMC that you’d come across in almost every book.
Alistair is a sorcerer, a sanctioned one so he’s allowed to weld his powers - seeing as it would be seen as paganism otherwise. He is an investigator with terrible people skills.
Alistair is trying to catch whoever killed his friend, but in doing so he finds himself paired with the person of interest. Sunny wants to clear her name, she’s getting pinned with theft and murder - of which she didn’t do.
Magic, mayhem and the old pagan God of Death leads Alistair and Sunny on a hunt for answers. Over time the friendship form between Alistair and Sunny grows, they begin to trust each other with their secrets, thus leading to the acceptance of their own self-doubts.
September 9, 2026
All my favorite things. Secondary world fantasy, urban setting, old gods, cults, grumpy sunshine not romantic pairing, neurodivergent coded characters, mysterious traumatic pasts, puns and wordplay, problematic government structures, thieves, a satisfying mystery plot, and delicious baked goods. Definitely down for book 2.
Want to Read
August 17, 2026i'd actually sell my soul for this
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thanks Netgalley & Del Rey for the ARC
This book took a while to get going. By the time the main murder from the story blurb happens, we're about 20% into the book, and I wasn't entirely invested yet by the time it happens. But it gets a lot better from there and I ended up really liking what came after.
The book is comped to the Tainted Cup and the Raven Scholar, and I'm not sure about these comps. The murder mystery is central, and like the Tained Cup this is a series of murder mysteries with a fun duo of main characters. However, the tone is much lighter and less serious than either comp, and I don't think the plot or mystery has the same level of complexity that the books in the Ana & Din series have. By the time the clues start showing up, it is a bit more predictable to figure out what's going on, and the story doesn't try to trick you as much.
That said, I did enjoy reading it and watching the plot unfold, and for me the characters and their (platonic) relationship was what stood out for me in this book. I really enjoyed both characters, who kind of fit into the grumpy/sunshine trope except for a non-romantic pairing, and watching them grow closer as friends was really fun.
The blurb describes Alistair as misanthropic, and to be honest that is not the sense I got from him. He's grumpy. His social skills are absolutely terrible, but often this doesn't come from malice but more him not knowing how to have a normal human interaction. He's also a sorcerer, something that is not readily accepted in this world though he has a license to use magic as an investigator. So he gets judged a lot for it, and he is quite frustrated by that. He's also really lonely, and has few friends. I found him a very compelling character to read about, and a lot of time I wanted him to become nicer, but I he didn't seem super hateful either.
The other main character is appropriately named Sunny. She's a thief with a heart of gold, and a very bright, bubbly, optimistic main character. She's much better with people than Alistair, and has good connections in the poorer side of the city, making her a great partner for Alistair to team up with since she has the social skills he really lacks, while he is quite smart and good at figuring out the mystery. At the start, Sunny is being set up for the murder, but Alistair is convinced she didn't do it, and so they must work together to prove her innocence.
There's really no romance in this book, which I found refreshing. The world also appears to be queernorm, as there is a very minor sapphic couple in the book. As for the main characters, their sexual orientation really isn't stated, but might be in later books?
Would recommend it if you're looking for a more light hearted fantasy murder mystery with standout characters and don't mind the slow beginning.
This book took a while to get going. By the time the main murder from the story blurb happens, we're about 20% into the book, and I wasn't entirely invested yet by the time it happens. But it gets a lot better from there and I ended up really liking what came after.
The book is comped to the Tainted Cup and the Raven Scholar, and I'm not sure about these comps. The murder mystery is central, and like the Tained Cup this is a series of murder mysteries with a fun duo of main characters. However, the tone is much lighter and less serious than either comp, and I don't think the plot or mystery has the same level of complexity that the books in the Ana & Din series have. By the time the clues start showing up, it is a bit more predictable to figure out what's going on, and the story doesn't try to trick you as much.
That said, I did enjoy reading it and watching the plot unfold, and for me the characters and their (platonic) relationship was what stood out for me in this book. I really enjoyed both characters, who kind of fit into the grumpy/sunshine trope except for a non-romantic pairing, and watching them grow closer as friends was really fun.
The blurb describes Alistair as misanthropic, and to be honest that is not the sense I got from him. He's grumpy. His social skills are absolutely terrible, but often this doesn't come from malice but more him not knowing how to have a normal human interaction. He's also a sorcerer, something that is not readily accepted in this world though he has a license to use magic as an investigator. So he gets judged a lot for it, and he is quite frustrated by that. He's also really lonely, and has few friends. I found him a very compelling character to read about, and a lot of time I wanted him to become nicer, but I he didn't seem super hateful either.
The other main character is appropriately named Sunny. She's a thief with a heart of gold, and a very bright, bubbly, optimistic main character. She's much better with people than Alistair, and has good connections in the poorer side of the city, making her a great partner for Alistair to team up with since she has the social skills he really lacks, while he is quite smart and good at figuring out the mystery. At the start, Sunny is being set up for the murder, but Alistair is convinced she didn't do it, and so they must work together to prove her innocence.
There's really no romance in this book, which I found refreshing. The world also appears to be queernorm, as there is a very minor sapphic couple in the book. As for the main characters, their sexual orientation really isn't stated, but might be in later books?
Would recommend it if you're looking for a more light hearted fantasy murder mystery with standout characters and don't mind the slow beginning.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you very much to the author, publisher, and to NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
⭐ 4.75/5 stars
I was hooked by the synopsis for Alistair Fall and the Restless Dead, but I'll admit I wasn't sure the mystery itself would fully win me over. It's hard to write a good fantasy novel, and even harder to write a good mystery. Turns out I had nothing to worry about, as this book shot straight to my favorites list. That prologue? Instantly hooked.
The worldbuilding is SO good. It's hard to make a world feel alive, ancient and lived-in, but Marianne Gordon nailed it! I especially loved the little snippets at the start of each chapter: decrees, scraps of writing, a recipe, bits of lore woven right into the world, giving insight and context into each chapter. Such a small detail but it does so much heavy lifting. Osk really feels lived-in instead of just explained to me. If you're into the Shades of Magic series by V.E. Schwab, or Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo, you're going to feel right at home here! I love both of these series, so I was attached to this book almost instantly.
The best part of this novel are the characters. Alistair is a brooding, serious, government-sanctioned sorcerer, and I found him more charming than I expected to. Sunny is basically his opposite in every way: a street-smart, free-spirited, and completely loveable thief, with a huge spot for cats, baked goods, and anything shiny (relatable, honestly). Alistair is genuinely bad at talking to people. Sunny will bolt the second a conversation gets too close to comfort. And watching these two, a prickly loner and a woman who trusts no one, slowly become friends out of necessity and then choice? That was my favorite part of this book.
The mystery had me hooked too. There was a murder investigation, forbidden magic, forgotten gods trying to resurface, and necromancy. There's so much going on in Osk, and I loved piercing it all together right alongside the characters instead of feeling ten steps ahead or totally lost.
And that ending! It landed exactly where I needed it to, and knowing there's book 2 coming has me genuinely giddy. I need at least ten more books about these two, no exaggeration.
If you love a fantasy murder mystery with a found-family friendship at its heart, pick this one up!
⭐ 4.75/5 stars
I was hooked by the synopsis for Alistair Fall and the Restless Dead, but I'll admit I wasn't sure the mystery itself would fully win me over. It's hard to write a good fantasy novel, and even harder to write a good mystery. Turns out I had nothing to worry about, as this book shot straight to my favorites list. That prologue? Instantly hooked.
The worldbuilding is SO good. It's hard to make a world feel alive, ancient and lived-in, but Marianne Gordon nailed it! I especially loved the little snippets at the start of each chapter: decrees, scraps of writing, a recipe, bits of lore woven right into the world, giving insight and context into each chapter. Such a small detail but it does so much heavy lifting. Osk really feels lived-in instead of just explained to me. If you're into the Shades of Magic series by V.E. Schwab, or Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo, you're going to feel right at home here! I love both of these series, so I was attached to this book almost instantly.
The best part of this novel are the characters. Alistair is a brooding, serious, government-sanctioned sorcerer, and I found him more charming than I expected to. Sunny is basically his opposite in every way: a street-smart, free-spirited, and completely loveable thief, with a huge spot for cats, baked goods, and anything shiny (relatable, honestly). Alistair is genuinely bad at talking to people. Sunny will bolt the second a conversation gets too close to comfort. And watching these two, a prickly loner and a woman who trusts no one, slowly become friends out of necessity and then choice? That was my favorite part of this book.
The mystery had me hooked too. There was a murder investigation, forbidden magic, forgotten gods trying to resurface, and necromancy. There's so much going on in Osk, and I loved piercing it all together right alongside the characters instead of feeling ten steps ahead or totally lost.
And that ending! It landed exactly where I needed it to, and knowing there's book 2 coming has me genuinely giddy. I need at least ten more books about these two, no exaggeration.
If you love a fantasy murder mystery with a found-family friendship at its heart, pick this one up!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you, Netgalley for offering me this opportunity to be an arc reader for this book.
This review has small spoilers:
Alistair Fall and the Restless Dead follows Alistair, an investigator and sorcerer, who finds himself working alongside a thief he discovers over the body of his murdered friend.
What starts as an investigation into a suspicious death quickly turns into something much bigger, taking them across the city and through a web of politics, secrets and magic.
When I first started this book, it was a little slow for me and I wasn’t entirely sure whether it was going to be a book I enjoyed. But by about chapter 7, I was definitely getting into it. In fact, I had a very hard time putting it down and actually going to bed, and I found myself thinking about it the next day, which is then to say I finished this in approximately two days
Alistair and Sunny made such a great team. This felt a little like if Sherlock Holmes what’s a sorcerer - Alistair being the more serious, analytical one and Sunny bringing a much more sunshine-like energy to the duo. I also really enjoyed that there was no romance between them. Their relationship was allowed to develop as a friendship and partnership, which I really appreciated.
The necromancy storyline was probably one of my favourite parts. It felt different from a lot of the fantasy I’ve read recently, and I genuinely wanted to work out the mystery alongside the characters as everything unfolded.
I also really enjoyed slowly uncovering Alistair and Sunny’s histories and watching their friendship develop throughout the story. My only wish was that some of those reveals had come a little earlier. I think having more of that information sooner would have helped me connect with them even more throughout the book, rather than having so much revealed towards the end.
Overall, this was a really enjoyable fantasy mystery that took me a little while to get into, but once it clicked, I couldn’t put it down.
If you enjoy: fantasy mysteries, necromancy, magic, political intrigue, unlikely friendships and a good mystery to solve alongside the characters, I’d definitely recommend giving this one a
This review has small spoilers:
Alistair Fall and the Restless Dead follows Alistair, an investigator and sorcerer, who finds himself working alongside a thief he discovers over the body of his murdered friend.
What starts as an investigation into a suspicious death quickly turns into something much bigger, taking them across the city and through a web of politics, secrets and magic.
When I first started this book, it was a little slow for me and I wasn’t entirely sure whether it was going to be a book I enjoyed. But by about chapter 7, I was definitely getting into it. In fact, I had a very hard time putting it down and actually going to bed, and I found myself thinking about it the next day, which is then to say I finished this in approximately two days
Alistair and Sunny made such a great team. This felt a little like if Sherlock Holmes what’s a sorcerer - Alistair being the more serious, analytical one and Sunny bringing a much more sunshine-like energy to the duo. I also really enjoyed that there was no romance between them. Their relationship was allowed to develop as a friendship and partnership, which I really appreciated.
The necromancy storyline was probably one of my favourite parts. It felt different from a lot of the fantasy I’ve read recently, and I genuinely wanted to work out the mystery alongside the characters as everything unfolded.
I also really enjoyed slowly uncovering Alistair and Sunny’s histories and watching their friendship develop throughout the story. My only wish was that some of those reveals had come a little earlier. I think having more of that information sooner would have helped me connect with them even more throughout the book, rather than having so much revealed towards the end.
Overall, this was a really enjoyable fantasy mystery that took me a little while to get into, but once it clicked, I couldn’t put it down.
If you enjoy: fantasy mysteries, necromancy, magic, political intrigue, unlikely friendships and a good mystery to solve alongside the characters, I’d definitely recommend giving this one a
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you Del Rey & NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for a review
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.25 (review might contain spoilers)
I went into this expecting a fairly standard grumpy/sunshine setup, because apparently the universe looked at a protagonist named Sunny and decided subtlety was overrated. Fortunately, the book itself is considerably less predictable.
And, to be clear, this is a solid fantasy mystery: there’s magic, dragons, zombies, pagan gods, enchanted objects, and a conspiracy that keeps getting considerably more complicated than the initial murder investigation suggests. What begins with a suspicious death quickly expands into something much bigger, taking Sunny and Alistair across the city and into a tangle of politics, secrets, and magic.
They make an excellent investigative team: Alistair is the serious, analytical sorcerer, while Sunny brings the wit, warmth, and considerably more people skills. Basically, give Sherlock Holmes magic and then add someone who can actually talk to other humans. Most importantly, there is no romance between them. Their relationship gets to develop naturally into friendship and partnership, and I appreciated that enormously.
I was delighted to discover that the worldbuilding actually matters to the plot. The history, politics, religious tensions, and suspicion surrounding magic all have consequences, rather than existing merely to make the setting look suitably fantasy-shaped. Fall's magic also has real limitations, so there's no convenient magical escape hatch whenever the plot gets inconvenient.
The prose is excellent, and I especially enjoyed the epigraphs at the beginning of each chapter, which add little pieces of history and context to the world. The city feels vivid and lived-in, from its streets to the ever-present promise of baked goods. The character work is equally strong, and the darker themes are nicely balanced by well-timed moments of humor.
A smart, atmospheric mystery with a wonderfully weird assortment of fantasy ingredients, an excellent central partnership, and worldbuilding that actually pulls its weight. I’m definitely looking forward to the next one.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.25 (review might contain spoilers)
I went into this expecting a fairly standard grumpy/sunshine setup, because apparently the universe looked at a protagonist named Sunny and decided subtlety was overrated. Fortunately, the book itself is considerably less predictable.
And, to be clear, this is a solid fantasy mystery: there’s magic, dragons, zombies, pagan gods, enchanted objects, and a conspiracy that keeps getting considerably more complicated than the initial murder investigation suggests. What begins with a suspicious death quickly expands into something much bigger, taking Sunny and Alistair across the city and into a tangle of politics, secrets, and magic.
They make an excellent investigative team: Alistair is the serious, analytical sorcerer, while Sunny brings the wit, warmth, and considerably more people skills. Basically, give Sherlock Holmes magic and then add someone who can actually talk to other humans. Most importantly, there is no romance between them. Their relationship gets to develop naturally into friendship and partnership, and I appreciated that enormously.
I was delighted to discover that the worldbuilding actually matters to the plot. The history, politics, religious tensions, and suspicion surrounding magic all have consequences, rather than existing merely to make the setting look suitably fantasy-shaped. Fall's magic also has real limitations, so there's no convenient magical escape hatch whenever the plot gets inconvenient.
The prose is excellent, and I especially enjoyed the epigraphs at the beginning of each chapter, which add little pieces of history and context to the world. The city feels vivid and lived-in, from its streets to the ever-present promise of baked goods. The character work is equally strong, and the darker themes are nicely balanced by well-timed moments of humor.
A smart, atmospheric mystery with a wonderfully weird assortment of fantasy ingredients, an excellent central partnership, and worldbuilding that actually pulls its weight. I’m definitely looking forward to the next one.
September 8, 2026
Actually 5 Star rating but I can't figure out how to prove to GoodReads that I got an ARC of it and it's stuck at my initial 4 star before I decided I wanted to make it higher lol
Honestly I wasn't very interested in the premise of this book, I do really enjoy murder mysteries and seeing a fantastical murder mystery felt like a gift from above but I read the synopsis and wasn't sure it would be my cup of tea. And I'm so happy to be wrong. This book was amazing, and it hooked me immediately from start to finish.
The main characters (Sunny and Alistair) I thought would bore me because they seemed to have cliche archetypes, but Marianne Gordon really held my hand when she threw this brick at me lol. I fell in love with both of them, and I always enjoy the sunshine x grumpy character tropes so this really appealed to me. It's so easy for characters to be nothing but the cliche tropes (like what I just mentioned) but these characters were so much more than that.
Alistair wasn't the secretly charming and cold ML I thought he would be and Sunny wasn't the ditsy airheaded MC I thought she would be, both were so real and relateable (it was painful at times in the best way) and it felt like the characters really elevated and carried the story.
The story itself was of course, phenomenal. When I read murder mysteries I typically like to go along with the plot, I don't often try to solve the murder, I just enjoy seeing the characters go through the story, and this story felt like it was perfect for that. The mystery didn't make me feel like I was solving it before the cahracters (as sometimes happens even when I'm not trying to solve it) nor did I feel lost and confused at the conclusions they were making. The worldbuilding was phenomenal, the mystery with forbidden magic, necromancy, and and ancient gods was a fantastic merge of amazing worldbuilding that worked into the mystery. Every moment of this book was so enjoyable and I'm so happy I got a copy of it in advance.
Highly recommend!
Thank you to NetGalley for letting me read this book early in exchange for an honest review!
Honestly I wasn't very interested in the premise of this book, I do really enjoy murder mysteries and seeing a fantastical murder mystery felt like a gift from above but I read the synopsis and wasn't sure it would be my cup of tea. And I'm so happy to be wrong. This book was amazing, and it hooked me immediately from start to finish.
The main characters (Sunny and Alistair) I thought would bore me because they seemed to have cliche archetypes, but Marianne Gordon really held my hand when she threw this brick at me lol. I fell in love with both of them, and I always enjoy the sunshine x grumpy character tropes so this really appealed to me. It's so easy for characters to be nothing but the cliche tropes (like what I just mentioned) but these characters were so much more than that.
Alistair wasn't the secretly charming and cold ML I thought he would be and Sunny wasn't the ditsy airheaded MC I thought she would be, both were so real and relateable (it was painful at times in the best way) and it felt like the characters really elevated and carried the story.
The story itself was of course, phenomenal. When I read murder mysteries I typically like to go along with the plot, I don't often try to solve the murder, I just enjoy seeing the characters go through the story, and this story felt like it was perfect for that. The mystery didn't make me feel like I was solving it before the cahracters (as sometimes happens even when I'm not trying to solve it) nor did I feel lost and confused at the conclusions they were making. The worldbuilding was phenomenal, the mystery with forbidden magic, necromancy, and and ancient gods was a fantastic merge of amazing worldbuilding that worked into the mystery. Every moment of this book was so enjoyable and I'm so happy I got a copy of it in advance.
Highly recommend!
Thank you to NetGalley for letting me read this book early in exchange for an honest review!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you Del Rey & NetGalley for the ARC!
I really enjoyed this book! This is my first Marianne Gordon book and I originally picked it up because I love mystery and I REALLY LOVE fantasy/mystery (shoutout to The Tainted Cup), and I'm glad I did.
I think the mystery was set up super well. I wasn't "surprised" and there weren't really any major twists, but I actually preferred that, as I felt like I was unravelling the mystery along with our investigators. I bet if I reread, there would be clues that I initially missed, and I LOVE when mysteries foreshadow the culprit/plant clues that click for the reader after the reveal. The book did start off a bit slower-paced, but once the investigation really started, I couldn't put the book down (I read 50% in one sitting).
I really enjoyed the dynamic between Sunny & Alistair as well, and I especially liked that it stayed platonic/found family vibes (please have it stay platonic! I beg!). It just felt like a breath of fresh air to have their relationship develop while staying platonic; I don't find that with a lot of books these days (unless there's an age gap a la Ana and Din). It was really sweet how they opened up to each other and made each other feel seen.
Also, the prose was really great and I especially enjoyed the worldbuilding through the epigraphs at the beginning. Shoutout specifically to the skull one - recognized that immediately as a board game fan (shoutout No Rolls Barred).
Will definitely pick up the next book!
I really enjoyed this book! This is my first Marianne Gordon book and I originally picked it up because I love mystery and I REALLY LOVE fantasy/mystery (shoutout to The Tainted Cup), and I'm glad I did.
I think the mystery was set up super well. I wasn't "surprised" and there weren't really any major twists, but I actually preferred that, as I felt like I was unravelling the mystery along with our investigators. I bet if I reread, there would be clues that I initially missed, and I LOVE when mysteries foreshadow the culprit/plant clues that click for the reader after the reveal. The book did start off a bit slower-paced, but once the investigation really started, I couldn't put the book down (I read 50% in one sitting).
I really enjoyed the dynamic between Sunny & Alistair as well, and I especially liked that it stayed platonic/found family vibes (please have it stay platonic! I beg!). It just felt like a breath of fresh air to have their relationship develop while staying platonic; I don't find that with a lot of books these days (unless there's an age gap a la Ana and Din). It was really sweet how they opened up to each other and made each other feel seen.
Also, the prose was really great and I especially enjoyed the worldbuilding through the epigraphs at the beginning. Shoutout specifically to the skull one - recognized that immediately as a board game fan (shoutout No Rolls Barred).
Will definitely pick up the next book!
September 2, 2026
Thank you to Del Rey and NetGalley for this advanced reader copy!
This book was my introduction to Marianne Gordon and after thoroughly enjoying this novel, I'm so excited to continue reading her works.
Alistair Fall and the Restless Dead, to me, was the perfect book to start off the 'ber' months. It's got a dark and moody prologue, an awkward yet brilliant detective, and a witty thief. By the third chapter, I knew that I was hooked.
The descriptions of the settings and the attention to detail in the character building really brought the story to life for me. While reading, I could fully envision the city streets under my feet and the sweet smell of baked goods wafting in the air. I think that the darker moments and themes of the book were perfectly undercut with well-timed moments of levity. The cast of characters were also a highlight of the book. The dynamic between our main characters, Alistair and Sunny, was thoroughly entertaining and, at times, heartbreaking in the best of ways. "Vibe-wise", I found it reminiscent of V.E. Schwab's A Darker Shade of Magic and Robert Jackson Bennett's A Tainted Cup , both of which are five star favourites of mine. If you are also a fan of these series, I cannot recommend this one enough!
I do wish that we had gotten a little more insight into the history of Osk and their pantheon of gods, but seeing as this is book one of more to come, I'm excited to see how the worldbuilding continues to grow in the future. I'll certainly be first in line to read the next one!
This book was my introduction to Marianne Gordon and after thoroughly enjoying this novel, I'm so excited to continue reading her works.
Alistair Fall and the Restless Dead, to me, was the perfect book to start off the 'ber' months. It's got a dark and moody prologue, an awkward yet brilliant detective, and a witty thief. By the third chapter, I knew that I was hooked.
The descriptions of the settings and the attention to detail in the character building really brought the story to life for me. While reading, I could fully envision the city streets under my feet and the sweet smell of baked goods wafting in the air. I think that the darker moments and themes of the book were perfectly undercut with well-timed moments of levity. The cast of characters were also a highlight of the book. The dynamic between our main characters, Alistair and Sunny, was thoroughly entertaining and, at times, heartbreaking in the best of ways. "Vibe-wise", I found it reminiscent of V.E. Schwab's A Darker Shade of Magic and Robert Jackson Bennett's A Tainted Cup , both of which are five star favourites of mine. If you are also a fan of these series, I cannot recommend this one enough!
I do wish that we had gotten a little more insight into the history of Osk and their pantheon of gods, but seeing as this is book one of more to come, I'm excited to see how the worldbuilding continues to grow in the future. I'll certainly be first in line to read the next one!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I LOVED this book! This is the perfect read for anyone who enjoys fantasy detective thrillers, especially if you’re a fan of the Ana and Din Mysteries series.
I was immediately hooked and genuinely couldn’t put it down. Marianne Gordon did such an amazing job with both the prologue and the epilogue. Just chef’s kiss 👌🏻
To break down some of the things I loved:
The chapter titles and quotes: Please, other authors, bring back chapter titles!! I enjoyed these so much. They were witty and added so much personality to the story. My favorite was: “On Father Figures Behaving Badly” 🙂↕️
Sunny and Alistair: They were perfect. Sunny’s jokes and puns made the whole reading experience even more fun, and I loved how aware she was that Alistair is very posh and constantly uses complicated words. They balanced each other so well, and the dual POV was handled really well. Sorcerer x Thief duo done well.
The worldbuilding: I loved the entire fantasy concept of a world divided between atheism and paganism. The way religion works within this world was genuinely fascinating.
Overall, this is such a strong first book in a series. It introduces you to the characters and the world without feeling too info dumpy, and it still leaves enough unanswered questions to keep you interested in what comes next. I can’t wait for book 2!
Thank you to NetGalley, Del Rey, and the author for providing me with this ARC!
I was immediately hooked and genuinely couldn’t put it down. Marianne Gordon did such an amazing job with both the prologue and the epilogue. Just chef’s kiss 👌🏻
To break down some of the things I loved:
The chapter titles and quotes: Please, other authors, bring back chapter titles!! I enjoyed these so much. They were witty and added so much personality to the story. My favorite was: “On Father Figures Behaving Badly” 🙂↕️
Sunny and Alistair: They were perfect. Sunny’s jokes and puns made the whole reading experience even more fun, and I loved how aware she was that Alistair is very posh and constantly uses complicated words. They balanced each other so well, and the dual POV was handled really well. Sorcerer x Thief duo done well.
The worldbuilding: I loved the entire fantasy concept of a world divided between atheism and paganism. The way religion works within this world was genuinely fascinating.
Overall, this is such a strong first book in a series. It introduces you to the characters and the world without feeling too info dumpy, and it still leaves enough unanswered questions to keep you interested in what comes next. I can’t wait for book 2!
Thank you to NetGalley, Del Rey, and the author for providing me with this ARC!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I received this ebook ARC from the publisher via Netgalley.
I really wanted to like this more than I did. It's usually the kind of book I love, but it just didn't come through for me, unfortunately. Alistair was the best! He's honestly the reason I gave this book as many stars as I did. I would have loved to see the book be entirely from his perspective, because Sunny was a huge miss for me and came off as a mixture of boring and annoying.
The magic system was really interesting, and I'd have loved to learn even more about it with Lady Locke. The secondary characters that appear throughout are great, and I liked a lot of them more than I liked Sunny. I will say I appreciate that the connection between Alistair and Sunny went to friendship rather than romance.
The one other thing, that some may think is minor, but that I can't stop thinking about, is how Gordon used human descriptors to say how awful and ugly a part of the city was. "The southern side, the Lower Precinct, was the double chin to the city's beautiful face, replete with pockmarked skin and unwanted hairs." There's so many great words to negatively describe an inanimate thing like the Lower Precinct. Why are you mocking people who might be fat or have skin conditions and extra hair? Not okay.
Overall, liked Alistair himself, enjoyed the mystery/thriller portions, but not liking Sunny or some of the language choices means I probably won't continue to read this series.
I really wanted to like this more than I did. It's usually the kind of book I love, but it just didn't come through for me, unfortunately. Alistair was the best! He's honestly the reason I gave this book as many stars as I did. I would have loved to see the book be entirely from his perspective, because Sunny was a huge miss for me and came off as a mixture of boring and annoying.
The magic system was really interesting, and I'd have loved to learn even more about it with Lady Locke. The secondary characters that appear throughout are great, and I liked a lot of them more than I liked Sunny. I will say I appreciate that the connection between Alistair and Sunny went to friendship rather than romance.
The one other thing, that some may think is minor, but that I can't stop thinking about, is how Gordon used human descriptors to say how awful and ugly a part of the city was. "The southern side, the Lower Precinct, was the double chin to the city's beautiful face, replete with pockmarked skin and unwanted hairs." There's so many great words to negatively describe an inanimate thing like the Lower Precinct. Why are you mocking people who might be fat or have skin conditions and extra hair? Not okay.
Overall, liked Alistair himself, enjoyed the mystery/thriller portions, but not liking Sunny or some of the language choices means I probably won't continue to read this series.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore for this ARC!
Alistair Fall and the Restless Dead will be published on April 17, 2027.
Alistair Fall is a grumpy sorcerer who ends up working with a sunny (haha) thief to solve the murder of a prominent barrister after the thief is caught standing over a dead body. Set in a world of magic, dragons, and gods, this book is a fun balance between cozy fantasy and murder mystery.
I enjoyed reading this book! The prose is lighter in tone but the mystery itself deals with some darker topics. I found the magic system to be a fun and fresh take on spell casting, but the dragons feel a bit random as a world building element at the moment — I assume we will see more of them in future installments.
I think it could’ve been interesting to really lean into the darker threads of the story (mostly because I like seeing elements of horror sometimes in non-horror novels) but this is a non issue. There is no romance, and I like the dynamic between our two main characters. I would be fine either way if they stayed platonic or ended up romantic in the future.
Overall, this book really scratched the fantasy detective itch for me as a lighter alternative to other fantasy mysteries I’ve read. This was a fun reading experience, and I will be checking out future additions to the series.
Alistair Fall and the Restless Dead will be published on April 17, 2027.
Alistair Fall is a grumpy sorcerer who ends up working with a sunny (haha) thief to solve the murder of a prominent barrister after the thief is caught standing over a dead body. Set in a world of magic, dragons, and gods, this book is a fun balance between cozy fantasy and murder mystery.
I enjoyed reading this book! The prose is lighter in tone but the mystery itself deals with some darker topics. I found the magic system to be a fun and fresh take on spell casting, but the dragons feel a bit random as a world building element at the moment — I assume we will see more of them in future installments.
I think it could’ve been interesting to really lean into the darker threads of the story (mostly because I like seeing elements of horror sometimes in non-horror novels) but this is a non issue. There is no romance, and I like the dynamic between our two main characters. I would be fine either way if they stayed platonic or ended up romantic in the future.
Overall, this book really scratched the fantasy detective itch for me as a lighter alternative to other fantasy mysteries I’ve read. This was a fun reading experience, and I will be checking out future additions to the series.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Alistair Fall and the Restless Dead immediately caught my attention with its wonderfully unusual combination of fantasy and mystery. A cantankerous sorcerer, a thief with a heart of gold, a murder investigation, forbidden magic, dragons, forgotten gods, and necromancy? Yes, please.
Alistair Fall sounds like such a fun protagonist. His grumpy, antisocial personality is a wonderful contrast to Sunny, whose description couldn't be more different from his. Their partnership is one of the things I'm most excited about—the classic mismatched duo works especially well when both characters have secrets of their own.
The city of Osk also sounds fantastic. I love fantasy settings that feel like they have their own mysteries waiting around every corner, and the combination of forbidden magic, dragons, forgotten gods, and necromancy gives this world so much potential.
Marianne Gordon has taken the detective-story formula and placed it inside a richly imagined fantasy world, which makes Alistair Fall and the Restless Dead feel both familiar and wonderfully fresh.
A charming fantasy mystery with an intriguing cast, a fascinating setting, and plenty of magical possibilities. I'm very excited to see where this series goes next.
Alistair Fall sounds like such a fun protagonist. His grumpy, antisocial personality is a wonderful contrast to Sunny, whose description couldn't be more different from his. Their partnership is one of the things I'm most excited about—the classic mismatched duo works especially well when both characters have secrets of their own.
The city of Osk also sounds fantastic. I love fantasy settings that feel like they have their own mysteries waiting around every corner, and the combination of forbidden magic, dragons, forgotten gods, and necromancy gives this world so much potential.
Marianne Gordon has taken the detective-story formula and placed it inside a richly imagined fantasy world, which makes Alistair Fall and the Restless Dead feel both familiar and wonderfully fresh.
A charming fantasy mystery with an intriguing cast, a fascinating setting, and plenty of magical possibilities. I'm very excited to see where this series goes next.
September 1, 2026
I received an advanced reader copy of this book and am voluntarily providing an honest review.
Premise
A cranky, underemployed sorcerer teams up with an irreverent thief to solve a murder mystery with far-reaching consequences, both political and personal.
Liked
* Brilliant plotting and consistent pacing; the world and lore feel fully inhabited with plenty of room for expansion.
* Absolutely charming lead characters replete with backstories and banter that grow their relationship at each turn.
* Characters (even side ones) that feel like old friends by the end of the book
* The methods and temperaments of the two leads complement each other so that the result is greater than the sum of its parts.
* Satisfying ending with cliffhangers.
* Does a good job of worldbuilding so that it’s never confusing.
* I particularly like the still-unresolved conflicts between the State and the Old Gods.
Not for Me
* Having to wait for the sequel.
Closing Comment
A fun, humorous romp of a cozy fantasy novel that hopefully will be a long running series. I feel like we’ve only scratched the surface of what the author has in store. Highly recommended.
Premise
A cranky, underemployed sorcerer teams up with an irreverent thief to solve a murder mystery with far-reaching consequences, both political and personal.
Liked
* Brilliant plotting and consistent pacing; the world and lore feel fully inhabited with plenty of room for expansion.
* Absolutely charming lead characters replete with backstories and banter that grow their relationship at each turn.
* Characters (even side ones) that feel like old friends by the end of the book
* The methods and temperaments of the two leads complement each other so that the result is greater than the sum of its parts.
* Satisfying ending with cliffhangers.
* Does a good job of worldbuilding so that it’s never confusing.
* I particularly like the still-unresolved conflicts between the State and the Old Gods.
Not for Me
* Having to wait for the sequel.
Closing Comment
A fun, humorous romp of a cozy fantasy novel that hopefully will be a long running series. I feel like we’ve only scratched the surface of what the author has in store. Highly recommended.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
~4.25 stars
When I got approved for this ARC, I was so happy! This murder mystery combined with fantasy is just perfect for the fall. The intro got me hooked!
I immeadiately loved the MMC called Alistair. He was just such a likeable character. I loved how his descriptions made him so intelligent and powerfull. The magic aspect of him was such an enjoyable factor in the story and I hope we get more of that in book 2!
Sunny's side was a bit harder for me to get into, but the heist made me more interested and after that point I enjoyed both their povs. Especially after they became partners, they were so perfect for eachother. And their relationship development was actually really realistic.
This world was so interesting; I loved how it contained different elements like the guilds, but also the dragon school. And the story had a lot of secrets to unravel so at some point I just kept reading because how much I wanted to explore everything! This was around 60% because of a big reveal...
The villian of this story was actually terrifying, but also so fascinating.
The ending really set up for the next story and I can't wait to explore this world more!
When I got approved for this ARC, I was so happy! This murder mystery combined with fantasy is just perfect for the fall. The intro got me hooked!
I immeadiately loved the MMC called Alistair. He was just such a likeable character. I loved how his descriptions made him so intelligent and powerfull. The magic aspect of him was such an enjoyable factor in the story and I hope we get more of that in book 2!
Sunny's side was a bit harder for me to get into, but the heist made me more interested and after that point I enjoyed both their povs. Especially after they became partners, they were so perfect for eachother. And their relationship development was actually really realistic.
This world was so interesting; I loved how it contained different elements like the guilds, but also the dragon school. And the story had a lot of secrets to unravel so at some point I just kept reading because how much I wanted to explore everything! This was around 60% because of a big reveal...
The villian of this story was actually terrifying, but also so fascinating.
The ending really set up for the next story and I can't wait to explore this world more!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you very much to NetGalley for offering me this in advance! I had a lot of fun reading the story, I was captivated by the rapidly moving scenes, the fantastic world (I do hope there will be more dragons in the next one!), and the whole mystery. At first, I was a bit confused as a lot of things were happening that didn't seem to have anything to do with one another, but everything was tied up expertly by the end! The characters were so interesting, I wish their personalities were developed a bit more, but I guess the action and world building were more important here, thus put front and center. The whole atheism vs paganism dynamic was fascinating, and the wrongful belief that those who do not believe in divinity cannot have their own morals were well presented. A society so unlike many in our real world where atheism is the norm and how people react to that is something that should be explored more. All in all, I enjoyed this story very much and cannot wait for the next book in the series!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This was a quick and fun read that I very much enjoyed.
We follow Allistar a detective and also a sorcerer living in a world that is very much against magic and paganism. As well as Sunny, a thief who wants to a different life style.
These two meet under unfavorable circumstances but end of working together to solve a murder case that turns out to be part of a much bigger problem.
The story itself isn't anything super special, its nice and quick to the point. Our two main characters get hints dropped about their secrets and pasts throughout the story and we see a lovely budding friendship.
I think for a first novel in what im assuming will be a multiple book series, it is a good start! I am exicitied to see what else the other comes up with for our main duo in future installments.
For now 3 stars, but i have a feeling the next book would be a 4 star for me as this one felt more like an introductions to the world. I am excited to see it expanded upon.
We follow Allistar a detective and also a sorcerer living in a world that is very much against magic and paganism. As well as Sunny, a thief who wants to a different life style.
These two meet under unfavorable circumstances but end of working together to solve a murder case that turns out to be part of a much bigger problem.
The story itself isn't anything super special, its nice and quick to the point. Our two main characters get hints dropped about their secrets and pasts throughout the story and we see a lovely budding friendship.
I think for a first novel in what im assuming will be a multiple book series, it is a good start! I am exicitied to see what else the other comes up with for our main duo in future installments.
For now 3 stars, but i have a feeling the next book would be a 4 star for me as this one felt more like an introductions to the world. I am excited to see it expanded upon.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of this book 🐈🐈⬛️.
»»——— ᢉ𐭩 ———««
First of all, the most imp and fav part about this book is Sunny's cat Butterscotch. I love her sm.
Now that's out of the way, time to write an honest review. This book was good, I won't lie, but it was slow. I went into the book with the high expectation that it was a mystery detective romance with a tad bit of romance, which was not the case. It was a really good book where indeed our both characters do solve a case together, but it's more like they are a team rather than discussing their relationship, which was something I actually never read before in a book like this. Also, the tidbits of info at the start of the chapters were my fav aspects I loved reading those, and I loved how the book starts with paganism being banned.
Other than that, I like Sunny a lot; she was also my fav throughout the book and I enjoyed it because of her. It was a rather slow but pleasant read.
»»——— ᢉ𐭩 ———««
First of all, the most imp and fav part about this book is Sunny's cat Butterscotch. I love her sm.
Now that's out of the way, time to write an honest review. This book was good, I won't lie, but it was slow. I went into the book with the high expectation that it was a mystery detective romance with a tad bit of romance, which was not the case. It was a really good book where indeed our both characters do solve a case together, but it's more like they are a team rather than discussing their relationship, which was something I actually never read before in a book like this. Also, the tidbits of info at the start of the chapters were my fav aspects I loved reading those, and I loved how the book starts with paganism being banned.
Other than that, I like Sunny a lot; she was also my fav throughout the book and I enjoyed it because of her. It was a rather slow but pleasant read.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
What a book! I wasn’t expecting to be as invested as i was in this story, but I ended up finishing it in one sitting. This book follows Alistair, who is a detective and sorcerer, and Sunny, who’s a thief. They’re complete opposites personality wise, but their dynamic just worked so well and it never felt forced. I adored both of these characters so much, and I just wanted to continue reading about them working together as a team.
The murder mystery and necromancy aspect of the story were so interesting as well. I was fascinated with the world building and learning more and more about magic. The way spellwork was described in Alistair’s perspective was so intriguing to me. This book was just such a fun time, I felt transported into this world the moment I started reading, and I need the sequel already!
The murder mystery and necromancy aspect of the story were so interesting as well. I was fascinated with the world building and learning more and more about magic. The way spellwork was described in Alistair’s perspective was so intriguing to me. This book was just such a fun time, I felt transported into this world the moment I started reading, and I need the sequel already!
August 29, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review
This was a really nice cozy real, a perfect book for autumn 🍂 . It did take me a while to get into the story but once the puzzle pieces started coming together I couldn't put the book down. The murder mystery was really interesting especially with the necromancy element to it.
As to the characters I loved their grumpy x sunshine dynamic and their friendship really grew over the pages. It was nice to see them opening up to each other more and more. Overall, this was a really nice read and I would recommend this for people looking for a cozy, magical fantasy.
This was a really nice cozy real, a perfect book for autumn 🍂 . It did take me a while to get into the story but once the puzzle pieces started coming together I couldn't put the book down. The murder mystery was really interesting especially with the necromancy element to it.
As to the characters I loved their grumpy x sunshine dynamic and their friendship really grew over the pages. It was nice to see them opening up to each other more and more. Overall, this was a really nice read and I would recommend this for people looking for a cozy, magical fantasy.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Was so excited to receive this ARC! Whatever expectations I had for this book were completely blown away. I honestly loved this book so much. The book felt like a really good fantasy version of Sherlock Holmes. The author did an amazing job joining fantasy and mystery and neither element felt lacking. Definitely would recommend to those who enjoy VE Schwab as well.
There were elements of magic, magical beings, and a mystery that kept me guessing up until the end. The characters were well developed and had a good depth. The book was well paced and I found myself unable to put it down. Highly recommend and will definitely look out for the next book as I believe it'll be a duology.
There were elements of magic, magical beings, and a mystery that kept me guessing up until the end. The characters were well developed and had a good depth. The book was well paced and I found myself unable to put it down. Highly recommend and will definitely look out for the next book as I believe it'll be a duology.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore and NetGalley for the ARC of this book. In Osk, the State is in control and outlawed all the old, pagan ways. However, Alastair Fall is still allowed to perform magic in service to the State as a Wandering Investigator. Sunny is a thief with plenty of secrets. When she’s found standing over a dead body, Alistair has to track her down. However, there are corpses walking around, a secret cult worshipping the god of death, and Alistair believes in her innocence. An excellent combination of fantasy and detective fiction! I thoroughly enjoyed the story and the characters of Sunny and Alistair. I can’t wait to read the next one!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
I want to thank NetGalley and Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore | Del Rey for providing me with an ARC.
This book held a lot of promise and worked quite well on it. The world building, the magic system, etc, but it still was lacking in so many places. The pace at times was fast and then suddenly slow. Plus I hated Sunny's character. She was too like Celaena from ToG and Alistair was a caricature of perfection.
Its a shame as mysteries are my favourite and I was looking forward to this.
I want to thank NetGalley and Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore | Del Rey for providing me with an ARC.
This book held a lot of promise and worked quite well on it. The world building, the magic system, etc, but it still was lacking in so many places. The pace at times was fast and then suddenly slow. Plus I hated Sunny's character. She was too like Celaena from ToG and Alistair was a caricature of perfection.
Its a shame as mysteries are my favourite and I was looking forward to this.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A fun introduction to the two main characters - Alistair Fall and Sunny. I enjoyed the dynamic between them and appreciated the individual strengths (and flaws) each bought to the partnership. It was set in a rich and interesting world which I hope will be developed further in the series as I felt like we only got glimpses of it as the development of the characters and their relationships were prioritised to ensure readers will want to read the next book. Well it worked! I’m looking forward to the next book and following Alistair, Sunny (and Butterscotch the cat) in their next chapter.
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