What do you think?
Rate this book
An Edge Sharp Enough #1
An Edge Sharp Enough: An Edge Sharp Enough, Book 1
Not yet published
Expected 17 Nov 26Mara has no memory of life before her assassin training behind the fortress-like walls of Tchu-Morrokhai, which has been her world since she was five. Practicing discipline and strategy, sacrifice and solitude, she has dedicated herself to resisting the Divine Empress's plans of eradicating the all-but-forgotten magic. She longs for a world once again filled with magic – and freedom and love.
In Velingard, Livya is the privileged daughter of the scientist whose invention of an indestructible new metal was the catalyst for a great revolution. But when an invite to a secret salon leads to a kidnapping attempt, Livya is suddenly on the run – with the aid of charming con man Kaian.
Captain Fonde has served Velingard faithfully in the 20 years since the revolution, and all has been peaceful ... until now, when he's informed that their 'indestructible' metal is inexplicably starting to crumble. Ships, bridges, buildings, – their entire post-revolution world is literally about to come apart. Is there something darker – evil, ancient, inhuman – at play?
In Velingard, Livya is the privileged daughter of the scientist whose invention of an indestructible new metal was the catalyst for a great revolution. But when an invite to a secret salon leads to a kidnapping attempt, Livya is suddenly on the run – with the aid of charming con man Kaian.
Captain Fonde has served Velingard faithfully in the 20 years since the revolution, and all has been peaceful ... until now, when he's informed that their 'indestructible' metal is inexplicably starting to crumble. Ships, bridges, buildings, – their entire post-revolution world is literally about to come apart. Is there something darker – evil, ancient, inhuman – at play?
Audible Audio
Expected publication November 17, 2026
About the author
Jesse Q. Sutanto
32 books10.6k followersJesse Q Sutanto grew up shuttling back and forth between Jakarta and Singapore and sees both cities as her homes. She has a Masters degree from Oxford University, though she has yet to figure out a way of saying that without sounding obnoxious. She is currently living back in Jakarta on the same street as her parents and about seven hundred meddlesome aunties. When she's not tearing out her hair over her latest WIP, she spends her time baking and playing FPS games. Oh, and also being a mom to her two kids.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 150 reviews
Did Not Finish
November 3, 2026DNF 24%. I couldn’t get into this one. I’m not a big fan of the writing style, and I’m struggling with the slow pacing. The multiple POVs are also not working for me. I’m going to stick to her contemporary books
✎ᝰ. pre-read: i’ve read Jesse Q. Sutanto before (my bestie Vera Wong!), but this is her dark fantasy debut and i want to see if i love it as much as her other books!
💌 Thank you to Netgalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the arc
✎ᝰ. pre-read: i’ve read Jesse Q. Sutanto before (my bestie Vera Wong!), but this is her dark fantasy debut and i want to see if i love it as much as her other books!
💌 Thank you to Netgalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the arc
Want to Read
July 22, 2026 ⌗ ──🍋🟩🐈⬛ᝰ .ᐟ pre-read.
I GOT THE ARC OF ONE OF MY FAVORITE AUTHORS, OMG, I'M CRYING
thanks to netgalley, avon & harper voyager and jesse q. sutanto for an arc in exchange of an honest review.
I GOT THE ARC OF ONE OF MY FAVORITE AUTHORS, OMG, I'M CRYING
thanks to netgalley, avon & harper voyager and jesse q. sutanto for an arc in exchange of an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The worldbuilding is interesting, but not worth the ridiculous amount of infodumping, repetition, or the frankly abysmal prose.
Quotes taken from my review copy, so any and all of these could be edited in the final version of the book.
I’m assuming ‘from she got hit’ is a genuine typo with a word missing, but even if it’s meant to be ‘from where she got hit and surged everywhere’, that’s just…really clunky and basic?
???
Yeah no duh, that’s how stoning someone to death works?
Usually this kind of thing is phrased as 'somewhere of vital importance to BE', so although this isn't WRONG, it SOUNDS wrong to me.
That’s definitely meant to be ‘grind’.
You can’t melt something into ash, wtf?
After rereading this a couple of times, I THINK this is saying that Mara has survived her previous classes by preparing for them, and that won’t work this time because she doesn’t know what to prepare for. But WOW is that badly phrased.
For context, Kaian IS Velingard’s only Earth Artist. This sounds like as far as he knows, his own life is good. When I THINK what this is meant to say is that he’s the only Earth Artist around as far as he knows.
Some other what?
‘Pricking up’ sounds terrible.
Again, this is so unbelievably clunky.
Yeah sorry-not-sorry, I hate it.
Quotes taken from my review copy, so any and all of these could be edited in the final version of the book.
Then the pain, bursting like an overripe fruit, bloomed from she got hit and surged everywhere, until even the tips of her hair hurt.
I’m assuming ‘from she got hit’ is a genuine typo with a word missing, but even if it’s meant to be ‘from where she got hit and surged everywhere’, that’s just…really clunky and basic?
Only Mara didn’t feel threatened. She was more than enthralled.
???
The boy’s skull was crushed and he died sometime between the first stone and the last.
Yeah no duh, that’s how stoning someone to death works?
walking like they had somewhere of vital importance to go.
Usually this kind of thing is phrased as 'somewhere of vital importance to BE', so although this isn't WRONG, it SOUNDS wrong to me.
just as ready to raise its colossal fist and ground its own people into dust.
That’s definitely meant to be ‘grind’.
the flames licked at Queen Seyrah’s face, slowly melting it into black ash.
You can’t melt something into ash, wtf?
As such, there was no way of predicting how the classes would go, and no way of preparing for them, which was how Mara had managed to–hah–survive most of her classes so far.
After rereading this a couple of times, I THINK this is saying that Mara has survived her previous classes by preparing for them, and that won’t work this time because she doesn’t know what to prepare for. But WOW is that badly phrased.
Life was good for Velingard’s only Earth Artist. Well, as far as Kaian knew, anyway.
For context, Kaian IS Velingard’s only Earth Artist. This sounds like as far as he knows, his own life is good. When I THINK what this is meant to say is that he’s the only Earth Artist around as far as he knows.
He’d dismissed them as sons of Prestige employees or some other, but one in particular caught his eye.
Some other what?
His instincts were no longer pricking up, they were full-on shouting, trying to catch his attention.
‘Pricking up’ sounds terrible.
But when he met Sergeant’s Cormack’s eye, something inside it reached past all those layers of conscious thought, ripping through them and going straight into the part of his brain that reacted based on just one single need: survival.
Again, this is so unbelievably clunky.
Yeah sorry-not-sorry, I hate it.
October 20, 2026
An Edge Sharp Enough is an epic adventure following the interwoven fates of a desperate assassin, the privileged daughter of a renowned scientist and her companion, a petty thief, and a Captain of the city guard, all racing to save their world from destruction wrought by the manipulation of metal, war, and the magical force of Art, which has abandoned humankind.
I fell in love with this story! It was an unexpectedly successful mix of a YA-feel love story full of yearning, and a dark fantasy complete with scenes of brutal horror.
The characters were really intriguing, all of them flawed in their own ways. The multiple POVs were woven together really well, even though they spanned different times and continents. The aesthetics of this book were striking- I could literally picture the dusty streets of Velingard, with strings of laundry hanging overhead, the grandeur of its buildings, and the mountain plains surrounding Tchu-Morrokhai.
This was also one of the most unpredictable books I’ve read recently. I never knew what was going to happen from one chapter to the next. The plot was genuinely gripping, and it had me guessing until the end about the source of the adther’s crumbling and why Art had been corrupted.
The ending was brutal but well executed, setting things up perfectly for the next instalment. I want to know what happens to Kaian and Cerra, and I feel like there’s still so much more left to discover. All in all, there’s a lot of mystery left to unpack!
With thanks to Daphne Press and NetGalley for the arc.
I fell in love with this story! It was an unexpectedly successful mix of a YA-feel love story full of yearning, and a dark fantasy complete with scenes of brutal horror.
The characters were really intriguing, all of them flawed in their own ways. The multiple POVs were woven together really well, even though they spanned different times and continents. The aesthetics of this book were striking- I could literally picture the dusty streets of Velingard, with strings of laundry hanging overhead, the grandeur of its buildings, and the mountain plains surrounding Tchu-Morrokhai.
This was also one of the most unpredictable books I’ve read recently. I never knew what was going to happen from one chapter to the next. The plot was genuinely gripping, and it had me guessing until the end about the source of the adther’s crumbling and why Art had been corrupted.
The ending was brutal but well executed, setting things up perfectly for the next instalment. I want to know what happens to Kaian and Cerra, and I feel like there’s still so much more left to discover. All in all, there’s a lot of mystery left to unpack!
With thanks to Daphne Press and NetGalley for the arc.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Jesse Q. Sutanto was an inspiration to me, as an author who isn't a native English speaker, when people kept telling me it's impossible to be published if English isn't your first language (take that, haters). She's also very prolific in cozy mysteries and romantic comedies, and for a long time I wanted to read something of hers, but since those genres aren't my main area of interest, I kept putting it off. But when I saw her announcing a fantasy novel, I was instantly hyped for it. When I've gotten the arc and saw it was inspired by World of Warcraft, I was even more hyped (I've played WoW for well over a decade very heavily, I've quit a few years ago, but I still have some nostalgia for the game).
Without further ado - I really liked this!
Something to keep in mind, this is a dark fantasy and isn't really humorous or cozy. If someone expects a rom-com or cozy mystery vibe, they'll be very disappointed because it's totally different in tone. It's very much not a romantasy either.
I saw people saying "it reads like YA", but I personally found it too dark and bleak to be YA. Even though several of the pov characters are teenagers, not all of them are, and a specific timeline is later revealed to be a backstory and the character currently is much older. But adult fantasy always loved a coming of age/hero's journey type of story, and young characters with lots of potential in front of them. So, teenage characters do not alone YA make.
I also don't think the writing style is YA. It doesn't have this snarky, memey, excited tone (and I do read and enjoy a lot of YA fantasy). It's actually fairly "telly" and it reminded me of Brandon Sanderson's "windowpane prose". I didn't mind the writing style, because the story was so full of tension and some of the scenes were fairly disturbing, it didn't need prose embellishments to hit hard and keep my interest up.
The plot felt very "anime", but more Attack on Titan, Full Metal Alchemist or Code Geass than some of the more "heroic/uplifting" style anime. It can be dramatic, it can be over the top, but it's also melancholic and shocking at points.
The worldbuilding is interesting and I love how everything came together. I wasn't sure where the plot is going, and I was surprised by a few twists. I was worried all the time will a certain character die - and in the end a different character died (I'm not spoiling who!)
The ending was really open, but apparently this is a duology? I'm really curious where the story goes from there!
Overall, I feel the story was very bittersweet, tackling themes of forbidden/doomed love, cycle of revenge, and how desperation can push people to commit despicable acts.
I saw people compare it to Mistborn, and this makes a lot of sense to me, both in the subject of magic connected with metals, the trope of oppressive empire, a central female character everyone counts on, and in the writing style. Sanderson's writing is also often called very "anime", so there's that. It's a much shorter story, but I think fans of Sanderson-style fantasy would enjoy it.
Thank you Netgalley, Daphne Press and Harper Voyager for the ARC!
Without further ado - I really liked this!
Something to keep in mind, this is a dark fantasy and isn't really humorous or cozy. If someone expects a rom-com or cozy mystery vibe, they'll be very disappointed because it's totally different in tone. It's very much not a romantasy either.
I saw people saying "it reads like YA", but I personally found it too dark and bleak to be YA. Even though several of the pov characters are teenagers, not all of them are, and a specific timeline is later revealed to be a backstory and the character currently is much older. But adult fantasy always loved a coming of age/hero's journey type of story, and young characters with lots of potential in front of them. So, teenage characters do not alone YA make.
I also don't think the writing style is YA. It doesn't have this snarky, memey, excited tone (and I do read and enjoy a lot of YA fantasy). It's actually fairly "telly" and it reminded me of Brandon Sanderson's "windowpane prose". I didn't mind the writing style, because the story was so full of tension and some of the scenes were fairly disturbing, it didn't need prose embellishments to hit hard and keep my interest up.
The plot felt very "anime", but more Attack on Titan, Full Metal Alchemist or Code Geass than some of the more "heroic/uplifting" style anime. It can be dramatic, it can be over the top, but it's also melancholic and shocking at points.
The worldbuilding is interesting and I love how everything came together. I wasn't sure where the plot is going, and I was surprised by a few twists. I was worried all the time will a certain character die - and in the end a different character died (I'm not spoiling who!)
The ending was really open, but apparently this is a duology? I'm really curious where the story goes from there!
Overall, I feel the story was very bittersweet, tackling themes of forbidden/doomed love, cycle of revenge, and how desperation can push people to commit despicable acts.
I saw people compare it to Mistborn, and this makes a lot of sense to me, both in the subject of magic connected with metals, the trope of oppressive empire, a central female character everyone counts on, and in the writing style. Sanderson's writing is also often called very "anime", so there's that. It's a much shorter story, but I think fans of Sanderson-style fantasy would enjoy it.
Thank you Netgalley, Daphne Press and Harper Voyager for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Omg that ending was SO GOOD. The plot twist and the way things came together in the end really took this book in a direction that has me so excited to see what happens next!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to Daphne Press and NetGalley for the ARC
3.5 stars
The concepts and world building are the real strength of this story. It's very detailed and feels both immersive and expansive. The political machinations, religious doctrine, and magic system all feel distinct and interesting. In saying that, it did take a large chunk of the book for me to start feeling like I was understanding the politics and history backgrounding events, and I'm not sure I totally got there with the magic system. Once the politics started to click though, it felt worth sticking it out for me and the plot becomes more compelling.
In terms of the characters, I do think I would have liked to see some more relationship building and development. They seemed quite surface level, and I felt like I was being told more about the dynamics between them than shown which really impacted how emotionally invested I felt.
The storyline overall is quite violent and as a book it has a dark and gritty feel to it, but it also read quite young at points, so that element did feel a bit inconsistent. The writing style itself was enjoyable though and nice to read.
Once I got towards the ending, the big events started to unfold and it becomes clear how the characters all connect and fit into the overall picture, it's obvious that there is some clever construction in the plot. Although some of the reveals were quite obvious and there are some moments that feel quite convenient, others did take me by surprise. It does also have a bit of a cliffhanger ending, and on the whole, I did enjoy this and am intrigued enough the I'll be picking up the next book in the duology to see how it's all resolved.
3.5 stars
The concepts and world building are the real strength of this story. It's very detailed and feels both immersive and expansive. The political machinations, religious doctrine, and magic system all feel distinct and interesting. In saying that, it did take a large chunk of the book for me to start feeling like I was understanding the politics and history backgrounding events, and I'm not sure I totally got there with the magic system. Once the politics started to click though, it felt worth sticking it out for me and the plot becomes more compelling.
In terms of the characters, I do think I would have liked to see some more relationship building and development. They seemed quite surface level, and I felt like I was being told more about the dynamics between them than shown which really impacted how emotionally invested I felt.
The storyline overall is quite violent and as a book it has a dark and gritty feel to it, but it also read quite young at points, so that element did feel a bit inconsistent. The writing style itself was enjoyable though and nice to read.
Once I got towards the ending, the big events started to unfold and it becomes clear how the characters all connect and fit into the overall picture, it's obvious that there is some clever construction in the plot. Although some of the reveals were quite obvious and there are some moments that feel quite convenient, others did take me by surprise. It does also have a bit of a cliffhanger ending, and on the whole, I did enjoy this and am intrigued enough the I'll be picking up the next book in the duology to see how it's all resolved.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
𝗠𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗰, 𝗺𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘆 & 𝗮 𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗿𝗲 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗽! 🗡️
Jesse Q. Sutanto has ventured into a completely new genre, and I respect her for it. The worldbuilding is imaginative, the stakes are high, and the twists and betrayals keep things interesting. I connected more with Mara and Lia than the other characters, though, and the multiple POVs made it difficult to find my bearings at first. Ultimately, there was more romance than I wanted, and the pacing felt uneven. Not quite my genre, but an ambitious change of direction!
Mei Mei MacLeod's narration was excellent, and I particularly loved her singing. 🎧
Thank you to Jesse Q. Sutanto, Bolinda Audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to and review this ALC. All opinions are my own.
Jesse Q. Sutanto has ventured into a completely new genre, and I respect her for it. The worldbuilding is imaginative, the stakes are high, and the twists and betrayals keep things interesting. I connected more with Mara and Lia than the other characters, though, and the multiple POVs made it difficult to find my bearings at first. Ultimately, there was more romance than I wanted, and the pacing felt uneven. Not quite my genre, but an ambitious change of direction!
Mei Mei MacLeod's narration was excellent, and I particularly loved her singing. 🎧
Thank you to Jesse Q. Sutanto, Bolinda Audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to and review this ALC. All opinions are my own.
October 19, 2026
2.5 stars.
An Edge Sharp Enough is a dark fantasy with a promising premise and a unique magic system that I was really looking forward to reading. While I think this book has good bones, the writing style really kept me from being able to enjoy it for most of the story.
This is marketed as adult fantasy and while the themes and concepts are adult, I found the prose quite juvenile, repetitive, and on the nose. The character dialogue and actions also felt younger than I would expect from an adult fantasy. If it was marketed as YA and I had that expectation going in, I think I would’ve enjoyed it more. Even then, there was frequent info-dumping and a tendency to tell rather than show which made it difficult to connect to the story or the characters.
I did finally feel invested after a surprising twist around the 80% mark! I enjoyed the ideas behind this book - the world, the conflict, the magic, and the multi POV format. Unfortunately the writing style just kept the story at a surface level and didn’t deliver the depth I expect out of adult fantasy.
An Edge Sharp Enough is a dark fantasy with a promising premise and a unique magic system that I was really looking forward to reading. While I think this book has good bones, the writing style really kept me from being able to enjoy it for most of the story.
This is marketed as adult fantasy and while the themes and concepts are adult, I found the prose quite juvenile, repetitive, and on the nose. The character dialogue and actions also felt younger than I would expect from an adult fantasy. If it was marketed as YA and I had that expectation going in, I think I would’ve enjoyed it more. Even then, there was frequent info-dumping and a tendency to tell rather than show which made it difficult to connect to the story or the characters.
I did finally feel invested after a surprising twist around the 80% mark! I enjoyed the ideas behind this book - the world, the conflict, the magic, and the multi POV format. Unfortunately the writing style just kept the story at a surface level and didn’t deliver the depth I expect out of adult fantasy.
Want to Read
October 16, 2026Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Voyager for access to this ARC
Read
January 5, 2026Releases Aug 2026
I was very fortunate to receive an e-ARC super early. I won’t rate because honestly I’m still wrapping my head around the whole thing. Props to the author for the beautiful writing style and wording - just made it flow so effortlessly.
A fantasy story filled with a lot of political intrigue. This land/continent is on the brink of collapse. The elemental magic in their land (referred to as “Art”) is gone, an empress is waging war and taking over territories one by one and more plots are underway. On one side of the continent we have Tchu - our main character here is Mara. Mara is in training at the institute to become an emissary (a soldier), taken at the age of 5 to enter training, she is the runt, physically weak - but her mind and affinity for magic are strong. What keeps her going is her forbidden love/crush on her fellow trainee Lia. On the other side, we have Velingard - a more civilized society on the other side of a shaky revolution. The main characters here are Livya, Cerra, Kaian and Commander Fonde. A scholar/socialite, her lady’s maid/adopted sister, a low class thief/magic wielder and a soldier. All four are interconnected when murders, a political plots and odd magical occurrences start to ramp up. There is a complicated mix of beliefs (gods and demons), metallurgy and an elemental magic system. And I won’t get into the details because it won’t be brief. This story was filled with twists and turns, and honestly a plot twist I never saw coming. I think I went into this thinking romantasy - and I don’t think it’s quite that - I think this is more fantasy/science fiction, there is romance/love, but it’s not the focus. (At least I didn’t think so)
I was very fortunate to receive an e-ARC super early. I won’t rate because honestly I’m still wrapping my head around the whole thing. Props to the author for the beautiful writing style and wording - just made it flow so effortlessly.
A fantasy story filled with a lot of political intrigue. This land/continent is on the brink of collapse. The elemental magic in their land (referred to as “Art”) is gone, an empress is waging war and taking over territories one by one and more plots are underway. On one side of the continent we have Tchu - our main character here is Mara. Mara is in training at the institute to become an emissary (a soldier), taken at the age of 5 to enter training, she is the runt, physically weak - but her mind and affinity for magic are strong. What keeps her going is her forbidden love/crush on her fellow trainee Lia. On the other side, we have Velingard - a more civilized society on the other side of a shaky revolution. The main characters here are Livya, Cerra, Kaian and Commander Fonde. A scholar/socialite, her lady’s maid/adopted sister, a low class thief/magic wielder and a soldier. All four are interconnected when murders, a political plots and odd magical occurrences start to ramp up. There is a complicated mix of beliefs (gods and demons), metallurgy and an elemental magic system. And I won’t get into the details because it won’t be brief. This story was filled with twists and turns, and honestly a plot twist I never saw coming. I think I went into this thinking romantasy - and I don’t think it’s quite that - I think this is more fantasy/science fiction, there is romance/love, but it’s not the focus. (At least I didn’t think so)
October 15, 2026
3.25 ⭐️
This one was such a mixed bag, and I could see how much passion the author has for the story, but it was a lot of ideas.
There are 4 POVs, and one definitely didnt feel like it was completely necessary as another covered off the majority of that storyline. It's always tricky with that many POVs, as you never truly spend enough time with one character to really understand or sympathise with them, they unintentionally become quite surface level as you cant dig down deep enough. One POV especially struggled with pacing, and I was quite disappointed whenever we panned back to her storyline as it was quite separate from the others. This has a purpose, but whilst reading it just dragged down my enthusiasm a little.
The concept of the magic, Art, was a really interesting one. But similar to the POVs, it doesnt feel fully explored and I was a bit confused with it. I think when you use an established word like 'art' to name your magic system it comes with preconceived notions of what that magic is. So this did tarnish my ability to understand it.
The reveals were a bit clunky, and rather than a gradual set up, the clues were thrown in or verbally announced by characters. Which did feel a little juvenal, as it seemed like the author didnt trust the reader to uncover it themselves.
There was a lot of ideas, a lot of which I really enjoyed, but I think it lacked some depth. The intrigue of the world was well articulated and I liked how everything pulled together at the end.
Thank you so much to the publisher, author and NetGalley for this ARC, all views and opinions are my own ✨
This one was such a mixed bag, and I could see how much passion the author has for the story, but it was a lot of ideas.
There are 4 POVs, and one definitely didnt feel like it was completely necessary as another covered off the majority of that storyline. It's always tricky with that many POVs, as you never truly spend enough time with one character to really understand or sympathise with them, they unintentionally become quite surface level as you cant dig down deep enough. One POV especially struggled with pacing, and I was quite disappointed whenever we panned back to her storyline as it was quite separate from the others. This has a purpose, but whilst reading it just dragged down my enthusiasm a little.
The concept of the magic, Art, was a really interesting one. But similar to the POVs, it doesnt feel fully explored and I was a bit confused with it. I think when you use an established word like 'art' to name your magic system it comes with preconceived notions of what that magic is. So this did tarnish my ability to understand it.
The reveals were a bit clunky, and rather than a gradual set up, the clues were thrown in or verbally announced by characters. Which did feel a little juvenal, as it seemed like the author didnt trust the reader to uncover it themselves.
There was a lot of ideas, a lot of which I really enjoyed, but I think it lacked some depth. The intrigue of the world was well articulated and I liked how everything pulled together at the end.
Thank you so much to the publisher, author and NetGalley for this ARC, all views and opinions are my own ✨
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
⚔️✦✧✧ 𝐀𝐧 𝐄𝐝𝐠𝐞 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐩 𝐄𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 Review ✧✧✦⚔️
•Rating: ★★★★★/5
•Duology
•Pub Date: 11/17.
"Desde la primera página hasta la última mi mandíbula se cayó al suelo y tuve esta expresión de pez koy durante toooodo el último 50% del libro. Entonces dije, 'mejor no la recojamos del suelo, ya que a cada rato se va a estar cayendo con todo lo que está pasando!!' ".
-Yo, explicándole a mi hermana mi experiencia con este libro.
Ya me explico. Pero primero...
✨Thank you so much to Harper Voyager and the author for the e-arc opportunity through Netgalley! ✨
𝐁𝐥𝐮𝐫𝐛
⊹ ࣪ ﹏𓊝﹏𓂁﹏⊹ ࣪ ˖
Mara has no memory of life before her assassin training behind the fortress-like walls of Tchu-Morrokhai, which has been her world since she was five. Practicing discipline and strategy, sacrifice and solitude, she has dedicated herself to resisting the Divine Empress’s plans of eradicating the all-but-forgotten magic. She longs for a world once again filled with magic—and freedom and love. And she’ll do whatever it takes to find those things.
In the faraway city of Velingard, Livya is the privileged daughter of the revered scientist whose invention of an indestructible new metal was the catalyst for a great revolution. Yet Livya’s bored of suitors and balls, more interested in philosophical debates. But when an invite to a secret salon leads to a kidnapping attempt, Livya is suddenly on the run—with the unlikely aid of charming con man Kaian, a once dear childhood friend inexplicably turned frosty stranger.
Captain Fonde has served Velingard faithfully in the twenty years since the revolution, and all has been peaceful... until now, when he’s informed that their “indestructible” metal is inexplicably starting to crumble. Ships, bridges, buildings, statues—their entire post-revolution world is literally about to come apart. Could it be that the metal—and therefore the revolution—was flawed all along? Or is there something darker—evil, ancient, inhuman—at play?
⊹ ࣪ ﹏𓊝﹏𓂁﹏⊹ ࣪ ˖
𝐎𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐨𝐧
Empecé 𝑨𝒏 𝑬𝒅𝒈𝒆 𝑺𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒑 𝑬𝒏𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉 sin tener la menor idea de lo que me esperaba. Pero lo poco que sabía me pareció interesante, así que aposté todo a mi curiosidad y BAM! Terminé dando con ORO PURO.
(Al menos en lo que a libros se refiere)
Desde que empecé a leer, sentí intriga y fascinación por todo lo que se describía. Los personajes que narraban. El mundo que se ampliaba más y más en cada página. Después descubriría el lore que había inspirado gran parte de este mundo (del que no tengo conocimiento real) pero que de ninguna manera, con la habilidad de la autora, me hizo sentir perdida o abrumada. Fue simplemente increíble.
El world building es complejo pero no incomprensible. Hay tantos elementos que al principio no parecen tener relación hasta que poco a poco empiezan a conectar entre sí. Hay política, religión, guerra, campañas de conquista, tecnología, magia, ciencia y mitología. Hay monarquías, revoluciones, ideologías... Y todo se explora a través de los ojos de 4 personajes:
𝑼𝒏𝒂 𝒂𝒔𝒆𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒂.
𝑼𝒏 𝒍𝒂𝒅𝒓𝒐́𝒏.
𝑼𝒏𝒂 𝒂𝒄𝒂𝒅𝒆́𝒎𝒊𝒄𝒂.
𝑼𝒏 𝒔𝒐𝒍𝒅𝒂𝒅𝒐.
El rol que juega cada uno dentro de esta historia...eso, es mejor averiguarlo al leer.
Sólo puedo decir que me tuvieron al borde del asiento todo el tiempo, y en más de una ocasión también gritándole a la kindle con desespe como si pudieran oírme o algo.
También debo decir que, particularmente para mí, fue un libro lleno de acción, adrenalina y sí, sangre. Las descripciones fueron especialmente útiles para darle forma a las diferentes escenas, aunque en varias ocasiones tuve que bajar el libro para procesar 🤣
Quiero decir mucho, y al mismo tiempo, lo más valioso de mi experiencia fue entrar con la mente en blanco respecto a todo, así que no voy a entrar en mucho detalle.
(Bueno, más)
Disfruté este libro ENORMEMENTE.
Se llevó mi mente a una aventura de la que no quería salir y a la que me muero por regresar ahora que se terminó esta primera parte. Aunque soy muy consciente de que, si este libro me rompió la mente, el segundo me hará puré.
Pero ni modo qué hacer 😎
* . °•★|•°∵
Algunas de mis frases favoritas:
•"𝑴𝒂𝒓𝒂 𝒉𝒂𝒅 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒎𝒊𝒔𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒅𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒚 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒍𝒅 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝑳𝒊𝒂, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑽𝒆𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒂𝒓𝒅 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒋𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒇𝒊𝒓𝒔𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝒎𝒂𝒏𝒚 𝒑𝒊𝒆𝒄𝒆𝒔 𝒔𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒕𝒆𝒂𝒓 𝒅𝒐𝒘𝒏."
•"𝑵𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝒑𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒓𝒇𝒖𝒍 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒏 𝒂𝒏 𝒖𝒏𝒒𝒖𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒇𝒂𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒃𝒐𝒓𝒏𝒆 𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝒇𝒆𝒂𝒓.”
•"𝒀𝒆𝒔, 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒚 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒅 𝒆𝒂𝒄𝒉 𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓. 𝑻𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒊𝒕, 𝒔𝒖𝒄𝒉 𝒂 𝒔𝒊𝒎𝒑𝒍𝒆, 𝒄𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒏 𝒇𝒂𝒄𝒕. 𝑰𝒏 𝒂 𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒄𝒆 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒚’𝒅 𝒃𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝒓𝒂𝒊𝒔𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒆 𝒏𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒔𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒑𝒆𝒏𝒆𝒅 𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒅𝒂𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒔, 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒚’𝒅 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒉𝒐𝒘 𝒇𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅 𝒂 𝒘𝒂𝒚 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒆 𝒉𝒖𝒎𝒂𝒏, 𝒕𝒉𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉 𝒆𝒂𝒄𝒉 𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓."
•“𝑩𝒖𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒆𝒏𝒕, 𝒘𝒆 𝒎𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒑𝒂𝒔𝒕.
•Rating: ★★★★★/5
•Duology
•Pub Date: 11/17.
"Desde la primera página hasta la última mi mandíbula se cayó al suelo y tuve esta expresión de pez koy durante toooodo el último 50% del libro. Entonces dije, 'mejor no la recojamos del suelo, ya que a cada rato se va a estar cayendo con todo lo que está pasando!!' ".
-Yo, explicándole a mi hermana mi experiencia con este libro.
Ya me explico. Pero primero...
✨Thank you so much to Harper Voyager and the author for the e-arc opportunity through Netgalley! ✨
𝐁𝐥𝐮𝐫𝐛
⊹ ࣪ ﹏𓊝﹏𓂁﹏⊹ ࣪ ˖
Mara has no memory of life before her assassin training behind the fortress-like walls of Tchu-Morrokhai, which has been her world since she was five. Practicing discipline and strategy, sacrifice and solitude, she has dedicated herself to resisting the Divine Empress’s plans of eradicating the all-but-forgotten magic. She longs for a world once again filled with magic—and freedom and love. And she’ll do whatever it takes to find those things.
In the faraway city of Velingard, Livya is the privileged daughter of the revered scientist whose invention of an indestructible new metal was the catalyst for a great revolution. Yet Livya’s bored of suitors and balls, more interested in philosophical debates. But when an invite to a secret salon leads to a kidnapping attempt, Livya is suddenly on the run—with the unlikely aid of charming con man Kaian, a once dear childhood friend inexplicably turned frosty stranger.
Captain Fonde has served Velingard faithfully in the twenty years since the revolution, and all has been peaceful... until now, when he’s informed that their “indestructible” metal is inexplicably starting to crumble. Ships, bridges, buildings, statues—their entire post-revolution world is literally about to come apart. Could it be that the metal—and therefore the revolution—was flawed all along? Or is there something darker—evil, ancient, inhuman—at play?
⊹ ࣪ ﹏𓊝﹏𓂁﹏⊹ ࣪ ˖
𝐎𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐨𝐧
Empecé 𝑨𝒏 𝑬𝒅𝒈𝒆 𝑺𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒑 𝑬𝒏𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉 sin tener la menor idea de lo que me esperaba. Pero lo poco que sabía me pareció interesante, así que aposté todo a mi curiosidad y BAM! Terminé dando con ORO PURO.
(Al menos en lo que a libros se refiere)
Desde que empecé a leer, sentí intriga y fascinación por todo lo que se describía. Los personajes que narraban. El mundo que se ampliaba más y más en cada página. Después descubriría el lore que había inspirado gran parte de este mundo (del que no tengo conocimiento real) pero que de ninguna manera, con la habilidad de la autora, me hizo sentir perdida o abrumada. Fue simplemente increíble.
El world building es complejo pero no incomprensible. Hay tantos elementos que al principio no parecen tener relación hasta que poco a poco empiezan a conectar entre sí. Hay política, religión, guerra, campañas de conquista, tecnología, magia, ciencia y mitología. Hay monarquías, revoluciones, ideologías... Y todo se explora a través de los ojos de 4 personajes:
𝑼𝒏𝒂 𝒂𝒔𝒆𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒂.
𝑼𝒏 𝒍𝒂𝒅𝒓𝒐́𝒏.
𝑼𝒏𝒂 𝒂𝒄𝒂𝒅𝒆́𝒎𝒊𝒄𝒂.
𝑼𝒏 𝒔𝒐𝒍𝒅𝒂𝒅𝒐.
El rol que juega cada uno dentro de esta historia...eso, es mejor averiguarlo al leer.
Sólo puedo decir que me tuvieron al borde del asiento todo el tiempo, y en más de una ocasión también gritándole a la kindle con desespe como si pudieran oírme o algo.
También debo decir que, particularmente para mí, fue un libro lleno de acción, adrenalina y sí, sangre. Las descripciones fueron especialmente útiles para darle forma a las diferentes escenas, aunque en varias ocasiones tuve que bajar el libro para procesar 🤣
Quiero decir mucho, y al mismo tiempo, lo más valioso de mi experiencia fue entrar con la mente en blanco respecto a todo, así que no voy a entrar en mucho detalle.
(Bueno, más)
Disfruté este libro ENORMEMENTE.
Se llevó mi mente a una aventura de la que no quería salir y a la que me muero por regresar ahora que se terminó esta primera parte. Aunque soy muy consciente de que, si este libro me rompió la mente, el segundo me hará puré.
Pero ni modo qué hacer 😎
* . °•★|•°∵
Algunas de mis frases favoritas:
•"𝑴𝒂𝒓𝒂 𝒉𝒂𝒅 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒎𝒊𝒔𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒅𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒚 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒍𝒅 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝑳𝒊𝒂, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑽𝒆𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒂𝒓𝒅 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒋𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒇𝒊𝒓𝒔𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝒎𝒂𝒏𝒚 𝒑𝒊𝒆𝒄𝒆𝒔 𝒔𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒕𝒆𝒂𝒓 𝒅𝒐𝒘𝒏."
•"𝑵𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝒑𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒓𝒇𝒖𝒍 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒏 𝒂𝒏 𝒖𝒏𝒒𝒖𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒇𝒂𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒃𝒐𝒓𝒏𝒆 𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝒇𝒆𝒂𝒓.”
•"𝒀𝒆𝒔, 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒚 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒅 𝒆𝒂𝒄𝒉 𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓. 𝑻𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒊𝒕, 𝒔𝒖𝒄𝒉 𝒂 𝒔𝒊𝒎𝒑𝒍𝒆, 𝒄𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒏 𝒇𝒂𝒄𝒕. 𝑰𝒏 𝒂 𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒄𝒆 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒚’𝒅 𝒃𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝒓𝒂𝒊𝒔𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒆 𝒏𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒔𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒑𝒆𝒏𝒆𝒅 𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒅𝒂𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒔, 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒚’𝒅 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒉𝒐𝒘 𝒇𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅 𝒂 𝒘𝒂𝒚 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒆 𝒉𝒖𝒎𝒂𝒏, 𝒕𝒉𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉 𝒆𝒂𝒄𝒉 𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓."
•“𝑩𝒖𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒆𝒏𝒕, 𝒘𝒆 𝒎𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒑𝒂𝒔𝒕.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you Netgalley and Harper Voyager for the advanced copy. I was SO excited to be approved for this and it did NOT disappoint.
This is a 5 star for me, for so many reasons: 1. I love multi-POV, especially when you know they’re all going to converge at a certain point. In this case, I was stunned by the twists and turns it took to get the paths to converge and felt it was well worth the ride. 2. The world building was top notch. It reminded me of the grimdark world of Locke Lamora, which I love. Readers of Fourth Wing and similar will also enjoy Mara’s POV as her time in the institute has shades of Basgiath. (I hate to make comparisons to other books out there as when I read the acknowledgements section I know Jesse has been working on this for over a decade, but I mean this with the most sincere praise). 3. I think several POVs is the only way to really get the reader fully immersed in the complexities of this world. When you follow characters that hold different levels in a society as layered as this, it really helps showcase the different sides of religion and politics without too much info-dumping. At least, in my opinion. I also really enjoyed each of the characters and their stories. 4. This is not a romantasy but the relationships are very much a huge part of what drives the characters. Without that, it would be really hard to understand their motivations. But I think Jesse did a fantastic job laying the groundwork for certain backstories to really make sense of characters’ actions and choices. (And, I won’t spoil anything since this is an ARC, but I was shocked and delighted at one of the foundational relationships being written a certain way since I didn’t see it advertised anywhere…).
Jesse took on a lot with this one: politics, religion, magic (or Art) and built a world that I could really sink my teeth into. Granted, it is a little complex, but I think she did a wonderful job divulging it to the reader at a pace that wasn’t overwhelming. Not only that, but I love when a fantasy book takes on some characteristics of a thriller. In this case, the back half was fast paced, kept the reader on their toes, and had several plot twists that just knocked my socks off. I saw one of them coming, which was more a credit to great set up than any failure of writing, and one that simply had my jaw on the floor. The last ¼ of the book cleared up any confusion I may have had about the world, the politics, the stakes, and really had me ITCHING to get the next book in my hands. The epilogue was a mic drop, and honestly, I felt all of the characters’ emotions come off the page when I closed the book and thought about how book 2 would evolve.
All in all, I loved this. I can’t wait to order a physical copy, and I will be eagerly anticipating book 2. I hope Jesse continues to write fantasy, because I think she’s proven this is a great place for all her skills to be on full display.
This is a 5 star for me, for so many reasons: 1. I love multi-POV, especially when you know they’re all going to converge at a certain point. In this case, I was stunned by the twists and turns it took to get the paths to converge and felt it was well worth the ride. 2. The world building was top notch. It reminded me of the grimdark world of Locke Lamora, which I love. Readers of Fourth Wing and similar will also enjoy Mara’s POV as her time in the institute has shades of Basgiath. (I hate to make comparisons to other books out there as when I read the acknowledgements section I know Jesse has been working on this for over a decade, but I mean this with the most sincere praise). 3. I think several POVs is the only way to really get the reader fully immersed in the complexities of this world. When you follow characters that hold different levels in a society as layered as this, it really helps showcase the different sides of religion and politics without too much info-dumping. At least, in my opinion. I also really enjoyed each of the characters and their stories. 4. This is not a romantasy but the relationships are very much a huge part of what drives the characters. Without that, it would be really hard to understand their motivations. But I think Jesse did a fantastic job laying the groundwork for certain backstories to really make sense of characters’ actions and choices. (And, I won’t spoil anything since this is an ARC, but I was shocked and delighted at one of the foundational relationships being written a certain way since I didn’t see it advertised anywhere…).
Jesse took on a lot with this one: politics, religion, magic (or Art) and built a world that I could really sink my teeth into. Granted, it is a little complex, but I think she did a wonderful job divulging it to the reader at a pace that wasn’t overwhelming. Not only that, but I love when a fantasy book takes on some characteristics of a thriller. In this case, the back half was fast paced, kept the reader on their toes, and had several plot twists that just knocked my socks off. I saw one of them coming, which was more a credit to great set up than any failure of writing, and one that simply had my jaw on the floor. The last ¼ of the book cleared up any confusion I may have had about the world, the politics, the stakes, and really had me ITCHING to get the next book in my hands. The epilogue was a mic drop, and honestly, I felt all of the characters’ emotions come off the page when I closed the book and thought about how book 2 would evolve.
All in all, I loved this. I can’t wait to order a physical copy, and I will be eagerly anticipating book 2. I hope Jesse continues to write fantasy, because I think she’s proven this is a great place for all her skills to be on full display.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Jesse Q. Sutanto, widely known for her cozy mysteries and warmly comic fiction, has undertaken something genuinely audacious with this novel: she has entered the grimdark genre and, with considerable craft and conviction, made it entirely her own.
The world Sutanto constructs is among the most fully realized fantasy settings in recent memory. Set twenty years after a revolution catalyzed by the invention of an indestructible new metal, this is a society still bleeding from its own transformation, one that dismantled a tyranny only to quietly erect another in its place. The Divine Empress's campaign to eradicate the last traces of magic operates not as conventional fantasy villainy but as something colder and more recognizable: the systematic erasure of the ancient by the efficient, the irreplaceable displaced by the expedient. It is a tension that resonates far beyond the page.
What elevates the novel above its considerable world-building, however, are its four central characters. Mara, the assassin raised behind fortress walls since the age of five, carries the novel's moral weight without ever collapsing into martyrdom. She desires freedom, love, and a restored world, and Sutanto never permits her to want those things without cost. Livya, the scholar daughter of the man whose invention sparked the revolution, is the novel's great complication: privileged, exceptionally intelligent, and implicated in a history she is only beginning to fully comprehend. The con man and the guard complete a quartet that ought not to cohere, four voices, four competing agendas, four corners of a fractured world drawn inexorably toward collision, and yet Sutanto orchestrates their convergence with the assurance of a writer who has been building toward precisely this work.
The prose merits particular attention. This is not the stripped momentum of commercial fantasy. Sutanto writes with texture, deliberateness, and a keen sense of consequence; even minor scenes carry weight. The action is taut and visceral. The quieter moments are, somehow, more devastating still. And the novel's concluding twist, which shall remain undisclosed here, though readers would do well to brace for it, demands a long moment of stillness before one is capable of moving on.
*An Edge Sharp Enough* is a genre debut in the narrowest sense only. In every meaningful regard, it is the work of a writer at full command of her abilities, given at last the canvas she has always deserved. For admirers of R.F. Kuang's moral fury, Joe Abercrombie's unflinching complexity, and fantasy that extends its readers the dignity of being treated as adults, this is not merely recommended reading. It is essential.
Sutanto has not simply crossed genres. She has, with this novel, laid claim to one. I can't wait for the audiobook 😊
The world Sutanto constructs is among the most fully realized fantasy settings in recent memory. Set twenty years after a revolution catalyzed by the invention of an indestructible new metal, this is a society still bleeding from its own transformation, one that dismantled a tyranny only to quietly erect another in its place. The Divine Empress's campaign to eradicate the last traces of magic operates not as conventional fantasy villainy but as something colder and more recognizable: the systematic erasure of the ancient by the efficient, the irreplaceable displaced by the expedient. It is a tension that resonates far beyond the page.
What elevates the novel above its considerable world-building, however, are its four central characters. Mara, the assassin raised behind fortress walls since the age of five, carries the novel's moral weight without ever collapsing into martyrdom. She desires freedom, love, and a restored world, and Sutanto never permits her to want those things without cost. Livya, the scholar daughter of the man whose invention sparked the revolution, is the novel's great complication: privileged, exceptionally intelligent, and implicated in a history she is only beginning to fully comprehend. The con man and the guard complete a quartet that ought not to cohere, four voices, four competing agendas, four corners of a fractured world drawn inexorably toward collision, and yet Sutanto orchestrates their convergence with the assurance of a writer who has been building toward precisely this work.
The prose merits particular attention. This is not the stripped momentum of commercial fantasy. Sutanto writes with texture, deliberateness, and a keen sense of consequence; even minor scenes carry weight. The action is taut and visceral. The quieter moments are, somehow, more devastating still. And the novel's concluding twist, which shall remain undisclosed here, though readers would do well to brace for it, demands a long moment of stillness before one is capable of moving on.
*An Edge Sharp Enough* is a genre debut in the narrowest sense only. In every meaningful regard, it is the work of a writer at full command of her abilities, given at last the canvas she has always deserved. For admirers of R.F. Kuang's moral fury, Joe Abercrombie's unflinching complexity, and fantasy that extends its readers the dignity of being treated as adults, this is not merely recommended reading. It is essential.
Sutanto has not simply crossed genres. She has, with this novel, laid claim to one. I can't wait for the audiobook 😊
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This book is very hard for me to review. It took me a good while to get into this story. This is supposed to be high fantasy but large chuncks of it, especially all the relationship and love talk, reads like YA. Which would be fine but something big was going on in all characters lives but that get largely ignored in favor of lots of inner thoughs about the person they love. Which made the story very slow as well. I didn't get pulled into the story until the last third of the book, I guess. There things finally start happening and the worldbuilding got better explained. And that part I did love! Finally the pace and the story felt like I was reading an actual high fantasy book. And some revalations I really didn't see coming!
Thanks to NetGalley and Daphne Press for providing me with an early e-copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
Thanks to NetGalley and Daphne Press for providing me with an early e-copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
November 2, 2026
An Edge Sharp Enough was such an immersive listen! This story pulled me into its world with danger, magic, tension and characters who had me constantly wondering who I could actually trust.
I really enjoyed the darker atmosphere and the way the story slowly unravelled. There were moments where I was completely invested in what was happening and needed to know what would come next.
And the audiobook narration added another layer to the experience. The narrator did a fantastic job bringing the characters and emotions to life, making it easy to get lost in the story and its world. There’s something about a good narrator that can make those tense moments feel even more intense, and the emotional ones hit that little bit harder.
A gripping, atmospheric fantasy listen with plenty of intrigue and danger. Definitely one I’d recommend experiencing on audio!
I really enjoyed the darker atmosphere and the way the story slowly unravelled. There were moments where I was completely invested in what was happening and needed to know what would come next.
And the audiobook narration added another layer to the experience. The narrator did a fantastic job bringing the characters and emotions to life, making it easy to get lost in the story and its world. There’s something about a good narrator that can make those tense moments feel even more intense, and the emotional ones hit that little bit harder.
A gripping, atmospheric fantasy listen with plenty of intrigue and danger. Definitely one I’d recommend experiencing on audio!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
ARC review.
An Edge Sharp Enough is a sci-fi fantasy with queer rep that kept me engaged from page one.
I found its strengths particularly in the magic system and in the world building, which is well-thought, rich with history, culture and religion.
There are a total of 4 POVs, which I’m usually not a fan of, but here only 2 of those are from characters that interact with each other, so it felt more like 3 distinct POVs in time and space.
The writing style is fluent and engaging. There’s lots of descriptions and inner thoughts, but they never felt heavy or unnecessary. Sometimes they’re a tiny bit too over explained, but with all the political and social mess going on I honestly didn’t mind it at all.
I’m not sure how to explain this without giving spoilers, so I’ll just say that some elements of this book reminded me of Rin from The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang, and Kell from A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab.
Overall this was a great book from start to end. I guessed one of the main plot twists but that didn’t change my enjoyment of the story, and to me that indicates a great read. I really can’t wait for book 2, with all the buildup that happened here I expect a lot.
Thanks again so much NetGalley and the author Jesse Q. Sutanto for the ARC copy. This has been one of my best reads of the year.
TW: gore, lots of blood, death, murder, violence, police brutality, religious bigotry.
— nyx ♡
An Edge Sharp Enough is a sci-fi fantasy with queer rep that kept me engaged from page one.
I found its strengths particularly in the magic system and in the world building, which is well-thought, rich with history, culture and religion.
There are a total of 4 POVs, which I’m usually not a fan of, but here only 2 of those are from characters that interact with each other, so it felt more like 3 distinct POVs in time and space.
The writing style is fluent and engaging. There’s lots of descriptions and inner thoughts, but they never felt heavy or unnecessary. Sometimes they’re a tiny bit too over explained, but with all the political and social mess going on I honestly didn’t mind it at all.
I’m not sure how to explain this without giving spoilers, so I’ll just say that some elements of this book reminded me of Rin from The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang, and Kell from A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab.
Overall this was a great book from start to end. I guessed one of the main plot twists but that didn’t change my enjoyment of the story, and to me that indicates a great read. I really can’t wait for book 2, with all the buildup that happened here I expect a lot.
Thanks again so much NetGalley and the author Jesse Q. Sutanto for the ARC copy. This has been one of my best reads of the year.
TW: gore, lots of blood, death, murder, violence, police brutality, religious bigotry.
— nyx ♡
Did Not Finish
September 3, 2026The first chapter, with five year old Mara, didn’t work for me. The info dumping made sense in the context of a five year old character, but the vocabulary and voice was that of an adult.
Chapter 2, Livya’s first chapter, was better, but didn’t achieve the balance it was looking for between a young woman of society and the passionate scholar she wanted to be. I found the tone discordant.
Chapter 3, Captain Fonde’s first chapter, was better yet, with interesting worldbuilding details, but I had no sense of his character.
Overall, I wasn’t invested in any of the characters or the worldbuilding, and I was turned off by all the bullying and violence in Mara’s chapters. I was disappointed, because I was eager to support an epic fantasy from a female author of color!
Trigger warnings for bullying, prejudice, stoning, violence, gore.
Many thanks to Harper Voyager and Netgalley for my free e-ARC! It has not affected my honest review.
Chapter 2, Livya’s first chapter, was better, but didn’t achieve the balance it was looking for between a young woman of society and the passionate scholar she wanted to be. I found the tone discordant.
Chapter 3, Captain Fonde’s first chapter, was better yet, with interesting worldbuilding details, but I had no sense of his character.
Overall, I wasn’t invested in any of the characters or the worldbuilding, and I was turned off by all the bullying and violence in Mara’s chapters. I was disappointed, because I was eager to support an epic fantasy from a female author of color!
Trigger warnings for bullying, prejudice, stoning, violence, gore.
Many thanks to Harper Voyager and Netgalley for my free e-ARC! It has not affected my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
This pains me, but I cannot continue I’m just simply not enjoying this book.
DNF - 128 pages.
The beginning had me hooked, Mara and assassin I was like hell yes! Give me some badass training. The world building was so fun and even more insane that the author took inspiration from WoW. I couldn’t be more excited to venture into this world.
Usually I love a multi POV book give me 7 POV’s and you have me hooked. I love getting to know characters individually and then trying to learn how they’re connected. This book had 4 POV’s, I was mostly excited by Mara’s. Unfortunately I felt there wasn’t a continuation or any further development, I kept waiting for the ‘click’ to happen or plot to give me some kind of reason to keep going but nothing did and ultimately I have lost interest.
Thank you so much Daphne Press For the gifted ARC, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
DNF - 128 pages.
The beginning had me hooked, Mara and assassin I was like hell yes! Give me some badass training. The world building was so fun and even more insane that the author took inspiration from WoW. I couldn’t be more excited to venture into this world.
Usually I love a multi POV book give me 7 POV’s and you have me hooked. I love getting to know characters individually and then trying to learn how they’re connected. This book had 4 POV’s, I was mostly excited by Mara’s. Unfortunately I felt there wasn’t a continuation or any further development, I kept waiting for the ‘click’ to happen or plot to give me some kind of reason to keep going but nothing did and ultimately I have lost interest.
Thank you so much Daphne Press For the gifted ARC, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this early review copy.
When I started reading this book, it was slated for an August 2026 publication, but after I finished, I see a publication date of March 2027 is now listed. So I don't know when it will be published!
world-building: solid
POV: four - I wished there were not as many POVs (although I can't pick one that I would get rid of, either)
characters: a bit frustrating, some of them were very stupid.
pacing: slow - I often lost my focus and set the book down, I wished for a tighter plot. This is my biggest complaint about the book: it just did not hold my attention.
magic-system: interesting, but confusing, "Art" is like a chi, a spirit that is present in everything (people, animals, plants, stars, shadows, rocks, even "the space between air"), and can be drawn out and woven into spells; it used to be abundant and commonly used, but in the last century is has mysteriously dried up. And from this "Art" are also dark demons from another dimension. Maybe.
Things I liked:
I thought I had this all figured out, but I missed one key detail, and that's all due to Sutanto's cleverness. Well done!
Things I didn't like:
Things took too long to get started.
Read alikes:
This is high fantasy, set in a world where magic has inexplicably disappeared. Some of the characters are very young, and at times this reads like YA. This might appeal to fans of Robert Jackson Bennett.
Is this a series? Maybe! The ending seems to set things up for a sequel.
This is one of those straight-up fantasy-world fantasies, complete with place names, jobs, weapons, abilities, religions, cultures, continents, and histories that I had to quickly learn to keep track of. It's ... a lot at first. Once published, there will be a map (and hopefully a glossary) to help new readers, but I read an arc so I was on my own! Each chapter is from a different POV, and at first the connections between characters was unknown, so I found myself getting attached to one character and then poof! dumped into a completely different world with different characters. I had a hard time staying engaged.
Mara, in Tchu-Morrokhai, was taken as a baby and raised in The Institute, a school of “Emissaries” (aka assassins), trained by the Elders, and forbidden to make friends with any classmates (and they seem to be encouraged to attack and even kill each other - I'm not sure how THAT fosters national pride, but what do I know about training to be an Emissary). Kaian, across the ocean, is a Kazgarthian orphan now living in Velingard, and surviving on his wits and the money he makes as a tavern worker and a petty thief. Livya Bellevue, also in Velingard, is an elite rich girl, the child of two famed scientists, and formerly Kaian's childhood friend; Livya is so elite that she lives with a paid companion, aka Sectator, Cerra. (I struggled with the fact that a "Sectator" felt a lot like a slave). Commander Fonde, the only adult in the mix, is captain of the police (aka Vigils) in Velingard.
Some of the characters do act a bit too "YA" and this made the tone of the book feel a little confusing at times. Mara is absolutely obsessed with her classmate, Lia, to the point where this is her complete personality. (I confess I kept getting the names “Mara” and “Lia” confused, and I wish Sutanto had chosen more dissimilar names so I could keep them straight - it doesn't help that there's also a Livya in the book. All the names in the universe, and we get Mara, Lia, Cerra, and Livya to contend with.) Lia returns the feelings, but unfortunately for both of them, friendship and romance is absolutely forbidden in their school, on pain of death by stoning. This seemed extreme, but I was willing to accept it, since, ya know, "fantasy world rules" and all that.
Kaian is also feeling pretty obsessed with rich socialite Livya, and that was a whole lot of teenaged obsession to be carried in a non-YA novel. Luckily, the fifth character, Fonde, does not have googly eyes for anyone. In fact, his character was so different that I sometimes wondered why he was there. I think he provided backstory for how the revolution happened and how it affected the country, since he lived through that.
Livya is kind of stupid. I lost count of the number of tines Kaian cautioned her to hang back, and she darted past him insisting she had to do whatever. Once, I can see. Twice, maybe. But why didn't she learn her lesson? Her stupid headstrong insistence got people killed. How many people have to die before you catch a clue, Livya?
Metallurgy is important to the plot. A deified former emperor, Eziri, discovered that dracerium was effective in repelling “demons,” so he gathered a lot of that. Lyvia’s mother, Dr. Yohana Bellevue, invented adther, (created by putting adtherium on dracerium), which is now used everywhere, since it was believed to be indestructible. This is a key plot element, and it didn't completely make sense. If a metal is indestructible, how do you form it and carve it? That’s never explained. And why would it be cheap, if it's not plentiful? And who builds houses out of metal??
In the Author's Notes, Sutanto explains that this was actually her very first book, it was based on the many hours she spent playing World of Warcraft, but it was never accepted by a publisher back then so she shelved it. Until now! I never played WoW so I missed any easter eggs she hid in the book. I'm sure that will be fun for any fans.
When I started reading this book, it was slated for an August 2026 publication, but after I finished, I see a publication date of March 2027 is now listed. So I don't know when it will be published!
world-building: solid
POV: four - I wished there were not as many POVs (although I can't pick one that I would get rid of, either)
characters: a bit frustrating, some of them were very stupid.
pacing: slow - I often lost my focus and set the book down, I wished for a tighter plot. This is my biggest complaint about the book: it just did not hold my attention.
magic-system: interesting, but confusing, "Art" is like a chi, a spirit that is present in everything (people, animals, plants, stars, shadows, rocks, even "the space between air"), and can be drawn out and woven into spells; it used to be abundant and commonly used, but in the last century is has mysteriously dried up. And from this "Art" are also dark demons from another dimension. Maybe.
Things I liked:
I thought I had this all figured out, but I missed one key detail, and that's all due to Sutanto's cleverness. Well done!
Things I didn't like:
Things took too long to get started.
Read alikes:
This is high fantasy, set in a world where magic has inexplicably disappeared. Some of the characters are very young, and at times this reads like YA. This might appeal to fans of Robert Jackson Bennett.
Is this a series? Maybe! The ending seems to set things up for a sequel.
This is one of those straight-up fantasy-world fantasies, complete with place names, jobs, weapons, abilities, religions, cultures, continents, and histories that I had to quickly learn to keep track of. It's ... a lot at first. Once published, there will be a map (and hopefully a glossary) to help new readers, but I read an arc so I was on my own! Each chapter is from a different POV, and at first the connections between characters was unknown, so I found myself getting attached to one character and then poof! dumped into a completely different world with different characters. I had a hard time staying engaged.
Mara, in Tchu-Morrokhai, was taken as a baby and raised in The Institute, a school of “Emissaries” (aka assassins), trained by the Elders, and forbidden to make friends with any classmates (and they seem to be encouraged to attack and even kill each other - I'm not sure how THAT fosters national pride, but what do I know about training to be an Emissary). Kaian, across the ocean, is a Kazgarthian orphan now living in Velingard, and surviving on his wits and the money he makes as a tavern worker and a petty thief. Livya Bellevue, also in Velingard, is an elite rich girl, the child of two famed scientists, and formerly Kaian's childhood friend; Livya is so elite that she lives with a paid companion, aka Sectator, Cerra. (I struggled with the fact that a "Sectator" felt a lot like a slave). Commander Fonde, the only adult in the mix, is captain of the police (aka Vigils) in Velingard.
Some of the characters do act a bit too "YA" and this made the tone of the book feel a little confusing at times. Mara is absolutely obsessed with her classmate, Lia, to the point where this is her complete personality. (I confess I kept getting the names “Mara” and “Lia” confused, and I wish Sutanto had chosen more dissimilar names so I could keep them straight - it doesn't help that there's also a Livya in the book. All the names in the universe, and we get Mara, Lia, Cerra, and Livya to contend with.) Lia returns the feelings, but unfortunately for both of them, friendship and romance is absolutely forbidden in their school, on pain of death by stoning. This seemed extreme, but I was willing to accept it, since, ya know, "fantasy world rules" and all that.
Kaian is also feeling pretty obsessed with rich socialite Livya, and that was a whole lot of teenaged obsession to be carried in a non-YA novel. Luckily, the fifth character, Fonde, does not have googly eyes for anyone. In fact, his character was so different that I sometimes wondered why he was there. I think he provided backstory for how the revolution happened and how it affected the country, since he lived through that.
Livya is kind of stupid. I lost count of the number of tines Kaian cautioned her to hang back, and she darted past him insisting she had to do whatever. Once, I can see. Twice, maybe. But why didn't she learn her lesson? Her stupid headstrong insistence got people killed. How many people have to die before you catch a clue, Livya?
Metallurgy is important to the plot. A deified former emperor, Eziri, discovered that dracerium was effective in repelling “demons,” so he gathered a lot of that. Lyvia’s mother, Dr. Yohana Bellevue, invented adther, (created by putting adtherium on dracerium), which is now used everywhere, since it was believed to be indestructible. This is a key plot element, and it didn't completely make sense. If a metal is indestructible, how do you form it and carve it? That’s never explained. And why would it be cheap, if it's not plentiful? And who builds houses out of metal??
In the Author's Notes, Sutanto explains that this was actually her very first book, it was based on the many hours she spent playing World of Warcraft, but it was never accepted by a publisher back then so she shelved it. Until now! I never played WoW so I missed any easter eggs she hid in the book. I'm sure that will be fun for any fans.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Is this the best fantasy book that I've read? No. Did I have a great time? Yes. Did I spend a lot of time confused? Also, yes; however, that is a me problem (bad brain), rather than a problem with the writing or world building. I didn't see most of the twists coming, and there were a few great moments when all the puzzle pieces floated together, and everything started to make sense. It gave Fourth Wing mixed with Crescent City mixed with The Tainted Cup vibes, so anyone who enjoyed those books, will probably enjoy this one too.
Big thank you to Netgalley for the ARC audiobook!
Big thank you to Netgalley for the ARC audiobook!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This bad boy can hold so much doomed yuri.
Thank you to NetGalley and Avon/Harper Voyager for the e-ARC!
Thank you to NetGalley and Avon/Harper Voyager for the e-ARC!
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
What a beautiful entry for Sutanto into the world of adult fantasy with An Edge Sharp Enough.
The first book in a duology An Edge Sharp Enough kept me engaged from the very beginning with a fascinating magic system and subtle world building that feels grounded and familiar while new and engaging. I think fans of Leigh Bardugo, or possibly even Jay Kristoff, would really love this. It's gritty and dark in the way of Six of Crows, has characters with questionable morals and intentions, and not to mention the hidden fortress training assassins with elements of dark magic to keep you invested.
With four different POV characters to flit between there wasn't a dull moment. The slow building pressure of knowing at some point they're all likely to converge kept me guessing and going the whole way through. While I managed to have an inkling of two of the final major twists they way they were revealed was above and beyond my expectations - queue audible gasping and not feeling like I could read fast enough as it was all unfolding! Sutanto utilises each characters position in society and the world to subtly build knowledge of the landscape for the reader proving that good exposition is barely noticeable.
So delighted I got a chance to read this early thanks to the publishers through edelweiss and cannot wait to get my hands on a physical copy!
The first book in a duology An Edge Sharp Enough kept me engaged from the very beginning with a fascinating magic system and subtle world building that feels grounded and familiar while new and engaging. I think fans of Leigh Bardugo, or possibly even Jay Kristoff, would really love this. It's gritty and dark in the way of Six of Crows, has characters with questionable morals and intentions, and not to mention the hidden fortress training assassins with elements of dark magic to keep you invested.
With four different POV characters to flit between there wasn't a dull moment. The slow building pressure of knowing at some point they're all likely to converge kept me guessing and going the whole way through. While I managed to have an inkling of two of the final major twists they way they were revealed was above and beyond my expectations - queue audible gasping and not feeling like I could read fast enough as it was all unfolding! Sutanto utilises each characters position in society and the world to subtly build knowledge of the landscape for the reader proving that good exposition is barely noticeable.
So delighted I got a chance to read this early thanks to the publishers through edelweiss and cannot wait to get my hands on a physical copy!
September 30, 2026
This was so good! If you like the Poppy War or the Ember in the Ashes series, you’ll love this. There’s action, politics, science, dark academia, war, you name it. Super interesting story with great writing - the characters really come to life and you can really see, feel, and understand the bustle of the city and the tension of the institute.
My only gripes with this are the ending surrounding Livya and the use of common terms like art and demons used in a very different application. The ending, however, set up very nicely for a series, and I’m excited to continue reading.
RECEIVED AN ARC FROM THE PUBLISHER IN EXCHANGE FOR A REVIEW.
My only gripes with this are the ending surrounding Livya and the use of common terms like art and demons used in a very different application. The ending, however, set up very nicely for a series, and I’m excited to continue reading.
RECEIVED AN ARC FROM THE PUBLISHER IN EXCHANGE FOR A REVIEW.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Rating: 3.5 stars
An Edge Sharp Enough is Jesse Q. Sutanto’s latest entry into the fantasy genre. Our story follows four different perspectives: three in the city of Velinguard, a modern metropolis built on science, and one in the assassin training of Tchu-Morrokhai. The four perspectives weave and connect as our characters untangle the structures that threaten to crumble around them.
This story has good twists and turns, creating moments of shock. I expected one of the two major twists, which felt like it was being set up but would subvert tropes in a nice way, but I was pleasantly surprised by the other. The writing was solid, with interesting world building and engaging characters. Some of our characters feel very young, which could frustrate some readers; parts of this book feel very YA, despite being an adult fantasy.
I understand why Sutanto did four perspectives, but I think it was one too many. Pacing with this many different storylines is nearly impossible, and the story is bound to drag occasionally. After coming to the end of the book, I understand why the points of view were all present, but I don’t know that all felt necessary. One of the perspectives felt like it was there solely for a macro-perspective to explain the worldbuilding and situation, but I feel like that information could have been disseminated differently, and there were two perspectives that experienced the same events that could have been condensed to one. For most of the story it felt like two books placed next to each other rather than woven together, and it wasn’t until the end that the dots connected. I think the next book will be a little more cohesive, but the pacing of this book really suffered from all the back-and-forth. I think Sutanto did the best that could be done given the circumstances, but so many perspectives will inevitably cause your story to suffer.
A small side note: it took me longer than I expected to get used to calling magic Art. Art as a discipline is so specifically coded in our lexicon that the mental shift to describe it as a system of magic felt distracting. I’m fine when authors rename everyday things (though that can occasionally get distracting, too) but this felt just unnecessary. The magic system itself was interesting, and built slowly to bring complexity without being overwhelming, but I would have preferred a different name.
Despite the pacing, I felt very engaged with the story once we got through the early chapters. The mystery built well, the thriller and horror elements weren’t too overwhelming, and the characters were believable. The magic system was complicated and built well, and the relationships in our story felt lived in.
Thank you to Jesse Q. Sutanto, Harper Voyager and NetGalley for this advanced reader copy!
An Edge Sharp Enough is Jesse Q. Sutanto’s latest entry into the fantasy genre. Our story follows four different perspectives: three in the city of Velinguard, a modern metropolis built on science, and one in the assassin training of Tchu-Morrokhai. The four perspectives weave and connect as our characters untangle the structures that threaten to crumble around them.
This story has good twists and turns, creating moments of shock. I expected one of the two major twists, which felt like it was being set up but would subvert tropes in a nice way, but I was pleasantly surprised by the other. The writing was solid, with interesting world building and engaging characters. Some of our characters feel very young, which could frustrate some readers; parts of this book feel very YA, despite being an adult fantasy.
I understand why Sutanto did four perspectives, but I think it was one too many. Pacing with this many different storylines is nearly impossible, and the story is bound to drag occasionally. After coming to the end of the book, I understand why the points of view were all present, but I don’t know that all felt necessary. One of the perspectives felt like it was there solely for a macro-perspective to explain the worldbuilding and situation, but I feel like that information could have been disseminated differently, and there were two perspectives that experienced the same events that could have been condensed to one. For most of the story it felt like two books placed next to each other rather than woven together, and it wasn’t until the end that the dots connected. I think the next book will be a little more cohesive, but the pacing of this book really suffered from all the back-and-forth. I think Sutanto did the best that could be done given the circumstances, but so many perspectives will inevitably cause your story to suffer.
A small side note: it took me longer than I expected to get used to calling magic Art. Art as a discipline is so specifically coded in our lexicon that the mental shift to describe it as a system of magic felt distracting. I’m fine when authors rename everyday things (though that can occasionally get distracting, too) but this felt just unnecessary. The magic system itself was interesting, and built slowly to bring complexity without being overwhelming, but I would have preferred a different name.
Despite the pacing, I felt very engaged with the story once we got through the early chapters. The mystery built well, the thriller and horror elements weren’t too overwhelming, and the characters were believable. The magic system was complicated and built well, and the relationships in our story felt lived in.
Thank you to Jesse Q. Sutanto, Harper Voyager and NetGalley for this advanced reader copy!
September 16, 2026
4.5🌟 i actually need a minute to collect my thoughts bc im sick to my stomach over that ending so ill be back with my review soon
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
If you think you know what this author writes like, you will be more than pleasantly surprised by this novel which is a huge departure from her usual books. And yet, as she points out in her afterword, this was actually the first book she wrote, back in Oxford. This is amazing, draws you in, and makes you wish the second book in the series was out so you could know what happens next.
Told in four voices, there is Mara, who is training to defend her homeland from the Divine Empress.There Livya who is studying Art (which is not the way we think of art). And then there is Captain Fonde who is trying to figure out what is going on. And of course there is Kaian, the street rat, the love interest. Put them all together to solve the problem of both the Divine Empress and metal that she has been using against them all.
There was a revolution. And yet nothing changed, but who rules. Meanwhile there are wars going on.
It is great world building. You suspect that all the time lines might not be happening in the same time, but it is hard to know, at first, though clues are given.
I raced through this, and now I, like the rest of you, will have to wait for the second book in this duality. I have always loved this author’s books, and this is one more genre that she has written that I love. All the stars. Go pre-order it now.
Thanks to Netgalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for making this book available for an honest review. This book is coming out on the 17th of November 2026.
Told in four voices, there is Mara, who is training to defend her homeland from the Divine Empress.There Livya who is studying Art (which is not the way we think of art). And then there is Captain Fonde who is trying to figure out what is going on. And of course there is Kaian, the street rat, the love interest. Put them all together to solve the problem of both the Divine Empress and metal that she has been using against them all.
There was a revolution. And yet nothing changed, but who rules. Meanwhile there are wars going on.
It is great world building. You suspect that all the time lines might not be happening in the same time, but it is hard to know, at first, though clues are given.
I raced through this, and now I, like the rest of you, will have to wait for the second book in this duality. I have always loved this author’s books, and this is one more genre that she has written that I love. All the stars. Go pre-order it now.
Thanks to Netgalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for making this book available for an honest review. This book is coming out on the 17th of November 2026.
Read
March 7, 2026*early work perk read*
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Warning: MAJOR Spoilers Ahead!!
An Edge Sharp Enough by Jesse Q. Sutanto had a lot of potential, and I really liked the overall design and premise, but unfortunately, I struggled with quite a few aspects of the story. The book follows four POV characters, a police commander, a young woman scholar, a petty thief, and a young girl training to become an assassin, as their stories intertwine in a world where magic, or “Art,” is disappearing and their city is crumbling around them. The characters had varying degrees of originality, and while I found them generally likeable, I struggled to connect with them. The writing often felt more like telling than showing, particularly when it came to relationships and emotional connections that I wanted to experience for myself. The pacing was also inconsistent, with a slow beginning and a rushed ending.
Honestly, I wasn't fully invested until around 80%, when Mara's identity and her role in the present-day events were revealed. I was genuinely impressed by that twist, but my excitement quickly turned to disappointment with Livya's death. Mara's entire backstory revolves around the importance of being a careful, strategic assassin who minimizes collateral damage, yet her actions at the climax felt completely at odds with that characterization. Livya's death was especially frustrating because her adoption, her parents' failed research, and her potential as a false chosen one all felt like promising threads that could have been explored in the next future book.
I also struggled to understand Mara's motivations, particularly when her actions toward Cerra mirrored the very treatment of Lia that she was supposedly fighting against. Add in the frustration of Kaian and Livya finally realizing their feelings for each other just before her death, and the ending left me feeling more disappointed than satisfied.
Ultimately, this book had great bones and the potential to be a Six of Crows-style dark fantasy with multiple POVs, morally complicated characters, and an intriguing mystery. Unfortunately, the execution fell short for me, particularly in the final stretch, and I don't think I'll be continuing with the duology. There were some genuinely promising ideas here, but they weren't enough to overcome the book's flaws.
Thank you Harper Voyager and Netgalley for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
An Edge Sharp Enough by Jesse Q. Sutanto had a lot of potential, and I really liked the overall design and premise, but unfortunately, I struggled with quite a few aspects of the story. The book follows four POV characters, a police commander, a young woman scholar, a petty thief, and a young girl training to become an assassin, as their stories intertwine in a world where magic, or “Art,” is disappearing and their city is crumbling around them. The characters had varying degrees of originality, and while I found them generally likeable, I struggled to connect with them. The writing often felt more like telling than showing, particularly when it came to relationships and emotional connections that I wanted to experience for myself. The pacing was also inconsistent, with a slow beginning and a rushed ending.
Honestly, I wasn't fully invested until around 80%, when Mara's identity and her role in the present-day events were revealed. I was genuinely impressed by that twist, but my excitement quickly turned to disappointment with Livya's death. Mara's entire backstory revolves around the importance of being a careful, strategic assassin who minimizes collateral damage, yet her actions at the climax felt completely at odds with that characterization. Livya's death was especially frustrating because her adoption, her parents' failed research, and her potential as a false chosen one all felt like promising threads that could have been explored in the next future book.
I also struggled to understand Mara's motivations, particularly when her actions toward Cerra mirrored the very treatment of Lia that she was supposedly fighting against. Add in the frustration of Kaian and Livya finally realizing their feelings for each other just before her death, and the ending left me feeling more disappointed than satisfied.
Ultimately, this book had great bones and the potential to be a Six of Crows-style dark fantasy with multiple POVs, morally complicated characters, and an intriguing mystery. Unfortunately, the execution fell short for me, particularly in the final stretch, and I don't think I'll be continuing with the duology. There were some genuinely promising ideas here, but they weren't enough to overcome the book's flaws.
Thank you Harper Voyager and Netgalley for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 150 reviews