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The Chasing Graves Trilogy #2
Grim Solace
Nothing is certain in Araxes. Not even death.
Stolen from the widow’s clutches, master thief and ghost Caltro Basalt must learn new ways to survive the cutthroat society of the Arctian Empire. His one hope for freedom and justice? A gift from the dead gods, who continue to beg for a saviour.
Breaking a soul takes time, and Caltro’s spirit is far from broken. Many try to weave him into their plots, but he is set on salvation by no means but his own.
As Caltro finds himself ever ensnared in Araxes’ cruel games, Nilith fights to survive the Dune Plains in her quest for redemption, Sisine continues her game of claiming ruler, and Temsa works toward his reign of chaos, one noble at a time
The board is set. The players chosen. Who will win the great game of Araxes?
————
The sequel to the critically acclaimed Chasing Graves is coming January 24th 2019.
————
Praise for The Chasing Graves Trilogy:
“Galley’s descriptive prose is simplistically beautiful.”
– Fantasy Faction
“There’s serious grounds here for building something spectacular.”
– Emma Davis, Fantasy Book Review
"To say that the concept of Chasing Graves is grimdark would be an understatement... The world building is fantastic and reminiscent of Michael Moorcock’s Elric series.”
– Grimdark Magazine
“Chasing Graves might well be one of the best releases not only for December but for the entirety of 2018.”
– BookNest
"The writing was smooth, fluid and beautiful at times. It never failed to create an awesome atmosphere. 90/100.”
– The Weatherwax Report
“Dark, tense and surprisingly hilarious.”
– Laura M. Hughes, Author of Danse Macabre
Stolen from the widow’s clutches, master thief and ghost Caltro Basalt must learn new ways to survive the cutthroat society of the Arctian Empire. His one hope for freedom and justice? A gift from the dead gods, who continue to beg for a saviour.
Breaking a soul takes time, and Caltro’s spirit is far from broken. Many try to weave him into their plots, but he is set on salvation by no means but his own.
As Caltro finds himself ever ensnared in Araxes’ cruel games, Nilith fights to survive the Dune Plains in her quest for redemption, Sisine continues her game of claiming ruler, and Temsa works toward his reign of chaos, one noble at a time
The board is set. The players chosen. Who will win the great game of Araxes?
————
The sequel to the critically acclaimed Chasing Graves is coming January 24th 2019.
————
Praise for The Chasing Graves Trilogy:
“Galley’s descriptive prose is simplistically beautiful.”
– Fantasy Faction
“There’s serious grounds here for building something spectacular.”
– Emma Davis, Fantasy Book Review
"To say that the concept of Chasing Graves is grimdark would be an understatement... The world building is fantastic and reminiscent of Michael Moorcock’s Elric series.”
– Grimdark Magazine
“Chasing Graves might well be one of the best releases not only for December but for the entirety of 2018.”
– BookNest
"The writing was smooth, fluid and beautiful at times. It never failed to create an awesome atmosphere. 90/100.”
– The Weatherwax Report
“Dark, tense and surprisingly hilarious.”
– Laura M. Hughes, Author of Danse Macabre
455 pages, Paperback
First published January 23, 2019
64 people are currently reading
459 people want to read
About the author
Ben Galley
52 books852 followersBen Galley is a British author of dark and epic fantasy books who currently hails from Vancouver, Canada. Since publishing his debut Emaneska Series, Ben has released the award-winning weird western Scarlet Star Trilogy and standalone The Heart of Stone, the critically-acclaimed Chasing Graves Trilogy, and the new Scalussen Chronicles.
When he isn’t conjuring up strange new stories or arguing the finer points of magic systems and dragon anatomy, Ben explores the Canadian wilds, sips Scotch single malts, and snowboards very, very badly. One day he hopes to haunt an epic treehouse in the mountains.
Find all of Ben’s books or join his Discord and Patreon at: www.linktr.ee/bengalley
When he isn’t conjuring up strange new stories or arguing the finer points of magic systems and dragon anatomy, Ben explores the Canadian wilds, sips Scotch single malts, and snowboards very, very badly. One day he hopes to haunt an epic treehouse in the mountains.
Find all of Ben’s books or join his Discord and Patreon at: www.linktr.ee/bengalley
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews
January 14, 2019
There’s been a lot of talk about grimdark in recent years: how to define it, what its qualifications are, and what value these stories offer. I think grimdark works best when it presents a harsh environment with morally ambiguous characters fighting for some aspect of hope – an endgame that aims to improve a given situation, or the world at large. In Ben Galley’s Chasing Graves, I had some difficulty enjoying the story as much as I could have because it appeared to lack that sense of hope. There was a depressing bleakness that permeated the story; a sense of wrongness that spread for hundreds of miles in every direction. There was no room to escape, and no end in sight. Our ‘hero’ was immediately murdered, tortured, and enslaved. Another main POV is somehow even worse – a psychopathic crime boss who murders countless innocents for profit, weaseling his way up the nobility totem pole. Our third main POV brings us outside the city to follow another mysterious murderer who is dragging a corpse through the desert to presumably enslave his ghost.
Galley is a talented writer, so all these storylines held my interest. Pieces were purposefully moved around the playing field with an endgame in mind. We weren’t privy to what the end game might be, as there was no sign of improvement for anyone by the time the first book ended. What little hope I held for change – any improvement, really – decreased rapidly as the book neared its end, to the point where it began to feel like an exercise in nihilism. Thankfully, in Grim Solace, the second entry in the Chasing Graves trilogy, there is a stronger sense of urgency towards enacting positive change in this gods-cursed land. Character motivations became clearer, disparate plot threads started to intersect in intriguing ways, and the social commentary was incisive and relatable. All in all, Grim Solace has improved upon Chasing Graves in all aspects and sets the stage for what will likely be a potent and game-changing finale.
One of the book’s strengths is its ability to convey a strong sense of class divide. We spend substantial time scrutinizing the opulence of the city towers, the exquisitely-detailed architecture, and the fine clothing and transportation of the elite. We wander behind the closed doors of high-ranking lords and bear witness to the excessive and wasteful nature of their leisure time. And just outside the city, slaves of all ages are worked to death in the White Hell mines. In fact, it’s cheaper if your slaves die; you can then put their ghosts to work without having to feed, clothe, or house them. It’s a system with which our own history is sadly familiar, yet the concept of working your slaves to death as a benefit is a nauseating spin on things.
Another aspect I enjoyed was how our characters had more agency this time around. Caltro was pushed from the frying pan into much hotter frying pans throughout the first book, and as a reader experiencing Caltro’s story in the first person, it made me feel helpless. Caltro is finally given some leeway to work with, and he starts to make the most of it by the end of book two. He experiences both physical (corporeal?) and emotional growth, contemplating his lot in life and what he might be capable of. It was a refreshing change from having him being bounced around and beaten every chapter. We learn just a little bit more of what Nilith is attempting to do, but she’s no longer just running to survive; she’s absorbing her surroundings and building relationships to help further her cause. Even Temsa is taking full advantage of his slackened leash to ascend to new heights within the noble society. All these characters are difficult to root for, but it’s a big step forward to have them take their fates into their own hands.
Whereas Chasing Graves didn’t have an especially impactful ending, Grim Solace more than makes up for it with an excellent series of cliffhangers. This book swings for the fences with a potent mix of political backstabbing, religious symbology, and tense action. Oh, did I mention the hang gliding donkeys? Yes, there are hang gliding donkeys. I’m all-in on finding out how this series is going to end.
Galley is a talented writer, so all these storylines held my interest. Pieces were purposefully moved around the playing field with an endgame in mind. We weren’t privy to what the end game might be, as there was no sign of improvement for anyone by the time the first book ended. What little hope I held for change – any improvement, really – decreased rapidly as the book neared its end, to the point where it began to feel like an exercise in nihilism. Thankfully, in Grim Solace, the second entry in the Chasing Graves trilogy, there is a stronger sense of urgency towards enacting positive change in this gods-cursed land. Character motivations became clearer, disparate plot threads started to intersect in intriguing ways, and the social commentary was incisive and relatable. All in all, Grim Solace has improved upon Chasing Graves in all aspects and sets the stage for what will likely be a potent and game-changing finale.
One of the book’s strengths is its ability to convey a strong sense of class divide. We spend substantial time scrutinizing the opulence of the city towers, the exquisitely-detailed architecture, and the fine clothing and transportation of the elite. We wander behind the closed doors of high-ranking lords and bear witness to the excessive and wasteful nature of their leisure time. And just outside the city, slaves of all ages are worked to death in the White Hell mines. In fact, it’s cheaper if your slaves die; you can then put their ghosts to work without having to feed, clothe, or house them. It’s a system with which our own history is sadly familiar, yet the concept of working your slaves to death as a benefit is a nauseating spin on things.
Another aspect I enjoyed was how our characters had more agency this time around. Caltro was pushed from the frying pan into much hotter frying pans throughout the first book, and as a reader experiencing Caltro’s story in the first person, it made me feel helpless. Caltro is finally given some leeway to work with, and he starts to make the most of it by the end of book two. He experiences both physical (corporeal?) and emotional growth, contemplating his lot in life and what he might be capable of. It was a refreshing change from having him being bounced around and beaten every chapter. We learn just a little bit more of what Nilith is attempting to do, but she’s no longer just running to survive; she’s absorbing her surroundings and building relationships to help further her cause. Even Temsa is taking full advantage of his slackened leash to ascend to new heights within the noble society. All these characters are difficult to root for, but it’s a big step forward to have them take their fates into their own hands.
Whereas Chasing Graves didn’t have an especially impactful ending, Grim Solace more than makes up for it with an excellent series of cliffhangers. This book swings for the fences with a potent mix of political backstabbing, religious symbology, and tense action. Oh, did I mention the hang gliding donkeys? Yes, there are hang gliding donkeys. I’m all-in on finding out how this series is going to end.
February 19, 2019
Just when you thought it was safe to go back to Araxes…. Scratch that, it’s never safe and nobody ever thought that. If anything, it’s getting worse. Someone’s gone too far. It’s one thing when tourists and riff-raff are being murdered and enslaved, but now the soul-rich Araxan nobility are being aggressively disappeared. Helas has been given the unenviable job of finding out how and why, but she’s being blocked at every turn. It’s almost like someone important doesn’t really want her to do the job… Meanwhile, Nilith is racing to get back before time runs out and Caltro’s living (well, kinda) the shit-just-keeps-happening concept to an excessive degree. Some ghosts just can’t catch a break. Except maybe, just maybe, they all have cause to hope…
There’s so much more energy in this instalment, a forwards movement that feels purposeful and exciting. Unlike the first book, the various points of view held equal allure. Heles, in particular, had immediate and lasting appeal. In a world full of shady characters who’d stab their mother in the back to get ahead, she’s the kind of take no prisoners, get shit done investigator who can’t be bribed and wants to discover the truth. The actual, real truth. The contrast between her and the sordid humanity of the city is striking. There’s not nearly enough of her, but what’s here is just right. It’s a lot of fun when the lone light in the darkness is the kind of woman who wants to be kicking down doors and taking names. Actually, I was so concerned for her wellbeing in that cesspit of a place that I had to threaten Ben Galley with bodily harm if he offs her… so I’m pretty sure she’ll be fine. She better be fine, Ben… (Wow, i’m really getting into this Araxes vibe right now). *
As for the characters we know and love/hate, they all stepped up with some genuine growth. Caltro has an intensely interesting and exciting process of transformation, even within his choice-limiting position as ghost and slave, proving that change can be as much about the way you think as anything else. He’s ably assisted in this by a talking sword, who happened to remind me of an old professor of mine, one who loved a lengthy, meandering story or ten… There’s more to this blade than meets the eye. I want one. The other main POV, Nilith, was somewhat distant, both geographically and personally, in Chasing Graces, making her seem rather irrelevant, but it very quickly became clear that it was not going to continue here. I could actually see her and understand not only what she was doing, but why. Likewise, Temsa is still Temsa, but in a much better realised version, less of a caricature of a bad guy. I mean, he’s an awful person obviously, but you have to admire his take life by the throat strategy. Admire? Fear? Whatever. It’s great entertainment either way. Reframing the story and characters in a more active fashion, giving them more autonomy and room to manoeuvre (even if it’s sometimes only within their own mind), really made a significant difference to the overarching feeling of the book and the reader’s understanding of peoples’ motivations and ambitions. This, more than anything else, is what kicked the whole thing up a notch, something I expect will continue in to the next book.
The main emphasis here is on the political and social drama of Araxes, with the developing god conflict remaining in the background save a few scenes. Front and centre is the obsession with money and influence, with the grossest indifference to life and freedom displayed again and again. The power grabbing of the city dwellers is bad enough but when the light is turned to the lawless outer reaches, the immorality of this system becomes ever more clear. The depiction of mines worked by enslaved souls is crushing, inviting the kind of comparison with real life that makes you want to turn away in horror. It brings to mind the absolute worst atrocities of the 20th century and beyond, demonstrating the awful validity of how far humanity is willing to go. This is only fantasy because these souls are dead. Honestly, it’s a good job the book is funny too, ensuring it’s not straight up grim despite the themes. Not only that, the author allows some creeping hope for improvement in this instalment. Various players are just starting to make a positive difference and the grand plans of gods are going to come crashing into this world any time now. Change is coming. No doubt it’s going to be life (and death) shattering.
It seems like there’s a lot to fit into the final book, but if the pace and vibrancy is kept up then it’ll be the best of the three by far. The game is on and the stakes are only getting higher. Thankfully, there’s not too long to wait for Breaking Chaos, out March 14th!
ARC via author for fantasybookreview.co.uk
*No authors were or will be harmed in this fake threat made for comedy value.
There’s so much more energy in this instalment, a forwards movement that feels purposeful and exciting. Unlike the first book, the various points of view held equal allure. Heles, in particular, had immediate and lasting appeal. In a world full of shady characters who’d stab their mother in the back to get ahead, she’s the kind of take no prisoners, get shit done investigator who can’t be bribed and wants to discover the truth. The actual, real truth. The contrast between her and the sordid humanity of the city is striking. There’s not nearly enough of her, but what’s here is just right. It’s a lot of fun when the lone light in the darkness is the kind of woman who wants to be kicking down doors and taking names. Actually, I was so concerned for her wellbeing in that cesspit of a place that I had to threaten Ben Galley with bodily harm if he offs her… so I’m pretty sure she’ll be fine. She better be fine, Ben… (Wow, i’m really getting into this Araxes vibe right now). *
As for the characters we know and love/hate, they all stepped up with some genuine growth. Caltro has an intensely interesting and exciting process of transformation, even within his choice-limiting position as ghost and slave, proving that change can be as much about the way you think as anything else. He’s ably assisted in this by a talking sword, who happened to remind me of an old professor of mine, one who loved a lengthy, meandering story or ten… There’s more to this blade than meets the eye. I want one. The other main POV, Nilith, was somewhat distant, both geographically and personally, in Chasing Graces, making her seem rather irrelevant, but it very quickly became clear that it was not going to continue here. I could actually see her and understand not only what she was doing, but why. Likewise, Temsa is still Temsa, but in a much better realised version, less of a caricature of a bad guy. I mean, he’s an awful person obviously, but you have to admire his take life by the throat strategy. Admire? Fear? Whatever. It’s great entertainment either way. Reframing the story and characters in a more active fashion, giving them more autonomy and room to manoeuvre (even if it’s sometimes only within their own mind), really made a significant difference to the overarching feeling of the book and the reader’s understanding of peoples’ motivations and ambitions. This, more than anything else, is what kicked the whole thing up a notch, something I expect will continue in to the next book.
The main emphasis here is on the political and social drama of Araxes, with the developing god conflict remaining in the background save a few scenes. Front and centre is the obsession with money and influence, with the grossest indifference to life and freedom displayed again and again. The power grabbing of the city dwellers is bad enough but when the light is turned to the lawless outer reaches, the immorality of this system becomes ever more clear. The depiction of mines worked by enslaved souls is crushing, inviting the kind of comparison with real life that makes you want to turn away in horror. It brings to mind the absolute worst atrocities of the 20th century and beyond, demonstrating the awful validity of how far humanity is willing to go. This is only fantasy because these souls are dead. Honestly, it’s a good job the book is funny too, ensuring it’s not straight up grim despite the themes. Not only that, the author allows some creeping hope for improvement in this instalment. Various players are just starting to make a positive difference and the grand plans of gods are going to come crashing into this world any time now. Change is coming. No doubt it’s going to be life (and death) shattering.
It seems like there’s a lot to fit into the final book, but if the pace and vibrancy is kept up then it’ll be the best of the three by far. The game is on and the stakes are only getting higher. Thankfully, there’s not too long to wait for Breaking Chaos, out March 14th!
ARC via author for fantasybookreview.co.uk
*No authors were or will be harmed in this fake threat made for comedy value.
January 24, 2019
Thanks to Ben Galley for providing an ARC of Grim Solace, in exchange for an honest review.
Spoiler-free review. Please note that the quotes in this review are taken from the ARC edition and may change in the published edition.
You can find this and more at Novel Notions.
Grim Solace is a brilliant second book in this original and grim trilogy. Ben Galley wove a brutal tale of murder, treachery, greed and deception in a world that mastered death and bent it to the whims of the living.
Something I really appreciated in this book in particular, but also in the other books I’ve read by Ben Galley, is how honest his writing feels. Be it in his characters’ way of thinking or speaking, or in his philosophical reasoning about human nature and motivation or about civil and consumer societies, it is all blunt and extremely relatable and believable. And while some truths are delivered raw and without adorning, the description and the introspection are always beautifully written.
Despite a rather slow start, readers, be prepared to take a pretty tense and surprising journey. Or more accurately, journeys! The story mainly revolves around Caltro, more determined than ever to get both his justice and his freedom and Nilith, still racing against time in the dangerous Duneplanes. I really enjoyed the change of pace and scenery and the contrast between bloody Araxes and the unforgiving and untamable desert, despite them both being packed with their own monsters and different forms of greed.
Nilith and Caltro’s POVs are still a pleasure to read. I love how passionate and driven Nilith is. The fact that her plans are still cryptic makes me all the more eager to follow her wherever she goes, cheer whenever she succeeds and fret every freaking time a new setback or obstacle arises. Caltro’s narrative was also gripping, but for different reasons. Despite all the messes he created or in which he was mercilessly and constantly thrown, his honest selfishness and dark humor made for a fun (albeit bloody and dark) narrative and about the main relief you will encounter in this book! Though to be honest, some of the encounters Nililth made were pretty heartwarming. Too clever and impudent for his own good, Caltro was an interesting main character to follow and his development, though slow, was extremely satisfying and very believable. The other POVs fleshed out the story and gave just enough of the antagonists’ plans to keep you intrigued. The mysterious agendas and secret schemes were masterfully disguised and I believe we will be left guessing until the end of the trilogy!
Despite several mentions of other nations in the Far Reaches, the story was still confined in the Arc. Aside from Nilith’s arc taking place in the wild desert, most of the story happens in the deceptively opulent and successful Araxes, where the despair of the indentured dead clashes horribly with the luxury, debauchery and self-indulgence of its nobility and where murder often goes unpunished; better yet: rewarded.
Though Galley didn’t expand his setting in Grim Solace, he did expand and flesh out the mythology and lore by finally giving us precious information about the dead gods, the Church of Sesh (the god of death and chaos) and the different, fascinating and revolting ways of binding the dead.
Conclusion
Be prepared to dive in a pretty unique and grim story of power, greed and betrayal, readers. Whom to believe in this world where alliances are as fickle as the shady characters that forge them and where trust and kindness are as scarce as the remaining reserves of Nyxwater? I once again enjoyed my journey in the Arc and I have extremely high and reasonably confident expectations for the third and final book, Breaking Chaos that will come out in March!
Spoiler-free review. Please note that the quotes in this review are taken from the ARC edition and may change in the published edition.
You can find this and more at Novel Notions.
Grim Solace is a brilliant second book in this original and grim trilogy. Ben Galley wove a brutal tale of murder, treachery, greed and deception in a world that mastered death and bent it to the whims of the living.
Something I really appreciated in this book in particular, but also in the other books I’ve read by Ben Galley, is how honest his writing feels. Be it in his characters’ way of thinking or speaking, or in his philosophical reasoning about human nature and motivation or about civil and consumer societies, it is all blunt and extremely relatable and believable. And while some truths are delivered raw and without adorning, the description and the introspection are always beautifully written.
“People could always be relied on to stare at tragedy. It made them feel better about themselves; to still be a breathing bag of skin rather than a pool of blood on a dusty flagstone.”
“Life is made of many paths. The cruel joke is you can only choose one, and move only forwards along it. Regret is the bitch that follows behind you and paves the paths you didn’t take with gold and glitter.”
Despite a rather slow start, readers, be prepared to take a pretty tense and surprising journey. Or more accurately, journeys! The story mainly revolves around Caltro, more determined than ever to get both his justice and his freedom and Nilith, still racing against time in the dangerous Duneplanes. I really enjoyed the change of pace and scenery and the contrast between bloody Araxes and the unforgiving and untamable desert, despite them both being packed with their own monsters and different forms of greed.
“I’m not mad. Just desperate. There is but a fraction of a line between them.”
Nilith and Caltro’s POVs are still a pleasure to read. I love how passionate and driven Nilith is. The fact that her plans are still cryptic makes me all the more eager to follow her wherever she goes, cheer whenever she succeeds and fret every freaking time a new setback or obstacle arises. Caltro’s narrative was also gripping, but for different reasons. Despite all the messes he created or in which he was mercilessly and constantly thrown, his honest selfishness and dark humor made for a fun (albeit bloody and dark) narrative and about the main relief you will encounter in this book! Though to be honest, some of the encounters Nililth made were pretty heartwarming. Too clever and impudent for his own good, Caltro was an interesting main character to follow and his development, though slow, was extremely satisfying and very believable. The other POVs fleshed out the story and gave just enough of the antagonists’ plans to keep you intrigued. The mysterious agendas and secret schemes were masterfully disguised and I believe we will be left guessing until the end of the trilogy!
“Now look at it: the so-called greatest empire ever known. More dead than alive. More wishing for breath than taking it.
Despite several mentions of other nations in the Far Reaches, the story was still confined in the Arc. Aside from Nilith’s arc taking place in the wild desert, most of the story happens in the deceptively opulent and successful Araxes, where the despair of the indentured dead clashes horribly with the luxury, debauchery and self-indulgence of its nobility and where murder often goes unpunished; better yet: rewarded.
Though Galley didn’t expand his setting in Grim Solace, he did expand and flesh out the mythology and lore by finally giving us precious information about the dead gods, the Church of Sesh (the god of death and chaos) and the different, fascinating and revolting ways of binding the dead.
“Greed cannot be blamed on a poor foundation, but on the man that continues to build atop it.”
Conclusion
Be prepared to dive in a pretty unique and grim story of power, greed and betrayal, readers. Whom to believe in this world where alliances are as fickle as the shady characters that forge them and where trust and kindness are as scarce as the remaining reserves of Nyxwater? I once again enjoyed my journey in the Arc and I have extremely high and reasonably confident expectations for the third and final book, Breaking Chaos that will come out in March!
January 13, 2019
The epic game continues in Grim Solace, the ambitious and unrelenting sophomore installment in The Chasing Graves series.
And so we carry on with our journey into a battle of life and death, where mysteries are bound to arise from beneath the punishing sands. The so-called “Dead Gods” scheme with hopes of fixing a fractured world, but as with all the others with skin in the game, who can presume their true intentions? Factions lurking in the shadows cast by Araxes’ spiring towers at sunset clash for supremacy with no regard for collateral damage and the only measurements of success are either in the weight of their copper half-coins or the number of white feathers upon the breasts of the wronged. With the introduction of a whole new multitude of monsters and mayhem, only the grains slipping through the hourglass will tell who will reign triumphant.
We begin right where we left off as Caltro finds himself in the clutches of another who will gladly use him as easily as he himself uses his tools to breach an impenetrable vault. As he is passed from one bad situation to the next, he internally struggles on which path to freedom will best suit his selfish needs. However, a gift given to him by the gods proves him a valuable asset to all the parties involved in the fight for power.
Temsa continues to carve a path to the top of the food chain, a path drenched in blood and littered with carnage. His unfounded and blind ambition, as well as his willingness to play both sides of a raging war, may be his demise as the loyalty of those closest to him begins to waver.
Empress Nilith races to reach Araxes to fulfill her master plan while outrunning a group of bandits fueled by a malicious grudge. Her path is rife with horrors, both natural and man-made, but her belief that she can undo the travesties set forth by those before steadily pushes her forward.
There are others with curious and unknown designs working in secret and outside of earshot that may very well play a crucial role in the outcome of the game. Will their crafty planning turn the tide as a hopeful victor reaches the finish line?
Grim Solace is a wonderfully realized story dominated by impeccable and deepening character development, and while book one introduced a cast of great characters, this one allows us to peek deeper into their minds and witness their struggles and machinations. The story moves along at a breakneck pace as peril awaits at every turn. The cunning and danger are palpable and the overall feeling is grim and futile, however there remains a seed of hope that there will be justice where justice is due. A welcomed dark, snide humor breaks up the aura of complete hopelessness, making Caltro’s passages particularly enjoyable to read. Galley also beautifully graces the pages with exotic and vividly depicted places and creatures, making a read that remains captivating throughout. When things begin to settle down to an almost ordinary level, he throws in a fresh and fantastical adversary or hellish landscape, challenging your brain to let go and believe in the unbelievable.
The threads are beginning to come together, even though we are left grasping the edge with several cliffhangers. The story is becoming more compelling with each chapter and I’m really excited to see how Galley concludes this tale, which has definitely piqued my interest and violently drawn me in. As I dive deeper into this world, it’s becoming more difficult to decide on who I’d like to see victorious, because if I’ve learned anything from these exquisite characters, it’s to trust no one. The fight for Araxes continues in Breaking Chaos due out March 4th.
A huge thank you to Ben Galley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book. Grim Solace will be available via Amazon on January 24th - go preorder it now!
And so we carry on with our journey into a battle of life and death, where mysteries are bound to arise from beneath the punishing sands. The so-called “Dead Gods” scheme with hopes of fixing a fractured world, but as with all the others with skin in the game, who can presume their true intentions? Factions lurking in the shadows cast by Araxes’ spiring towers at sunset clash for supremacy with no regard for collateral damage and the only measurements of success are either in the weight of their copper half-coins or the number of white feathers upon the breasts of the wronged. With the introduction of a whole new multitude of monsters and mayhem, only the grains slipping through the hourglass will tell who will reign triumphant.
We begin right where we left off as Caltro finds himself in the clutches of another who will gladly use him as easily as he himself uses his tools to breach an impenetrable vault. As he is passed from one bad situation to the next, he internally struggles on which path to freedom will best suit his selfish needs. However, a gift given to him by the gods proves him a valuable asset to all the parties involved in the fight for power.
Temsa continues to carve a path to the top of the food chain, a path drenched in blood and littered with carnage. His unfounded and blind ambition, as well as his willingness to play both sides of a raging war, may be his demise as the loyalty of those closest to him begins to waver.
Empress Nilith races to reach Araxes to fulfill her master plan while outrunning a group of bandits fueled by a malicious grudge. Her path is rife with horrors, both natural and man-made, but her belief that she can undo the travesties set forth by those before steadily pushes her forward.
There are others with curious and unknown designs working in secret and outside of earshot that may very well play a crucial role in the outcome of the game. Will their crafty planning turn the tide as a hopeful victor reaches the finish line?
Grim Solace is a wonderfully realized story dominated by impeccable and deepening character development, and while book one introduced a cast of great characters, this one allows us to peek deeper into their minds and witness their struggles and machinations. The story moves along at a breakneck pace as peril awaits at every turn. The cunning and danger are palpable and the overall feeling is grim and futile, however there remains a seed of hope that there will be justice where justice is due. A welcomed dark, snide humor breaks up the aura of complete hopelessness, making Caltro’s passages particularly enjoyable to read. Galley also beautifully graces the pages with exotic and vividly depicted places and creatures, making a read that remains captivating throughout. When things begin to settle down to an almost ordinary level, he throws in a fresh and fantastical adversary or hellish landscape, challenging your brain to let go and believe in the unbelievable.
The threads are beginning to come together, even though we are left grasping the edge with several cliffhangers. The story is becoming more compelling with each chapter and I’m really excited to see how Galley concludes this tale, which has definitely piqued my interest and violently drawn me in. As I dive deeper into this world, it’s becoming more difficult to decide on who I’d like to see victorious, because if I’ve learned anything from these exquisite characters, it’s to trust no one. The fight for Araxes continues in Breaking Chaos due out March 4th.
A huge thank you to Ben Galley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book. Grim Solace will be available via Amazon on January 24th - go preorder it now!
January 2, 2019
A brilliantly grim and funny follow up to CHASING GRAVES. Bring on book three!
July 5, 2019
4.25 out of 5. Brief review since I'm behind!
Grim Solace was definitely better than the first outing! It is a direct continuation of the first book with a basically seamless transition (makes sense, since the books were all released back to back).
Caltro finally finds some fangs, so to speak, and this time around, I found his story the most fun to follow. The world continues to spiral out of control, and TOR Temsa is really bringing the chaos. His boldness is unprecedented, and the city (which feels very alive and, well, grimdarky) has the palpable feeling of oncoming ruin. It's not a place I would want to live.
Meanwhile, Nilith continues her slog through the desert, which alternates between killing people and being knocked unconscious or imprisoned. Maybe she'll eventually get somewhere. I really like her fierce character, but her storyline felt weaker in Grim Solace than the first book.
Things started to come to a head at the end of Grim Solace. A fun, violent, and bloody action scene finished the book, and I ended up picking up Breaking Chaos within seconds of finishing Grim Solace. The finale is shaping up to be the best book yet!
Grim Solace was definitely better than the first outing! It is a direct continuation of the first book with a basically seamless transition (makes sense, since the books were all released back to back).
Caltro finally finds some fangs, so to speak, and this time around, I found his story the most fun to follow. The world continues to spiral out of control, and TOR Temsa is really bringing the chaos. His boldness is unprecedented, and the city (which feels very alive and, well, grimdarky) has the palpable feeling of oncoming ruin. It's not a place I would want to live.
Meanwhile, Nilith continues her slog through the desert, which alternates between killing people and being knocked unconscious or imprisoned. Maybe she'll eventually get somewhere. I really like her fierce character, but her storyline felt weaker in Grim Solace than the first book.
Things started to come to a head at the end of Grim Solace. A fun, violent, and bloody action scene finished the book, and I ended up picking up Breaking Chaos within seconds of finishing Grim Solace. The finale is shaping up to be the best book yet!
February 4, 2019
Ben Galley becomes my go-to dark-fantasy author. His books are compulsively readable, dark, surprising, but also funny in places.
Grim Solace complicates things for all characters, especially for Nilith. We learn more about her goals and her dysfunctional marriage with Farazar.
Caltro’s darkly-humorous voice entertains, but don’t let it fool you, his story is probably the darkest one. We just don’t feel it thanks to his unique narration. Also, Caltro gets some mind-blowing upgrades and I can’t wait to see them thoroughly explored in the last book of the series.
A great, imaginative sequel that blends dark story with humour and distinct characterisation. Highly recommended.
Grim Solace complicates things for all characters, especially for Nilith. We learn more about her goals and her dysfunctional marriage with Farazar.
Caltro’s darkly-humorous voice entertains, but don’t let it fool you, his story is probably the darkest one. We just don’t feel it thanks to his unique narration. Also, Caltro gets some mind-blowing upgrades and I can’t wait to see them thoroughly explored in the last book of the series.
A great, imaginative sequel that blends dark story with humour and distinct characterisation. Highly recommended.
March 3, 2020
Murder has always been a main-stay in Araxes, the law officials didn't put too much effort into finding soul stealers since the victims were typically of the lower class or tourists that no one was going to miss. Now, however, some of the richer nobles are going missing and things are getting tense. Heles has been assigned the task to figure out what's going on and to stop it. Not exactly an easy assignment.
Caltro has been kidnapped and is being held in a box... forced to open other locked boxes... and all the while his only company is a talking sword. I really like this kind of pairing, I don't know why the annoying dude and the more brooding type combo just... never gets old for me. The talking sword just never shuts the fuck up. He's lived for hundreds of years and has seen it all, and wants his involuntary roommate to hear all about it.
We saw binding in the first book, but this sequel took things further and explored things deeper. I really love when the world expands in sequels. There's something called "dead binding" where souls are put into inanimate objects, and you get things like talking soul-blades. There's "strange binding" where human souls are put into animal bodies. We knew that with the falcon, however, this time we also get to see phantoms. Phantoms occur when you bind the souls of animals, it had long gone out of fashion since they could be violent and unpredictable. It only works with larger more intelligent animals that are already familiar with humans.
I peeped some reviews for this and it looks like a lot of people qualify this as some of the darker stuff they've read. I guess because I found Caltro's voice so counter to the grimness I didn't notice it too much when reading. Looking back on it, though, there's a good deal of torture, deaths of innocent people, and other things that definitely would have seemed much worse if the tone wasn't broken by Caltro.
I really enjoyed this sequel and I think if you liked the first one you should definitely pick up the second one!
Ratings:
* Plot: 12.75/15
* Character: 13/15
* World Building: 13.25/15
* Writing: 12.75/15
* Pacing: 12/15
* Originality: 13.5/15
* Personal Enjoyment: 9/10
Final Score: 86.25/100
Caltro has been kidnapped and is being held in a box... forced to open other locked boxes... and all the while his only company is a talking sword. I really like this kind of pairing, I don't know why the annoying dude and the more brooding type combo just... never gets old for me. The talking sword just never shuts the fuck up. He's lived for hundreds of years and has seen it all, and wants his involuntary roommate to hear all about it.
We saw binding in the first book, but this sequel took things further and explored things deeper. I really love when the world expands in sequels. There's something called "dead binding" where souls are put into inanimate objects, and you get things like talking soul-blades. There's "strange binding" where human souls are put into animal bodies. We knew that with the falcon, however, this time we also get to see phantoms. Phantoms occur when you bind the souls of animals, it had long gone out of fashion since they could be violent and unpredictable. It only works with larger more intelligent animals that are already familiar with humans.
I peeped some reviews for this and it looks like a lot of people qualify this as some of the darker stuff they've read. I guess because I found Caltro's voice so counter to the grimness I didn't notice it too much when reading. Looking back on it, though, there's a good deal of torture, deaths of innocent people, and other things that definitely would have seemed much worse if the tone wasn't broken by Caltro.
I really enjoyed this sequel and I think if you liked the first one you should definitely pick up the second one!
Ratings:
* Plot: 12.75/15
* Character: 13/15
* World Building: 13.25/15
* Writing: 12.75/15
* Pacing: 12/15
* Originality: 13.5/15
* Personal Enjoyment: 9/10
Final Score: 86.25/100
February 11, 2019
This review was originally published on Grimdark Magazine
Just like me, you should be very excited to be back in Araxes, where death is not the end, but just a new form of half-life. In book two of Ben Galley’s Chasing Graves trilogy, Caltro is still very dead and pissed at this fate, the dead gods, and Boran Temsa (who levelled his game up quite considerably since Chasing Graves) just to name a few. As Caltro fights for justice and his freedom, he constantly finds himself being tossed around like a leaf on the wind since everyone wants to put their hands on him. Tor Busk, the Widow Horix, and Boran Temsa are all playing a game of their own in which they all wish to use Caltro’s locksmith skills. Little do they know who is the real puppeteer behind the scenes. Caltro only learns about it while plotting his own escape. And boy, this is going to make you sit on the edge of your seat, waiting for the conclusion. Sadly this happens toward the end, and we’ll have to wait until the third and final book of the trilogy to find out how this information will shake things up plot-wise. Grim Solace has everyhing I liked in Chasing Graves and some more.
While trying to get his life back—as much as remained of it anyway—Caltro learns a few new tricks and makes a new friend. Pointy is a centuries old-deadbound sword, which is a bit in love with its own voice as well as poetry, and driving Caltro crazy. But Pointy comes in handy when Caltro needs knowledge and a weapon which is, well, pointy. Fortunately, amidst all the chaos and visits from supposedly dead gods, Caltro never loses his dark humour and sarcasm.
Besides Caltro’s ever so complicated plotline, we still have Nilith’s. Personally, for me that plotline was the weak point of Chasing Graves until the end where some truths are revealed, and her identity and importance are made clear in the grand scheme of things. This time around she grew on me because of her fierceness, no-nonsense attitude, the way she put Farazar in his place, and most importantly her bantering with Bezel, the strangebound falcon—the same bird which was supposed to spy on her.
I’m usually no fan of the traveling trope, and sometimes I felt these bits dragging, even though there was plenty of actions—for example, we get to see Kal Duat, a place where stones are produced for the price of lives. This is where it really sinks in for Nilith how things go outside of Araxes, where the King has no real authority. All the while, they are still chased by the Ghouls, whom they pissed off in Chasing Graves. However, all the tension and hard truths are balanced by comical scenes such as where a donkey gets loose thanks to its wings. I’m actually sorry we don’t read more about the nomads Nilith and her companions come across in the desert just outside of Araxes. Just before reaching her destination she finds herself in very tight situation. If nothing else, that really makes me look forward to read the final book.
Besides all the old “friends” we made in Chasing Graves, Galley introduces some new ones. One of them is Scrutiniser Heles, working for the Chamber of the Code. Her task is to find the one responsible for the increasing attacks on the nobles of Araxes. I instantly took a liking to her, thanks to her being fierce, loyal and that she is not afraid to take on a confrontation when she feels an injustice was done. She is also quite cynical after all the years spent in service and the fact she has seen more death she would have liked.
Even though she only played a minor part in Grim Solace, I have a feeling we’ll see more of her in A Darker Shade. She had grown to be one of my favorite characters this trilogy had offered so far.
In Grim Solace Ben Galley turns up the grim-o-meter to eleven and is not afraid to soak the pages in blood and gore. It’s a good step up from Chasing Graves and sets a good foundation for the grand finale. Political intricacies, massacres, dead gods, and a pending doom waits for those who are brave enough to step on the soil of Araxes. Or a big pile of copper coins and title if they are smart and ruthless enough. What fate awaits you?
Just like me, you should be very excited to be back in Araxes, where death is not the end, but just a new form of half-life. In book two of Ben Galley’s Chasing Graves trilogy, Caltro is still very dead and pissed at this fate, the dead gods, and Boran Temsa (who levelled his game up quite considerably since Chasing Graves) just to name a few. As Caltro fights for justice and his freedom, he constantly finds himself being tossed around like a leaf on the wind since everyone wants to put their hands on him. Tor Busk, the Widow Horix, and Boran Temsa are all playing a game of their own in which they all wish to use Caltro’s locksmith skills. Little do they know who is the real puppeteer behind the scenes. Caltro only learns about it while plotting his own escape. And boy, this is going to make you sit on the edge of your seat, waiting for the conclusion. Sadly this happens toward the end, and we’ll have to wait until the third and final book of the trilogy to find out how this information will shake things up plot-wise. Grim Solace has everyhing I liked in Chasing Graves and some more.
“Every reason is a little story we tell ourselves to dress up our desires. We offer reasons to explain or excuse ourselves, to fit in.”
While trying to get his life back—as much as remained of it anyway—Caltro learns a few new tricks and makes a new friend. Pointy is a centuries old-deadbound sword, which is a bit in love with its own voice as well as poetry, and driving Caltro crazy. But Pointy comes in handy when Caltro needs knowledge and a weapon which is, well, pointy. Fortunately, amidst all the chaos and visits from supposedly dead gods, Caltro never loses his dark humour and sarcasm.
“They say there is a beauty in hindsight, but I say it is an ugly creature. Almost as ugly as its daughter, regret. Life is made of many paths. The cruel joke is you can only choose one, and move only forwards along it. Regret is the bitch that follows behind you and paves the paths you didn’t take with gold and glitter.”
Besides Caltro’s ever so complicated plotline, we still have Nilith’s. Personally, for me that plotline was the weak point of Chasing Graves until the end where some truths are revealed, and her identity and importance are made clear in the grand scheme of things. This time around she grew on me because of her fierceness, no-nonsense attitude, the way she put Farazar in his place, and most importantly her bantering with Bezel, the strangebound falcon—the same bird which was supposed to spy on her.
“Nilith slumped back to the sand, chin on arms. She stared up at the falcon. ‘I don’t feel very royal.’
‘Royally fucked is what you are. Now you know why these nomad types call their wine daemonjuice, don’t you?'”
I’m usually no fan of the traveling trope, and sometimes I felt these bits dragging, even though there was plenty of actions—for example, we get to see Kal Duat, a place where stones are produced for the price of lives. This is where it really sinks in for Nilith how things go outside of Araxes, where the King has no real authority. All the while, they are still chased by the Ghouls, whom they pissed off in Chasing Graves. However, all the tension and hard truths are balanced by comical scenes such as where a donkey gets loose thanks to its wings. I’m actually sorry we don’t read more about the nomads Nilith and her companions come across in the desert just outside of Araxes. Just before reaching her destination she finds herself in very tight situation. If nothing else, that really makes me look forward to read the final book.
Besides all the old “friends” we made in Chasing Graves, Galley introduces some new ones. One of them is Scrutiniser Heles, working for the Chamber of the Code. Her task is to find the one responsible for the increasing attacks on the nobles of Araxes. I instantly took a liking to her, thanks to her being fierce, loyal and that she is not afraid to take on a confrontation when she feels an injustice was done. She is also quite cynical after all the years spent in service and the fact she has seen more death she would have liked.
“Fortunately for Scrutiniser Heles, it had been five years, maybe more, since her mood could remotely be classed as 'good.' The best she hoped for these days was 'mildly disgruntled'”
Even though she only played a minor part in Grim Solace, I have a feeling we’ll see more of her in A Darker Shade. She had grown to be one of my favorite characters this trilogy had offered so far.
In Grim Solace Ben Galley turns up the grim-o-meter to eleven and is not afraid to soak the pages in blood and gore. It’s a good step up from Chasing Graves and sets a good foundation for the grand finale. Political intricacies, massacres, dead gods, and a pending doom waits for those who are brave enough to step on the soil of Araxes. Or a big pile of copper coins and title if they are smart and ruthless enough. What fate awaits you?
September 10, 2019
A good sequel but a little setback for me because I found the story was more focused on Caltro but Nilith was less present , more’s the pity. The story had a few lengths but I expect the last installment to unravel all the plots.I will read the last book because i need to see through this story.
March 4, 2024
So Grim Solace is the second in the Chasing Graves trilogy and I have to say the audiobooks are amazing. If you're a subscriber to Amazon's audiobooks, these are free (at this time) and highly recommended. From the first novel the world has well and truly been built, foundations laid and the characters are firmly rooted in your memory, it's time to ramp up the pace.
This is dark, there's little value on life and Araxes isn't somewhere you'd look to take a holiday or even visit unless you're looking to be murdered and sold into servitude. It's a bloody frightening place and there's all sorts of shenanigans and chaos ensuing.
Every character is riveting from Nilith, chasing her husband as they race to get back to Araxes, to boss Temsa who's on a violent mission to cause havoc and at the same time rapidly elevate his standing in the city. Caltro Basalt story is expanding yet as the first person POV he doesn't seem to get excessive page time, he's a murderered soul and he's discovered the very useful trick of inhabiting another body, plus of course he's talking to a sword.
You have to love boss Temsa though for the sheer ruthless fuckery and scheming that he brings to the tale and he's moving up in the world, dipping his toes into the pool of political intrigue. Gripping and thoroughly entertaining stuff, it's like a murder merry-go-round with a cult showing there hand alongside royalty. All with a plan, or so you'd hope.
Much the same as the first book this one doesn't finish with a bang, more of a lacklustre pass over to the next episode. Luckily they're all released and I haven't had to wait at all but this doesn't leave you desperate for the next wondering what's going to happen. However all the components of the story as a whole really do work fantastically well. Highly recommended grimdark fantasy.
This is dark, there's little value on life and Araxes isn't somewhere you'd look to take a holiday or even visit unless you're looking to be murdered and sold into servitude. It's a bloody frightening place and there's all sorts of shenanigans and chaos ensuing.
Every character is riveting from Nilith, chasing her husband as they race to get back to Araxes, to boss Temsa who's on a violent mission to cause havoc and at the same time rapidly elevate his standing in the city. Caltro Basalt story is expanding yet as the first person POV he doesn't seem to get excessive page time, he's a murderered soul and he's discovered the very useful trick of inhabiting another body, plus of course he's talking to a sword.
You have to love boss Temsa though for the sheer ruthless fuckery and scheming that he brings to the tale and he's moving up in the world, dipping his toes into the pool of political intrigue. Gripping and thoroughly entertaining stuff, it's like a murder merry-go-round with a cult showing there hand alongside royalty. All with a plan, or so you'd hope.
Much the same as the first book this one doesn't finish with a bang, more of a lacklustre pass over to the next episode. Luckily they're all released and I haven't had to wait at all but this doesn't leave you desperate for the next wondering what's going to happen. However all the components of the story as a whole really do work fantastically well. Highly recommended grimdark fantasy.
January 11, 2019
A heavy hitter, this follow-up to a gruesome, sometimes funny, and riveting tale , Chasing Graves, is a runaway winner.
Once again, Ben Galley has hammered out a stunning book which nearly eclipses its predecessor. It’s a story which only gets better with the telling. The pacing is relentless, and full of action on every side for each character we turn a page to. The situation has reached a boiling point, and most of the living and dead of Araxes have no idea that it’s about to blow up beyond any redemption and death will rule the land.
In Chasing Graves, we find the setting of players in the game and their parts to play, in Grim Solace, the game has truly begun. But whose game is it? Is it in the massive crowded city of Araxes with the ministries and banks which keep the money flowing? Is it in the Emperor’s court, where a recluse king and missing queen have left their heir playing a high stakes game in their absence? Is it the powerful Consortium of the mines in the desert? Perhaps it is in the Church of Sesh, the dead god whose disciples may be the shades who hold the secret to true freedom.
Our protagonist, Caltro Basalt, a bound shade, must play a part in all the games to find the answers he seeks. Freedom may not be the only goal he is now striving for, as he finds himself with an unusual ability for a shade. An ability that he may not want others to be aware of while he tries to master it. We are also introduced to a new type of binding in Grim Solace as well. Souls bound into inanimate objects are deadbound. Souls bound into living creatures such as dogs, cats, and birds are strangebound. Caltro’s first encounter with a soulblade introduces an entirely new character to the story, a sword containing a soul which he immediately nicknames Pointy. The sword has quite the part to play in Caltro’s story before long and it’s incessant rambling is a humorous counterpoint to the darkness of the book. So too is the part of Bezel, a falcon which has been strangebound, as his remarks at times are laugh out loud funny.
Nilith continues her flight across the desert, with the shade of Farazar and his rotted corpse as she is running out of time to get the body to a Nyxwell and bind it. She is pursued by bandits with an intense grudge and fights not only the elements in her efforts to reach her goal of the city of Araxes.
The machinations of Temsa , the soulstealer rising far above his station, continues through bloody murder and thievery as he lures himself into a false sense of security by way of his connection to the Queen-in-Waiting.
Grim Solace reaches and nearly eclipses the gripping tale which began in Chasing Graves. The more secrets that are revealed, the higher the stakes become. Whether he wishes it or not, Caltro Basalt may be the one who can keep Araxes from a doom of its own making.
Engrossing from the first to the last page, Grim Solace is a tremendously fun and riveting continuation of book one. The third will certainly be a must read.
Once again, Ben Galley has hammered out a stunning book which nearly eclipses its predecessor. It’s a story which only gets better with the telling. The pacing is relentless, and full of action on every side for each character we turn a page to. The situation has reached a boiling point, and most of the living and dead of Araxes have no idea that it’s about to blow up beyond any redemption and death will rule the land.
In Chasing Graves, we find the setting of players in the game and their parts to play, in Grim Solace, the game has truly begun. But whose game is it? Is it in the massive crowded city of Araxes with the ministries and banks which keep the money flowing? Is it in the Emperor’s court, where a recluse king and missing queen have left their heir playing a high stakes game in their absence? Is it the powerful Consortium of the mines in the desert? Perhaps it is in the Church of Sesh, the dead god whose disciples may be the shades who hold the secret to true freedom.
Our protagonist, Caltro Basalt, a bound shade, must play a part in all the games to find the answers he seeks. Freedom may not be the only goal he is now striving for, as he finds himself with an unusual ability for a shade. An ability that he may not want others to be aware of while he tries to master it. We are also introduced to a new type of binding in Grim Solace as well. Souls bound into inanimate objects are deadbound. Souls bound into living creatures such as dogs, cats, and birds are strangebound. Caltro’s first encounter with a soulblade introduces an entirely new character to the story, a sword containing a soul which he immediately nicknames Pointy. The sword has quite the part to play in Caltro’s story before long and it’s incessant rambling is a humorous counterpoint to the darkness of the book. So too is the part of Bezel, a falcon which has been strangebound, as his remarks at times are laugh out loud funny.
Nilith continues her flight across the desert, with the shade of Farazar and his rotted corpse as she is running out of time to get the body to a Nyxwell and bind it. She is pursued by bandits with an intense grudge and fights not only the elements in her efforts to reach her goal of the city of Araxes.
The machinations of Temsa , the soulstealer rising far above his station, continues through bloody murder and thievery as he lures himself into a false sense of security by way of his connection to the Queen-in-Waiting.
Grim Solace reaches and nearly eclipses the gripping tale which began in Chasing Graves. The more secrets that are revealed, the higher the stakes become. Whether he wishes it or not, Caltro Basalt may be the one who can keep Araxes from a doom of its own making.
Engrossing from the first to the last page, Grim Solace is a tremendously fun and riveting continuation of book one. The third will certainly be a must read.
March 12, 2019
Full review is here, on my blog!~
This is the continuing adventure of Caltro Basalt, master locksmith, Krassman, and bound shade in the great city of Araxes. He’s been kidnapped… or maybe ghost-napped from his owner, the Widow Horix, into the hands of someone who would very much like to use him and his skills.
Boss Temsa, now Tor Temsa is still on his killing spree through the nobility of the city, taking their fortunes for himself as he goes. He would very much like to use the skills of Caltro as well.
Nilith is still crossing the Duneplains with the corpse of her husband in tow, trying desperately to reach Araxes and the Nyxwater well to bind his soul before her time runs out.
And Sisine, the Empress-in-waiting is still trying her very best to undermine the council and take the throne of Araxes, since her father the Emperor won’t come out of his sanctuary.
This was a great continuation of the story! This isn’t an especially long novel, but all the same I have so much stuff highlighted, because Caltro is snarky AF, and he makes me laugh. In this volume he finds a talking sword, whom he calls ‘Pointy’ and the banter between the two of them is often chuckle-worthy as well. This is very often a dark novel, with plenty of murder and massacre and what have you, but having a character that I can cheer for who is sort of a bystander to it all made it easy for me to latch on to the story without getting overwhelmed by grimness.
Things are definitely coming to a head, with both Temsa killing off nobles, and Sisine actively plotting. Caltro finds himself in the middle of everything, getting passed around from noble to noble criminal to criminal who all hope to use his skills to their advantage. The plot twists and turns while we see all of this unfold, and I definitely had a hard time putting this one down to do things like sleep and eat. I was perfectly content to snuggle down into a beanbag chair and read this one over a weekend.
I am glad that this series was released very, very close together because these really are the type of books that I clamor for the next in the series right after the previous one ends. Ben Galley has amazing skill for writing compelling characters in compelling worlds. The city of Araxes, with all its crime and scumminess, as well as the Duneplains, with their never ending heat were very easy to visualize.
So, all told, this was a fantastic book full of snark, ghosts, thievery, stabby stabbing, a random orgy, a desert chase, and a foul mouthed falcon. I definitely hope to get started on book 3 as soon as I can, because I can’t wait to see how this story ends!
This is the continuing adventure of Caltro Basalt, master locksmith, Krassman, and bound shade in the great city of Araxes. He’s been kidnapped… or maybe ghost-napped from his owner, the Widow Horix, into the hands of someone who would very much like to use him and his skills.
Boss Temsa, now Tor Temsa is still on his killing spree through the nobility of the city, taking their fortunes for himself as he goes. He would very much like to use the skills of Caltro as well.
Nilith is still crossing the Duneplains with the corpse of her husband in tow, trying desperately to reach Araxes and the Nyxwater well to bind his soul before her time runs out.
And Sisine, the Empress-in-waiting is still trying her very best to undermine the council and take the throne of Araxes, since her father the Emperor won’t come out of his sanctuary.
This was a great continuation of the story! This isn’t an especially long novel, but all the same I have so much stuff highlighted, because Caltro is snarky AF, and he makes me laugh. In this volume he finds a talking sword, whom he calls ‘Pointy’ and the banter between the two of them is often chuckle-worthy as well. This is very often a dark novel, with plenty of murder and massacre and what have you, but having a character that I can cheer for who is sort of a bystander to it all made it easy for me to latch on to the story without getting overwhelmed by grimness.
Things are definitely coming to a head, with both Temsa killing off nobles, and Sisine actively plotting. Caltro finds himself in the middle of everything, getting passed around from noble to noble criminal to criminal who all hope to use his skills to their advantage. The plot twists and turns while we see all of this unfold, and I definitely had a hard time putting this one down to do things like sleep and eat. I was perfectly content to snuggle down into a beanbag chair and read this one over a weekend.
I am glad that this series was released very, very close together because these really are the type of books that I clamor for the next in the series right after the previous one ends. Ben Galley has amazing skill for writing compelling characters in compelling worlds. The city of Araxes, with all its crime and scumminess, as well as the Duneplains, with their never ending heat were very easy to visualize.
So, all told, this was a fantastic book full of snark, ghosts, thievery, stabby stabbing, a random orgy, a desert chase, and a foul mouthed falcon. I definitely hope to get started on book 3 as soon as I can, because I can’t wait to see how this story ends!
February 28, 2024
Long story short this is as good as the first one. Almost excellent in every way.. characters, humor, action, worldbuilding. It truly is one of the better grimdark fantasy series out there. My main (if not the only) complaint is that this feels not like a trilogy, but more like a big book split down to three smaller. If this had been released as a stand-alone or as a duology, I believe it would have worked even better. As it stands it's still a Must-read for Grimdark fans and a great read for every other fantasy reader out there..
8,2/10
8,2/10
January 24, 2019
More Egyptian based hijinks. Review here - https://www.alwroteabook.com/2019/01/...
February 6, 2019
Where is the third?
Well the continued journey into this world Mr. Galley has created had just left me wanting more. Let's find out where our lockpicker ends up.
Well the continued journey into this world Mr. Galley has created had just left me wanting more. Let's find out where our lockpicker ends up.
April 16, 2019
I received a copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.
We return to Araxes. Really, a city I don't want to visit! Grim Solace picks up not far from where Chasing Graves left off.
There's a lot of growth in this book. This time round there's much more forward movement in plot. We see people being maneuvered into position for something really spectacular and they don't even realise it's happening. This forward movement comes with a greater understanding of the world and our characters. Caltro's POV chapters still stand out with their change in tense and I feel I saw some growth in him. He's never going to be a character that changes rapidly, even when everything is in front of him, he's stubborn and self serving But considering his situation, dead and being less of a person and more of a tool, you understand his stubbornness! However, you can feel the wheels turning. He's watching and learning and it's a fascinating process as nothing's rushed or forced.
Nilith is still pushing herself through the desert. I almost feel like I'm dragging myself through the sand with her. She had some lovely scenes and some painful ones. Then Temsa. Fuck Temsa. Though, his chapters were interesting for many reasons. He's more fleshed out in this as he's less of Caltro's vague archetype of hate and more of a driving force.
We meet some new characters this time round and I think Helas could be a favourite of mine. She's really done with everyone's shit and it's going to be glorious.
While the scope of the world hasn't really expanded (though we do see a few new locations in transit, we're still exploring the desert and Araxes), I felt so much more aware of them this time. I had a better picture of what these places are and I just get the feeling that Araxes smells terrible. The city itself was so vivid in this. We saw more of the richness and more of the poverty. There's depravity and violence but there's also a small sense of wonder left.
We return to Araxes. Really, a city I don't want to visit! Grim Solace picks up not far from where Chasing Graves left off.
There's a lot of growth in this book. This time round there's much more forward movement in plot. We see people being maneuvered into position for something really spectacular and they don't even realise it's happening. This forward movement comes with a greater understanding of the world and our characters. Caltro's POV chapters still stand out with their change in tense and I feel I saw some growth in him. He's never going to be a character that changes rapidly, even when everything is in front of him, he's stubborn and self serving But considering his situation, dead and being less of a person and more of a tool, you understand his stubbornness! However, you can feel the wheels turning. He's watching and learning and it's a fascinating process as nothing's rushed or forced.
Nilith is still pushing herself through the desert. I almost feel like I'm dragging myself through the sand with her. She had some lovely scenes and some painful ones. Then Temsa. Fuck Temsa. Though, his chapters were interesting for many reasons. He's more fleshed out in this as he's less of Caltro's vague archetype of hate and more of a driving force.
We meet some new characters this time round and I think Helas could be a favourite of mine. She's really done with everyone's shit and it's going to be glorious.
While the scope of the world hasn't really expanded (though we do see a few new locations in transit, we're still exploring the desert and Araxes), I felt so much more aware of them this time. I had a better picture of what these places are and I just get the feeling that Araxes smells terrible. The city itself was so vivid in this. We saw more of the richness and more of the poverty. There's depravity and violence but there's also a small sense of wonder left.
January 31, 2019
Very good sequel, however I expected a bit more plot resolution and some new twists. Path of the story didn't meander much which of course isn't the problem if the story is compelling and it is.
Characters are still entertaining and intriguing but I hoped Nilith and Farazar would have reached Araxes in this book.
Bezel and Pointy are a nice addition to the cast of characters. Some things also became a touch transparent, like the Widow Horix is the Empress Hirana, Farazars mother. I could be wrong about that but I doubt it.
It was still a very fun read and I'm looking forward to reading the conclusion of this series.
Characters are still entertaining and intriguing but I hoped Nilith and Farazar would have reached Araxes in this book.
Bezel and Pointy are a nice addition to the cast of characters. Some things also became a touch transparent, like the Widow Horix is the Empress Hirana, Farazars mother. I could be wrong about that but I doubt it.
It was still a very fun read and I'm looking forward to reading the conclusion of this series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 6, 2023
I liked the first book, but I liked this one even more. Poor Caltro Basalt. He sure knows how to get into trouble. It’s a good thing he’s already dead. And he retained his good sense of humor. He had me chuckling all through this one. I was glad to find out who Nilith and the ghost she’s dragging around are. That woman just can’t be stopped. There was never a dull moment in this one, aways something happening, someone getting murdered. This is one fantasy world I’d never want to live in, but I can’t wait to find out what happens in the last book.
November 12, 2025
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MY ⭐️ RATING: 5/5
FORMAT: Kindle Whispersync
Grim Solace is a tremendous addition to the Chasing Graves series that doesnt suffer from middle book syndrome, it takes what was built in book one and evolves into an even better story. I already said this in my previous review, but I can’t say how much I am thrilled to re-read this series. The stakes have risen for all the main characters, new characters are introduced, including a talking sword who brings a perfect blend of softness and silliness to the story.
Galley does an excellent job of evolving the characters and adding a lot of depth to each one of them. Caltro, Nillith, Sisine, Temsa, Widow Horix and even Farazar all get their own POV’s, while the main ones take a majority, Horix and Farazar get extra time to shine on their own.
“Animals had purer, more ancient souls than we humans did, and for most of my life, I had privately held onto the notion that if animals ever learned to speak, they would melt our minds to shit with all the wisdom we’ve forgotten. All apart from sheep. They’re dumb fucks.”
Caltro is easily my favorite, he’s the quintessential Sisyphus character, every time things go right, it all comes tumbling down in some way or another. Not only that, but he also gets an ability that sets him far apart from everyone else in the story, making him that much more interesting. Nillith’s role gets extremely complicated the more she learns about the unknown parts of Araxes and her dysfunctional marriage with Farazar. Trying to survive in the desert with everything that gets thrown her way, including. Nomad’s with flying donkeys, yes, you read that correctly. Temsa’s ruthless ambition lead him down a bloody path, all while Sisine plots to gain her own power.
Galley levels up the world building with extra lore of the world, really puts a blender on the classism experienced by the dead and even the living. It really sets the tone of the story as an even darker grim tale. Things are coming to a head as each string that has been weaved is finally coming to a bloody fruition with riveting cliffhangers. Moira Quirk and Samuel Roukin do another great job of bringing Galley’s world to life giving great performances that lift the story to higher heights. As much as I enjoy both narrators, I do wish Roukin, since he’s limited to just Caltro’s pov.
Grim Solace is a riveting step up and a perfect blend of darkness with a smidge of hilarity. I’m so excited to re-read the finale, Breaking Chaos. I implore you to read this phenomenal series!
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For more reviews, go to: https://wolfmantula.com/recent-posts/
————————————————————————————————
MY ⭐️ RATING: 5/5
FORMAT: Kindle Whispersync
Grim Solace is a tremendous addition to the Chasing Graves series that doesnt suffer from middle book syndrome, it takes what was built in book one and evolves into an even better story. I already said this in my previous review, but I can’t say how much I am thrilled to re-read this series. The stakes have risen for all the main characters, new characters are introduced, including a talking sword who brings a perfect blend of softness and silliness to the story.
Galley does an excellent job of evolving the characters and adding a lot of depth to each one of them. Caltro, Nillith, Sisine, Temsa, Widow Horix and even Farazar all get their own POV’s, while the main ones take a majority, Horix and Farazar get extra time to shine on their own.
“Animals had purer, more ancient souls than we humans did, and for most of my life, I had privately held onto the notion that if animals ever learned to speak, they would melt our minds to shit with all the wisdom we’ve forgotten. All apart from sheep. They’re dumb fucks.”
Caltro is easily my favorite, he’s the quintessential Sisyphus character, every time things go right, it all comes tumbling down in some way or another. Not only that, but he also gets an ability that sets him far apart from everyone else in the story, making him that much more interesting. Nillith’s role gets extremely complicated the more she learns about the unknown parts of Araxes and her dysfunctional marriage with Farazar. Trying to survive in the desert with everything that gets thrown her way, including. Nomad’s with flying donkeys, yes, you read that correctly. Temsa’s ruthless ambition lead him down a bloody path, all while Sisine plots to gain her own power.
Galley levels up the world building with extra lore of the world, really puts a blender on the classism experienced by the dead and even the living. It really sets the tone of the story as an even darker grim tale. Things are coming to a head as each string that has been weaved is finally coming to a bloody fruition with riveting cliffhangers. Moira Quirk and Samuel Roukin do another great job of bringing Galley’s world to life giving great performances that lift the story to higher heights. As much as I enjoy both narrators, I do wish Roukin, since he’s limited to just Caltro’s pov.
Grim Solace is a riveting step up and a perfect blend of darkness with a smidge of hilarity. I’m so excited to re-read the finale, Breaking Chaos. I implore you to read this phenomenal series!
March 18, 2023
Grim Solace is a great follow up to Chasing Graves.
Ben has managed to continue with raising the stakes delivered in the first book by throwing our main characters into more dangerous situations, bringing in new characters that create more pandemonium and further bringing us into this Egyptian-inspired fantasy world through the delivery of lore and gods.
I really liked what happened in this story, especially for the main character, Castro. I really like his chapters the best and I feel like I can now see what I read in a previous review (of Chasing Graves) where by someone said they feel most connected to this character because his chapters are written in first person whereas the others are in third person. For me Castro is the best character because he has the most interesting story but this isn't to say other characters like Nillith aren't fun; they're just not as fun.
I like how Ben has expanded on the world by bringing in more lore, some more activity with the dead gods and also enhanced the stuff that Caltro can do as a shade (a ghost) which made the possibilities within the story pretty wild.
I had to drive for work this week and purchased the Audible audiobook just so I could continue to listen to it. I've got some opinions on this audiobook... It's not a bad audiobook by any means, it's well recorded and voiced, delivering different characters with individual voices, however, the voices or more specifically their accents pulled me out of the story.
One of the accents was Scottish. Now I like this accent but in an Egyptian inspired world it threw me off and that would be my only negative of the audiobook. For the main story I think the only complaint is that I found parts of Nillith's story a little boring in the middle and this could be because Ben is stretching out her story for the finale which I think will be quite exciting.
To wrap up, this is a good middle book in this trilogy and I enjoyed the first third so much I purchased the audiobook and I'm immediately starting tomorrow the final book in this trilogy. I'm genuinely excited to see what happens to the characters and I haven't felt this in a while so well done to Ben for creating an original, fun and interesting story.
Ben has managed to continue with raising the stakes delivered in the first book by throwing our main characters into more dangerous situations, bringing in new characters that create more pandemonium and further bringing us into this Egyptian-inspired fantasy world through the delivery of lore and gods.
I really liked what happened in this story, especially for the main character, Castro. I really like his chapters the best and I feel like I can now see what I read in a previous review (of Chasing Graves) where by someone said they feel most connected to this character because his chapters are written in first person whereas the others are in third person. For me Castro is the best character because he has the most interesting story but this isn't to say other characters like Nillith aren't fun; they're just not as fun.
I like how Ben has expanded on the world by bringing in more lore, some more activity with the dead gods and also enhanced the stuff that Caltro can do as a shade (a ghost) which made the possibilities within the story pretty wild.
I had to drive for work this week and purchased the Audible audiobook just so I could continue to listen to it. I've got some opinions on this audiobook... It's not a bad audiobook by any means, it's well recorded and voiced, delivering different characters with individual voices, however, the voices or more specifically their accents pulled me out of the story.
One of the accents was Scottish. Now I like this accent but in an Egyptian inspired world it threw me off and that would be my only negative of the audiobook. For the main story I think the only complaint is that I found parts of Nillith's story a little boring in the middle and this could be because Ben is stretching out her story for the finale which I think will be quite exciting.
To wrap up, this is a good middle book in this trilogy and I enjoyed the first third so much I purchased the audiobook and I'm immediately starting tomorrow the final book in this trilogy. I'm genuinely excited to see what happens to the characters and I haven't felt this in a while so well done to Ben for creating an original, fun and interesting story.
September 27, 2021
Grim Solace (El consuelo lúgubre) es el segundo libro de la trilogía Chasing Graves (Persiguiendo tumbas), escrita por Ben Galley. Si queréis saber de qué trata el primer libro, debéis entrar en este enlace. La premisa de la trilogía es la historia de un cerrajero que recibe un contrato de trabajo en un reino del otro lado del mar, pero es asesinado en el primer capítulo. En este mundo aquellos que mueren de manera violenta por medio de la magia se convierten en fantasmas que terminan como esclavos. Para que no puedan revelarse se les vincula a una monedad y quien la posea será su amo. Este es uno de los factores que determinan además la economía de los reinos de la trilogía.
Grim Solace es mejor al libro anterior, que es algo lento, y que tiene demasiados capítulos sombríos. En este libro Ben Gallet se suelta mucho más y la historia fluye de manera natural. Se centra en dos puntos de vista principales y en otros secundarios. Uno de los principales, así como en la primera novela, está escrito en primera persona. Los personajes ahora sí logran desarrollarse, y muchos de los cabos sueltos del libro anterior se juntan. Además se desarrolla una trama política que engloba a casi todos los personajes de la novela, de modo que Grim Solance nos narra en sí dos historias que, seguramente, se juntarán en el libro final (Breaking Chaos).
Es difícil valorar a este libro ya que por el final uno se da cuenta que esta trilogía no está escrita para ser trilogía, sino, una sola historia de tres partes. No existe un arco de cierre para la historia, así que si tenéis la oportunidad, se recomienda leer los tres seguidos (en caso no te canse la ambientación sombría del primero) o leerlos en un lapso corto de tiempo, como en mi caso. Antes de fin de año planeamos tener la reseña final, y un comentario especial sobre el mundo de estas novelas.
Calificación:
7.3/10 – Bien. Lo mejor: el mundo es muy original. También resaltan los personajes centrales, ya que se han desarrollado de manera óptima. Lo peor: que nos lo quieran vender como un libro de una trilogía, cuando no es solo un arco de una sola historia.
Grim Solace es mejor al libro anterior, que es algo lento, y que tiene demasiados capítulos sombríos. En este libro Ben Gallet se suelta mucho más y la historia fluye de manera natural. Se centra en dos puntos de vista principales y en otros secundarios. Uno de los principales, así como en la primera novela, está escrito en primera persona. Los personajes ahora sí logran desarrollarse, y muchos de los cabos sueltos del libro anterior se juntan. Además se desarrolla una trama política que engloba a casi todos los personajes de la novela, de modo que Grim Solance nos narra en sí dos historias que, seguramente, se juntarán en el libro final (Breaking Chaos).
Es difícil valorar a este libro ya que por el final uno se da cuenta que esta trilogía no está escrita para ser trilogía, sino, una sola historia de tres partes. No existe un arco de cierre para la historia, así que si tenéis la oportunidad, se recomienda leer los tres seguidos (en caso no te canse la ambientación sombría del primero) o leerlos en un lapso corto de tiempo, como en mi caso. Antes de fin de año planeamos tener la reseña final, y un comentario especial sobre el mundo de estas novelas.
Calificación:
7.3/10 – Bien. Lo mejor: el mundo es muy original. También resaltan los personajes centrales, ya que se han desarrollado de manera óptima. Lo peor: que nos lo quieran vender como un libro de una trilogía, cuando no es solo un arco de una sola historia.
August 17, 2020
I started Grim Solace right after I finished Chasing Graves, as I was eager to see how several of the characters fared. Did I see what I was looking for? Yes and no.
Grim Solace picks up with our ghostly thief Caltro. Word of his usefulness as a lockpick starts getting around the city and he finds himself a pawn, torn between multiple factions who all want him for something. The plotting, backstabbing, and political maneuvering are all first-rate and Galley does an excellent job weaving the ambitions of tyrants--mighty and petty alike--with the simpler desire by Caltro to get free. I'm more a limited-perspective-kind-of-reader, so I was happy to see several perspectives get ... settled during this one. As with the first book, I thought the narrative flowed well; the setting remains interesting and somewhat alien.
Unfortunately, I found Nilath's (perhaps the second protagonist, perhaps another schemer--TBD) chapters dragged. I found myself getting impatient during her story and that realization was disappointing, because I was hoping for more development in her arc.
The overall pace picked up towards the ending fracas which was the chaotic sort of jumbled mess I love where you don't know what happened to whom. Cliffhangers are hit or miss with me and this one worked well.
On to the final book of the trilogy.
Grim Solace picks up with our ghostly thief Caltro. Word of his usefulness as a lockpick starts getting around the city and he finds himself a pawn, torn between multiple factions who all want him for something. The plotting, backstabbing, and political maneuvering are all first-rate and Galley does an excellent job weaving the ambitions of tyrants--mighty and petty alike--with the simpler desire by Caltro to get free. I'm more a limited-perspective-kind-of-reader, so I was happy to see several perspectives get ... settled during this one. As with the first book, I thought the narrative flowed well; the setting remains interesting and somewhat alien.
Unfortunately, I found Nilath's (perhaps the second protagonist, perhaps another schemer--TBD) chapters dragged. I found myself getting impatient during her story and that realization was disappointing, because I was hoping for more development in her arc.
The overall pace picked up towards the ending fracas which was the chaotic sort of jumbled mess I love where you don't know what happened to whom. Cliffhangers are hit or miss with me and this one worked well.
On to the final book of the trilogy.
March 3, 2019
Having been totally immersed in Chasing Graves I was expecting more of the same but I found this one to have a mostly steady but slightly slower pace. That's not to say it was slow, it wasn't and I enjoyed it immensely. The characters were developed further and somehow I got to like a couple of the 'bad guys' Even had a few more wonderful characters added in this book and an end that has me seriously wanting book 3 NOW please! Well lucky for me it is available and so I'm going to have to break my promise of no more books till I have at least got half way through the pile of TBR books I already own. ....So I'm off to shop!
Read this series!
Read this series!
April 27, 2021
This is a character-driven book and yet the worldbuiding is very fulfilling. The characters and the world has many layered and complexity. It has a tight plot and interesting characters, fews are despicable but fun to read. The humour is also entertaining. The premise and magic is unique and very refreshing. If the final book of this trilogy is as good as Grim Solace, this series will easily be in my top 5 fantasy series I've read, not that I've a list but if I do, easily.
February 19, 2019
3.5 stars, review to follow
January 19, 2023
CAWPILE rating: 8/10
STAR rating: ★★★★½
STAR rating: ★★★★½
November 18, 2019
Yep as good as the first...
January 24, 2022
Big improvement from Chasing Graves.
The pacing picks up, and the plot threads are all coming together. 🤙
The pacing picks up, and the plot threads are all coming together. 🤙
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