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The Maradaine Constabulary #3
A Parliament of Bodies
Mixing high fantasy and mystery, the third book in the Maradaine Constabulary series follows Inspectors Satrine Rainey and Minox Welling as they track down a dangerous murderer.The city of Maradaine is vexed by the Gearbox a series of gruesome deaths orchestrated by a twisted mechanical genius. With no motive and no pattern, Inspectors Satrine Rainey and Minox Welling--the retired spy and untrained mage--are at a loss to find a meaningful lead in the case. At least, until the killer makes his most audacious exhibit over a dozen victims in a clockwork deathtrap on the floor of the Druth Parliament. The crime scene is a madhouse, and political forces conspire to grind their investigation to a halt. The King's Marshals claim jurisdiction of the case, corruption in the Constabulary thwarts their efforts, and a special Inquest threatens to end Minox's career completely. Their only ally is Dayne Heldrin, a provisional member of the Tarian Order, elite warriors trained in the art of protection. But Dayne's connection to the Gearbox Murders casts suspicion on his motives, as he might be obsessed with a phantom figure he believes is responsible. While Satrine and Minox struggle to stop the Gearbox from claiming even more victims, the grinding gears of injustice might keep them from ever solving these murders, and threaten to dismantle their partnership forever.
399 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 26, 2019
13 people are currently reading
290 people want to read
About the author
Marshall Ryan Maresca
23 books346 followersMarshall Ryan Maresca is a fantasy and science-fiction writer, author of sixteen novels, most of which are part of the Maradaine Saga: Four braided series set amid the bustling streets and crime-ridden districts of the exotic city called Maradaine. He is also the author of the standalone dieselpunk fantasy, The Velocity of Revolution. He is a four-time Hugo finalist as the co-host of the podcast Worldbuilding for Masochists, and has been a playwright, an actor and an amateur chef. He lives in Austin, Texas with his family.
For more information, visit Marshall’s website at www.mrmaresca.com.
For more information, visit Marshall’s website at www.mrmaresca.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
September 24, 2019
As this series, and the larger Maradaine series, comes barrelling to its endgame, it becomes more difficult to review each installment without considering the whole. A Parliament of Bodies, as the last of the three "Constabulary" books, is a ton of fun as a fantasy police procedural, and also brings in several characters from the other Maradaine series more than ever before. But it doesn't satisfy as a conclusion; it leaves far too much hanging open, because it assumes that readers are also reading the other 3 concurrent series (probably especially "Maradaine Elite," which features the most heavily here). And... we have! Well, at least I have, so I guess that's why it's so hard to judge.
This book is pretty tightly plotted, and Maresca's writing continues to evolve nicely. It's still workmanlike rather than in any way lyrical, and that is more than fine for this type of book. The focus is still mainly on Inspectors Satrine Rainey and Minox Welling, now heading up the new citywide Grand Inspection Unit but still battling internal reviews, and personal demons, as well as solving crime. In particular, they're working on the Gearbox Murders, which are awesomely gruesome and directly relevant to Dayne Heldrin from the "Elite" series. Dayne and his young associate Jerinne are featured almost as much as Rainey and Welling, and that is all to the good. I should add that the sexist undertones of some of the earlier Maradaine books are completely gone. That is obviously also to the good!
So I expect more crossover in the remaining Maradaine books, of which there are only 3 left out of the total 12. And I'm pretty excited to read them all.
** I received a Review Copy of this book via NetGalley **
This book is pretty tightly plotted, and Maresca's writing continues to evolve nicely. It's still workmanlike rather than in any way lyrical, and that is more than fine for this type of book. The focus is still mainly on Inspectors Satrine Rainey and Minox Welling, now heading up the new citywide Grand Inspection Unit but still battling internal reviews, and personal demons, as well as solving crime. In particular, they're working on the Gearbox Murders, which are awesomely gruesome and directly relevant to Dayne Heldrin from the "Elite" series. Dayne and his young associate Jerinne are featured almost as much as Rainey and Welling, and that is all to the good. I should add that the sexist undertones of some of the earlier Maradaine books are completely gone. That is obviously also to the good!
So I expect more crossover in the remaining Maradaine books, of which there are only 3 left out of the total 12. And I'm pretty excited to read them all.
** I received a Review Copy of this book via NetGalley **
March 25, 2019
*Source* Publisher
*Genre* Urban Fantasy
*Rating* 4.0
*Thoughts*
A Parliament of Bodies is the third installment in author Marshall Ryan Maresca's The Maradaine Constabulary series. The Maradaine Constabulary series unveils a different layer of the city, on the side of the law, as opposed to the criminal underbelly in the Maradaine novels and Streets of Maradaine. This series features Satrine Rainey and Minox Welling, two detectives in the constabulary who protect the city of Maradaine from crime.
*Full Review @ GIzmos Reviews*
https://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/20...
*Genre* Urban Fantasy
*Rating* 4.0
*Thoughts*
A Parliament of Bodies is the third installment in author Marshall Ryan Maresca's The Maradaine Constabulary series. The Maradaine Constabulary series unveils a different layer of the city, on the side of the law, as opposed to the criminal underbelly in the Maradaine novels and Streets of Maradaine. This series features Satrine Rainey and Minox Welling, two detectives in the constabulary who protect the city of Maradaine from crime.
*Full Review @ GIzmos Reviews*
https://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/20...
April 7, 2019
I'M SCREAMING!!! WHAT DID I JUST READ!!!! I NEED MORE!!!
I seriously thought I was emotionally invested before but, oh, boy, was I wrong.
Like, without spoiling anything, some many twists. Up until quite literally the last page. What's going to happen with Minox and his hand? What about Corrie? And Satrine and Phillen Hace???
So many things. I can't handle this. I need the next one in my hands.
Shield of the People better alleviate some of my questions but I fear it'll just add more.
I seriously thought I was emotionally invested before but, oh, boy, was I wrong.
Like, without spoiling anything, some many twists. Up until quite literally the last page. What's going to happen with Minox and his hand? What about Corrie? And Satrine and Phillen Hace???
So many things. I can't handle this. I need the next one in my hands.
Shield of the People better alleviate some of my questions but I fear it'll just add more.
April 2, 2019
I was hooked right from page one, and by the time I'd gotten halfway through it, I realized my day was gone! Maresca writes amazing characters with realistic interactions. One of my favorite things about his books is how real the relationships feel. He doesn't lean on lazy tropes to forward them. This book is the crossover I didn't know I needed and I love it, though it broke my heart. I anxiously await the next installment.
February 20, 2019
Wow! A gripping read, this book had me up past my bedtime wanting to know what happened next.
While this book succeeds as a standalone work, the greater joy for the reader is to see more of the overarching mystery that has been woven through the series since book 1. Some mysteries have been finally answered, but greater mysteries are still ahead. I can't wait to see what happens next!
While this book succeeds as a standalone work, the greater joy for the reader is to see more of the overarching mystery that has been woven through the series since book 1. Some mysteries have been finally answered, but greater mysteries are still ahead. I can't wait to see what happens next!
April 10, 2019
*copy from the publisher in exchange for a review*
A Parliament of Bodies is the latest in Marshall Ryan Maresca’s ‘Maradaine’ saga (we've got an interview with him here, giving some insight into this latest book), a shared universe populated by, among others, mages, vigilantes, coppers and villains. It’s part of the ‘Maradaine Constabulary’ sequence, which focuses on two police inspectors on the mean streets of the city of Maradaine, where government corruption is rife, back-up is often optional, and crimes have a tendency to get a bit magical.
The sequence has a tradition of blending magic and mystery together in a compelling cocktail, and I’m delighted to report that this latest book continues that tradition.
Rainey and Welling are back, and their latest case takes us behind the scenes in the Parliament of Maradaine. This provides a great opportunity to see how the city works, officially and…otherwise. The halls of the Parliament have a thick veneer of history, and you can feel the crackle of past events as our protagonists walk through them.This is a series which has always had rich worldbuilding, and that continues here – the history of the Parliament (and thus of the city) emerges in casual conversation, in glances taking in artifacts, in the glimpses of an extraordinary institution going about the everyday business of power. If a building can feel alive, it’s this one, packed with byzantine tunnels, swathed in layers of historical tradition, creaking under the weight of age and symbolism. But it’s also a hub of current politics in a city where politics is a very dirty business. The same honoured halls are home to threats, bribery, peculation and, yes, murder. There’s fast-talking, backhanders and realpolitik in all its many forms, all buttressed by the power, influence and hard cash of the politicians who call the building home. Maradaine has an opulence we haven’t seen before, and a sense of historical idealism and grace – but has also added a hard-nosed edge to its already fraught politics. The clash between the ideals of the institution and its implementation provide narrative friction, but are also a joy to consider in themselves, adding a depth and richness to a complex, living world.
Steppimg into this seething cauldron of political plots and counter-plots are Rainey and Welling. The pair have always had an engaging professional relationship and a deepening friendship, and that continues here. Rainey is at once more pensive, aware of the consequences of their actions as representatives of the police, and less willing to conform to others expectations than previously. She’s experienced, smart, and isn’t going to let anyone talk down to or past her, which creates some delightful clashes with the less modern members of the government. Welling, by contrast, seems to be struggling to come to terms with the potential for magical power which has recently been thrust upon him. Welling’s ruminations on responsibility, and his desire to do the right thing are counterbalanced by a tendency toward near-obsession, and analysis paralysis, and all these are wonderfully evoked here. Welling is a person in crisis, and the text isn’t afraid to explore that, to give us a look at someone who may be on their breaking point, and see how (or if) they make their way back.
The duo are the emotional heart of the text, and watching them explore and investigate is a joy on its own. But I want to take a moment and give a shout out to the ensemble cast as well. From Welling’s extensive family, willing to drop everything to come to one another’s aid, to the complicated relationship he shares with another man, to family with two awkward children and a comatose father, they all feel absolutely real. There’s the squabbles and pettiness of long familiarity, mixed with the silvered warmth of familial affection. These are people in their own stories, as well as the one we’re reading, but they add extra emotional heft and dimension to a tale which already had it in spades.
There’s also appearances by characters from other Maradaine novels, most notably Dayne and Jerinne from the recent The Way of the Shield. The clash between the duo’s, particularly Daine’s idealistic heroism and Rainey’s forceful and somewhat pragmatic upholding of the law, and awareness of its grubbiness, is wonderful. That they can come together and work as a team to try and solve a crisis and save lives – well, it warms the heart, and also makes for very compelling reading.
The plot? Well, as ever, I’ll try not to give any spoilers. But it begins with an elaborate clockwork deathtrap placed on the floor of the Parliament, with a dozen victims trapped inside. It’s a race against time for Rainey and Welling to negotiate the politics of the city’s most political institution, and track down the clockwork killer, in an effort to save those victims from a horrendous demise. There’s all sorts here – elaborate plots, bizarre death-machines, heroism, marvellous and terrifying magic. It’s a story where you’re turning each page to see what happens next, always aware that each page moves the countdown to crisis a little nearer zero.The tension is artfully crafted and garrotte-taut, and the stakes are high. It’s a book you’re not going to want to put down, and one I read until far too late at night because I didn’t put it down.
If you’re already reading the Maradaine novels, or even for new readers, this one is probably the best yet; clever, emotionally honest, imaginative fantasy, with characters that hold your heart in their hands as they try to save the world as well as themselves.
A Parliament of Bodies is the latest in Marshall Ryan Maresca’s ‘Maradaine’ saga (we've got an interview with him here, giving some insight into this latest book), a shared universe populated by, among others, mages, vigilantes, coppers and villains. It’s part of the ‘Maradaine Constabulary’ sequence, which focuses on two police inspectors on the mean streets of the city of Maradaine, where government corruption is rife, back-up is often optional, and crimes have a tendency to get a bit magical.
The sequence has a tradition of blending magic and mystery together in a compelling cocktail, and I’m delighted to report that this latest book continues that tradition.
Rainey and Welling are back, and their latest case takes us behind the scenes in the Parliament of Maradaine. This provides a great opportunity to see how the city works, officially and…otherwise. The halls of the Parliament have a thick veneer of history, and you can feel the crackle of past events as our protagonists walk through them.This is a series which has always had rich worldbuilding, and that continues here – the history of the Parliament (and thus of the city) emerges in casual conversation, in glances taking in artifacts, in the glimpses of an extraordinary institution going about the everyday business of power. If a building can feel alive, it’s this one, packed with byzantine tunnels, swathed in layers of historical tradition, creaking under the weight of age and symbolism. But it’s also a hub of current politics in a city where politics is a very dirty business. The same honoured halls are home to threats, bribery, peculation and, yes, murder. There’s fast-talking, backhanders and realpolitik in all its many forms, all buttressed by the power, influence and hard cash of the politicians who call the building home. Maradaine has an opulence we haven’t seen before, and a sense of historical idealism and grace – but has also added a hard-nosed edge to its already fraught politics. The clash between the ideals of the institution and its implementation provide narrative friction, but are also a joy to consider in themselves, adding a depth and richness to a complex, living world.
Steppimg into this seething cauldron of political plots and counter-plots are Rainey and Welling. The pair have always had an engaging professional relationship and a deepening friendship, and that continues here. Rainey is at once more pensive, aware of the consequences of their actions as representatives of the police, and less willing to conform to others expectations than previously. She’s experienced, smart, and isn’t going to let anyone talk down to or past her, which creates some delightful clashes with the less modern members of the government. Welling, by contrast, seems to be struggling to come to terms with the potential for magical power which has recently been thrust upon him. Welling’s ruminations on responsibility, and his desire to do the right thing are counterbalanced by a tendency toward near-obsession, and analysis paralysis, and all these are wonderfully evoked here. Welling is a person in crisis, and the text isn’t afraid to explore that, to give us a look at someone who may be on their breaking point, and see how (or if) they make their way back.
The duo are the emotional heart of the text, and watching them explore and investigate is a joy on its own. But I want to take a moment and give a shout out to the ensemble cast as well. From Welling’s extensive family, willing to drop everything to come to one another’s aid, to the complicated relationship he shares with another man, to family with two awkward children and a comatose father, they all feel absolutely real. There’s the squabbles and pettiness of long familiarity, mixed with the silvered warmth of familial affection. These are people in their own stories, as well as the one we’re reading, but they add extra emotional heft and dimension to a tale which already had it in spades.
There’s also appearances by characters from other Maradaine novels, most notably Dayne and Jerinne from the recent The Way of the Shield. The clash between the duo’s, particularly Daine’s idealistic heroism and Rainey’s forceful and somewhat pragmatic upholding of the law, and awareness of its grubbiness, is wonderful. That they can come together and work as a team to try and solve a crisis and save lives – well, it warms the heart, and also makes for very compelling reading.
The plot? Well, as ever, I’ll try not to give any spoilers. But it begins with an elaborate clockwork deathtrap placed on the floor of the Parliament, with a dozen victims trapped inside. It’s a race against time for Rainey and Welling to negotiate the politics of the city’s most political institution, and track down the clockwork killer, in an effort to save those victims from a horrendous demise. There’s all sorts here – elaborate plots, bizarre death-machines, heroism, marvellous and terrifying magic. It’s a story where you’re turning each page to see what happens next, always aware that each page moves the countdown to crisis a little nearer zero.The tension is artfully crafted and garrotte-taut, and the stakes are high. It’s a book you’re not going to want to put down, and one I read until far too late at night because I didn’t put it down.
If you’re already reading the Maradaine novels, or even for new readers, this one is probably the best yet; clever, emotionally honest, imaginative fantasy, with characters that hold your heart in their hands as they try to save the world as well as themselves.
March 23, 2019
I'm a huge fan of the world Marshall Ryan Maresca has created. Each character in every series is multi-dimensional and the slow build towards the larger plots is intricately crafted. A Parliament of Bodies moves us another step closer to the complete interweaving of the seemingly disparate series set int he same world. I'm still waiting for that moment where Satrine Rainey and Asti Rynax cross paths.
This latest installment in the world of Maradaine is the third book in the Maradaine Constabulary series. Of the four existing series, the Constabulary is my favorite (although the Streets of Maradaine is a VERY close second because HEISTS). Satrine and Minox are underdog characters who have found there way and found much needed support within each other. A Parliament of Bodies provides such a clear example of the importance of the relationship. It also shows us the greater support Minox Welling, an untrained and potentially unstable mage, has with his friends and family. Which also makes this book hurt your heart that much more.
I never expected the title of the novel to be literal, but it is. And somehow that isn't nearly the most wrenching part, which is saying a lot. This book expertly begins to slowly put the pieces together from the larger conspiracy working it's way through all of Maresca's novels. So much so, that Dayne and Jerinne, the Tarians from The Way of a Shield play an important role. As does Verci Rynax - though you'd only know it's him if you've read the Holver Alley Crew. But that isn't necessarily a requirement which is the brilliant part of things.
This book stands on its own from the other three Maradaine series. There is enough explanation to allow you to grasp all that is happening without the other series. That said, this book is infinitely more meaningful and more enjoyable with that larger understanding. And it makes me clamor for the next book, particularly the next in the Streets of Maradaine. The larger intrigue and conspiracy is so tantalizing. I want more and I want it now. But until that happens, I will gladly reread A Parliament of Bodies to ponder over every clue and work out the connections, much like Minox Welling would himself.
Do yourself a favor and start reading all of Marshall Ryan Maresca's books, especially The Maradaine Constabulary series, so that you can read this book. It's beautiful in the way it wrenches your heart as the love and support each character has is tested and reinforced.
This latest installment in the world of Maradaine is the third book in the Maradaine Constabulary series. Of the four existing series, the Constabulary is my favorite (although the Streets of Maradaine is a VERY close second because HEISTS). Satrine and Minox are underdog characters who have found there way and found much needed support within each other. A Parliament of Bodies provides such a clear example of the importance of the relationship. It also shows us the greater support Minox Welling, an untrained and potentially unstable mage, has with his friends and family. Which also makes this book hurt your heart that much more.
I never expected the title of the novel to be literal, but it is. And somehow that isn't nearly the most wrenching part, which is saying a lot. This book expertly begins to slowly put the pieces together from the larger conspiracy working it's way through all of Maresca's novels. So much so, that Dayne and Jerinne, the Tarians from The Way of a Shield play an important role. As does Verci Rynax - though you'd only know it's him if you've read the Holver Alley Crew. But that isn't necessarily a requirement which is the brilliant part of things.
This book stands on its own from the other three Maradaine series. There is enough explanation to allow you to grasp all that is happening without the other series. That said, this book is infinitely more meaningful and more enjoyable with that larger understanding. And it makes me clamor for the next book, particularly the next in the Streets of Maradaine. The larger intrigue and conspiracy is so tantalizing. I want more and I want it now. But until that happens, I will gladly reread A Parliament of Bodies to ponder over every clue and work out the connections, much like Minox Welling would himself.
Do yourself a favor and start reading all of Marshall Ryan Maresca's books, especially The Maradaine Constabulary series, so that you can read this book. It's beautiful in the way it wrenches your heart as the love and support each character has is tested and reinforced.
April 30, 2019
A Parliament of Bodies is a wild ride. It has only been a few months since the events in An Import of Intrigues, and Inspector Welling is under Investigation as to his continued fitness to serve as a member of the Constabulary. There is a fiendish serial killer who has kidnapped dozens of people and strapped them into clockwork death machines (think the Saw movies). Inspectors Welling and Rainey are joined by Dayne Heldrin and Jerinne Fendall of the Taurian Order to stop the man Dayne is convinced is the killer.
This book had me laughing, crying, cursing out loud, when I wasn’t gasping and spluttering in inarticulate wonder. There are side adventures, and new revelations on past events that build both the world and make the cast more “real”. A Parliament of Bodies has so much of an edge-of-your-seat quality that by the end you are both winded and desperately craving the next book!
This book had me laughing, crying, cursing out loud, when I wasn’t gasping and spluttering in inarticulate wonder. There are side adventures, and new revelations on past events that build both the world and make the cast more “real”. A Parliament of Bodies has so much of an edge-of-your-seat quality that by the end you are both winded and desperately craving the next book!
April 28, 2019
Darker than the previous books, which is not necessarily bad but I wasn't prepared for it. There are characters from previous books in important and fringe roles. The end felt like this was the middle of a trilogy, like Empire strikes back - villains rule, heroes are in a bad shape and the evil empire lurks.
May 9, 2019
I loved this book! The Constabulary series is my second favorite after the original Thorn/Maradine series. In this book, I could see all the threads coming together so I am excited read more.
I hope another book with the Thorn of Dentonhill is in the works!
I hope another book with the Thorn of Dentonhill is in the works!
May 8, 2019
This was a fun one. The gearbox murders was an interesting mystery concept. I just wish
July 18, 2019
Grimmer and gorier than the foregoing books. Got about a fifth in and just did not feel it.
May 16, 2019
Another Maradaine story filled with non-stop action. Seriously, towards the end there I had to stop and take a breath, I was getting very anxious.
I love the crossovers in these stories. You never know when one of the Holver Alley Crew is going to show up to give Satrine and Minox a hand.
I love the crossovers in these stories. You never know when one of the Holver Alley Crew is going to show up to give Satrine and Minox a hand.
December 22, 2019
A great book. I would highly recommend.
I've read every Maradaine Sequence book that's come out and this one is by far my favourite. Maresca really takes things to another level in this book. Let's break it down:
Characters:
As always seems to be the case in the Maradaine Constabulary series the characters are complex and work hard to reach their goals without quite achieving them - and this goes for new villains and side characters as well as the protagonists and pre-existing supporting cast. What takes this book to the next level compared to the first two is the character development. The higher stakes reveal more about their personalities and overall character. All round we have characters making hard choices in an increasingly urgent crisis, and it's obvious these choices will have lasting consequences in later books. We also get to see a lot more of characters who weren't placed in the spotlight before. All in all I found the characters as depicted in A Parliament of Bodies to be the most sympathetic we've seen so far in the Maradaine Sequence.
Book Plot:
Unlike with the previous two books I found the plot of this book had a sharp urgency to it. You could feel time running out as the characters struggled to catch the killer before more victims died. I was thoroughly engaged and appreciated the fast pace the book sets. As usual the book takes place over a handful of days. Also as usual, the book plot leaves many loose threads to be resolved in later books. This is a staple of the Maradaine Constabulary series and is also one of my main gripes - in this case however I found that it didn't bother me. I felt the characters accomplished a lot in the course of the story, and made a significant arrest. I'm satisfied to wait for the next book to see the loose threads tied up. (Although given the note it ended on I'm not eager to wait too long, lol)
Series Plot:
This book is significant in how much it moves the series plot forwards. A lot of new details are revealed and we start to see the shape of Phase II.
Romance:
Effectively no romance.
If you've enjoyed the author's other books I would highly recommend reading this one! It'll blow your socks off. If this author is new to you I would recommend starting with book one A Murder of Mages - the series will make more sense if you read it in order.
I've read every Maradaine Sequence book that's come out and this one is by far my favourite. Maresca really takes things to another level in this book. Let's break it down:
Characters:
As always seems to be the case in the Maradaine Constabulary series the characters are complex and work hard to reach their goals without quite achieving them - and this goes for new villains and side characters as well as the protagonists and pre-existing supporting cast. What takes this book to the next level compared to the first two is the character development. The higher stakes reveal more about their personalities and overall character. All round we have characters making hard choices in an increasingly urgent crisis, and it's obvious these choices will have lasting consequences in later books. We also get to see a lot more of characters who weren't placed in the spotlight before. All in all I found the characters as depicted in A Parliament of Bodies to be the most sympathetic we've seen so far in the Maradaine Sequence.
Book Plot:
Unlike with the previous two books I found the plot of this book had a sharp urgency to it. You could feel time running out as the characters struggled to catch the killer before more victims died. I was thoroughly engaged and appreciated the fast pace the book sets. As usual the book takes place over a handful of days. Also as usual, the book plot leaves many loose threads to be resolved in later books. This is a staple of the Maradaine Constabulary series and is also one of my main gripes - in this case however I found that it didn't bother me. I felt the characters accomplished a lot in the course of the story, and made a significant arrest. I'm satisfied to wait for the next book to see the loose threads tied up. (Although given the note it ended on I'm not eager to wait too long, lol)
Series Plot:
This book is significant in how much it moves the series plot forwards. A lot of new details are revealed and we start to see the shape of Phase II.
Romance:
Effectively no romance.
If you've enjoyed the author's other books I would highly recommend reading this one! It'll blow your socks off. If this author is new to you I would recommend starting with book one A Murder of Mages - the series will make more sense if you read it in order.
February 25, 2025
I have mixed feelings about this novel.
On the one hand, it’s exciting and gripping, a page-turner. I like the characters, and I quite like the scenario, which has depth. The plot is complex and ingenious.
On the other hand, there are various aspects of the book that I don’t like so much:
1. Maresca has a taste for bizarre and implausible crimes, whereas I’d prefer something more credible. The star criminal of this story is implausible to the point of surrealism, which annoys me.
2. Magic is in use in this story. I have no objection to magic, but I like it to have well-established limitations and rules of operation, and here it seems to have none, except that the use of magic makes mages tired and hungry.
3. The heroes of this series (Welling and Rainey) are like rubber dolls, they keep bouncing back. Every day they have a horrible level of mental and physical stress, often getting knocked about and wounded; but they keep coming back for more, as though nothing had happened. I feel exhausted and battered on their behalf. Humans can put up with a lot if necessary, but in reality I think their mental and physical performance would be degraded, and I see little sign of it.
4. I was shocked to get to the end of this quite long novel (400 pages in paperback) and find everything about the situation unresolved. To find out what happened, we have to buy another book, which isn’t available yet. Readers deserve some warning of this, which I’m providing here.
Overall, I think the author has talent, but I wish he’d use it in a way that was more to my taste!
On the one hand, it’s exciting and gripping, a page-turner. I like the characters, and I quite like the scenario, which has depth. The plot is complex and ingenious.
On the other hand, there are various aspects of the book that I don’t like so much:
1. Maresca has a taste for bizarre and implausible crimes, whereas I’d prefer something more credible. The star criminal of this story is implausible to the point of surrealism, which annoys me.
2. Magic is in use in this story. I have no objection to magic, but I like it to have well-established limitations and rules of operation, and here it seems to have none, except that the use of magic makes mages tired and hungry.
3. The heroes of this series (Welling and Rainey) are like rubber dolls, they keep bouncing back. Every day they have a horrible level of mental and physical stress, often getting knocked about and wounded; but they keep coming back for more, as though nothing had happened. I feel exhausted and battered on their behalf. Humans can put up with a lot if necessary, but in reality I think their mental and physical performance would be degraded, and I see little sign of it.
4. I was shocked to get to the end of this quite long novel (400 pages in paperback) and find everything about the situation unresolved. To find out what happened, we have to buy another book, which isn’t available yet. Readers deserve some warning of this, which I’m providing here.
Overall, I think the author has talent, but I wish he’d use it in a way that was more to my taste!
April 7, 2019
The constabulary series that this book is part of is my favorite, although I’m fond of the Thorn books, but his other ongoing books within the larger, intertwined work I’ve not been much interested in. That being said, you can read this as a stand alone, although obviously if you e read the others it will make it a deeper experience. I definitely felt like I was missing a few pieces. Because I read books more for the characters than the plot, I found this book disappointing since it’s focus was more on this grand conspiracy Maresca has been building toward. Rainey and Welling spend most of the book chasing after the so-called Gear Box Killer, a demented mechanical genius who enmeshes his victims in elaborate clock-work killing devices. I found him tiresome, his killings needlessly gory and horrifying and of course, he’s just a cog in a larger wheel.
Overall I didn’t feel like the main murder/mystery had much of any resolution, we didn’t really learn much more about our two main protagonists and it felt a little like the book was treading water, all to reveal the overarching conspiracy towards the end. I just can’t get that excited by it, so this is getting an average rating from me. The writing is good, the world building is strong but it failed to deliver a story I could become invested in.
Overall I didn’t feel like the main murder/mystery had much of any resolution, we didn’t really learn much more about our two main protagonists and it felt a little like the book was treading water, all to reveal the overarching conspiracy towards the end. I just can’t get that excited by it, so this is getting an average rating from me. The writing is good, the world building is strong but it failed to deliver a story I could become invested in.
September 27, 2019
Another short review. And another 4.20 rating. Twists and guest stars from the other books in the series. But no Thorn. Marshall does his descriptions well, the plot goes along good. Characters are good choices and done well. They act in ways, usually, sympathetic and mostly likable. One is a bit arrogant but in a good way.
If you like fantasy and well designed worlds choose this series. It is a bit more complicated than most series since it is in four parts but they work together. Get the first on though to understand more fully what is happening.
If you like fantasy and well designed worlds choose this series. It is a bit more complicated than most series since it is in four parts but they work together. Get the first on though to understand more fully what is happening.
May 5, 2019
Satrine Rainey and Minox Welling are back as they have to solve many gruesome murders. I love these two. Both have problems that impact their lives. In spite or because of they have formed a interesting and working partnership. This time many are in danger, there is some resolution but mostly the story is a set up for the danger in future books. Great story with more complex world building and backstory.
April 10, 2019
Next please!
February 4, 2020
Despite the magecraft, this series feels very low fantasy in that Fritz Lieber vein, so that's where I'm shelving it. At least until I change my mind again.
This is volume three in this grouping, and it's very interesting to see how it's slotting in to the whole mosaic in the Tales of Maradaine that Maresca is creating. There's overlaps and references and characters from all three of the other series present here as well, and I really like how this is starting to merge and fit, because these are great characters and it makes a great deal of sense that the constabulary characters would be the ones to bring some of these disparate pieces together.
This is a rough book at times, and there's no way that it's a concluding volume (though there's some resolutions achieved to some lingering questions) but another one of the things that Maresca is doing well with this series is applying consequences to actions. and some of those chickens have definitely come home to roost in this book for Minox and his status as an uncircled and self-trained mage. Satrine is under less scrutiny this time around, but that also leaves her working more solo, and her history makes her someone who powerful people have come to confide in.
Adding Dayne as an ally is helpful, but he's still a bit more bull in a china shop here. He's starting to learn but patience and subtlety are not his strong suits. His mentee Jerinne is a strong presence as well and is getting to be an intriguing character in her own right.
Terrific outing. Nasty, horrible villain in the trapmaster and his vicious gadgets of death. And the mysteries and corruption rotting away the heart of Maradaine are getting worse and worse with every page.
Looking forward to the next two! (and finding out what the plan is once all 4 trilogies are complete)
This is volume three in this grouping, and it's very interesting to see how it's slotting in to the whole mosaic in the Tales of Maradaine that Maresca is creating. There's overlaps and references and characters from all three of the other series present here as well, and I really like how this is starting to merge and fit, because these are great characters and it makes a great deal of sense that the constabulary characters would be the ones to bring some of these disparate pieces together.
This is a rough book at times, and there's no way that it's a concluding volume (though there's some resolutions achieved to some lingering questions) but another one of the things that Maresca is doing well with this series is applying consequences to actions. and some of those chickens have definitely come home to roost in this book for Minox and his status as an uncircled and self-trained mage. Satrine is under less scrutiny this time around, but that also leaves her working more solo, and her history makes her someone who powerful people have come to confide in.
Adding Dayne as an ally is helpful, but he's still a bit more bull in a china shop here. He's starting to learn but patience and subtlety are not his strong suits. His mentee Jerinne is a strong presence as well and is getting to be an intriguing character in her own right.
Terrific outing. Nasty, horrible villain in the trapmaster and his vicious gadgets of death. And the mysteries and corruption rotting away the heart of Maradaine are getting worse and worse with every page.
Looking forward to the next two! (and finding out what the plan is once all 4 trilogies are complete)
November 29, 2019
I love Maresca’s Maradaine novels. There are multiple subseries at this point, tackling different viewpoints of situations (with a little bit of crossover every now and again, which makes things that much more interesting), and as far as fun fantasy novels go, this is one of my favourite series! This latest one is part of the Maradaine Constabulary series, which reads like a fantasy police procedural/mystery, and I’d saw this one in particular has shades of Saw throughout, but honestly, it’s more than just shades. Maresca pulls a lot from Saw and has characters trapped in clockwork/gearbox equivalents of the torture machines found in the Saw franchise, delicate arrangements of terrifying technology, and it’s up to Rainey and Welling to figure out who the Gearbox Killer is and what his motivations are. Preferably before half the government is killed.
I’m not much for the torture-porn aspect of the Saw franchise, to be honest, but Maresca keeps the balance by not eliminating blood and gore but just toning it down so that it fits better with the style established in other books of the series. Instead, the focus is the sense of urgency. How to free people from the Gearbox Killer’s traps before timers run down, how to save as many people as possible. Maresca’s books are page-turners for me anyway, but this just heightened the urgency I felt to keep going, to get to the next development and see where the story would take me. I wouldn’t recommend this as a starting point for breaking into the Maradaine novels (too much essential info about the characters is established in prior novels), but it’s certainly a great fantasy novel, and it made me want to give the whole series a reread.
(Book received in exchange for review.)
I’m not much for the torture-porn aspect of the Saw franchise, to be honest, but Maresca keeps the balance by not eliminating blood and gore but just toning it down so that it fits better with the style established in other books of the series. Instead, the focus is the sense of urgency. How to free people from the Gearbox Killer’s traps before timers run down, how to save as many people as possible. Maresca’s books are page-turners for me anyway, but this just heightened the urgency I felt to keep going, to get to the next development and see where the story would take me. I wouldn’t recommend this as a starting point for breaking into the Maradaine novels (too much essential info about the characters is established in prior novels), but it’s certainly a great fantasy novel, and it made me want to give the whole series a reread.
(Book received in exchange for review.)
April 2, 2024
I was really enjoying this story, until I realized that it was part of a series when there were more questions at the end of the book than answers. I was very dismayed about that. The beginning and middle were really, really well-written and exceptionally interesting. There were some pretty dark aspects of the story (which I found intriguing), but it never became overly gory. There were a lot of different characters introduced (and some of the characters had different names depending on who was talking with them), so it was a bit difficult to keep everyone straight. Towards the end, some of the actions of the characters were questionable. It read more like rushed or lazy writing at the end because many of the actions at the beginning and middle of the book were well-written and made a lot of sense, significantly contrasting with the writing at the end. The "ending" (which can't really be called an ending because nothing really gets resolved) also seemed rushed when compared with the pacing of the rest of the book. Had the ending actually been an ending (and had the actions at the end made more sense and not felt rushed), this book would have easily been four stars.
April 5, 2019
Marshall Ryan Maresca has a new tale in which Inspectors Satrine Rainey and Minox Welling deal with three cases that turn out to be related. The main one is A Parliament of Bodies (paper from DAW) in which a madman has placed, when everyone in Parliament is on vacation, a killing, clockwork machine with eighteen people locked inside. Minox also has to deal with an inquiry into his being an uncircled mage working as an Inspector, a position that none of the circled mages would take. As usual characters from other Maradaine books are present, and there is a hint of a villainous organization that will show up in future books. I look forward to each new addition to the Maradaine city series.
November 30, 2024
3 stars. I put this book down for a very long time, because I didn't care at all for the beginning. Once I made up my mind to get past that and picked the book up again where I had left off, it was better (I did not reread the grim beginning). I enjoyed the investigation portion of the tale, but the level of corruption, cruelty, and insanity is quite off-putting for me, and I don't enjoy seemingly unbeatable villains that repeat over several tales in a series. Not my favorite in the Maradaine series.
June 2, 2022
I'm obsessed with this series. And this one I'm edging to 5 stars because the stories are converging and while I know it was contrived to be this way, it reads as a natural progression of the different story lines. The basis of the story gets a pretty gruesome start so those that don't like murder mystery might not enjoy this quite as much as the Rynax brother story lines. I really enjoy the pairing of Satrine and Minox and the duo that they are.
Already on to the next one...so good!
Already on to the next one...so good!
June 19, 2023
This is the last!?
I can't believe this is the last book in this series. We are finally getting to the conspiracy, a welling is missing and Rainey and Welling are split up. How is this the right time to end the story? I hope there's another series that will continue so I can find out what happens next. I loved the story, couldn't put it down (which really annoyed my husband at times) but the abrupt ending made me take it down a star.
I can't believe this is the last book in this series. We are finally getting to the conspiracy, a welling is missing and Rainey and Welling are split up. How is this the right time to end the story? I hope there's another series that will continue so I can find out what happens next. I loved the story, couldn't put it down (which really annoyed my husband at times) but the abrupt ending made me take it down a star.
July 2, 2019
A great deal of excitement with a serial killer, missing children, and Inspector Minox Welling under review by the Archduke of Sauriya's representative. With a crime at the Parliament building, the reader gets a great deal of background information about the political climate of the country. Several very surprising plot twists leaves us up in the air until the next book is published.
July 15, 2020
I'm not keen on serial killers (or fantasy Saw, or whatever you'd call the Gearbox Killer), and the book ends on a bit of a cliff hanger. On the other hand, the weaving together of the different... subseries? continues to be interesting.
And I continue to find the books in general to be more readable than I can really explain.
And I continue to find the books in general to be more readable than I can really explain.
April 30, 2019
Significant drop from prior books, and too many references to the other series in the same universe.
I'll admit that most of my dislike is boredom with mastermind villains. Read this if you like the setting, skip if you're more specifically interested in "detective story but with magic".
I'll admit that most of my dislike is boredom with mastermind villains. Read this if you like the setting, skip if you're more specifically interested in "detective story but with magic".
February 4, 2020
The mystery is brutal in this one and everyone involved pays a price. While it isn't a cliffhanger, there is definitely not an end to the investigation, the rest will be in the next book which isn't available yet. So, good story, great characters but boy does everyone suffer in this one.
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