What do you think?
Rate this book
The Map of Unknown Things #2
The Outlaw and the Upstart King
"As it is inked, so shall your oaths and bindings be."
Tattoos are the only law on the Island of the Free, and there can never be a king. Every clan agrees on that. But a returning exile has smuggled something across the water that could send the old ways up in flames. Elias wants revenge on the men who severed his oaths and made him an outlaw. But, if his wealth and honour are to be restored, he’ll need help from the most unlikely quarter – a mysterious woman, landed unwontedly on Newfoundland’s rocky shore.
Tattoos are the only law on the Island of the Free, and there can never be a king. Every clan agrees on that. But a returning exile has smuggled something across the water that could send the old ways up in flames. Elias wants revenge on the men who severed his oaths and made him an outlaw. But, if his wealth and honour are to be restored, he’ll need help from the most unlikely quarter – a mysterious woman, landed unwontedly on Newfoundland’s rocky shore.
389 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 8, 2019
12 people are currently reading
230 people want to read
About the author
Rod Duncan
16 books215 followersRod Duncan worked in scientific research and computing before settling in Leicester to be a writer. His first novel, Backlash, was short-listed for the John Creasey Memorial Award (now the CWA Debut Dagger).
After four crime novels he switched to fantasy. The Bullet Catcher's Daughter was nominated for the Philip K. Dick Award. He is currently writing a series of alternate history books, called ‘The Map of Unknown Things'.
Rod is also a screenwriter, and was once eaten alive in the feature film Zombie Undead.
After four crime novels he switched to fantasy. The Bullet Catcher's Daughter was nominated for the Philip K. Dick Award. He is currently writing a series of alternate history books, called ‘The Map of Unknown Things'.
Rod is also a screenwriter, and was once eaten alive in the feature film Zombie Undead.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
February 5, 2019
This is by far the best book in either Elizabeth Barnabas series, just absolutely blows the others out of the water.
Without spoiling anything the novel starts, not with Elizabeth but instead with a bitter and broken man named Elias as the protagonist, a man who has returned to the land of his birth in reluctant pursuit of a mysterious goal.
From here the author goes on to build a world based not around the technology that dominated the series prior 4 books but instead around a group of clans and an oath-based legal system. Despite moving the series away from what was seemingly its main appeal (there's also way less gender based disguises in this one) this turns out to elevate the book. It moves the character stories from simple tales of succession and sibling rivalry as we saw in The Queen of All Crows to a tale of revenge, desperation and the hope for something more.
Another note of praise is that Duncan does a much better job of setting up the sequel than in his prior books, for although the plot of this book resolves itself neatly by the end the reader is this time given new mysteries and questions that will be answered in the next book.
All in all a stellar job and one that made me really glad I decided to read the entire two series after seeing this book in a new releases list.
Without spoiling anything the novel starts, not with Elizabeth but instead with a bitter and broken man named Elias as the protagonist, a man who has returned to the land of his birth in reluctant pursuit of a mysterious goal.
From here the author goes on to build a world based not around the technology that dominated the series prior 4 books but instead around a group of clans and an oath-based legal system. Despite moving the series away from what was seemingly its main appeal (there's also way less gender based disguises in this one) this turns out to elevate the book. It moves the character stories from simple tales of succession and sibling rivalry as we saw in The Queen of All Crows to a tale of revenge, desperation and the hope for something more.
Another note of praise is that Duncan does a much better job of setting up the sequel than in his prior books, for although the plot of this book resolves itself neatly by the end the reader is this time given new mysteries and questions that will be answered in the next book.
All in all a stellar job and one that made me really glad I decided to read the entire two series after seeing this book in a new releases list.
December 11, 2018
With the Outlaw and the Upstart King, Rod Duncan veered away from steampunk style plot and setting. The feudal, political coup plot that seemed like it belonged in a fantasy novel, only it had no magic. It was a great story in a very well-developed land with a fascinating political system. It just wasn’t what I expected when I started reading.
The story more or less picked up where the previous book, The Queen of All Crows, left off, but Outlaw and the Upstart King hardly felt like part of the series. There were tie-ins, but a reader could also pick up that book and read it as a stand-alone, or without having read any of the other books in the series and still appreciate. They only things they might not get were the importance of the “big reveal” of Elizabeth’s identity, fleeting references to other characters, and vague hints at how this connected to plots to bring down the Gaslit Empire. These things were subtle enough that they wouldn't ruin the story for a new reader, but they reminded those of us who have read the whole story that this book was indeed part of it.
The Outlaw and the Upstart King followed two characters, Elias and of course, the heroine of the series, Elizabeth Barnabus. The first part of the book was from Elias’ point-of-view, though there was a character who came in and out of the picture that I suspected was Elizabeth. At the end of Part 1, I learned I was right. Elizabeth was indeed that character. Up to this point, I’d been frustrated that I hadn’t seen anything from Elizabeth’s point of view. And while it was interesting to see the next chapter recap what had happened so far from her point of view, it was a technique I think works a little better in movies than books.
Elias is a fascinating character for sure. He has clear motives and through a balance of flashbacks, action, and internal thought, the reader knows why he has those motives and how they formed. I loved how he wasn’t a “good guy” but I still wanted him to succeed, to grow, and learn to see himself how others saw him. Watching him intellectually spar with Elizabeth was also entertaining.
However, I wanted a little more from some of the other characters. Julia was mentioned, but kept passive and out of sight for the whole book. She didn’t really do anything other than be one of Elizabeth’s motivations until the the climax had passed and she was assisting in the resolution. Tinker was there more, blending in mostly, but he didn’t do anything of importance. In previous books, he used his ability to move around unnoticed to help with whatever Elizabeth plans in some significant way. This time, he didn’t, at least not in any way I noticed.
In the end, it was clear how this did connect to some of the larger, political movements that were happening between the Gas-Lit empire and the nations outside it, however, that felt much further in the background than in previous books. The benefit of it was that it did allow more of a focus on character development and the more immediate action.
One thing I’ve always loved about this series is how it explores gender and gender roles. Back in England, within the Gas-Lit empire, society certainly was male dominated. However, it was social norms, laws, and a sense propriety that suppressed woman. Elizabeth grew up in a circus, outside the some many social and cultural norms, so she was less influenced by them and more independent than other woman around her. Her resistance to the role women were forced into and a need to live independently drove Elizabeth to use skills she developed in her father’s show to create a second-male identity: a brother she pretended to live with.
Watching Elizabeth slip back and forth between man and woman was what originally helped me connect with her. I always read her as genderfluid even though as the books went on, her male identity was used less and less.
In this book, it was non-existent.
In the culture this story happened in, women were oppressed as much as London, though in different ways. In the Outlaw and the Upstart King , a single woman owned and ran an inn/tavern and promiscuity seemed more acceptable. However, here, perhaps more than in any other place Elizabeth has been, women were objects subject to the whims of physically stronger men.
Elizabeth was dependent on and/or under the control of men throughout the book, forever playing the part of a woman, and really feeling like a side character in her own book. This was Elias’ story, not Elizabeths.
If I was a new reader with no attachment to Elizabeth, I would give this book five stars because it was beautifully written and clearly well researched. The plot was well executed. The world richly developed.
However, I’m used to seeing Elizabeth in control and in charge not matter how bad the situation got, and it killed me to see her with so little agency, only able to influence the outcome of events in subtle, typically female ways.
The story more or less picked up where the previous book, The Queen of All Crows, left off, but Outlaw and the Upstart King hardly felt like part of the series. There were tie-ins, but a reader could also pick up that book and read it as a stand-alone, or without having read any of the other books in the series and still appreciate. They only things they might not get were the importance of the “big reveal” of Elizabeth’s identity, fleeting references to other characters, and vague hints at how this connected to plots to bring down the Gaslit Empire. These things were subtle enough that they wouldn't ruin the story for a new reader, but they reminded those of us who have read the whole story that this book was indeed part of it.
The Outlaw and the Upstart King followed two characters, Elias and of course, the heroine of the series, Elizabeth Barnabus. The first part of the book was from Elias’ point-of-view, though there was a character who came in and out of the picture that I suspected was Elizabeth. At the end of Part 1, I learned I was right. Elizabeth was indeed that character. Up to this point, I’d been frustrated that I hadn’t seen anything from Elizabeth’s point of view. And while it was interesting to see the next chapter recap what had happened so far from her point of view, it was a technique I think works a little better in movies than books.
Elias is a fascinating character for sure. He has clear motives and through a balance of flashbacks, action, and internal thought, the reader knows why he has those motives and how they formed. I loved how he wasn’t a “good guy” but I still wanted him to succeed, to grow, and learn to see himself how others saw him. Watching him intellectually spar with Elizabeth was also entertaining.
However, I wanted a little more from some of the other characters. Julia was mentioned, but kept passive and out of sight for the whole book. She didn’t really do anything other than be one of Elizabeth’s motivations until the the climax had passed and she was assisting in the resolution. Tinker was there more, blending in mostly, but he didn’t do anything of importance. In previous books, he used his ability to move around unnoticed to help with whatever Elizabeth plans in some significant way. This time, he didn’t, at least not in any way I noticed.
In the end, it was clear how this did connect to some of the larger, political movements that were happening between the Gas-Lit empire and the nations outside it, however, that felt much further in the background than in previous books. The benefit of it was that it did allow more of a focus on character development and the more immediate action.
One thing I’ve always loved about this series is how it explores gender and gender roles. Back in England, within the Gas-Lit empire, society certainly was male dominated. However, it was social norms, laws, and a sense propriety that suppressed woman. Elizabeth grew up in a circus, outside the some many social and cultural norms, so she was less influenced by them and more independent than other woman around her. Her resistance to the role women were forced into and a need to live independently drove Elizabeth to use skills she developed in her father’s show to create a second-male identity: a brother she pretended to live with.
Watching Elizabeth slip back and forth between man and woman was what originally helped me connect with her. I always read her as genderfluid even though as the books went on, her male identity was used less and less.
In this book, it was non-existent.
In the culture this story happened in, women were oppressed as much as London, though in different ways. In the Outlaw and the Upstart King , a single woman owned and ran an inn/tavern and promiscuity seemed more acceptable. However, here, perhaps more than in any other place Elizabeth has been, women were objects subject to the whims of physically stronger men.
Elizabeth was dependent on and/or under the control of men throughout the book, forever playing the part of a woman, and really feeling like a side character in her own book. This was Elias’ story, not Elizabeths.
If I was a new reader with no attachment to Elizabeth, I would give this book five stars because it was beautifully written and clearly well researched. The plot was well executed. The world richly developed.
However, I’m used to seeing Elizabeth in control and in charge not matter how bad the situation got, and it killed me to see her with so little agency, only able to influence the outcome of events in subtle, typically female ways.
November 22, 2018
More reviews (and no fluff) on the blog http://surrealtalvi.wordpress.com/
Once again, Rod Duncan proves he is one of the best contemporary sci fi/urban fantasy authors out there with a follow up just as good yet distinctly different than his previous book. Rather than regurgitating the same tale of action and adventure, we have a very moody, slow burn, psychological piece that manages to maintain high tension and energy in stark contrast to the swashbuckling adventure of The Queen of all Crows. What's more, Elizabeth now has a mission and will no longer be wandering after her escape from the Gaslit Empire.Story: In the lawless territory of the Newfoundland coast, the people are ruled by patrons: warlords who tattoo those in their service and bind them to them for life. If you break your oath, the tattoo is removed along with whatever body part it is on. It is here that Elias - formerly the pampered son of a Patron but betrayed and now oathless and treated like a dog - operates in the underbellies of the villages. He plays a long con - something Elizabeth Barnabus knows well. Together the two will have to work together to help Elizabeth and her hiding friends do what few others have ever done: escape Newfoundland without being discovered and enslaved by the patrons.
Author Duncan takes a bit of a risk here by not introducing Elizabeth until one quarter or so of the story has passed. Then the POV alternates between the two characters, telling us how Elizabeth ended up in Newfoundland and how she is working to get herself and her friends out alive. But at the same time, Elias "no thumbs" is both a pitiable and yet driven character whose story is fascinating enough to make for a very excellent read. The intertwining of their motives and foibles makes the story work on so many levels.
This is a tale about three individuals (but with only two POVs): Elias, Elizabeth, and the Patron Jago. Each is playing a game with the others and it is one that you really can't guess the ending of or how the story will play out. There are far too many nuances and carefully timed reveals to give away the story early, making for an excellent read from start to finish.
I am very impressed that the author can go from one milieu to another so seamlessly. At first, it felt like this will be a series of random travels outside of the world of the Gaslit Empire. But by the end of this second book, Elizabeth has something very important to search for - and I am definitely looking forward to seeing more of the North American continent and this fascinating alternate universe world. Reviewed from an advance reader copy provided by the publisher.
January 27, 2019
Up to Expectations
In all honesty, while I liked the last book, there was some 'oomph' missing ( I know, great descriptive term). It was interesting, but I got lost in certain implausabilities. But Rod has kept me enthralled in his writings so I had to stick with him. 'Upstart' did not disappoint. This was a creative venture with a story, characters and location that had me going from the start. At times part 'Game of Thrones', at others 'Outlander', and I do hate to draw such comparisons because it is patently unfair to Rod, the flow, twists and sub plots all made this book a great read. I do want to know when the rights are purchased because the whole damned series would make a great bunch of movies.
But What was interesting was this story wasn't solely focused on Elizabeth as the other books were. The introduction of Elias and his history (along with the subtle social message he represents) kept this story from becoming another 'what will Elizabeth Barnabus do now?!!?' book. Each had a separate story line that diverged and converged in ways that helped the plot make sense. You also get very invested in them both, especially as things go wrong or the climax hits at the end. And, better yet, a marvelous set up for the next story, which I shan't ruin here. Very creative and worth two long nights of inability to put the book down despite work the next day. So, Rodney! When's the next book??? Thanks for this one!
In all honesty, while I liked the last book, there was some 'oomph' missing ( I know, great descriptive term). It was interesting, but I got lost in certain implausabilities. But Rod has kept me enthralled in his writings so I had to stick with him. 'Upstart' did not disappoint. This was a creative venture with a story, characters and location that had me going from the start. At times part 'Game of Thrones', at others 'Outlander', and I do hate to draw such comparisons because it is patently unfair to Rod, the flow, twists and sub plots all made this book a great read. I do want to know when the rights are purchased because the whole damned series would make a great bunch of movies.
But What was interesting was this story wasn't solely focused on Elizabeth as the other books were. The introduction of Elias and his history (along with the subtle social message he represents) kept this story from becoming another 'what will Elizabeth Barnabus do now?!!?' book. Each had a separate story line that diverged and converged in ways that helped the plot make sense. You also get very invested in them both, especially as things go wrong or the climax hits at the end. And, better yet, a marvelous set up for the next story, which I shan't ruin here. Very creative and worth two long nights of inability to put the book down despite work the next day. So, Rodney! When's the next book??? Thanks for this one!
July 4, 2019
Just when I thought I couldn't get more enthralled with Elizabeth's story, Mr Duncan goes and does it again.
It's rare that I enjoy a series that has the same main character, but does multiple trilogies with them in it. The Fall of the Gas-Lit Empire was phenomenal, and I worried over The Map of Unknown Things. Of course Queen of All Crows sucked me out of that thought and into the mode of loving this new saga for our heroine.
Then, I got hooked. While Queen of All Crows made it feel like a small pitstop to the new world, Outlaw and the Upstart King made it feel all so real. The world felt so different than the one we were used to in the Gas-Lit Empire, and seeing that made me so excited. Between the Patrons, the cruelty, the oaths, I was enamored.
I honestly cannot wait for the next in the installment. Mr Duncan has easily become one of my top favorite authors to ever grace the scene.
It's rare that I enjoy a series that has the same main character, but does multiple trilogies with them in it. The Fall of the Gas-Lit Empire was phenomenal, and I worried over The Map of Unknown Things. Of course Queen of All Crows sucked me out of that thought and into the mode of loving this new saga for our heroine.
Then, I got hooked. While Queen of All Crows made it feel like a small pitstop to the new world, Outlaw and the Upstart King made it feel all so real. The world felt so different than the one we were used to in the Gas-Lit Empire, and seeing that made me so excited. Between the Patrons, the cruelty, the oaths, I was enamored.
I honestly cannot wait for the next in the installment. Mr Duncan has easily become one of my top favorite authors to ever grace the scene.
June 20, 2019
I love this series and this book was an excellent addition. Rod Duncan's world building is intricate and compelling. As much as I enjoyed visiting the Gas Lit Empire of the first three books, I am enjoying the land of New Foundland just as much. Though Elizabeth Barnabas plays a supporting role in this novel, the journey with Elias here was just as enjoyable for me and I look forward to the next where we should be picking up with Elizabeth again. I find myself racing through these books to find out what happens next and then when done being anxious to get the next.
November 20, 2018
3.75 out of 5 stars
After leaving the Gas-Lit Empire behind and surviving a run-in with a floating city of pirates, Elizabeth Barnabus has landed on the inhospitable island of Newfoundland in less than ideal circumstances. While seeking a seemingly impossible escape to the Free States of America she runs across Elias, a thumbless outlaw who hungers for revenge against those who wronged him.
I appreciate that each book in this series does something markedly different while remaining true to the spirit of the overall saga. Here, in a brand new setting, Elizabeth takes a backseat to newcomer Elias and he drives the narrative for most of the book. Elias adds a new element to this story as his bitterness and reckless nature serve as a nice counterbalance to Elizabeth’s kind heart and sharp mind.
Author Rod Duncan continues to convey atmosphere in an engaging way. You can smell the brine, feel the mud, and hear the gulls in the sky, which is a testament to Duncan’s skills as a storyteller. Even if I wasn’t always enraptured by the story, I could enjoy the vivid imagery and worldbuilding that Duncan employs.
Overall, this is a strong entry in the ever-expanding Gas-Lit Empire saga and I enjoyed this one slightly more than the first book in this new trilogy. I’m excited to see how the story rounds out in the final book.
My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
See this review and others at The Speculative Shelf.
After leaving the Gas-Lit Empire behind and surviving a run-in with a floating city of pirates, Elizabeth Barnabus has landed on the inhospitable island of Newfoundland in less than ideal circumstances. While seeking a seemingly impossible escape to the Free States of America she runs across Elias, a thumbless outlaw who hungers for revenge against those who wronged him.
I appreciate that each book in this series does something markedly different while remaining true to the spirit of the overall saga. Here, in a brand new setting, Elizabeth takes a backseat to newcomer Elias and he drives the narrative for most of the book. Elias adds a new element to this story as his bitterness and reckless nature serve as a nice counterbalance to Elizabeth’s kind heart and sharp mind.
Author Rod Duncan continues to convey atmosphere in an engaging way. You can smell the brine, feel the mud, and hear the gulls in the sky, which is a testament to Duncan’s skills as a storyteller. Even if I wasn’t always enraptured by the story, I could enjoy the vivid imagery and worldbuilding that Duncan employs.
Overall, this is a strong entry in the ever-expanding Gas-Lit Empire saga and I enjoyed this one slightly more than the first book in this new trilogy. I’m excited to see how the story rounds out in the final book.
My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
See this review and others at The Speculative Shelf.
February 2, 2019
The Outlaw & the Upstart King reunites readers with Elizabeth Barnaby and the world of the Gas-Lit Empire. Gone are the trappings of England and a sea-bound nation of women, replaced by the wilds of Newfoundland and a society more reminiscent of King Arthur than modern day. Duncan is a grade-A storyteller, taking us deeper into this fascinating world with strong characters, a darker villain, and twists at every turn. It’s a fitting sequel to The Queen of All Crows, and will leave you eager to discover the fate of our favorite trickster-turned-pirate-turned-escape artist.
NOTE: I was provided a free copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest, unbiased review.
NOTE: I was provided a free copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest, unbiased review.
March 21, 2021
Elias is an exile and an outlaw. He has been cut off from his clan and forced to live as an oathless exile. He wants revenge however and will sign up with anyone to achieve this. Elizabeth has been forced to hide who she is as she tries to find a way off Newfoundland. Elizabeth eventually meets up with Elias, the only man she knows who has ever made it off the island.
The plot was intense with a great blend of action, world building and suspense. I liked how the author didn’t reveal the true history of Elias until halfway through the novel. The final battle at the end was great, I was surprised by the short ending to Jago though. For such a cruel man who dominated the story his end came in only two paragraphs.
I was a little confused at the beginning with Elias and the rules of Newfoundland and the clans. Instead of having a big information dump at the beginning everything is slowly revealed throughout the novel, so a lot of things didn’t make sense right away. The characters were well written with great detail and depth into each of them. They were all playing each other to get what they wanted. Elizabeth had to act too much of a girl though, so I was a little annoyed by that. I understand she was forced to fulfill a role Jago wanted her too, but I still missed the badass from the first novel. Jago was the perfect villain with a cruel and evil personality that I loved to hate.
In conclusion, this was a great steampunk sci-fi novel with good characters, a great plot, great characters and incredible world building. I would recommend it to anyone who like steampunk novels. Thank you to Netgalley and Angry Robot for this ARC.
The plot was intense with a great blend of action, world building and suspense. I liked how the author didn’t reveal the true history of Elias until halfway through the novel. The final battle at the end was great, I was surprised by the short ending to Jago though. For such a cruel man who dominated the story his end came in only two paragraphs.
I was a little confused at the beginning with Elias and the rules of Newfoundland and the clans. Instead of having a big information dump at the beginning everything is slowly revealed throughout the novel, so a lot of things didn’t make sense right away. The characters were well written with great detail and depth into each of them. They were all playing each other to get what they wanted. Elizabeth had to act too much of a girl though, so I was a little annoyed by that. I understand she was forced to fulfill a role Jago wanted her too, but I still missed the badass from the first novel. Jago was the perfect villain with a cruel and evil personality that I loved to hate.
In conclusion, this was a great steampunk sci-fi novel with good characters, a great plot, great characters and incredible world building. I would recommend it to anyone who like steampunk novels. Thank you to Netgalley and Angry Robot for this ARC.
July 12, 2019
Duncan delivers fabulous, steampunky, alternative history as always. And, amazingly, a sort of happy ending. Opening with Elizabeth, Julia, and Tinker are stranded at the edge of the known world, plots thicken, and a clue is delivered that another Barnabas with a gun lives in the wilderness. Once again Elizabeth upends society, lots of people meet bitter ends, and yet there's a glimmer of hope that things will indeed improve for those dwelling on the edges of the Empire's map. Can the next stop be Oregon? We'll have to wait and see.
February 18, 2019
I really enjoyed being taken through this new world Rod. I loved the slow, walking pace, which gave me time to take it all in. My imagination filled in any gaps, akin to making a set of clothes my own. I delayed starting to read it and then tried to limit myself to a chapter a night - not always easy. This is a meal I didn’t want to rush!
March 9, 2021
Great book. Elizabeth Barnabus is within the story but not the main character this time. I didn’t mind this so much as it was such a good story with Elias, Patrons and Newfoundland...however Elizabeth, Tinker and Julia are in the periphery and this I think will set us on the next and final journey. See you there!
April 1, 2020
Rod Duncan’s books are awesome! For me, this one was quite bleak and so a bit less enjoyable than the others. Maybe I would have a different perspective if I had read it at a time when the Corona virus wasn’t darkening our world.
January 21, 2020
4.5 / 5 ✪
https://arefugefromlife.wordpress.com...
I was somewhat divided on my intro to Elizabeth Barnabus after coming late to the party in The Queen of All Crows, Book 1 of the Map of Unknown Things but #4 of her combined journey.
I joined the adventures of Elizabeth Barnabus late—reading the Queen of All Crows last year without making my way through the Fall of the Gas-Lit Empire trilogy first. I’m guessing that this was an important factor in my divided opinion of the book; it felt like there were some inside jokes I wasn’t privy to, some extensive backstory I was missing out on, so many elements that just weren’t explained properly or fully. And yet, without reading the Gas-Lit trilogy first, how could I say for sure? Maybe these things weren’t a side-effect of my skipping straight to the Map of Unknown Things, maybe the Queen of All Crows was just underwhelming and poorly explained.
I already had a copy of The Outlaw and the Upstart King upon finishing Book #1, but it took me a little to get to it. Truth was, I wasn’t sure I wanted to continue the series. I found Queen of All Crows a bit of a slog: exciting bits, suspenseful bits, interspersed with long, uninviting text between. I’m happy to report that I had no such issue with Book #2.
Last we saw Elizabeth Barnabus, she and her two friends had boarded a skiff and fled the battle before them, making course instead for the sunny shores of Nova Scotia. And yet, not all went according to plan. The Outlaw and the Upstart King begins shortly after Queen of All Crows leaves off, but instead of Nova Scotia, it find Elizabeth in Newfoundland, a tavern maid with apparent slave-markings. And yet the story doesn’t begin with her.
Elias was once of the Blood—family of one of the ruling class in Newfoundland. He wanted for nothing, he answered to no one, he sat near in line to the Protector’s chair, not outside the realm of possibility that he’d one day rule his clan. And yet, life did not go his way. Cast out for cheating at cards—something Elias swore he didn’t do—he had his thumbs chopped off and found himself disowned, landless, and wanted by every man on the isle. Blood are respected for being rulers, yet feared and hated in equal measure as well. When one is cast out, it’s basically a death sentence, with any man, woman or child eligible to collect the bounty should they take the outlaw first.
And yet, somehow Elias escaped Newfoundland, a feat no other could pull off. For a notorious isolationist land like Newfoundland, his feat was not only unique, it’s worth its weight it gold. For if he could escape, maybe someone could get in the same way, bringing weapons, food or men—anything to break the uneasy truce between the various Protectors, giving one of them the upper hand. Such a thing could even make that man King. King of Newfoundland. So, yes—Elias’s secret is worth much, and he knows it. For what Elias wants above all else is vengeance—upon the men that falsely accused him, the men that cast him out, those that took his thumbs, cast him out and stole his life away. But he only has the one card, and he must wait to play it.
Enter the Upstart Patron Jago, born into a long line of fishermen and laborers, somehow he has risen to the rank of Patron, though in little but name. Oh, he HAS power—enough to keep the commonfolk in line, enough to keep the other clans at bay—but the title means little to his compeers. He would do anything for more power and fame. Anything for a shot at his one true dream: King of Newfoundland. Anything. Even consorting with Elias No-Thumbs.
And then there’s Elizabeth Barnabus. Stranded on Newfoundland. Taken as a slave-apparent by the locals. Forced to work in a tavern. Awaiting her opportunity to escape the unescapable isle—an opportunity she may’ve just lucked into.
With all the pieces in place, three desperate plays are made, each with their own aim. But not everyone can get what they want—this game has but one winner. And which one shall it be?
⚙ ⚙
I really enjoyed the Outlaw and the Upstart King, in all the ways I didn’t the first book. While I felt that the Queen of All Crows borrowed heavily upon the trilogy that came before, OatUK barely referenced the previous book at all, making it all but possible that the previous book hadn’t existed, at least early on. While it may not sound like it, this made for a more immersive experience: as I was able to really get into the story without having to constantly relate back to the previous book for clues. Now there are some points later on that ties the story in to what happened before, but they are few and far between. If anything, OatUK feels like a brand new, episodic adventure—y’know, one that tells a concentrated, complete story while also managing to further the overarching plot in the end. It really feels like your favorite TV show; a contained, satisfying adventure that moves the season’s storyline along while also managing to tell a completely separate story at the same time.
In QoAC, Elizabeth Barnabus shouldered the entire story. While it’s certainly something she could pull off (I assume she did it for most of the first trilogy, right?), I found that her story was often at odds with the main plot of the book. Not just that they didn’t align, but that they often competed for focus. It’s one thing to have two stories playing off one another in a way that somehow tells both better, but a completely different thing to have two stories butt heads continually, distracting the reader from what’s going on. I never connected well with either story, and so the overarching plot of the first book largely felt hollow to me. In OatUK, Elizabeth shares the load with Elias. And while Elias probably gets more screen time than her, their stories meld together quite nicely in a way those in the previous entry never did. For much of the text, Elias’s journey is Elizabeth’s and vice-versa. Their paths are aligned. Their destinies are… right.
The world-building I felt even improved on that of the previous book. Newfoundland is a new place with a new feel, completely unseen from anything that was learned in the Gas-Lit trilogy—but then so was QoAC. But while QoAC takes place mostly on ships or the open ocean, OatUK is entirely on land. The island of Newfoundland provides an excellent setting for this adventure, one that Duncan has redesigned from the ground up to fit the story he tells. I’ve never actually been to Newfoundland IRL, but I doubt it’s anything like this. Well, maybe the tides and landforms and whatnot.
The greatest issue I had was with the characters. In Queen of All Crows we got to know Elizabeth and Julia and Tinker better over the course of the book. While I felt like a lot of detail was absent from the original trilogy—especially fleshing out Elizabeth—it’s true a fair amount of time went in to getting to know our main cast. The various villains, maybe-villains, part-time-villains, and occasional allies never got much backstory. They all felt fairly uninspired, grey, lacking next to the main crew. I felt like OatUK did a better job in humanizing the would-be villains; they felt more real, more substantial, and I better connected with them. And of course Elias is well fleshed-out, most of his backstory being key to the current matters at hand.
And yet, it wasn’t a complete success. Any of his previous life that wasn’t directly relevant to the story was skipped over. I was left quite a few times with questions about his previous life—questions that would never be answered. More so, we don’t deal with Elizabeth’s past anywhere near as much as we did before. In QoAC, honestly I felt her past was skipped over a fair amount, just assuming we’d read the original trilogy. In OatUK, her past is barely referenced at all. I realize that since it IS the 2nd in a trilogy, that Duncan would assume that we’d read the previous installment, and would likely leave a lot of that detail out. But he doesn’t provide us any further detail that’s absent from the first book either. In QoAC, it seemed that her backstory was lightly touched on. In OatUK, it’s all but ignored. Likewise, Tinker and Julia don’t appear as anywhere near the characters they were in Book #1. While Tinker does appear in the text occasionally, he’s nowhere near as dynamic and amazing as the boy we saw before. Julia, on the other hand, is barely even mentioned, spending most the the book off-screen.
TL;DR
The Outlaw and the Upstart King succeeded in virtually every way I felt Queen of All Crows failed. The introduction of Elias as a lead definitely helped. Where Elizabeth was alone in leading the first tale, her and Elias come together in the second to tell the story in tandem, which works quite nicely. While both characters have their own agendas, for a good chunk of the time they happen to align, keeping the reader’s eyes ahead, instead of attempting to focus on two, very different plots. The Queen of All Crows felt like just a progression of the original trilogy, but the sequel tells a contained and complete story that—while it required no real knowledge of any of the previous stories—still managed to further the overarching plot of the Map of Unknown Things. Meanwhile, the world-building continues to improve. The isle of Newfoundland provides a lovely backdrop for the plot—which Duncan has masterfully rebuilt in this alternate history to suit his story. The only issue with the story is in its characters. While Elias and the Newfoundlanders (Newfoundlandians?) fleshed out quite well, neither Elizabeth nor her friends came across as well as they did in the last book. It’s as if in trying to tell this new story better, the author forgot to keep developing his existing characters to match.
All in all, highly recommended! An amazing piece by Rod Duncan—even more than I ever could of hoped after being disappointed with Book #1. The Outlaw and the Upstart King provides a lovely cover as well—complements of the talented Amazing15, who only knew of 14 entities more amazing than they. The Map of Unknown Things concludes with The Fugitive and the Vanishing Man, out earlier this week, January 14, 2020, which promises to be the final Elizabeth Barnabus adventure.
https://arefugefromlife.wordpress.com...
I was somewhat divided on my intro to Elizabeth Barnabus after coming late to the party in The Queen of All Crows, Book 1 of the Map of Unknown Things but #4 of her combined journey.
I joined the adventures of Elizabeth Barnabus late—reading the Queen of All Crows last year without making my way through the Fall of the Gas-Lit Empire trilogy first. I’m guessing that this was an important factor in my divided opinion of the book; it felt like there were some inside jokes I wasn’t privy to, some extensive backstory I was missing out on, so many elements that just weren’t explained properly or fully. And yet, without reading the Gas-Lit trilogy first, how could I say for sure? Maybe these things weren’t a side-effect of my skipping straight to the Map of Unknown Things, maybe the Queen of All Crows was just underwhelming and poorly explained.
I already had a copy of The Outlaw and the Upstart King upon finishing Book #1, but it took me a little to get to it. Truth was, I wasn’t sure I wanted to continue the series. I found Queen of All Crows a bit of a slog: exciting bits, suspenseful bits, interspersed with long, uninviting text between. I’m happy to report that I had no such issue with Book #2.
Last we saw Elizabeth Barnabus, she and her two friends had boarded a skiff and fled the battle before them, making course instead for the sunny shores of Nova Scotia. And yet, not all went according to plan. The Outlaw and the Upstart King begins shortly after Queen of All Crows leaves off, but instead of Nova Scotia, it find Elizabeth in Newfoundland, a tavern maid with apparent slave-markings. And yet the story doesn’t begin with her.
Elias was once of the Blood—family of one of the ruling class in Newfoundland. He wanted for nothing, he answered to no one, he sat near in line to the Protector’s chair, not outside the realm of possibility that he’d one day rule his clan. And yet, life did not go his way. Cast out for cheating at cards—something Elias swore he didn’t do—he had his thumbs chopped off and found himself disowned, landless, and wanted by every man on the isle. Blood are respected for being rulers, yet feared and hated in equal measure as well. When one is cast out, it’s basically a death sentence, with any man, woman or child eligible to collect the bounty should they take the outlaw first.
And yet, somehow Elias escaped Newfoundland, a feat no other could pull off. For a notorious isolationist land like Newfoundland, his feat was not only unique, it’s worth its weight it gold. For if he could escape, maybe someone could get in the same way, bringing weapons, food or men—anything to break the uneasy truce between the various Protectors, giving one of them the upper hand. Such a thing could even make that man King. King of Newfoundland. So, yes—Elias’s secret is worth much, and he knows it. For what Elias wants above all else is vengeance—upon the men that falsely accused him, the men that cast him out, those that took his thumbs, cast him out and stole his life away. But he only has the one card, and he must wait to play it.
Enter the Upstart Patron Jago, born into a long line of fishermen and laborers, somehow he has risen to the rank of Patron, though in little but name. Oh, he HAS power—enough to keep the commonfolk in line, enough to keep the other clans at bay—but the title means little to his compeers. He would do anything for more power and fame. Anything for a shot at his one true dream: King of Newfoundland. Anything. Even consorting with Elias No-Thumbs.
And then there’s Elizabeth Barnabus. Stranded on Newfoundland. Taken as a slave-apparent by the locals. Forced to work in a tavern. Awaiting her opportunity to escape the unescapable isle—an opportunity she may’ve just lucked into.
With all the pieces in place, three desperate plays are made, each with their own aim. But not everyone can get what they want—this game has but one winner. And which one shall it be?
⚙ ⚙
I really enjoyed the Outlaw and the Upstart King, in all the ways I didn’t the first book. While I felt that the Queen of All Crows borrowed heavily upon the trilogy that came before, OatUK barely referenced the previous book at all, making it all but possible that the previous book hadn’t existed, at least early on. While it may not sound like it, this made for a more immersive experience: as I was able to really get into the story without having to constantly relate back to the previous book for clues. Now there are some points later on that ties the story in to what happened before, but they are few and far between. If anything, OatUK feels like a brand new, episodic adventure—y’know, one that tells a concentrated, complete story while also managing to further the overarching plot in the end. It really feels like your favorite TV show; a contained, satisfying adventure that moves the season’s storyline along while also managing to tell a completely separate story at the same time.
In QoAC, Elizabeth Barnabus shouldered the entire story. While it’s certainly something she could pull off (I assume she did it for most of the first trilogy, right?), I found that her story was often at odds with the main plot of the book. Not just that they didn’t align, but that they often competed for focus. It’s one thing to have two stories playing off one another in a way that somehow tells both better, but a completely different thing to have two stories butt heads continually, distracting the reader from what’s going on. I never connected well with either story, and so the overarching plot of the first book largely felt hollow to me. In OatUK, Elizabeth shares the load with Elias. And while Elias probably gets more screen time than her, their stories meld together quite nicely in a way those in the previous entry never did. For much of the text, Elias’s journey is Elizabeth’s and vice-versa. Their paths are aligned. Their destinies are… right.
The world-building I felt even improved on that of the previous book. Newfoundland is a new place with a new feel, completely unseen from anything that was learned in the Gas-Lit trilogy—but then so was QoAC. But while QoAC takes place mostly on ships or the open ocean, OatUK is entirely on land. The island of Newfoundland provides an excellent setting for this adventure, one that Duncan has redesigned from the ground up to fit the story he tells. I’ve never actually been to Newfoundland IRL, but I doubt it’s anything like this. Well, maybe the tides and landforms and whatnot.
The greatest issue I had was with the characters. In Queen of All Crows we got to know Elizabeth and Julia and Tinker better over the course of the book. While I felt like a lot of detail was absent from the original trilogy—especially fleshing out Elizabeth—it’s true a fair amount of time went in to getting to know our main cast. The various villains, maybe-villains, part-time-villains, and occasional allies never got much backstory. They all felt fairly uninspired, grey, lacking next to the main crew. I felt like OatUK did a better job in humanizing the would-be villains; they felt more real, more substantial, and I better connected with them. And of course Elias is well fleshed-out, most of his backstory being key to the current matters at hand.
And yet, it wasn’t a complete success. Any of his previous life that wasn’t directly relevant to the story was skipped over. I was left quite a few times with questions about his previous life—questions that would never be answered. More so, we don’t deal with Elizabeth’s past anywhere near as much as we did before. In QoAC, honestly I felt her past was skipped over a fair amount, just assuming we’d read the original trilogy. In OatUK, her past is barely referenced at all. I realize that since it IS the 2nd in a trilogy, that Duncan would assume that we’d read the previous installment, and would likely leave a lot of that detail out. But he doesn’t provide us any further detail that’s absent from the first book either. In QoAC, it seemed that her backstory was lightly touched on. In OatUK, it’s all but ignored. Likewise, Tinker and Julia don’t appear as anywhere near the characters they were in Book #1. While Tinker does appear in the text occasionally, he’s nowhere near as dynamic and amazing as the boy we saw before. Julia, on the other hand, is barely even mentioned, spending most the the book off-screen.
TL;DR
The Outlaw and the Upstart King succeeded in virtually every way I felt Queen of All Crows failed. The introduction of Elias as a lead definitely helped. Where Elizabeth was alone in leading the first tale, her and Elias come together in the second to tell the story in tandem, which works quite nicely. While both characters have their own agendas, for a good chunk of the time they happen to align, keeping the reader’s eyes ahead, instead of attempting to focus on two, very different plots. The Queen of All Crows felt like just a progression of the original trilogy, but the sequel tells a contained and complete story that—while it required no real knowledge of any of the previous stories—still managed to further the overarching plot of the Map of Unknown Things. Meanwhile, the world-building continues to improve. The isle of Newfoundland provides a lovely backdrop for the plot—which Duncan has masterfully rebuilt in this alternate history to suit his story. The only issue with the story is in its characters. While Elias and the Newfoundlanders (Newfoundlandians?) fleshed out quite well, neither Elizabeth nor her friends came across as well as they did in the last book. It’s as if in trying to tell this new story better, the author forgot to keep developing his existing characters to match.
All in all, highly recommended! An amazing piece by Rod Duncan—even more than I ever could of hoped after being disappointed with Book #1. The Outlaw and the Upstart King provides a lovely cover as well—complements of the talented Amazing15, who only knew of 14 entities more amazing than they. The Map of Unknown Things concludes with The Fugitive and the Vanishing Man, out earlier this week, January 14, 2020, which promises to be the final Elizabeth Barnabus adventure.
September 4, 2019
This review originally published in Looking For a Good Book. Rated 4.5 of 5
I'll begin by saying that I think Rod Duncan is one of the freshest voices currently writing in science fantasy. If I see Duncan's name on a book, I'm probably going to buy it (and there aren't many authors about whom I would say that).
The Outlaw and the Upstart King is the second volume in Duncan's The Map of Unknown Things series, and is the fifth book in the Elizabeth Barnabus series. But this is also the first book in which Elizabeth plays a more background role, which definitely had me feeling a little off-balance for awhile as I've really grown to liking the character.
Here we find ourselves on the coast of Newfoundland - a savage territory where warlords control clans and those who serve the warlords are marked by special tattoos. Elias is a man marked, but by his missing thumbs ... severed as punishment ... and he now looks for his revenge on those who have crippled him.
We spend a fair amount of time getting Elias' story before Elizabeth makes her appearance (enough so that I stopped twice to look back at the beginning to make sure I really was reading a book in the Elizabeth Barnabus series). It is a strange diversion and reads almost like a spin-off, but the deeper we get into the story the more realize the masterful touch Duncan is putting on this, giving us three stories (that for Elizabeth, Elias, and warlord Patron Jago) that intersect and we are allowed to be there to see how each uses the others to further their own goals. This is a really fascinating study in conflict and character and patience and we don't always know who is using whom or who has the upper hand.
Duncan provides an intricate literary dance and he does so with strong, believable characters and in a world that is tremendously familiar and yet oddly foreign at the same time. It is this ability to bring this kind of story into the home of the reader that makes Duncan such a masterful story-teller.
I think that you could pick up this book and read it without having read any of the other books in the Elizabeth Barnabus series ... but why would you? Allow yourself to take the journey in the Gas-Light Empire with Rod Duncan as your guide.
Looking for a good book? The Outlaw and the Upstart King by Rod Duncan is a tightly woven story with three strong protagonists, each trying to get the upper hand, within the steampunk-like Gas-Light Empire series and it is well worth reading.
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.
I'll begin by saying that I think Rod Duncan is one of the freshest voices currently writing in science fantasy. If I see Duncan's name on a book, I'm probably going to buy it (and there aren't many authors about whom I would say that).
The Outlaw and the Upstart King is the second volume in Duncan's The Map of Unknown Things series, and is the fifth book in the Elizabeth Barnabus series. But this is also the first book in which Elizabeth plays a more background role, which definitely had me feeling a little off-balance for awhile as I've really grown to liking the character.
Here we find ourselves on the coast of Newfoundland - a savage territory where warlords control clans and those who serve the warlords are marked by special tattoos. Elias is a man marked, but by his missing thumbs ... severed as punishment ... and he now looks for his revenge on those who have crippled him.
We spend a fair amount of time getting Elias' story before Elizabeth makes her appearance (enough so that I stopped twice to look back at the beginning to make sure I really was reading a book in the Elizabeth Barnabus series). It is a strange diversion and reads almost like a spin-off, but the deeper we get into the story the more realize the masterful touch Duncan is putting on this, giving us three stories (that for Elizabeth, Elias, and warlord Patron Jago) that intersect and we are allowed to be there to see how each uses the others to further their own goals. This is a really fascinating study in conflict and character and patience and we don't always know who is using whom or who has the upper hand.
Duncan provides an intricate literary dance and he does so with strong, believable characters and in a world that is tremendously familiar and yet oddly foreign at the same time. It is this ability to bring this kind of story into the home of the reader that makes Duncan such a masterful story-teller.
I think that you could pick up this book and read it without having read any of the other books in the Elizabeth Barnabus series ... but why would you? Allow yourself to take the journey in the Gas-Light Empire with Rod Duncan as your guide.
Looking for a good book? The Outlaw and the Upstart King by Rod Duncan is a tightly woven story with three strong protagonists, each trying to get the upper hand, within the steampunk-like Gas-Light Empire series and it is well worth reading.
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.
January 18, 2019
GAH! I have so many questions! First and foremost is HOW AM I GOING TO SURVIVE UNTIL THE NEXT BOOK?!
Rod Duncan writes the most amazingly complex characters and I am here for it. I spent the better part of the book unsure of how I felt about Elias and in the end, I rather like him. He's a flawed human who goes through a lot of growth and change but still has a ways to go come the end of the book. The world that is described is so clear in my mind despite being unfamiliar with the actual place in real life.
Basically (look, it's late and I'm sleepy), this book was spectacular. It draws you in, shakes you like a wild thing, toys with your emotions, and leaves you wanting more.
Rod Duncan writes the most amazingly complex characters and I am here for it. I spent the better part of the book unsure of how I felt about Elias and in the end, I rather like him. He's a flawed human who goes through a lot of growth and change but still has a ways to go come the end of the book. The world that is described is so clear in my mind despite being unfamiliar with the actual place in real life.
Basically (look, it's late and I'm sleepy), this book was spectacular. It draws you in, shakes you like a wild thing, toys with your emotions, and leaves you wanting more.
Read
October 25, 2018Proofread
December 30, 2018
Every time I think Rod Duncan's written his best book, he writes another one and proves me utterly wrong.
Elizabeth, her best friend Julia, and the orphan boy Tinker, having escaped a battle between the Company (of the Gas-Lit Empire) and the women of Freedom Island in the middle of the Sargasso Sea, wash up on the shores of what they think is north America, only to discover it's Newfoundland, and they're about to be made slaves, according to Newfoundland Law (such as it is).
**SPOILERS AHEAD**
What follows is an account of how Elizabeth tries to find a way to get the three of them to freedom, sometimes aided, sometimes obstructed by Elias No Thumbs, formerly of the Blood, son of the ruling class of Newfoundland, who was set up in rigged card game and accused of cheating in punishment for his previous cheating at cards. He loses both his thumbs before being Outlawed by the Blood. He manages to escape from Newfoundland to mainland America in a smugglers' submarine and once in the Yukon finds work making 'glycer-fortis' (the equivalent of gelignite). He's sent back to Newfoundland after 18 months to persuade one of the Patrons (heads of the different Blood clans) to join forces with the smugglers in Yukon so that they can open up a trade route between the two.
What follows is weeks of crawling tension (I was forcibly reminded of Frodo and Sam's journey through the land of Mordor) as Elias tries to fulfil his task without being killed outright, and Elizabeth seeks to find a way to get herself, Julia, and Tinker, to the Americas.
Elizabeth, her best friend Julia, and the orphan boy Tinker, having escaped a battle between the Company (of the Gas-Lit Empire) and the women of Freedom Island in the middle of the Sargasso Sea, wash up on the shores of what they think is north America, only to discover it's Newfoundland, and they're about to be made slaves, according to Newfoundland Law (such as it is).
**SPOILERS AHEAD**
What follows is an account of how Elizabeth tries to find a way to get the three of them to freedom, sometimes aided, sometimes obstructed by Elias No Thumbs, formerly of the Blood, son of the ruling class of Newfoundland, who was set up in rigged card game and accused of cheating in punishment for his previous cheating at cards. He loses both his thumbs before being Outlawed by the Blood. He manages to escape from Newfoundland to mainland America in a smugglers' submarine and once in the Yukon finds work making 'glycer-fortis' (the equivalent of gelignite). He's sent back to Newfoundland after 18 months to persuade one of the Patrons (heads of the different Blood clans) to join forces with the smugglers in Yukon so that they can open up a trade route between the two.
What follows is weeks of crawling tension (I was forcibly reminded of Frodo and Sam's journey through the land of Mordor) as Elias tries to fulfil his task without being killed outright, and Elizabeth seeks to find a way to get herself, Julia, and Tinker, to the Americas.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 11, 2019
3.5 stars
I still prefer Elizabeth's first-person narration from the first trilogy to the third-person limited employed here (and I am normally not a huge fan of first-person narration) but I still love Elizabeth to bits. While it's not the strongest book in the series, it is definitely still a fun read.
Looking forward to seeing more Julia next book, and hopefully a return to the cross-dressing and more overt steampunk of previous novels - this one at felt much more like a traditional fantasy than any of the others have. Less excited about other developments that can't be gone into without spoilers.
I still prefer Elizabeth's first-person narration from the first trilogy to the third-person limited employed here (and I am normally not a huge fan of first-person narration) but I still love Elizabeth to bits. While it's not the strongest book in the series, it is definitely still a fun read.
Looking forward to seeing more Julia next book, and hopefully a return to the cross-dressing and more overt steampunk of previous novels - this one at felt much more like a traditional fantasy than any of the others have. Less excited about other developments that can't be gone into without spoilers.
November 17, 2018
This is the second book of the second Elizabeth Barnabus Trilogy (the first trilogy being the Gas-Lit Empire), but you could be forgiven for thinking it isn't about her to begin with because Elizabeth doesn't appear until well into the story. It's partly narrated by the outlaw, Elias No-Thumbs, a man in search of a certain kind of revenge, or maybe justice, and it's set in a dangerously feudal version of Newfoundland where people are bound by tattooed oaths. Warlords, known as Patron Protectors, rule, supported by thugs. The upstart Jago is one such, a man to be feared.
It turns out that Elizabeth and her friends, Julia and Tinker, have been shipwrecked on the shores of Newfoundland and the problem is how to get off the island, since the only routes in and out are dictated by the patrons – but we don't discover that until Chapter 9, the second part of the book. Thereafter the viewpoint is shared between Elizabeth and Elias. This is really Elias' book. He's the one with the greatest journey to make in order to understand the lengths he'll go to for revenge on the ones that outlawed him and cut off his thumbs. Elizabeth gets embroiled in Elias's troubles in her search for a way off the island.
There's obviously another book to come, and I'm looking forward to it. I've thoroughly enjoyed Rod Duncan's Barnabus books. Maybe this one slightly less than Queen of All Crows.
(Netgalley review copy)
It turns out that Elizabeth and her friends, Julia and Tinker, have been shipwrecked on the shores of Newfoundland and the problem is how to get off the island, since the only routes in and out are dictated by the patrons – but we don't discover that until Chapter 9, the second part of the book. Thereafter the viewpoint is shared between Elizabeth and Elias. This is really Elias' book. He's the one with the greatest journey to make in order to understand the lengths he'll go to for revenge on the ones that outlawed him and cut off his thumbs. Elizabeth gets embroiled in Elias's troubles in her search for a way off the island.
There's obviously another book to come, and I'm looking forward to it. I've thoroughly enjoyed Rod Duncan's Barnabus books. Maybe this one slightly less than Queen of All Crows.
(Netgalley review copy)
March 18, 2019
This is the kind of steampunk I show up for every time someone is smart enough to publish it. Creative, new, and character driven. This series doesn't fall over itself to be inclusive of descriptions of gears and bargain bin 3-CPOs to add meat to the setting. Can I just say, I love this world setting so much. Conceptually we started in a very traditional Victorian-esque feel within the Gas-lit Empire but as the books have developed the true variety of locations and ways of life have just been delightful to discover. Even better that variety feels like it is evolving naturally.
The microcosm of the Island of Newfoundland feels a little viking jarls and a little wild, wild West in a way that shouldn't work, but it does. The entire concept of oaths being tattooed to the body as the only law isn't something I have seen in other books. I read pretty extensively and I've seen tattoos used in many different ways (magical, punitive, decorative, etc.) but the idea of a broken oath requiring the removal of the body part it was tattooed on is a new one. It could have been a cumbersome detail but overall it added interest.
My one gripe is I missed Tinker's voice in this story. Tinker has never been a super chatty character but his appearance in past books have been fun to follow and I look forward to them. More Tinker please!
The microcosm of the Island of Newfoundland feels a little viking jarls and a little wild, wild West in a way that shouldn't work, but it does. The entire concept of oaths being tattooed to the body as the only law isn't something I have seen in other books. I read pretty extensively and I've seen tattoos used in many different ways (magical, punitive, decorative, etc.) but the idea of a broken oath requiring the removal of the body part it was tattooed on is a new one. It could have been a cumbersome detail but overall it added interest.
My one gripe is I missed Tinker's voice in this story. Tinker has never been a super chatty character but his appearance in past books have been fun to follow and I look forward to them. More Tinker please!
April 12, 2020
Audio. A different approach in that the story is initially told from the POV of Elias, not Elizabeth - her version comes later. It is nicely done and catches your interest well as Elias is a complex and interesting character.
As ever with Mr Duncan, the story moves along at a rollicking pace, with some wonderful -albeit none to pleasant - characters coming into the mix. It is difficult to say much without spoilers, suffice it to say the story touches on some interesting themes which are also relevant to the world in which we live, not just The Gas Lit Empire. Previous books in the series entertained me mightily, this one also made me think beyond the story which is always a plus point.
The only downside was the narrator, Gemma Whelan was so very good in the previous books, Elizabeth Sastre not so much. Regrettably it did detract as there were some awful mispronunciations that jarred like fingernails on a blackboard. I will have to brace myself before tackling the next tale.
As ever with Mr Duncan, the story moves along at a rollicking pace, with some wonderful -albeit none to pleasant - characters coming into the mix. It is difficult to say much without spoilers, suffice it to say the story touches on some interesting themes which are also relevant to the world in which we live, not just The Gas Lit Empire. Previous books in the series entertained me mightily, this one also made me think beyond the story which is always a plus point.
The only downside was the narrator, Gemma Whelan was so very good in the previous books, Elizabeth Sastre not so much. Regrettably it did detract as there were some awful mispronunciations that jarred like fingernails on a blackboard. I will have to brace myself before tackling the next tale.
April 6, 2019
This was a tough one to rate. On one hand, in seems a worthy sequel to book #1 in the series, but on the other hand, this book came across as brutal, and almost unforgivingly depressing. There were so many instances of cruelty, beatings, and torture that I was tempted to perform a DNF (Did Not Finish). I did stick it out to the end, but honestly I think the world building dialog left the advancement of the plot lines hanging out to dry.
March 15, 2019
Overall, the plot was alright - no particularly huge twists or turns, but entertaining nonetheless. It didn’t feel like Elizabeth had too much to contribute to the story, and I hope the next book in this trilogy gives her the main role she deserved in this one.
May 8, 2019
DNF. I was really hoping for another exciting story for Elizabeth Barnabus, but she's relegated to Special Guest Star status here, and I just could not maintain interest with its dire gloom and brutality. I might try it again later as I truly enjoy this universe, but for now it kind of lost me.
February 20, 2022
Wonderful
Duncan is an incredible storyteller. I am looking forward to the next book and the continued saga of Elizabeth and her friends.
Duncan is an incredible storyteller. I am looking forward to the next book and the continued saga of Elizabeth and her friends.
February 18, 2020
This is the 2nd book in the “Map of Unknown Things” trilogy and the 5th book overall focusing on Elizabeth Barnabus. The original trilogy, “The Fall of the Gas-Lit Empire”, including the first book “The Bullet-catcher’s Daughter”, has been one of my favorite book series that I have discovered in a very long time. The characters were well developed and dynamic. The world, a world in which technology is stuck in the 1800s, where people fly in dirigibles and women aren’t allowed to do pretty much anything on their own, that all was exciting and fun to read. Elizabeth’s relationship with John Farthing was captivating. The characters of Julia and Tinker and worrying about their peril kept me engaged. I loved all three Gas-Lit empire books.
So… when I heard Rod Duncan was continuing the series, in America, in an alternative world where slavery was still going on, I was super excited to find out how he would develop that world and how his already established characters would navigate their lives in it.
When Queen of All Crows came out, I was a bit let down, because instead of getting that New World, I was treated to a novel-long pirate adventure that I didn’t find nearly as engaging as the first three books. But it is not my series, I am not the author, I just thought that book was delaying the inevitable adventure to come and I was still excited to get my hands on the next book in the series.
So with a very heavy heart, I have to say that I absolutely hated this book. Hated with a passion that burns so deeply, that I hesitated to even write a review about this book because I really like the first three books and think Rod Duncan has done brilliant work in the past, I like him as an author, and didn’t want to disparage his work. I am currently reading the last book (I’m assuming it’s a trilogy) of the Map of Unknown Things, and felt the need to get out my frustrations with this book while I’m still thinking about it. A year later, and my hatred for this book continues to burn unabated.
Why is this book so different than the others? Well, once again our heroine Elizabeth Barnabus is waylaid on her… I don’t even know what her journey is anymore. She was rescuing Julia from pirates in the last book, and in this book they wash up on the shores of Newfoundland, and I don’t think it is a spoiler to say that we don’t see Julia, Tinker (or any John Farthing) for almost the entire book. So four books worth of establishing Elizabeth’s closest relationships are completely thrown out and a whole new complicated cast of characters is introduced.
Instead of focusing the plot just on Elizabeth, a new character called Elias, who has a complicated history, no thumbs, and for some reason now needs small doses of nitroglycerin (oh sorry, glycer-fortis) or his heart stops beating, also gets a point of view… which is an interesting narrative twist, but is it relevant as the series continues? I’m not sure.
Instead of delving deeper into the Gas-Lit Empire, a new world on Newfoundland is created in which people are “oath-bound” by a tattoo, which basically means they are treated as slaves, but are not in fact slaves, and are not allowed to leave the island. The island is divided up into areas controlled by Patron-Protectors who form clans. Lots of complicated clan stuff goes on, Elizabeth gets caught by, and then “enslaved” by a Patron Protector named Jago, and then Elias, Jago, Elizabeth, and a bunch of other men from the clan spend a whole lot of time wandering across the island to meet up with someone to try to get something from him (a weapon of some sort).
Ugh, most of the book involves the Patron Protector Jago basically threatening to rape Elizabeth Barnabus, and this is so drawn out and awful. It was gratuitous, unnecessary, and I hate when books do this. The story focuses 50% on Elizabeth’s story, which in the past has all been on how she can get herself out of bad situations and in this story she seemed to be “iced” for most of the book where she just put up with whatever the men wanted, and 50% on Elias’s story, which is interesting, but not what I was here for, and may not be relevant in future books.
In fact, part way through the 6th (and last?) book, there has been no mention of Elias and a very minor mention of Newfoundland, so if you wanted to skip this book, go ahead.
Why do I hate this book so much? It does not move the plot forward at all, instead of developing existing characters, ALL the pre-existing characters except Elizabeth is fridged (and she is basically fridged, plot-wise), new characters are introduced but are not relative to the overall plot of the entire series.
This is the second book in a row that I feel like just stalls the plot, and I really, really hated it.
Again, I want to say that I loved the first three books, I love the characters of Elizabeth Barnabus, John Farthing, Julia, and Tinker, and I only want good things for the author Rod Duncan, but I was expecting this book to be better than it was.
So… when I heard Rod Duncan was continuing the series, in America, in an alternative world where slavery was still going on, I was super excited to find out how he would develop that world and how his already established characters would navigate their lives in it.
When Queen of All Crows came out, I was a bit let down, because instead of getting that New World, I was treated to a novel-long pirate adventure that I didn’t find nearly as engaging as the first three books. But it is not my series, I am not the author, I just thought that book was delaying the inevitable adventure to come and I was still excited to get my hands on the next book in the series.
So with a very heavy heart, I have to say that I absolutely hated this book. Hated with a passion that burns so deeply, that I hesitated to even write a review about this book because I really like the first three books and think Rod Duncan has done brilliant work in the past, I like him as an author, and didn’t want to disparage his work. I am currently reading the last book (I’m assuming it’s a trilogy) of the Map of Unknown Things, and felt the need to get out my frustrations with this book while I’m still thinking about it. A year later, and my hatred for this book continues to burn unabated.
Why is this book so different than the others? Well, once again our heroine Elizabeth Barnabus is waylaid on her… I don’t even know what her journey is anymore. She was rescuing Julia from pirates in the last book, and in this book they wash up on the shores of Newfoundland, and I don’t think it is a spoiler to say that we don’t see Julia, Tinker (or any John Farthing) for almost the entire book. So four books worth of establishing Elizabeth’s closest relationships are completely thrown out and a whole new complicated cast of characters is introduced.
Instead of focusing the plot just on Elizabeth, a new character called Elias, who has a complicated history, no thumbs, and for some reason now needs small doses of nitroglycerin (oh sorry, glycer-fortis) or his heart stops beating, also gets a point of view… which is an interesting narrative twist, but is it relevant as the series continues? I’m not sure.
Instead of delving deeper into the Gas-Lit Empire, a new world on Newfoundland is created in which people are “oath-bound” by a tattoo, which basically means they are treated as slaves, but are not in fact slaves, and are not allowed to leave the island. The island is divided up into areas controlled by Patron-Protectors who form clans. Lots of complicated clan stuff goes on, Elizabeth gets caught by, and then “enslaved” by a Patron Protector named Jago, and then Elias, Jago, Elizabeth, and a bunch of other men from the clan spend a whole lot of time wandering across the island to meet up with someone to try to get something from him (a weapon of some sort).
Ugh, most of the book involves the Patron Protector Jago basically threatening to rape Elizabeth Barnabus, and this is so drawn out and awful. It was gratuitous, unnecessary, and I hate when books do this. The story focuses 50% on Elizabeth’s story, which in the past has all been on how she can get herself out of bad situations and in this story she seemed to be “iced” for most of the book where she just put up with whatever the men wanted, and 50% on Elias’s story, which is interesting, but not what I was here for, and may not be relevant in future books.
In fact, part way through the 6th (and last?) book, there has been no mention of Elias and a very minor mention of Newfoundland, so if you wanted to skip this book, go ahead.
Why do I hate this book so much? It does not move the plot forward at all, instead of developing existing characters, ALL the pre-existing characters except Elizabeth is fridged (and she is basically fridged, plot-wise), new characters are introduced but are not relative to the overall plot of the entire series.
This is the second book in a row that I feel like just stalls the plot, and I really, really hated it.
Again, I want to say that I loved the first three books, I love the characters of Elizabeth Barnabus, John Farthing, Julia, and Tinker, and I only want good things for the author Rod Duncan, but I was expecting this book to be better than it was.
November 26, 2018
The Outlaw and the Upstart King was a good story that kept me engaged and wanting to know what was going to happen. The story is told from two point of views and starts with the outlaw, Elias’s, point of view. When the story starts Elias just seems like a guy who has been wronged and is looking for revenge, but as the story progresses he really turns into someone unlikeable. He allowed himself to be disrespected so much it was almost unbelievable. I understand it was all in pursuit of his goal, but by the end of the story I was over him as a protagonist. The best part of the story were the female characters they were strong and made logical decisions. The women, especially Elizabeth, were able to make things happen without stooping as low as Elias. Overall this was a good read. There was enough action to keep the story moving and the other characters in the story made up for Elias’s shortcomings.
Provided an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Provided an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
January 4, 2019
An entire review can be found at In Pursuit of My Own Library.
The Outlaw and the Upstart King made me glad that I gave Duncan another shot.
Duncan refreshes the series with an entirely new character. Heck, we don't even see Elizabeth until Part Two. Once Elizabeth introduces herself to Elias, we finish the novel switching between perspectives.
The new leading gent Elias No-Thumbs has a name you just have to get the story behind. The small blurb showing him as a leading character on Netgalley is the sole reason I requested the ARC and headed back to the Gas-Lit Empire at all.
Elias is a man down on his luck and living off the scrapings of the rich and mighty he used to rub shoulders with. He sells his freedom for a ride on an unwelcome smugglers rig and gets enslaved in a glycer factory. He then sells his future for revenge. Little did he know what we would find on that return trip when he signed the oath with his blood.
This is not a happy novel. It is filled with disgust, shame, dirt and hardship. There is pain. There is angst. But I read every last sentence with rapt attention.
Congratulations, Duncan, on making a story that showed sides of the human experience I haven't read in a long while and bringing me back to why I loved the "Gas-Lit Empire."
The Outlaw and the Upstart King made me glad that I gave Duncan another shot.
Duncan refreshes the series with an entirely new character. Heck, we don't even see Elizabeth until Part Two. Once Elizabeth introduces herself to Elias, we finish the novel switching between perspectives.
The new leading gent Elias No-Thumbs has a name you just have to get the story behind. The small blurb showing him as a leading character on Netgalley is the sole reason I requested the ARC and headed back to the Gas-Lit Empire at all.
Elias is a man down on his luck and living off the scrapings of the rich and mighty he used to rub shoulders with. He sells his freedom for a ride on an unwelcome smugglers rig and gets enslaved in a glycer factory. He then sells his future for revenge. Little did he know what we would find on that return trip when he signed the oath with his blood.
This is not a happy novel. It is filled with disgust, shame, dirt and hardship. There is pain. There is angst. But I read every last sentence with rapt attention.
Congratulations, Duncan, on making a story that showed sides of the human experience I haven't read in a long while and bringing me back to why I loved the "Gas-Lit Empire."
Read
October 26, 2020I love the author as a person(he is very kind to me on Twitter) however after picking up this book/putting down this book so many times over the past few months I personally couldn't get into the story at all.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews