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Driftwood Orphans
Before she was betrayed and left for dead, Tenny was many things: prodigal daughter of the Driftwood City underworld. Leader of the Thorn Orphans, the gang fighting for a better tomorrow. City shaman, able to bend her home's boroughs to her will. Partner-in-crime to Cole, the runaway rich boy with powers just like hers.
But that was all before.
Four years later, Tenny is an exile, sleepwalking through life and waiting to die. But a chance encounter puts her on a bloody path back to the life she left behind. Friendless and powerless, she returns to Driftwood City, only to find a world where the Thorn Orphans have finally won. A better tomorrow, today.
And all that progress tethered to the heartbeat of the friend who ordered her death.
Her city. Her vengeance. It's an impossible choice.
But if Tenny wants to survive, she'll have to choose one.
But that was all before.
Four years later, Tenny is an exile, sleepwalking through life and waiting to die. But a chance encounter puts her on a bloody path back to the life she left behind. Friendless and powerless, she returns to Driftwood City, only to find a world where the Thorn Orphans have finally won. A better tomorrow, today.
And all that progress tethered to the heartbeat of the friend who ordered her death.
Her city. Her vengeance. It's an impossible choice.
But if Tenny wants to survive, she'll have to choose one.
- GenresFantasy
512 pages, Hardcover
First published June 23, 2022
6 people are currently reading
416 people want to read
About the author
Paul Krueger
7 books397 followersPaul Krueger is a fantasy author and lapsed Chicagoan currently living in Los Angeles. His bartending-and-magic debut novel, LAST CALL AT THE NIGHTSHADE LOUNGE, was published by Quirk Books in June of 2016. His next, STEEL CROW SAGA, is forthcoming in fall of 2019 from Del Rey Books.
His non-writing hobbies include cooking, D&D, karaoke, and collecting comics. He's also a musician, fronting the Adventure Time-themed punk band Lemonbadd.
If found, Paul should be returned to DongWon Song of Howard Morhaim Literary.
His non-writing hobbies include cooking, D&D, karaoke, and collecting comics. He's also a musician, fronting the Adventure Time-themed punk band Lemonbadd.
If found, Paul should be returned to DongWon Song of Howard Morhaim Literary.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
December 3, 2022
I listened to the audiobook, and I feel like it took a while to get into the story but by the end I was invested and wanted to know what happen.
November 17, 2022
Audio version. I really liked the start, but it was dragging for me by the end. Narrator is good, world is intriguing, but... I dunno. I just wasn't grabbed.
July 27, 2025
3.5 stars
January 7, 2023
Pros: Rich, creative world, interesting ideas, enjoyable action
Cons: it's long and feels, and the real message takes quite a while to manifest
Driftwood Orphans is an enjoyable book. The real star is the city at the center of it, "Driftwood City." A dynamic and richly textured setting that feels real and lived in. Every new fascet uncovered was very enjoyable to discover. I think there are many more stories to be told there.
Tenny, our narrator is... Somewhat less so. She isn't poorly written, just abrasive and sometimes frustrating. But she has a lot of growth, and eventually, some wisdom to share. And she comes by her original demeanor and growth honestly.
This would probably have worked better as 3 books, just from a pacing perspective. As it is, it feels like 2.5 books spliced together. I never considered abandoning the book - but it is a lot. There isn't a ton that shouldn't be here, but it's just a very long journey for a single book.
The perspective, first person aimed at the reader, can be a bit jarring at times. But by and large, it works well. The writing is descriptive without lingering overlong on anything, or breezing over the things it shouldn't.
Cons: it's long and feels, and the real message takes quite a while to manifest
Driftwood Orphans is an enjoyable book. The real star is the city at the center of it, "Driftwood City." A dynamic and richly textured setting that feels real and lived in. Every new fascet uncovered was very enjoyable to discover. I think there are many more stories to be told there.
Tenny, our narrator is... Somewhat less so. She isn't poorly written, just abrasive and sometimes frustrating. But she has a lot of growth, and eventually, some wisdom to share. And she comes by her original demeanor and growth honestly.
This would probably have worked better as 3 books, just from a pacing perspective. As it is, it feels like 2.5 books spliced together. I never considered abandoning the book - but it is a lot. There isn't a ton that shouldn't be here, but it's just a very long journey for a single book.
The perspective, first person aimed at the reader, can be a bit jarring at times. But by and large, it works well. The writing is descriptive without lingering overlong on anything, or breezing over the things it shouldn't.
August 13, 2025
3.5, rounded up. this was a really interesting book! it definitely took me a while to get into it because, in a way i liked and didn't like, it dropped me into the world without a whole lot of explanation.
while I appreciate this in the sense we can just get going, it did take me a bit longer to then care about and understand the world/the characters motivations.
that being said! once i did get into it, I thought this had such a cool concept, a city sort of made from boardwalks/slats with gangs running amok, and our MC is back after so many years to set some grudges straight.
I would, as a side note, definitely enjoy a book set when the Thorn Orphans were up and running, though we did get to see a lot of their antics through the past chapters.
the book was also surprisingly funny, Tenny was a witty narrator and I like the journey we went on with her and the end felt nice and right. I always like when you can imagine what the characters are doing after the book, like they've gone on this big journey, but theres still more for them to do, rather than like they stop existing when you close the book.
while I appreciate this in the sense we can just get going, it did take me a bit longer to then care about and understand the world/the characters motivations.
that being said! once i did get into it, I thought this had such a cool concept, a city sort of made from boardwalks/slats with gangs running amok, and our MC is back after so many years to set some grudges straight.
I would, as a side note, definitely enjoy a book set when the Thorn Orphans were up and running, though we did get to see a lot of their antics through the past chapters.
the book was also surprisingly funny, Tenny was a witty narrator and I like the journey we went on with her and the end felt nice and right. I always like when you can imagine what the characters are doing after the book, like they've gone on this big journey, but theres still more for them to do, rather than like they stop existing when you close the book.
October 21, 2024
logged back on here for the first time in ages just to rate this book five stars. it is absolutely one of my favourite books of all time even though i read it all today - i literally could not put it down. it's so well written, the plot is amazing and the characters are so well developed i could cry. i would recommend this to anyone and everyone, please read it immediately
May 23, 2024
Started out strong but just got so so boring - the concept behind the magic was interesting though, and I liked the choice to use a mix of first and second person, which made sense with the narrative of a revenge plot. It just wasn’t executed as well as it could have been.
June 22, 2024
A very fun fantasy, featuring the plot of Kill Bill among revolutionary gangsters in an Asian-inspired world with a little magic and near-contemporary technology, with a surprisingly hopeful ending.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews