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Tales of Fenest #1
Widow's Welcome
Dead bodies aren't unusual in the alleyways of Fenest. Muggings, brawls gone bad, debts collected—Detective Cora Gorderheim has seen it all. Until she finds a Wayward man with his mouth sewn shut. As Detective Gorderheim pieces together the dead man's story, she's drawn into the most dangerous story in the Union of Realms: the election. Gorderheim just wants to find a killer but nothing's that simple in an election year. Dark forces conspire against the Union and Gorderheim finds herself at the rotten core of it all. She'll find the killer, but at what cost?
422 pages, Paperback
First published August 8, 2019
91 people are currently reading
828 people want to read
About the author
D.K. Fields
3 books27 followersDK Fields is the writing partnership of novelists David Towsey and Katherine Stansfield.
They both write individually: David’s zombie-western The Walkin’ Trilogy is published by Quercus. Katherine’s historical crime fiction series, Cornish Mysteries, is published by Allison & Busby. She is also a poet.
They both write individually: David’s zombie-western The Walkin’ Trilogy is published by Quercus. Katherine’s historical crime fiction series, Cornish Mysteries, is published by Allison & Busby. She is also a poet.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 75 reviews
October 15, 2020
Everyone knows that stories have power. The telling of stories is something that connects every generation both to their own time and each one that came before, right back to the very beginnings of humanity’s own tale. There’s no doubt that we enjoy a good yarn. But here in Fenest, it all works a little differently. In this world the act of storytelling is political. (I’ll leave you to decide just how different that really is). The story, the teller, and the audience each play their own part in determining who will hold office for the next term. War is so last year, it’s all about the telling of tales now. Spectacle and persuasion are the name of the game -- and there’s everything to play for. (Again, how different?) Sadly, this year’s looking like a tragedy. On the stage lies a mutilated corpse…
It seems, at first, to be a simple whodunnit. A body is found, its stitched lips suggesting that someone wanted this particular storyline silenced, even in death. But Detective Cora Gorderheim isn’t the type to let anyone or anything stop her from finding the truth; itself a particularly elusive type of story, slippery to grasp even if found. Her role as Detective has been hard won and even when she discovers her investigation bleeds into the grander narrative of the elections, she stays the path. Like everything else in the book, there’s more to her that meets the eye, but she performs as much for herself as for the reader and it makes her hard to read. Even so, there’s something about her, something kept back, and it’s impossible to resist a the mystery of a character left untold.
One of the most remarkable aspects of the book is the inclusion of two stories about the world which don’t, at first, seem immediately or obviously linked to the murder mystery plot, but may be integral to the larger narrative. Possibly crucial. No, probably. Definitely? Now, as an aside, I don’t like short stories. At all. They always feel so limited, unfinished, like there’s more to be said on the page that never comes. That the authors managed to put two (TWO!) mini stories inside this book and have them so gripping that I’d half forgotten the main story in my enthusiasm… well, to say that’s an impressive trick is to undersell it.
The stories themselves are staged for the election, crafted to impress, to win political power, and to do much more besides. Their function is multifaceted, but they hit they right note on very level. Even, or especially, in their simplest form: a story. And what is a story? An account of imaginary or real people told to entertain. That’s the dictionary definition, or one of them. Of course, we’re not really sure whether the characters in the performed story are conceived as real or imaginary to the characters in the book we’re reading. And that line is blurred further by what comes after, as a terrifying plot line suddenly becomes real either because it is real or because people believe it to be. Oh, it’s twisty. Every time you peel away a layer, you find something unexpected. And I know there’s more hidden just out of sight. The show isn’t complete just yet, more performers must have their time on the page. Because of this, the end wasn’t so much a closed curtain, it felt more like possibility…a second act is coming. Like all the best stories, it’s also a puzzle. But this is less like one of those flat, table-top creations that are only fun for the cat who gets to bat all the pieces to the floor, and more like a puzzle box, intricate and full of secrets.
Widow’s Welcome isn’t the usual fare, it’s a collection of well-told tales spun by clever hands into something new. It’s a book of stories within stories, the dark shadow of what’s to come hidden beneath them all. I genuinely can’t wait to see where this goes.
ARC via Netgalley
It seems, at first, to be a simple whodunnit. A body is found, its stitched lips suggesting that someone wanted this particular storyline silenced, even in death. But Detective Cora Gorderheim isn’t the type to let anyone or anything stop her from finding the truth; itself a particularly elusive type of story, slippery to grasp even if found. Her role as Detective has been hard won and even when she discovers her investigation bleeds into the grander narrative of the elections, she stays the path. Like everything else in the book, there’s more to her that meets the eye, but she performs as much for herself as for the reader and it makes her hard to read. Even so, there’s something about her, something kept back, and it’s impossible to resist a the mystery of a character left untold.
One of the most remarkable aspects of the book is the inclusion of two stories about the world which don’t, at first, seem immediately or obviously linked to the murder mystery plot, but may be integral to the larger narrative. Possibly crucial. No, probably. Definitely? Now, as an aside, I don’t like short stories. At all. They always feel so limited, unfinished, like there’s more to be said on the page that never comes. That the authors managed to put two (TWO!) mini stories inside this book and have them so gripping that I’d half forgotten the main story in my enthusiasm… well, to say that’s an impressive trick is to undersell it.
The stories themselves are staged for the election, crafted to impress, to win political power, and to do much more besides. Their function is multifaceted, but they hit they right note on very level. Even, or especially, in their simplest form: a story. And what is a story? An account of imaginary or real people told to entertain. That’s the dictionary definition, or one of them. Of course, we’re not really sure whether the characters in the performed story are conceived as real or imaginary to the characters in the book we’re reading. And that line is blurred further by what comes after, as a terrifying plot line suddenly becomes real either because it is real or because people believe it to be. Oh, it’s twisty. Every time you peel away a layer, you find something unexpected. And I know there’s more hidden just out of sight. The show isn’t complete just yet, more performers must have their time on the page. Because of this, the end wasn’t so much a closed curtain, it felt more like possibility…a second act is coming. Like all the best stories, it’s also a puzzle. But this is less like one of those flat, table-top creations that are only fun for the cat who gets to bat all the pieces to the floor, and more like a puzzle box, intricate and full of secrets.
Widow’s Welcome isn’t the usual fare, it’s a collection of well-told tales spun by clever hands into something new. It’s a book of stories within stories, the dark shadow of what’s to come hidden beneath them all. I genuinely can’t wait to see where this goes.
ARC via Netgalley
August 20, 2019
Quite honestly, I cannot tell whether this is a clever, impressive, artful book. Or one that is too far up itself to tell the reader the truth.
At around the 25-30% mark I was willing to give up. I've never DNF's a book and I was seriously considering it here. The story wasn't moving anywhere. Cora, as the apparent protagonist, was unlikeable, and was showing no development. She was missing leads and opportunities in the case, or allowing her subordinates to investigate for her, which meant that as a reader you were following her blind. The first couple of chapters contained all the interesting information and then the story went NOWHERE.
Not to mention, this was all taking place with reference to THE MOST COMPLICATED pantheon of gods ever imagined - they're listed at the front of the book. There are 50, FIFTY, of them and they all have specific traits, characteristics and preferences.
And in addition, this was during an election, where storytellers from five nations told a story to gain votes for the assembly. I mean, using stories to gain political power? That's a fascinating concept, and really appeals to the (one-time performing) storyteller in me. And I loved the idea of the collective gods as The Audience, who would listen to one's stories, before you would join them in death. Great imagination, really interesting.
But the explanations of these genuinely complicated concepts - both the gods and the election - were dry, difficult and meant that I was very nearly turned away from finishing.
And then came the stories: this book has two stories contained within the story (although if I was feeling clever, I might argue that this is, in fact, a wheel of stories, wrapped around each other, which is why the Casker and the Lowlander stories interrupt the main story and how they all become interconnected).
Now these two election stories are beautiful. They are fascinating, they are haunting, they are full of pain ... they are everything that the main story is lacking in its current form.
And that's what makes this review, and this rating, very difficult. Those two 'teller stories were everything I wanted to read - I wasn't at all mad that they took up a good 30% of the book in total, in fact, I was annoyed when I ended up back in the original narrative. But in order for them to have that kind of impact, the main story had to be, well, blegh.
The passage of time in this book is also very odd. I couldn't tell whether these events were happening over a few short days, but at other times there was reference to weeks passing. This also added to the feeling of disatisfaction at the end - by this point you had become invested in the election stories, and the conclusion wasn't clear whether there had been an outcome to the election, and the main character just wasn't interested, or whether it hadn't happened yet, and that future books would include the other election stories.
And finally - and this is my last gripe with the book - at 95% I knew the only way the story could wrap up, but I really didn't want it to finish that way. And there was no time left for it to finish without lots of unanswered questions. I was almost longing (a glutton for punishment) for the book to be twice as long so that it could contain the rest of the election stories and finish properly. Instead, it felt like someone had axed it halfway through and the author remembered towards the end that there would be two parts.
This author can write - the election stories prove that - so why do I feel relieved that I've made my way out of this book?
A tentative 3.5 stars, rounded down to 3.
*I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher - all opinions are my own*
At around the 25-30% mark I was willing to give up. I've never DNF's a book and I was seriously considering it here. The story wasn't moving anywhere. Cora, as the apparent protagonist, was unlikeable, and was showing no development. She was missing leads and opportunities in the case, or allowing her subordinates to investigate for her, which meant that as a reader you were following her blind. The first couple of chapters contained all the interesting information and then the story went NOWHERE.
Not to mention, this was all taking place with reference to THE MOST COMPLICATED pantheon of gods ever imagined - they're listed at the front of the book. There are 50, FIFTY, of them and they all have specific traits, characteristics and preferences.
And in addition, this was during an election, where storytellers from five nations told a story to gain votes for the assembly. I mean, using stories to gain political power? That's a fascinating concept, and really appeals to the (one-time performing) storyteller in me. And I loved the idea of the collective gods as The Audience, who would listen to one's stories, before you would join them in death. Great imagination, really interesting.
But the explanations of these genuinely complicated concepts - both the gods and the election - were dry, difficult and meant that I was very nearly turned away from finishing.
And then came the stories: this book has two stories contained within the story (although if I was feeling clever, I might argue that this is, in fact, a wheel of stories, wrapped around each other, which is why the Casker and the Lowlander stories interrupt the main story and how they all become interconnected).
Now these two election stories are beautiful. They are fascinating, they are haunting, they are full of pain ... they are everything that the main story is lacking in its current form.
And that's what makes this review, and this rating, very difficult. Those two 'teller stories were everything I wanted to read - I wasn't at all mad that they took up a good 30% of the book in total, in fact, I was annoyed when I ended up back in the original narrative. But in order for them to have that kind of impact, the main story had to be, well, blegh.
The passage of time in this book is also very odd. I couldn't tell whether these events were happening over a few short days, but at other times there was reference to weeks passing. This also added to the feeling of disatisfaction at the end - by this point you had become invested in the election stories, and the conclusion wasn't clear whether there had been an outcome to the election, and the main character just wasn't interested, or whether it hadn't happened yet, and that future books would include the other election stories.
And finally - and this is my last gripe with the book - at 95% I knew the only way the story could wrap up, but I really didn't want it to finish that way. And there was no time left for it to finish without lots of unanswered questions. I was almost longing (a glutton for punishment) for the book to be twice as long so that it could contain the rest of the election stories and finish properly. Instead, it felt like someone had axed it halfway through and the author remembered towards the end that there would be two parts.
This author can write - the election stories prove that - so why do I feel relieved that I've made my way out of this book?
A tentative 3.5 stars, rounded down to 3.
*I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher - all opinions are my own*
September 14, 2019
Just wasnt for me. There was way too much world building without so much as a plot. The plot just dribbles along. Also Cora wasnt the most likeable character as the protagonist. Its weird as I read this I got similar vibes to Carnival Row ( tv show) with a fantasy town murder mystery, political landscape etc. However Carnival row had much more of a plot.
May 9, 2021
3.5 stars. Massive amount of worldbuilding, with a plot that took a while, no, a long while, to develop. I liked the concepts a lot, of how integral stories and storytellers are to the political and cultural setup of the world of Fenest. In fact, the authors include two long shorts/novella length stories within the larger narrative, to give the reader a better sense of the beliefs and infrastructure of Fenest.
The actual murder that Cora investigates takes up less of the story than I expected, and was resolved pretty quickly near the end of this book. Though, there are numerous larger questions raised through this book, with many unresolved story threads left hanging, which I dearly hope are answered in books 2 and 3. Also, Cora is kind of cranky and angry, but I couldn't divine much else about her character. I hope the authors expand on her in the next book.
I think I'll continue, as I liked the concepts, but this book is not for someone who likes a snappy plot and deep characterization.
The actual murder that Cora investigates takes up less of the story than I expected, and was resolved pretty quickly near the end of this book. Though, there are numerous larger questions raised through this book, with many unresolved story threads left hanging, which I dearly hope are answered in books 2 and 3. Also, Cora is kind of cranky and angry, but I couldn't divine much else about her character. I hope the authors expand on her in the next book.
I think I'll continue, as I liked the concepts, but this book is not for someone who likes a snappy plot and deep characterization.
March 11, 2020
Honestly, if I thought I could get away with using a series of emojis to sum up my feelings about this book I would. Most especially the 😮 one (my best ‘Laura catching flies’ look *snorts*) – but, alas, you want more words from me, right? Or is that debatable, lol?
Bear with me a moment, brief tangent coming up...
The Mommy: Whatcha reading?
Me: Widow’s Welcome by D.K. Fields
TM: Oh, good?
Me: Ah-maz-ing!
TM: What’s it about?
Me: Hmm, how best to describe the story? *clicks fingers* Got it! It’s a bit like Ripper Street meets Game of Thrones!
TM: Tell me more...
Cue an in-depth overview of the Six Realms and the Union (including map) along with the people who inhabit them.
*sigh*
I don’t want it to be over. August is too far away. I need Book 2 now! I’m on tenterhooks. I need to hear more stories...
You’d think solving a crime would be the end of the story. For Detective Cora Gorderheim it’s only the beginning!
Hand on heart, this story, no, this world had me enraptured from the beginning. The writing just sucked me in. Plus, stories with glossaries and maps equal this bookworm in her natural habitat *snorts*. Geek mode: engaged!
I must confess to getting a very bad case of the willies with one specific chapter in the book. The parallels to current real-world issues were a tad too freaky for me. Goosebumps for one, please! *shivers*
Authors’ minds fascinate me. Don’t you agree? What I’d give to be able to sit and grill this duo on all things Fenest! I have SO many questions (quelle surprise *smirks*).
Thrilling, thought-provoking, suspenseful, engaging characters, Widow’s Welcome had it all for me.
Now the wait begins. I have my stones at the ready. Will it be black or white? Decisions, decisions. I can’t wait to find out.
Bear with me a moment, brief tangent coming up...
The Mommy: Whatcha reading?
Me: Widow’s Welcome by D.K. Fields
TM: Oh, good?
Me: Ah-maz-ing!
TM: What’s it about?
Me: Hmm, how best to describe the story? *clicks fingers* Got it! It’s a bit like Ripper Street meets Game of Thrones!
TM: Tell me more...
Cue an in-depth overview of the Six Realms and the Union (including map) along with the people who inhabit them.
*sigh*
I don’t want it to be over. August is too far away. I need Book 2 now! I’m on tenterhooks. I need to hear more stories...
You’d think solving a crime would be the end of the story. For Detective Cora Gorderheim it’s only the beginning!
Hand on heart, this story, no, this world had me enraptured from the beginning. The writing just sucked me in. Plus, stories with glossaries and maps equal this bookworm in her natural habitat *snorts*. Geek mode: engaged!
I must confess to getting a very bad case of the willies with one specific chapter in the book. The parallels to current real-world issues were a tad too freaky for me. Goosebumps for one, please! *shivers*
Authors’ minds fascinate me. Don’t you agree? What I’d give to be able to sit and grill this duo on all things Fenest! I have SO many questions (quelle surprise *smirks*).
Thrilling, thought-provoking, suspenseful, engaging characters, Widow’s Welcome had it all for me.
Now the wait begins. I have my stones at the ready. Will it be black or white? Decisions, decisions. I can’t wait to find out.
February 9, 2020
Widow's Welcome by D.K. Fields (in reality a partnership of two novelists, David Towsey and Katherine Stansfield) is a fantasy police procedural with really interesting worldbuilding. It's set in the city of Fenest, a grubby, seedy metropolis which is the hub of a Union comprising six very different realms whose share of power in the ruling assembly is determined by the quality of the stories they tell to the electorate every five years. Detective Cora Gorderheim is hard-bitten and cynical and not one to get involved in politics, but when a man's body is found in an alley with its mouth sewn shut just before the start of the latest election, politics seems determined to get her involved, as her quest to find the killer also raises broader questions about the state of the Union and Cora's own past.
I found the start of the novel very slow, and there seemed to be rather a lot of reiteration of the basic facts of the case. Then, about a third of the way through, it suddenly takes off with the first election story (included in full, a novella-length story inside the novel) and from that point on I really enjoyed it. This novel includes two of the six election stories; when the second finished with only about 10% of the book to go I was a little worried that it was going to turn out to be the first part of the kind of trilogy which is a single novel divided into three, but in fact this one wraps up the murder mystery while still leaving the wider questions open for the sequel (which is out in August, and which I've preordered).
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free eARC of this book for review.
I found the start of the novel very slow, and there seemed to be rather a lot of reiteration of the basic facts of the case. Then, about a third of the way through, it suddenly takes off with the first election story (included in full, a novella-length story inside the novel) and from that point on I really enjoyed it. This novel includes two of the six election stories; when the second finished with only about 10% of the book to go I was a little worried that it was going to turn out to be the first part of the kind of trilogy which is a single novel divided into three, but in fact this one wraps up the murder mystery while still leaving the wider questions open for the sequel (which is out in August, and which I've preordered).
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free eARC of this book for review.
July 3, 2021
A fantasy set in the city of Fenest, the capital of the Union of Realms, which is gearing itself up for an election which will decide which of the member states will rule the union for the next few years.
The book has a promising start - a man is found dead in an alley. His mouth has been sewn shut with two shoelaces - one black, the other white. Detective Cora Gorderheim is tasked with investigating.
But then it all went a downhill for me.
The early chapters dealt with the election process and I struggled to understand what was going on....yes, we're in a fantasy realm here and it's reasonable to expect they do things differently, but maybe a bit more in the way of explanation would have helped?
The investigation into the murder the gets a bit lost as we're then taken through two 'stories'. These seemed to be the equivalent of the election pitch for the individual Realm, though they didn't actually give much of an indication as to what the particular realms would do if elected. These stories actually comprise quite a sizeable chunk of the book.
At the end of the book, Cora gets her man after he confesses, though she doesn't seem convinced....which is meant to lead us neatly into Book 2 of the series.
I know this book has had a lot of good reviews, but it wasn't for me. Too much time was devoted to the election and the stories, and not enough to the investigation. And by the end of it I didn't really feel like I knew Cora, certainly not enough to make me feel invested enough to go on to book 2.
The book has a promising start - a man is found dead in an alley. His mouth has been sewn shut with two shoelaces - one black, the other white. Detective Cora Gorderheim is tasked with investigating.
But then it all went a downhill for me.
The early chapters dealt with the election process and I struggled to understand what was going on....yes, we're in a fantasy realm here and it's reasonable to expect they do things differently, but maybe a bit more in the way of explanation would have helped?
The investigation into the murder the gets a bit lost as we're then taken through two 'stories'. These seemed to be the equivalent of the election pitch for the individual Realm, though they didn't actually give much of an indication as to what the particular realms would do if elected. These stories actually comprise quite a sizeable chunk of the book.
At the end of the book, Cora gets her man after he confesses, though she doesn't seem convinced....which is meant to lead us neatly into Book 2 of the series.
I know this book has had a lot of good reviews, but it wasn't for me. Too much time was devoted to the election and the stories, and not enough to the investigation. And by the end of it I didn't really feel like I knew Cora, certainly not enough to make me feel invested enough to go on to book 2.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 20, 2019
A fine bit of fantasy. The stories within the story were so deep, so engaging, I sometimes forgot they weren’t the main story. It surprised me to have to leave them.
Read
July 13, 2020WIDOW'S WELCOME has one of the most unique worlds I've ever read in a fantasy book. In an election year in the city of Fenest, power will be awarded to the "party" with the best story. Several storytellers are heading to the city to attempt to sway voters with their tales. Alarm sets in when a dead man turns up with his mouth sewn shut with black and white threads—the colors used for voting. Detective Cora Gorderheim leads the case, and she’s determined to solve the mysterious man’s murder.
The characters didn’t interest me so much as the world and the two stories within the story. Cora is a fine detective, but I found her lacking in personality. This didn’t bother me because I was more focused on the plot than her character development (or lack thereof). The real winners in this book are the Casker’s story and the Lowlander’s story. I was completely enraptured by both and hope that the next book will contain at least two more (if not three or four!) of these deeply moving pieces nestled within the larger storyline. The novellas were where real emotion lurked under the politics and in-fighting.
This is going to sound contrary: I was confused for the duration of this book, yet I enjoyed it. The world itself was my favorite character. The reveal of the murderer at the end didn’t surprise me, but my interest is definitely piqued. I’m eager to see where the authors take the next installment.
The only thing I felt WIDOW’S WELCOME lacked was a glossary, which would’ve helped me immensely in understanding what was going on. I still can’t really explain the book without making a LOT of assumptions that might’ve been cleared up with a better understanding of the world’s vocabulary. At some point, I just accepted that I needed to figure things out on my own and hoped I was drawing the right inferences. I’m still not sure if I did, but that’s part of the fun of unraveling a story with complex world-building.
I recommend WIDOW’S WELCOME for those who enjoy books with unusual world-building that lead readers far off the beaten path.
The characters didn’t interest me so much as the world and the two stories within the story. Cora is a fine detective, but I found her lacking in personality. This didn’t bother me because I was more focused on the plot than her character development (or lack thereof). The real winners in this book are the Casker’s story and the Lowlander’s story. I was completely enraptured by both and hope that the next book will contain at least two more (if not three or four!) of these deeply moving pieces nestled within the larger storyline. The novellas were where real emotion lurked under the politics and in-fighting.
This is going to sound contrary: I was confused for the duration of this book, yet I enjoyed it. The world itself was my favorite character. The reveal of the murderer at the end didn’t surprise me, but my interest is definitely piqued. I’m eager to see where the authors take the next installment.
The only thing I felt WIDOW’S WELCOME lacked was a glossary, which would’ve helped me immensely in understanding what was going on. I still can’t really explain the book without making a LOT of assumptions that might’ve been cleared up with a better understanding of the world’s vocabulary. At some point, I just accepted that I needed to figure things out on my own and hoped I was drawing the right inferences. I’m still not sure if I did, but that’s part of the fun of unraveling a story with complex world-building.
I recommend WIDOW’S WELCOME for those who enjoy books with unusual world-building that lead readers far off the beaten path.
August 8, 2021
Widow’s Welcome is the first book in the ‘Tales of Fenest’ trilogy, a political fantasy set in a world where the greatest stories win elections.
I think the world building in this book has been so cleverly thought out. The different groups of people from different parts of the world, the electoral system, the creatures, the curses were all wonderful. However, sadly I felt that this took over from the quite disappointing plot.
I want to forgive this though because this is a trilogy and I think the world building lays a good foundation for the detail and plot to be explored in book two.
The murder mystery aspect was lacking. I found myself not very invested in Cora’s story and her search for the wayward killer and also found her quite an unlikeable main character. I did however see the potential for more, I wish her backstory had been explored more.
Now for the best bit:
THE STORIES!
There are two stories woven into the main plot; the casket story, about a plague and a ship going off into oblivion and the Lowlander story, about a boy who is sold to his aunt to make ‘tillers’ (wooden statues that help the dead to continue to enrich the land after death).
These stories took up about 30-40% of the book but I’m so glad they did.
They were philosophical and filled with pain and magic and gore and lessons and tragedy.
They were everything I was looking for from this world (as the stories were also set in the same world) and I hoping this is a glimpse into the detail and nuance of the second book.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ : it’s quite hard to get into but worth it and I think it’ll be worth reading for the other two books which I have high hopes for. I recommend.
I think the world building in this book has been so cleverly thought out. The different groups of people from different parts of the world, the electoral system, the creatures, the curses were all wonderful. However, sadly I felt that this took over from the quite disappointing plot.
I want to forgive this though because this is a trilogy and I think the world building lays a good foundation for the detail and plot to be explored in book two.
The murder mystery aspect was lacking. I found myself not very invested in Cora’s story and her search for the wayward killer and also found her quite an unlikeable main character. I did however see the potential for more, I wish her backstory had been explored more.
Now for the best bit:
THE STORIES!
There are two stories woven into the main plot; the casket story, about a plague and a ship going off into oblivion and the Lowlander story, about a boy who is sold to his aunt to make ‘tillers’ (wooden statues that help the dead to continue to enrich the land after death).
These stories took up about 30-40% of the book but I’m so glad they did.
They were philosophical and filled with pain and magic and gore and lessons and tragedy.
They were everything I was looking for from this world (as the stories were also set in the same world) and I hoping this is a glimpse into the detail and nuance of the second book.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ : it’s quite hard to get into but worth it and I think it’ll be worth reading for the other two books which I have high hopes for. I recommend.
January 11, 2022
So I did know this was a trilogy, but I naively thought that every book dealt with a new case. When I got to the first election tale, I was surprised by how long it was. By the end of it, I heavily suspected that this case wouldn't be solved by the end of the book, as indeed it wasn't. That did mean the pacing felt a tad off initially, but that's on me and not the book.
The world D.K. Fields have created is very interesting; the idea that the dead are the Audience, witnessing what the living do as if it's a play performed for them, is lovely. Though Fenest is a super bleak place, I didn't feel that the book itself was too heavy or too dark. The two election stories we were given in this book were well-crafted too (though it's still rather daring to me to interrupt the main story twice with stories well over 60 pages long; although 'interrupt' is a relative term here, since both stories do have bearing on what's happenig with Cora's case). My only gripe is that both stories, though well written, don't feel at all like something that would easily be spoken out loud by only one story teller, but that's a minor gripe indeed.
Guess I'll have to read the other ones real soon now.
The world D.K. Fields have created is very interesting; the idea that the dead are the Audience, witnessing what the living do as if it's a play performed for them, is lovely. Though Fenest is a super bleak place, I didn't feel that the book itself was too heavy or too dark. The two election stories we were given in this book were well-crafted too (though it's still rather daring to me to interrupt the main story twice with stories well over 60 pages long; although 'interrupt' is a relative term here, since both stories do have bearing on what's happenig with Cora's case). My only gripe is that both stories, though well written, don't feel at all like something that would easily be spoken out loud by only one story teller, but that's a minor gripe indeed.
Guess I'll have to read the other ones real soon now.
November 27, 2021
I'm really surprised by the low ratings this book has! I bought the whole trilogy during a sale, expecting something to pass the time. Now I'm halfway through the second book and still hooked. I think maybe some of the negative reviews might be due to people expecting more of a police procedural, or else people who really enjoy books that go on and on about feelings.
The protagonist here is well fleshed out, but not overly so like in some genre fiction. I would say this is literary quality writing, and maybe that's why it seemed a bit inaccessible to some people, used to reading fiction that really belabors every thought the protagonist has.
There is a lot of loss and injustice in this series, which is probably partly why it hit me in the feels. It connects to reality in the way that good speculative fiction does, while still immersing the reader in an original world.
I would recommend this to people who read a lot of literary fantasy and enjoy new concepts and social commentary. I would not recommend it for someone who reads fantasy to live out adventures or romances! I would recommend this to people who enjoy a story gracefully told, who have the patience to appreciate it.
The protagonist here is well fleshed out, but not overly so like in some genre fiction. I would say this is literary quality writing, and maybe that's why it seemed a bit inaccessible to some people, used to reading fiction that really belabors every thought the protagonist has.
There is a lot of loss and injustice in this series, which is probably partly why it hit me in the feels. It connects to reality in the way that good speculative fiction does, while still immersing the reader in an original world.
I would recommend this to people who read a lot of literary fantasy and enjoy new concepts and social commentary. I would not recommend it for someone who reads fantasy to live out adventures or romances! I would recommend this to people who enjoy a story gracefully told, who have the patience to appreciate it.
October 7, 2019
Widow's Welcome is the first in a trilogy that is set in a sort of Victorian PanEm with six different realms that determine which one is to govern for the next term through storytelling. Votes are cast and the best of the six stories wins the leadership contest. The first two stories were good at world building and had an engaging narrative. The novels are written by two authors working in tandem to pull the work together but the editing and flow are seamless. Interlinking the stories is a detective story following the murder of one of the storytellers.
I would vote for the Lowlander Story, a tale of apprenticeship and loss of innocence, out of the two in this volume.
If only all political decisions could be made by the telling of tall tales... oh, wait...
I would vote for the Lowlander Story, a tale of apprenticeship and loss of innocence, out of the two in this volume.
If only all political decisions could be made by the telling of tall tales... oh, wait...
July 17, 2019
This is a story about the power of stories.
In a way, Widow's Welcome is a police procedural which includes tropes we are used to, such as the isolated and challenged detective whose complex family problems are somehow related to the murder she is tasked to solve. This familiar form makes a reassuring anchor for a reader who will not, at first be au fait with nuances of the setting: the Union of Realms and its strange politics and interesting inhabitants. The challenge is to crack the code but once that happens (quite quickly) the language and traditions of this alternate world make for a surprising and sometimes humorous and strangely unnervingly familiar place.
In a way, Widow's Welcome is a police procedural which includes tropes we are used to, such as the isolated and challenged detective whose complex family problems are somehow related to the murder she is tasked to solve. This familiar form makes a reassuring anchor for a reader who will not, at first be au fait with nuances of the setting: the Union of Realms and its strange politics and interesting inhabitants. The challenge is to crack the code but once that happens (quite quickly) the language and traditions of this alternate world make for a surprising and sometimes humorous and strangely unnervingly familiar place.
started_finish_later
January 20, 2020browsing the novel, I liked the prose and had high hopes for this one, but when trying to actually read it, the setting, action and naming conventions did not fit and my suspension of disbelief vanished immediately
February 5, 2021
I was really surprised by this book. I am usually not the patient type that can endure a bunch of complicated world building, but this? This world freaking sucked me in and made me interested in every single aspect of it, from the weird story telling politics to the very specific gods and goddesses that were mentioned.
The main character was also instantly likeable, a hard working, badass woman that seemed to be unable to balance her not-giving-a-fuck attitude with the fact that she sometimes really cares a lot. Like more than anyone actually should. She was flawed but very fun to read about.
The one aspect that kind of let me down was the mystery. The entire reveal was quite predictable and I found the ending a bit underwhelming as a whole.
Even though my mind wasn't completely blown by the last few pages, it was an extremely enjoyable read and I am looking forward to getting my hands on the sequel!
The main character was also instantly likeable, a hard working, badass woman that seemed to be unable to balance her not-giving-a-fuck attitude with the fact that she sometimes really cares a lot. Like more than anyone actually should. She was flawed but very fun to read about.
The one aspect that kind of let me down was the mystery. The entire reveal was quite predictable and I found the ending a bit underwhelming as a whole.
Even though my mind wasn't completely blown by the last few pages, it was an extremely enjoyable read and I am looking forward to getting my hands on the sequel!
April 21, 2020
This was available as an ebook from my local library's app, I had no reviews or any idea what it was going to be going into it but it was fantastic. The premise is unique and it doesn't give much exposition but dives in with fantastic show not tell world building. I defy any fan of fantasy to not enjoy this book. The only downside is that the second book in the series won't come out until November, I usually prefer to read books that have at least 3 books already released in the series. I really recommend despite that.
June 23, 2020
It took me a bit to get into the rhythm the book with its strange deities but once I did I was hooked. I loved the stories within the story and the interesting characters and land where the story is taking place. Will definitely read the second one when it comes out. The only bad thing I can say about the book is that I am getting so tired of books that are trilogy’s and the end is not the end but you have to wait a year or so to read the second part and then another wait for the third. What ever happened to stand alone books!
April 12, 2021
A story about stories is a tricky needle to thread, but this book does not disappoint.
The idea of telling stories to the Audience is inspired and shapes the whole world beautifully. The storyteller election stories are enchanting all by themselves, transporting the reader to an entirely different place.
But be warned! This is only the first part of the trilogy and, while the murder is technically solved, there are many unanswered questions left behind.
I cannot wait to read more!
The idea of telling stories to the Audience is inspired and shapes the whole world beautifully. The storyteller election stories are enchanting all by themselves, transporting the reader to an entirely different place.
But be warned! This is only the first part of the trilogy and, while the murder is technically solved, there are many unanswered questions left behind.
I cannot wait to read more!
November 10, 2020
Great worldbuilding
The worldbuilding of this story elevates it from what could be a simple mystery into something much more interesting. My only real issue is that the mystery itself seemed to wrap up too quickly. But I'm interested enough to read the sequel.
The worldbuilding of this story elevates it from what could be a simple mystery into something much more interesting. My only real issue is that the mystery itself seemed to wrap up too quickly. But I'm interested enough to read the sequel.
June 3, 2022
2,75⭐️
November 12, 2020
Intriguingly told. The mashup of noir and fantasy is a lot of fun. The format of embedded stories, and stories within sotries, was arresting (perhaps even moreso than the central narrative). I liked the world building, though felt the ending was a little abrupt- will certainly be picking up book 2!
I would recommend, it is different and fun and has some beautiful moments.
I would recommend, it is different and fun and has some beautiful moments.
January 29, 2022
What a delightful surprise! I did not know what to expect but I was sold with the Blurb:
"There's power in stories, this is a story of power."
Bullet review:
- Incredible world
- Stories-within-stories
- Murder mystery
- Political machinations
- Super creative
- Interesting MC
This is a detective/procedural mystery set in a completely fantastical world where the politics and mythology revolve around storytelling! It wasn't like anything I've read and I had a great time!
Another trilogy started hahaha, but it was so worth it.
"There's power in stories, this is a story of power."
Bullet review:
- Incredible world
- Stories-within-stories
- Murder mystery
- Political machinations
- Super creative
- Interesting MC
This is a detective/procedural mystery set in a completely fantastical world where the politics and mythology revolve around storytelling! It wasn't like anything I've read and I had a great time!
Another trilogy started hahaha, but it was so worth it.
January 19, 2022
3.5 Stars - It’s clear how important world-building was to the authors in “Widow’s Welcome” by how intricate the world they built was. It was definitely difficult to remember the facts about the world these characters lived in, at times.
As with many good fantasy books, the exposition is lengthy and detailed. In this book, though, it was kind of hard to get through and I almost gave up. Also, the main character is very unlikeable and didn’t really help further along the main plot well, which was a murder mystery. I found that the writing duo, D.K. Fields, was going for gritty and raw rather than plot driven or popular; I can appreciate this from an artistic, writerly standpoint, but as a reader it was hard to stay engaged.
What I loved were the two stories within the stories. Listening on audiobook, each of these stories were nearly 3 hours long each (in the 10.5 hour audiobook - WOWZA) but they were the parts where I was the most enraptured. The tagline was why I picked up this book (“There’s power in stories and this is a story of power”) and I got what I wanted just from those two mini stories within the novel.
As with many good fantasy books, the exposition is lengthy and detailed. In this book, though, it was kind of hard to get through and I almost gave up. Also, the main character is very unlikeable and didn’t really help further along the main plot well, which was a murder mystery. I found that the writing duo, D.K. Fields, was going for gritty and raw rather than plot driven or popular; I can appreciate this from an artistic, writerly standpoint, but as a reader it was hard to stay engaged.
What I loved were the two stories within the stories. Listening on audiobook, each of these stories were nearly 3 hours long each (in the 10.5 hour audiobook - WOWZA) but they were the parts where I was the most enraptured. The tagline was why I picked up this book (“There’s power in stories and this is a story of power”) and I got what I wanted just from those two mini stories within the novel.
November 14, 2020
Murder, politics and storytelling in this inventive tale
“There’s Power in Stories and This is a Story of Power” - cover tag line ‘Widow’s Welcome’
I initially received ‘pWidow’s Welcome’ by D.K. Fields from Head of Zeus as a digital edition via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. It was originally published in August 2019.
I since purchased its ebook and audiobook, narrated by Helen Vine, and utilised Whispersync mode for an immersive experience.
This is the first in the Tales of Fenest trilogy and combines the themes of politics and storytelling with a police procedural set in a fantasy realm. Sounds ideal for my tastes!
It is election year and the streets of Fenest, capital of the Union of Realms, are crowded with visitors from all six realms. Detective Cora Gorderheim is used to finding dead bodies in the alleyways of the city. Yet when she finds the body of a Wayward man, arranged precisely with his mouth sewn shut, she knows that this isn’t merely a mugging gone wrong. She suspects that this murder is meant as a message.
In the Union once every five years stories are told by officially designated storytellers and voted on by a group of masked voters known as the Swaying Audience, each representing a god of the Realms. The novel opens with a list of these gods including the Pale Widow, god of death and renewal, referenced in the title.
It turns out that the victim was the Wayward storyteller, scheduled to tell his story as part of the election. The question is who wanted to stop him from telling his story?
I will admit that it took me a while to feel in synch with the narrative. At first I felt a bit plopped down in the middle of Fenest. Still, I soon gained a sense of the city and its inhabitants. I especially took to Cora and appreciated her determination to uncover the motive for the murder as well as whodunnit.
Alongside Cora’s investigation both the Casker and Seeder stories are included as part of the narrative. They are novella length at about 100 pages each. Given that this is a trilogy I expect that each book will contain two of the six tales. The concept that the realm that delivers the most convincing story achieves political power seems an appropriate metaphor for our times.
That the stories have deeper meanings was also intriguing though as this is the opening act for the trilogy it is hard to judge the effect that the stories will have on the overall plot.
Overall, I felt engaged with the story, characters, and setting and I am looking forward to reading Book 2: ‘The Stitcher and the Mute’, which is due to be published in November.
On a side note the cover artwork is very striking.
“There’s Power in Stories and This is a Story of Power” - cover tag line ‘Widow’s Welcome’
I initially received ‘pWidow’s Welcome’ by D.K. Fields from Head of Zeus as a digital edition via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. It was originally published in August 2019.
I since purchased its ebook and audiobook, narrated by Helen Vine, and utilised Whispersync mode for an immersive experience.
This is the first in the Tales of Fenest trilogy and combines the themes of politics and storytelling with a police procedural set in a fantasy realm. Sounds ideal for my tastes!
It is election year and the streets of Fenest, capital of the Union of Realms, are crowded with visitors from all six realms. Detective Cora Gorderheim is used to finding dead bodies in the alleyways of the city. Yet when she finds the body of a Wayward man, arranged precisely with his mouth sewn shut, she knows that this isn’t merely a mugging gone wrong. She suspects that this murder is meant as a message.
In the Union once every five years stories are told by officially designated storytellers and voted on by a group of masked voters known as the Swaying Audience, each representing a god of the Realms. The novel opens with a list of these gods including the Pale Widow, god of death and renewal, referenced in the title.
It turns out that the victim was the Wayward storyteller, scheduled to tell his story as part of the election. The question is who wanted to stop him from telling his story?
I will admit that it took me a while to feel in synch with the narrative. At first I felt a bit plopped down in the middle of Fenest. Still, I soon gained a sense of the city and its inhabitants. I especially took to Cora and appreciated her determination to uncover the motive for the murder as well as whodunnit.
Alongside Cora’s investigation both the Casker and Seeder stories are included as part of the narrative. They are novella length at about 100 pages each. Given that this is a trilogy I expect that each book will contain two of the six tales. The concept that the realm that delivers the most convincing story achieves political power seems an appropriate metaphor for our times.
That the stories have deeper meanings was also intriguing though as this is the opening act for the trilogy it is hard to judge the effect that the stories will have on the overall plot.
Overall, I felt engaged with the story, characters, and setting and I am looking forward to reading Book 2: ‘The Stitcher and the Mute’, which is due to be published in November.
On a side note the cover artwork is very striking.
August 9, 2019
Heads up, there is only so many different words I can use in place of brilliant so I will almost certainly repeat it. Several times.
I loved this book, It is without doubt, brilliant. Political intrigue at it's very best.
The world building is top class. A little confusing / overwhelming in the early chapters but I told myself that it would all make sense eventually and I relaxed into it. Sure enough, within a few chapters, it all made sense.
The characters are fantastic. The ones we meet (even if only for a few minutes) are all three dimensional with clear voices. The ones we only hear about loom just as large in the story as the ones present, more so in some respects and I love that my opinion and visualisation of these characters is coloured by the present characters views.
The plot is superb. I love how deep and complex it is and that the complexity grows in scale the further into the book you get. The faction stories told within the main story fit wonderfully. I loved how the main character grows into the plot alongside the reader, it really makes you invested in both the character and the plot.
The ending. I'm always nervous about endings, and I got super nervous about 80% of the way through with no clue as to how it would all be wrapped up but the ending is bang on. It wraps this up as a complete story while leaving plenty hooks to make sure I come back for book 2.
Overall. It's a brilliant book. A bit slow to start but it doesn't take long to hit its stride and it doesn't let up. The rambling above talks about all the stuff I love that's in the book but I also love that it doesn't rely on huge battles and mass killings to provide shock and awe. It's clever, complex and beautifully written.
I loved this book, It is without doubt, brilliant. Political intrigue at it's very best.
The world building is top class. A little confusing / overwhelming in the early chapters but I told myself that it would all make sense eventually and I relaxed into it. Sure enough, within a few chapters, it all made sense.
The characters are fantastic. The ones we meet (even if only for a few minutes) are all three dimensional with clear voices. The ones we only hear about loom just as large in the story as the ones present, more so in some respects and I love that my opinion and visualisation of these characters is coloured by the present characters views.
The plot is superb. I love how deep and complex it is and that the complexity grows in scale the further into the book you get. The faction stories told within the main story fit wonderfully. I loved how the main character grows into the plot alongside the reader, it really makes you invested in both the character and the plot.
The ending. I'm always nervous about endings, and I got super nervous about 80% of the way through with no clue as to how it would all be wrapped up but the ending is bang on. It wraps this up as a complete story while leaving plenty hooks to make sure I come back for book 2.
Overall. It's a brilliant book. A bit slow to start but it doesn't take long to hit its stride and it doesn't let up. The rambling above talks about all the stuff I love that's in the book but I also love that it doesn't rely on huge battles and mass killings to provide shock and awe. It's clever, complex and beautifully written.
August 5, 2019
I was sent an arc copy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for a honest review.
3.5
I enjoyed the unique way that the world's politics worked, with the different races telling stories for political power. It was a bit confusing in the beginning since I knew nothing about the world and the characters kept referencing the gods/audience, I was having to keep going to the front of the book to the list of them, some I could figure out due to context but others were not so easy to figure out. The main character, Cora was a interesting protagonist, the references to her past and her family were slowly built on throughout the story. However I found that I lacked interest in the main storyline, the murder investigation went every slowly and there wasn't much build up to the capture of the killer until right near the end of the book. I found the 2 stories that are told by the Caskers and Seeders/Lowlanders were more interesting to me than the murder mystery. The Seeder/Lowlander story was especially a favourite of mine and is the reason why couldn't give this just a 3 star, I would quite happily had a book just about that story and characters. Since these stories were given so much page time I think the main plot suffered from being a bit rushed near the end. I didn't find myself connecting with Cora, her relationships with other characters didn't get fleshed out enough for me either, though I have hopes of a closer friendship between her and constable Jenkins in later books. I found the open ending a bit abrupt and since this is part of a series there are a lot of unanswered questions. I'm interested in reading the next book just to see what is going to happen and hear more stories.
3.5
I enjoyed the unique way that the world's politics worked, with the different races telling stories for political power. It was a bit confusing in the beginning since I knew nothing about the world and the characters kept referencing the gods/audience, I was having to keep going to the front of the book to the list of them, some I could figure out due to context but others were not so easy to figure out. The main character, Cora was a interesting protagonist, the references to her past and her family were slowly built on throughout the story. However I found that I lacked interest in the main storyline, the murder investigation went every slowly and there wasn't much build up to the capture of the killer until right near the end of the book. I found the 2 stories that are told by the Caskers and Seeders/Lowlanders were more interesting to me than the murder mystery. The Seeder/Lowlander story was especially a favourite of mine and is the reason why couldn't give this just a 3 star, I would quite happily had a book just about that story and characters. Since these stories were given so much page time I think the main plot suffered from being a bit rushed near the end. I didn't find myself connecting with Cora, her relationships with other characters didn't get fleshed out enough for me either, though I have hopes of a closer friendship between her and constable Jenkins in later books. I found the open ending a bit abrupt and since this is part of a series there are a lot of unanswered questions. I'm interested in reading the next book just to see what is going to happen and hear more stories.
June 12, 2020
Epic fail. This book had two great stories contained within its messy, collection of pages. Both Black Jeffrey and the Tillers would have been good books, but they wrapped it in a messy world with characters that were not as fully created as within those two stories.
If you are going to make a new world with new words for items at least provide an "x-ray" or glossary. A good example of this slap together book is the use of "Martyr" who was being prayed to, so I went all the way back to the beginning of the book to see the list of Gods, and of course, it was not there.
Along with needing a glossary or X-ray they could have actually spent some time on the creation of Cora and Jenkins, more than a filthy coat and a tobacco addiction. She also came off as a bit of a sociopath, not really a caring or feeling individual.
Most of the time the book, between the unfinished stories made no sense. so now my brain has three unfinished stories with a collection of made-up words that have no meaning or description. Where the Hell was the Editor? Most readers are not stupid and want a clean clear book, not something they can just dance through rubbish and go "oh well.." and move on I am not that.
I will not read the next author collaboration. I am sure they won't agree on a storyline and make another mess just like this one.
If you are going to make a new world with new words for items at least provide an "x-ray" or glossary. A good example of this slap together book is the use of "Martyr" who was being prayed to, so I went all the way back to the beginning of the book to see the list of Gods, and of course, it was not there.
Along with needing a glossary or X-ray they could have actually spent some time on the creation of Cora and Jenkins, more than a filthy coat and a tobacco addiction. She also came off as a bit of a sociopath, not really a caring or feeling individual.
Most of the time the book, between the unfinished stories made no sense. so now my brain has three unfinished stories with a collection of made-up words that have no meaning or description. Where the Hell was the Editor? Most readers are not stupid and want a clean clear book, not something they can just dance through rubbish and go "oh well.." and move on I am not that.
I will not read the next author collaboration. I am sure they won't agree on a storyline and make another mess just like this one.
December 12, 2021
Many thanks to Jonathan Ball Publishers for #Gifting me a copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
I was quite looking forward to this, to be honest, but I have some mixed feelings about this book which has left me decidedly underwhelmed...
- For me, the main story is rather slow and draggy and I didn't really enjoy it; I very nearly DNF'd it,
- The stories told by the storytellers within the story, though, are beautiful and lyrical; this was its saving grace,
- About halfway through, it becomes very clear that this is like one book cut into three (since the story just ends and will pick up right there in book 2) because this book has no closure of its own,
- This is fantasy/crime thriller but with less fantasy and more crime...,
- The characters are a little 2 dimensional and fall a little flat; I hope there will be some definitive growth with Detective Cora in the rest of the story.
Overall this is a good first book with enough of story pulling you through to book 2; even if it is just the sub-stories.
I was quite looking forward to this, to be honest, but I have some mixed feelings about this book which has left me decidedly underwhelmed...
- For me, the main story is rather slow and draggy and I didn't really enjoy it; I very nearly DNF'd it,
- The stories told by the storytellers within the story, though, are beautiful and lyrical; this was its saving grace,
- About halfway through, it becomes very clear that this is like one book cut into three (since the story just ends and will pick up right there in book 2) because this book has no closure of its own,
- This is fantasy/crime thriller but with less fantasy and more crime...,
- The characters are a little 2 dimensional and fall a little flat; I hope there will be some definitive growth with Detective Cora in the rest of the story.
Overall this is a good first book with enough of story pulling you through to book 2; even if it is just the sub-stories.
August 5, 2019
In this era of fake news, it’s natural that a world built on fiction can tell us a great deal about our own. D.K. Fields’ rich novel combines genre elements masterfully, weaving together gaslit crime, fantasy and mystery – and a generous dash of metafiction – with the results rather like a Philip Pullman rendition of Cloud Atlas. Widow’s Welcome is an irresistibly thrilling introduction to a world of stories within stories – and I can’t wait for more.
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