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The Firebringer
Ancient Power. Organised Crime. Welcome to Tower City.
Matthew Norton is a lawyer facing his darkest days.
It was once his job to argue the difference between justice and revenge. He's no longer sure there is a difference.
Finding closure means plunging deep in Tower City's criminal underworld and waging war with the most bloodthirsty assassin the city has to offer.
He's hired someone who might be able to help; a dangerous outcast with enemies of his own.
Together they'll burn Tower City to the ground if they have to.
***
The Firebringer is part one in the new urban fantasy series Tower City Chronicles. The author describes this as a gritty, character-driven series that tells the story not of an individual, but of a place. Because in Tower City anything can happen...
Matthew Norton is a lawyer facing his darkest days.
It was once his job to argue the difference between justice and revenge. He's no longer sure there is a difference.
Finding closure means plunging deep in Tower City's criminal underworld and waging war with the most bloodthirsty assassin the city has to offer.
He's hired someone who might be able to help; a dangerous outcast with enemies of his own.
Together they'll burn Tower City to the ground if they have to.
***
The Firebringer is part one in the new urban fantasy series Tower City Chronicles. The author describes this as a gritty, character-driven series that tells the story not of an individual, but of a place. Because in Tower City anything can happen...
355 pages, Paperback
Published September 25, 2019
2 people are currently reading
21 people want to read
About the author
Sean Guy
4 books24 followersSean is an Australian author and playwright with a passion for storytelling in all its forms. As of 2022 he has three published urban fantasy novels (The Firebringer, Voodoo Games, and Seraph) and one historical murder mystery (Malediction: The Cursed Play).
He has written a number of plays, including Under the Table (winner of the 2022 NT Literary Awards, theatre category), King Paddy (in development), and Last Call (Inner West Theatre 2021, Darwin Theatre Company 2021).
As a co-founder of Big Dog Salad, he has been part of many podcasts, comedic sketches, and live Fringe Festival shows. His short film Enough (2022) was funded by the Darwin International Film Festival.
He has written a number of plays, including Under the Table (winner of the 2022 NT Literary Awards, theatre category), King Paddy (in development), and Last Call (Inner West Theatre 2021, Darwin Theatre Company 2021).
As a co-founder of Big Dog Salad, he has been part of many podcasts, comedic sketches, and live Fringe Festival shows. His short film Enough (2022) was funded by the Darwin International Film Festival.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
February 15, 2021
Pain, grief and loss is hard enough when you lose a loved one suddenly and violently but what would you do if you found out who was to blame. They say revenge is best served cold but in this case it burns hot. A ripping good yarn, thanks Sean!
January 29, 2021
Great book from a local author. Had a genre-changing event past the first half of the book that really surprised and excited me! Can't wait to read the next one of the series!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 20, 2022
Talk about bring the fire. Sean Guy has certainly bought the fire here in the stunning first instalment of the Tower City Chronicles. Let me first say that I have read thousands of books, and it has been a while since such rich characters jumped out of the page at me like the characters that inhabit this book. I found myself empathising with all the characters in different ways. The way that Sean Guy makes you believe that these characters inhabit their world is done in what seems like an effortless manner. The reality of that apparent ease belies the fact that Sean has put in the effort to craft out these vivid and very human characters. They come alive in their sheer humanness and love them or hate them, they make their presence felt. They say 'here I am, take me or leave me, but you will not deny me my right to be here'. I found myself cheering on all the characters and just couldn't put it down. A real page turner, filled with vivid imagery and edge of your seat excitement from beginning to end.
I am an actor and one of the tenets of the acting craft is to never judge the character that you are bringing to life. If you judge the character you can not play them. You must justify the actions that makes your character do what they do. What Sean has done here is to not judge his characters. Instead he justifies why his characters do what they do. He does it in a way that is believable and intelligent. A cracking start to the series and an intriguing and refreshing twist on an ancient theme. I am rushing out tomorrow to get Book 2 'Voodoo Games' and diving back into the white knuckle ride world that is Tower City. I invite you to do the same. See you on the other side.
Get on the rollercoaster that is The Firebringer and hold on tight. You will certainly not regret it. A cracking read. 10 stars.
I am an actor and one of the tenets of the acting craft is to never judge the character that you are bringing to life. If you judge the character you can not play them. You must justify the actions that makes your character do what they do. What Sean has done here is to not judge his characters. Instead he justifies why his characters do what they do. He does it in a way that is believable and intelligent. A cracking start to the series and an intriguing and refreshing twist on an ancient theme. I am rushing out tomorrow to get Book 2 'Voodoo Games' and diving back into the white knuckle ride world that is Tower City. I invite you to do the same. See you on the other side.
Get on the rollercoaster that is The Firebringer and hold on tight. You will certainly not regret it. A cracking read. 10 stars.
October 5, 2022
I would use this book as a guide to write the perfect opening chapter. Reels you in during the first few pages and comes with its own surprise twist right at the start. It introduces protagonist and his own personal turmoil without giving too much away. The entire book is excellently paced, allowing for the emotional beats to land without dwelling too much. The characters are most intriguing and you're always excited the see what they do next. But what surprised me was how alive the world feels. For what is a unique urban fantasy story, the worldbuilding is clear, detailed and elaborate without merely existing. The characters are impacted, and leave their impact, on a corrupt and violent, yet colourful world. I simply had endless fun with this book and is a fantastic start to the series.
March 23, 2023
What. A. Story.
CW: violence, organised crime, cliffhanger central, do not read if you have stuff to do, but also, cancel all your stuff immediately
From the first chapter you are pulled in to a world of intrigue, deception and the unexplainable workings of the human mind and beyond. A great place to kick off a gritty urban fantasy tale that twists and turns around a series of strange and well thought out characters.
Guy has thought out everything, and I cannot wait to read the next book in the series. There are due to be five books in total, and I will definitely be reading them all. I recommend you do the same.
CW: violence, organised crime, cliffhanger central, do not read if you have stuff to do, but also, cancel all your stuff immediately
From the first chapter you are pulled in to a world of intrigue, deception and the unexplainable workings of the human mind and beyond. A great place to kick off a gritty urban fantasy tale that twists and turns around a series of strange and well thought out characters.
Guy has thought out everything, and I cannot wait to read the next book in the series. There are due to be five books in total, and I will definitely be reading them all. I recommend you do the same.
October 8, 2022
Give this book a miss.
I mean, it's your life. If you wish it to go unfulfilled that's your problem. Harlequin wouldn't care.
Not reading this book would be a real pity though.
A sliding doors moment, just go and read it!
I mean, it's your life. If you wish it to go unfulfilled that's your problem. Harlequin wouldn't care.
Not reading this book would be a real pity though.
A sliding doors moment, just go and read it!
October 11, 2019
Firebringer was an exciting read where the main characters grabbed me from the start and took me on a journey into the dark underworld of a city. I never knew if I would encounter a gangster or less human creature of darkness. Perhaps they would help, perhaps the body count would increase. Lots of twists and surprises in this wonderfully dark but unique urban fantasy world. Can not wait until the next book comes out.
March 9, 2020
Very surprised. Loved it and can’t wait for the next in the series and the movie! Really liked the characters, especially Prometheus and Harlequin.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews