What do you think?
Rate this book
Sic Semper Tyrannis Book One: Passage
Baby is on the run. His country has been annexed, horrors roam the wastelands, and now that he has made a terrible mistake, he knows he can never go home. When he meets Victory, it's a blessing. Victory has been on the Blue Road for years. Victory is smart. Victory is cruel. She takes him in, and it might be the one chance of survival Baby has. But the comet has passed. The world is changing, and Victory is at the centre of the storm. Saving himself is hard enough - now, Baby might have to save her, too.
297 pages, Paperback
Published July 15, 2020
4 people are currently reading
23 people want to read
About the author
Eli Solitas
4 books15 followersBrought up in South Wales, Eli is an emerging teenage author writing LGBT+ fantasy, political and contemporary fiction. They are currently working on an extended fantasy series, serially published, and studying for their Creative Writing BA. Their writing appeals to a young, progressive audience of adult and teen readers looking for serial fiction written in a new and exciting way.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
August 5, 2020
This book came to me highly recommended and so I approached it with high expectations. I made myself a cup of tea, nestled down with my favourite blanket, and started reading – and I didn’t stop until I was finished. I got sucked into a strange world where you can only hope that the sound you heard coming from the woods is nothing but an innocent tattletale, where the gods are alive and powerful, and where the passing of a comet shifts power in a way that affects the whole ecosystem. My tea grew cold, forgotten.
There are many things I love about this book and I believe that everyone who reads it will find something different to love about it. First off, this book deals with some dark themes, but it never felt overbearing or joyless. Bad things happen, yes, but that’s not all that happens, and the humorous and loving moments felt just as important, if not more.
With Baby as our protagonist we get introduced to a world that is weird and fantastical and riddled with problems of all kind. His innocence prompts many questions, but he is also a part of this world and thus not everything needs to be explained to him. Never are the workings of this universe explained in pages of internal monologue or blocks of dialogue. We get the information we need through short answers to Baby’s questions but not much more, leaving everything just vague enough to keep the mysteries that lie beyond our knowledge still enticing.
On top of that, Baby is just way to damn lovable. Sure, he is a bit of a mess and sometimes he screws up but never in a way that made me roll my eyes. Every time he made a mistake all I could think was ‘fuck, that would have happened to me, too’, which just proves to me yet again how I would probably not live through a single day in a dystopian setting. And I wouldn’t survive a day on the Blue Road unless I were lucky enough to meet Victory, who is a whole other topic to get into. Let’s just say I love her a lot and get to my personally favourite thing about the book: how structurally sound it is.
I know, that might seem like an odd thing to like about a book but it’s important and often gets overlooked. This is the part where Solitas really and truly proved to me that they knew what they were doing, that they understand their craft. Because ho.ly. shit. that was a joy to watch unfold. The book is almost symmetrical in structure, the second part mirroring the first one and subverting it at the same time. There are beats of repetition in the characters’ interactions where a simple line of dialogue suddenly gets a whole new tone in a new context, either turning the familiarity into nostalgia or bitterness, depending on what Solitas wants us to feel. The story has its own rhythm and beat to it, like a pulse, and it makes it feel alive. It’s beautiful, and incredibly effective, and it really impressed me.
I am very much looking forward to the next part of the series.
There are many things I love about this book and I believe that everyone who reads it will find something different to love about it. First off, this book deals with some dark themes, but it never felt overbearing or joyless. Bad things happen, yes, but that’s not all that happens, and the humorous and loving moments felt just as important, if not more.
With Baby as our protagonist we get introduced to a world that is weird and fantastical and riddled with problems of all kind. His innocence prompts many questions, but he is also a part of this world and thus not everything needs to be explained to him. Never are the workings of this universe explained in pages of internal monologue or blocks of dialogue. We get the information we need through short answers to Baby’s questions but not much more, leaving everything just vague enough to keep the mysteries that lie beyond our knowledge still enticing.
On top of that, Baby is just way to damn lovable. Sure, he is a bit of a mess and sometimes he screws up but never in a way that made me roll my eyes. Every time he made a mistake all I could think was ‘fuck, that would have happened to me, too’, which just proves to me yet again how I would probably not live through a single day in a dystopian setting. And I wouldn’t survive a day on the Blue Road unless I were lucky enough to meet Victory, who is a whole other topic to get into. Let’s just say I love her a lot and get to my personally favourite thing about the book: how structurally sound it is.
I know, that might seem like an odd thing to like about a book but it’s important and often gets overlooked. This is the part where Solitas really and truly proved to me that they knew what they were doing, that they understand their craft. Because ho.ly. shit. that was a joy to watch unfold. The book is almost symmetrical in structure, the second part mirroring the first one and subverting it at the same time. There are beats of repetition in the characters’ interactions where a simple line of dialogue suddenly gets a whole new tone in a new context, either turning the familiarity into nostalgia or bitterness, depending on what Solitas wants us to feel. The story has its own rhythm and beat to it, like a pulse, and it makes it feel alive. It’s beautiful, and incredibly effective, and it really impressed me.
I am very much looking forward to the next part of the series.
August 10, 2020
Passage hooked me right from the beginning. I had limited time to read, so I read it in three sittings-but if I could have, I would've devoured it all in one go. Solitas' prose is a treat, beautiful and poetic but not purple, and their action is vivid and engaging. The worldbuilding is worked in organically and I loved how unique and expansive the setting is. The world definitely felt real, alive, and believable, and this book made me so excited to learn more about it in the rest of the series. If you enjoy horror, you'll love some of the creepy fantasy elements in Passage-I definitely did!
Another amazing thing about Passage is Solitas' solid skill with structure and themes. I loved the foreshadowing, the callback lines, and the symbolism, which were all employed expertly.
The thing I loved most about this book was the characters. There wasn't a single background character that felt flat or lifeless. I fell in love with the side characters and I adored Jamie/Baby. His journey was relatable but very painful, especially his struggles with abandonment. The dialogue between the characters felt very human and natural. It was a treat to read a book that primarily focuses on platonic relationships, and emphasizes how strong and meaningful friendships can be. It was also a treat to read a book with many explicitly gay characters!
Although this story deals with a lot of heaviness, it never feels completely despairing. Solitas breaks up the tension with humor, adorable moments, tender affection and hope. I laughed, I wanted to cry, and I was furious on Baby's behalf. At the ending I felt like my brain needed to reboot because I was feeling so much. I had to take a while just staring at the blank pages in the back before I could pull myself together and read the acknowledgments.
Some lines I adored:
All in all: five stars, 10/10 would recommend. Please buy this book, it's incredible!
Another amazing thing about Passage is Solitas' solid skill with structure and themes. I loved the foreshadowing, the callback lines, and the symbolism, which were all employed expertly.
The thing I loved most about this book was the characters. There wasn't a single background character that felt flat or lifeless. I fell in love with the side characters and I adored Jamie/Baby. His journey was relatable but very painful, especially his struggles with abandonment. The dialogue between the characters felt very human and natural. It was a treat to read a book that primarily focuses on platonic relationships, and emphasizes how strong and meaningful friendships can be. It was also a treat to read a book with many explicitly gay characters!
Although this story deals with a lot of heaviness, it never feels completely despairing. Solitas breaks up the tension with humor, adorable moments, tender affection and hope. I laughed, I wanted to cry, and I was furious on Baby's behalf. At the ending I felt like my brain needed to reboot because I was feeling so much. I had to take a while just staring at the blank pages in the back before I could pull myself together and read the acknowledgments.
Some lines I adored:
All in all: five stars, 10/10 would recommend. Please buy this book, it's incredible!
August 6, 2020
This book was a very strong debut and I highly recommend it for anyone who loves to see main characters struggle and make mistakes but still get back up (to make more mistakes, depending on your perspective!), the possible depths of human connections you can have even in fleeting encounters, or a story set in a world a lot like ours but also filled with unpredictable monsters in the wilderness.
It is the entry point for a very long series and I have to say, this is a stellar way of introducting us to it as it acclimates the reader to the setting subtly because you care about its characters and the way they are struggling to survive in it, making you pay attention to its nuances for yourself and get invested. I loved and cared deeply for Baby's desperation, Victory's struggle and Immortal's plight because of the first two; and I can't wait to meet a bunch of others we were given a taste of.
Although the story itself is full of hardship and desperation due to its oppressive setting (due to both political landscapes and aforementioned monsters) and a LOT of bad shit happen, the story also has its light moments, and those light moments are brighter because they are surrounded by those dark moments. The angst and the fluff go beautifully together. (Seriously, I almost clapped when ) The characters' banter with each other was my favourite thing in the book and they went a long way to both establish their personalities /relationships and control the mood of the plot. In desperate settings, you need that kind of levity to take it out of grimdark depression hours some fantasy/dystopian novels love going for (which I don't judge, they're just not my cup of tea). This is why I think that if you enjoyed The Witcher series because of its characters, you might like this book. It basically navigates that push-and-pull between dark setting and plot with comedy borne out of character interactions very well (while actually not being sexist or homophobic about it, which I personally appreciate).
P.S.
The atmosphere of the setting reminded me a lot of Pathologic, and I found out later that the author did draw a lot of inspiration from it! They nailed the Pathologic atmosphere, so that's a huge plus for me. I recommend you play Pathologic 2 if you like this book, or pick this book up if you played and liked it already!
It is the entry point for a very long series and I have to say, this is a stellar way of introducting us to it as it acclimates the reader to the setting subtly because you care about its characters and the way they are struggling to survive in it, making you pay attention to its nuances for yourself and get invested. I loved and cared deeply for Baby's desperation, Victory's struggle and Immortal's plight because of the first two; and I can't wait to meet a bunch of others we were given a taste of.
Although the story itself is full of hardship and desperation due to its oppressive setting (due to both political landscapes and aforementioned monsters) and a LOT of bad shit happen, the story also has its light moments, and those light moments are brighter because they are surrounded by those dark moments. The angst and the fluff go beautifully together. (Seriously, I almost clapped when ) The characters' banter with each other was my favourite thing in the book and they went a long way to both establish their personalities /relationships and control the mood of the plot. In desperate settings, you need that kind of levity to take it out of grimdark depression hours some fantasy/dystopian novels love going for (which I don't judge, they're just not my cup of tea). This is why I think that if you enjoyed The Witcher series because of its characters, you might like this book. It basically navigates that push-and-pull between dark setting and plot with comedy borne out of character interactions very well (while actually not being sexist or homophobic about it, which I personally appreciate).
P.S.
The atmosphere of the setting reminded me a lot of Pathologic, and I found out later that the author did draw a lot of inspiration from it! They nailed the Pathologic atmosphere, so that's a huge plus for me. I recommend you play Pathologic 2 if you like this book, or pick this book up if you played and liked it already!
August 5, 2020
I read this book within only two sittings but could barely put it down in-between. The story centres around Baby, a teenage runaway who finds himself alone in the world. That is until he meets Victory and things seemingly turn for the better. Until they don't. Passage introduces us to a whole new world charged with political complications through the character of Baby and his interactions with the world around him, all while Baby always stays his own unique character who is a joy to follow along.
Solitas' writing style is immersive till the very end. It's raw, intriguing, and flows easily for a more than just enjoyable reading experience. I especially need to point out the actions scenes which are so well done and impactful, I felt every kick and punch on my own body.
Sic Semper Tyrannis: Passage is an amazing prelude for a whole complex and fleshed-out series that I'm excitedly looking forward to!
Solitas' writing style is immersive till the very end. It's raw, intriguing, and flows easily for a more than just enjoyable reading experience. I especially need to point out the actions scenes which are so well done and impactful, I felt every kick and punch on my own body.
Sic Semper Tyrannis: Passage is an amazing prelude for a whole complex and fleshed-out series that I'm excitedly looking forward to!
August 1, 2020
I ended up reading this book in one sitting, it was that good! If you’re looking for a fresh take on the dark fantasy/dystopia genre, this is it! It immediately draws you in with fantastic characters (I literally cannot stop thinking about Baby and Victory!), a gripping story, and an amazing world!
The book, on top of being an amazing story on its own, sets the stage for what promises to be a compelling, intricate series. The hints of an expansive, interconnected world are peppered throughout this first volume, and the ending leaves you needing to know what’s going on...
When it comes to the characters, Solitas has managed to make them interesting and entirely relatable. We haveJamie Baby, a teenage fugitive on the run after a terrible mistake, and Victory, a smuggler who is has seen more than her fair share of trouble, at the centre of an amazing narrative. Especially compelling for me is that both Baby and Victory are explicitly, in text, gay. It is refreshing to see LGBT+ characters as the stars of a story like this.
I am not exaggerating when I say that, based on this book alone, I can easily see Sic Semper Tyrannis becoming one of my all time favourite series’!
The book, on top of being an amazing story on its own, sets the stage for what promises to be a compelling, intricate series. The hints of an expansive, interconnected world are peppered throughout this first volume, and the ending leaves you needing to know what’s going on...
When it comes to the characters, Solitas has managed to make them interesting and entirely relatable. We have
I am not exaggerating when I say that, based on this book alone, I can easily see Sic Semper Tyrannis becoming one of my all time favourite series’!
August 27, 2020
This book was insanely good, especially for a debut.
I'll try to sort my thoughts into a proper review when I actually have time but for now, let me just say:
- I loved how dark the world building was
- I would do everything for Victory. Also Immortal and Baby are the best. And Anna. And Quinn. And I think I'm trying to say that I really enjoyed the characters^^ Especially Victory. I am super mad at her.
- Book 2 isn't out for another four days and that makes me sad. I need it right now.
I'll try to sort my thoughts into a proper review when I actually have time but for now, let me just say:
- I loved how dark the world building was
- I would do everything for Victory. Also Immortal and Baby are the best. And Anna. And Quinn. And I think I'm trying to say that I really enjoyed the characters^^ Especially Victory. I am super mad at her.
- Book 2 isn't out for another four days and that makes me sad. I need it right now.
October 3, 2020
Review.
This story was an anticipated read for me, once I heard it was being released I couldn't wait to get my hands on it. I really enjoyed the development of the world and how sinister is grew as time went on. The humour and traits the characters held were very realistic and relatable. This was an enjoyable read and I can't wait to read the second novel of the series.
This story was an anticipated read for me, once I heard it was being released I couldn't wait to get my hands on it. I really enjoyed the development of the world and how sinister is grew as time went on. The humour and traits the characters held were very realistic and relatable. This was an enjoyable read and I can't wait to read the second novel of the series.
October 3, 2020
very good very nice would read again
August 25, 2020
I bought and read this book on a verbal recommendation. I was aware that it was a first novel by a young author my expectations were low but it’s my favourite genre soI thought I’d give it a go.
I was blown away by this book I was expecting divergence lite but what I got was much more than that. It is truly original. I started to read and couldn’t put it down till the end. Now I can’t wait for the next one.
The characters are engaging from the start although messed up is probably too kind for some of them. The story is bleak but also has hope and clearly the kindness of strangers in dark times.
It’s more Dark Tower than Hunger Games more the Night Circus than Uglies it’s not perfect but it’s a Damn good read and I’m can’t wait for the next one in September.
I was blown away by this book I was expecting divergence lite but what I got was much more than that. It is truly original. I started to read and couldn’t put it down till the end. Now I can’t wait for the next one.
The characters are engaging from the start although messed up is probably too kind for some of them. The story is bleak but also has hope and clearly the kindness of strangers in dark times.
It’s more Dark Tower than Hunger Games more the Night Circus than Uglies it’s not perfect but it’s a Damn good read and I’m can’t wait for the next one in September.
August 16, 2020
I've never been one to express my views on something I enjoy very eloquently, it usually ends up resulting in a keysmash or unintelligible ramblings, but I'm going to give this a go. Even now, I've been sitting on this book a couple of days to let how good it is really sink in.
Right from the get-go you're thrown into a dystopian thriller that paces wonderfully. The author walks that fine line between too slow and too fast masterfully, keeping you on the edge of your seat, following Jamie as he runs for his life, taking your heart and soul with him. The world beyond Jamie's journey is hinted at throughout, but doesn't detract from his story.
My initial reaction to Victory was that she is a rough, tough older sister figure to Jamie. When she laughs and says to him, "you've got so much to learn," it doesn't just feel as if she's talking to Jamie, she's talking to the reader too, and it enthralls you, draws you in, makes you curious and eager to know more about the characters and world within the book.
Dystopian stories aren't my go-to, so many feel like they're straight out of a YA101 class, by Passage brings something new to the table and I can't wait to read the next one!
Right from the get-go you're thrown into a dystopian thriller that paces wonderfully. The author walks that fine line between too slow and too fast masterfully, keeping you on the edge of your seat, following Jamie as he runs for his life, taking your heart and soul with him. The world beyond Jamie's journey is hinted at throughout, but doesn't detract from his story.
My initial reaction to Victory was that she is a rough, tough older sister figure to Jamie. When she laughs and says to him, "you've got so much to learn," it doesn't just feel as if she's talking to Jamie, she's talking to the reader too, and it enthralls you, draws you in, makes you curious and eager to know more about the characters and world within the book.
Dystopian stories aren't my go-to, so many feel like they're straight out of a YA101 class, by Passage brings something new to the table and I can't wait to read the next one!
January 30, 2021
[Review re-done on January 29, 2021]
First things first, once I finished reading the book, I had no idea where it’d go next. Not exactly in a positive way, but more of a “so, what was all the point of that?” way. It was only until the second book came out did I get the gist of the cycle.
Solitas definitely knows how to drop a reader into an expansive world, leaving them to figure things out on their own. While a daring style, it led to confusion at points (and, 3 books in, I still kind of am). But in all, Passage was a pleasant little teaser of the world of Sic Semper Tyrannis.
For me, the problems began in the last third of the book (the “Baby saving Victory” part of the blurb). Although I wouldn’t exactly call it “saving.” The sense of Victory hiding something supernatural is slowly built up. But once Baby began following Victory, I just felt frustrated. I wanted Victory to go on her own. She’s portrayed as competent enough. I really enjoyed Victory’s character and the veil of mystery surrounding her. I was frustrated at how Baby was chasing after this faux mom he met 2 months ago and how Immortal was sticking with him for whatever reason. I couldn’t sympathize with Baby at all during this section. He doesn’t have much of a personality aside from attachment issues. Which is a shame, because I quite like the way Solitas writes.
Not a very strong book on its own, in my opinion. It’s more of a prologue to the entire series. Although the series itself is very good.
First things first, once I finished reading the book, I had no idea where it’d go next. Not exactly in a positive way, but more of a “so, what was all the point of that?” way. It was only until the second book came out did I get the gist of the cycle.
Solitas definitely knows how to drop a reader into an expansive world, leaving them to figure things out on their own. While a daring style, it led to confusion at points (and, 3 books in, I still kind of am). But in all, Passage was a pleasant little teaser of the world of Sic Semper Tyrannis.
For me, the problems began in the last third of the book (the “Baby saving Victory” part of the blurb). Although I wouldn’t exactly call it “saving.” The sense of Victory hiding something supernatural is slowly built up. But once Baby began following Victory, I just felt frustrated. I wanted Victory to go on her own. She’s portrayed as competent enough. I really enjoyed Victory’s character and the veil of mystery surrounding her. I was frustrated at how Baby was chasing after this faux mom he met 2 months ago and how Immortal was sticking with him for whatever reason. I couldn’t sympathize with Baby at all during this section. He doesn’t have much of a personality aside from attachment issues. Which is a shame, because I quite like the way Solitas writes.
Not a very strong book on its own, in my opinion. It’s more of a prologue to the entire series. Although the series itself is very good.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews