Under Ordshaw

Ordshaw #1

by Phil Williams

Welcome to Ordshaw. Don’t look down.

Pax is one rent cheque away from the unforgiving streets of Ordshaw. After her stash is stolen, her hunt for the thief unearths a book of nightmares and a string of killers, and she stands to lose much more than her home.

There’s something lurking under her city.

Knowing it’s there could get you killed.

Genres: Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Fiction, Audiobook, Paranormal

303 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 24, 2018

About the author

Phil Williams is an author of fantasy, horror and dystopian fiction, including the Blood Scouts epic military fantasies, the Ordshaw urban fantasy thrillers and the post-apocalyptic Estalia series. He also works as a fiction editor and writes reference books to help foreign learners master the nuances of English, two of which are regular best-sellers on Kindle. As a long-term teacher and tutor of advanced English, he runs the popular website “English Lessons Brighton”.

Phil lives with his wife by the coast in Sussex, UK, and spends a great deal of time walking his impossibly fluffy dog, Herbert.

Reviews

[Nick Borrelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

The two major strengths of UNDER ORDSHAW are definitely the characters and world-building in my opinion. In terms of the characters, my two favorites were the main character Pax and the kickass fae Letty. It's interesting because the two characters really couldn't be more different, yet I loved them each in their own way. Letty is bombasic, foul-mouthed, and often rough around the edges. Think Tinkerbell with a machine gun and tattoos. And there are many more where Letty came from. These definitely ain't your Disney fairies. Pax on the other hand is a bit more measured, thinks much more before she acts, and plays the part that she needs to play to discover what she is looking for.


Then there's the really inventive world-building which made this such a fun and entertaining read for me. The idea of an underground city operating underneath the unsuspecting inhabitants of the city above is a concept that I have always liked a lot. It's part of the reason why Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere is one of my all-time favorite fantasy books. And Phil Williams manages to capture much of that spirit with this book I'm happy to say. It really is a cool place filled with supernatural creatures and various other mystifying creatures aplenty.



This is a read for those who enjoy their urban fantasy with a healthy dose of the fantastic, as well as some sarcastic humor and grittiness. I couldn't help but crack a smile as I turned the final page knowing that I will absolutely wish to continue with the following two volumes of this fun and captivating series. UNDER ORDSHAW is definitely a book that you will want to check out!

[Lukasz · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5

With Under Ordshaw, Phil Williams draws us into the horrors that lurk below ground level of a city of Ordshaw. He offers an interesting and unique take on the fae mythos. Fae are real and minuscule but also violent, foul-mouthed, and technologically advanced. The book tells the story of Pax Kuranes, a young woman thrust into a fast-paced adventure heavy with supernatural and mystery.

I tend to root for street-smart characters, so I liked Pax right from the start. She notices patterns in life and uses that to her advantage, while playing cards for example. We meet her after a successful game, with a nice stash of cash in the pocket. Unfortunately, in just few pages someone takes the money away from her, and she needs it back. Her hunt for the thief makes her cross ways with a psychotic agent, a string of killers, and the fae.

While I liked Pax as a person, I also felt she lacked any real agency. Things happened to her, and she reacted accordingly. This doesn’t make her less interesting, she finds herself in an insane situation and tries to make sense of crazy things that happen around and to her. She reacts fast and relies on her instinct, like when she saves Letty, a foul-mouthed and rage-fueled fairy. Their relationship is difficult and fun to observe.

Williams introduced many secondary characters. Besides Pax, we also get a POV from Casaria, a delusional agent taught to hate fairies and consider them as the source of all evil. His inner monologues and hopes of winning Pax’s heart felt so absurd that I couldn’t help but laugh at him. Driven by a desire to keep humanity safe, he acts as a fanatic and quickly becomes a caricature. 

Even though I felt the plot was meandering in places, Williams kept things tight and focused enough to maintain my interest in the story and its developments. And when the action went to Ordhsaw’s underbelly, things got exciting and terrifying.

Under Ordshaw is a unique urban fantasy that stands out for its well-rounded characters and disturbing settings. Williams has given readers plenty of thrills and mystery to keep the pages turning, but his novel sings loudest when he explores human-fae dynamics. Consider me hooked. Under Ordshaw won’t work as a standalone so bear that in mind before starting it. 

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

https://www.bookwormblues.net/2021/04...

Under Ordshaw only came on my radar recently. I’ve been on a bit of an urban/contemporary fantasy kick, and this one seemed to fit the bill. Plus, I was intrigued by the idea of a city under the city that no one really knows about. I’ve never encountered that in fantasy before, and it seemed like it could either be extremely messy, or extremely well done.

Call me curious.

Under Ordshaw starts out with a bang. Our protagonist, Pax, ends up winning big in a card game. Then, stuff happens and she immediately loses her winnings. From there, things really get rolling. Pax finds herself embroiled in myriad of issues. Things happen with numerous people in numerous places (Yeah, I’m being vague on purpose.). It’s a lot of fun but it’s also A LOT. If you aren’t paying close attention, you could get lost and confused very easily. I’d say, really makes sure you really focus in on the first half of the book. If you miss something, you could easily lose the thread and get confused.

So, pay attention.

Aside from that, once I made sure I was buckled up and strapped in, when the book took off (which it did, like two pages in. Just off and racing.) I really enjoyed the ride. There was never a dull moment (literally). Always something happening somewhere, with someone. Sometimes it did get a bit overwhelming, but all in all, I found the book to be really well paced for something that covered so much action. The plot was just as diverse as the world and cast, which really thrilled me. I was never quite sure what was going to happen.

The world building and characters were the highlight of the book. The way Williams handled the city under the city was superb. The entire idea just intrigued me, and once we get to the point where we go into the city under Ordshaw, and see all the fantasy creatures that dwell down there, I discovered that some of my favorite characters are the ones that are infused with fantasy. They had some of the most realistic, believable voices and I loved the sarcastic humor.

Further, I absolutely loved how Williams infused his reality with fantasy, truly elevating this story from an urban fantasy to something that almost feels a genre all its own. The idea of an underground fantasy city underneath a city full of unsuspecting inhabitants was really a delight to explore.

The characters were amazing as well. I instantly loved Pax’s voice. She was witty and snarky, fiercely independent. She thinks before she acts, and has a good head on her shoulders. She’s balanced out nicely by many of the people/creatures she meets along the way, like Letty, a badass fairy with a foul mouth and a bit of a more act-then-think persona. Each character, however, had their own recognizable voice, and their own place in the story.

Williams did a great job at offering readers nuggets of information at the proper times. The plot zooms by, making this book feel like a really quick read, but he is good at stringing readers along, delivering at the right moments. I was having fun with all of those “wait… OH!” occasions throughout the book.

Under Ordshaw was an amazing book. A really solid introduction to a complex world. Fantastic characters and absolutely superb worldbuilding combine to make this breakneck plot something you won’t forget. This is a brilliant start to a series I am dying to read. If you’re an urban fantasy fan, don’t mind gritty realism and plenty of sarcastic humor, you need to do yourself a favor and read Under Ordshaw.

You can thank me later.

[Mogsy · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum https://bibliosanctum.com/2020/06/15/...

As a popular entry in the 2019 Self-Published Fantasy Blog-Off competition, Under Ordshaw has actually been on my radar for a while, but a busy schedule prevented me from getting to it earlier. As it turned out though, that became a happy opportunity for me to check out the audiobook edition which came out this spring. Urban Fantasy tends to be a genre I prefer in the audio format, and this one ended up being a very entertaining listen.

The story stars protagonist Pax Kuranes, a professional card player who has just won big at a poker game one night, and is in the process of heading home with the considerable prize money when a distraction causes her to be robbed. Before she can do anything, however, the young thief is swiftly apprehended into government custody, raving about minotaurs and underground labyrinths beneath the city and other such nonsense. Frustrated and desperate to get her money back, Pax decides to do some digging of her own, tracking down the man’s hideout and stumbling upon some interesting writings stashed away in his belongings—more disjointed ramblings and drawings that seem to be the product of a very confused mind.

Returning home, though, Pax finds someone waiting for her. It appears her activities have attracted attention from certain factions. From the Ministry of Environmental Energy is Agent Casaria, who hopes to win Pax to their side by opening her eyes to the reality of Ordshaw’s underground ecosystem, a secret world inhabited by monsters and faeries and other supernatural creatures. Meanwhile, trying to move on and live his life again is also Barton, a man who once had an unfortunate run-in with the Sunken City beneath Ordshaw, and has been trying to forget it since. A husband and a father, Barton has kept the truth from his family for many years in order to keep them safe, but now it seems his past has finally caught up to him despite his efforts.

The story wastes no time plunging readers into the action. In fact, it makes Pax all the more sympathetic because in many ways we can understand the confusion and overload of information she must feel. The details and explanations come at us hard and fast, and the pacing hardly slows which is something I can appreciate when it comes to UF, though it does make for slippery transitions. At the beginning, it’s especially imperative to pay attention to everything and stay on top of things, lest you get left behind and become lost. Despite my best efforts, even I found myself floundering in some places, wondering if the narration had skipped over an important detail or if I might have blanked out momentarily and missed something.

But the strengths of the book are most definitely its characters. Although Pax is a great protagonist, surrounded by so many other interesting and out-of-this-world personalities, she almost seems mundane in comparison. I loved Letty, one of the fae in Under Ordshaw who are tiny winged creatures but with feisty dispositions to make up for their size. In my mind, I pictured her looking something like a foul-mouthed Tinkerbell. And then there’s Casaria, whose POV I felt was the most complex. One moment he feels like a villain, and the next, he comes across as someone I should pity. At times, his little crush on Pax and other delusional daydreams for the future almost makes me feel bad for him, but then he’ll inevitably lose all goodwill again by going down some misguided track. Following the alternating perspectives in their so-called partnership made for some unexpectedly funny moments though, because Casaria is so often way off base with his perceptions of what’s actually happening between him and Pax.

Then there’s Barton, who currently lives as an average citizen but his history with the denizens of Sunken City has come back to haunt him, putting his family in danger. In my mind, his storyline was the glue holding all the different parts of the plot together, a thread that highlighted both the ongoing conflicts beneath Ordshaw and the repercussions unfolding above.

Overall, this was a standout introduction to the world of Ordshaw, and I know that there have been more books and stories added to the series. Hopefully, that they will also come to audio at some point, because Under Ordshaw was fantastically performed by Fran Burgoyne, who made getting into this story so easy with her smooth narration and expressive voices. It would be awesome if the other novels will the same treatment, and I look forward to checking them out.

[Justine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Under Ordshaw is the gritty and thrilling first installment in Phil Williams’ Ordshaw series, an Urban Fantasy jaunt perfectly balanced with a little bit of horror and a little bit of humor. At its heart it’s a cautionary tale of the dangers of secrets, highlighting that no matter how determined one may be to leave the past behind, it will always be lurking around the darkest of corners. Set in a familiar world where the line between good and bad is blurred beyond recognition, readers are barraged with the weird and wondrous, as they’re introduced to cryptic mysteries, foul-mouthed fairies, and deception seeping from the pages. There’s much to discover below the city of Ordshaw, and this is only the beginning – A story that sinks it teeth and claws in, and refuses to let go.

The world Williams has crafted is among the strongest aspects of this book. Readers are transported to a corrupt city crawling with vicious crime syndicates, secret government agencies with neither limits nor regard for collateral damage, and a sovereign society deeply governed by shady politics, all struggling for a foothold in this living, breathing behemoth. But the real threat lies beneath. Mysterious entities, horrific abominations, and nasty secrets lie in wait, stalking and hunting the unaware in the pitch black tunnels under Ordshaw. There are so many layers to the city itself, both literally and figuratively, and peeling back each to discover bits and pieces at a time is an engaging and fully immersive venture. Vivid and tactile descriptions easily submerge those that fall victim to its sinister charm.

There’s a brilliant myriad of morally gray players with their hands in the game throughout this story, a game that has yet to truly reveal itself. Pax, a late-night card player looking to cruise through life on her meager winnings; Casario, a rogue agent of The Ministry, who’s completely consumed by his prejudices; Barton, a broken man attempting to forget the past and mend burned bridges at home; and Letty, a salty fairy who has gloriously introduced me to a whole new vocabulary of profanities. Each so finely developed, their intentions warring with those of the others, but all with both damning and redeeming qualities. Early in the story it’s easy to pick a side, but as the story progresses it becomes more difficult to remain steadfast your belief of who’s the “good guy”.

Williams portrays the extraordinary with a well-written and polished narrative, smartly stripped of all unnecessary details that may have otherwise weighed it down, leaving readers fully invested in attempting to put the puzzle pieces together. He excels at presenting clever, hilarious banter and amusing delusions as we make our way through each of the three parts, adding plenty of levity to the darker aspects of the book. The story itself suffers from a bit of a slow start, but then quickly builds up and explodes into an action-packed race to the finish as all the factions converge. A solid plot is presented, then developed and evolved as readers are introduced to the various needs and desires of all involved.

Under Ordshaw is a gleaming example of what the Urban Fantasy subgenre has to offer, and it surpassed all the expectations I had when I first began flipping through its pages. We’re left with lots of questions that need answering, and threads that need tying, so it’s a blessing the rest of this series is already published. I’m very much looking forward to what glorious absurdity awaits me in Blue Angel and The Violent Fae. If you’re on the hunt for a gripping tale drenched in mystery and ample sass, the I highly recommend giving this a read.

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See this review and others at Whispers & Wonder
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[Travis Riddle · Rating 5 out of 5]

A gripping thriller with a compelling cast of characters and unique, horrific monsters that feel like they're ripped straight out of Silent Hill.

Williams is great at doling out information about this secret underground world at a pace that keeps you intrigued and turning the pages while never feeling like you're totally left in the dark or that things are being intentionally left out to confuse you or set up mysteries. Instead it feels like the knowledge of what's under Ordshaw is explained organically by characters who are experienced with it, either by putting us in their point of view or while our main character Pax learns more and more about it from them. Nothing ever feels like an info dump.

I thought that The City Screams, a novella in this series, could attribute its brisk pacing to the fact that it was a novella, but that seems to just be Williams's M.O. Under Ordshaw is always exciting in its action and interesting in its slower character- and worldbuilding-based moments, making it so that there is never a boring chapter and you're always happy to be in the next character's headspace.

Plus there are truly weird, grotesque monsters aplenty in this book, and who doesn't like that?

Under Ordshaw is a fun, tense introduction to the world of Ordshaw and a fantastic start to what will surely be a great series.

[Athena (OneReadingNurse) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Feisty takes on a new meaning with Letty and the gang here 🤣

Thank you endlessly to the author for providing audio codes for the first Ordshaw books, Review to come!

[DEGEN Psychonaut · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m not the biggest Urban Fantasy reader, but I have a read a few, most recently was The Last Smile In Sunder City by Luke Arnold. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I ended up enjoying this genre, as well as how much flexibility there is for a writer. Although I loved Sunder City, Under Ordahaw was a complete blast. I had a lot of fun reading it, and glimpsing the monsters, and the unstable, and angry fairies that live under the city of Ordshaw in The Sunken City.

We get the story from multiple perspectives. We have Pax Kuranes, she is a serious loner, and a badass poker player. Her goals are paying rent, and gathering enough money to enter the upcoming local stop on the World Poker Tour. She has an unlucky run in with a young man connected to the world of monsters, and the Fae (the biker clad, attitude of anarchy, pistol pointing cute little fairies), and in the process, loses the cash she just won, that would have her financially set for a time.
Then, the perspective from Letty, the Fae that wants to retrieve an artifact made and hidden away by a human. She is a pisser, entertaining, and in charge of her own little group determined to get the artifact and kill if necessary to get what they want.

There is also a shadow government department responsible for watching the underworld, and maintaining diplomatic relations with the Fae, mainly through the Fae leader. The main government dude, who we get the perspective of is Casaria. He would love nothing better then to show Pax “His” world and then watch as she falls head over heels for his shadowy tough guy life.
Lastly, there is Citizen Barton. A man who became aware of what’s under Ordshaw years ago and has been trying to forget about his nightmare ever since. Unfortunately, he is pulled back in, and his story is probably my favorite. His wife has never known what really happened all those years ago. Now, he’s involved again, and she is hell bent on not letting him out of her sight. Things get complicated, to say the least.

I don’t want to give too much away, I’ve left out the monster descriptions intentionally. That part should be left to the author, as the creatures are brought into the story perfectly, and it’s worth the read just for the glimpses we get into what really lies, crawls, flies, rolls, glows, and drags beneath Ordshaw.

The writing is fantastic, and fast-paced throughout. The interconnecting stories are played out with expertise and as hard as it was to believe, I get the feeling I’ve only gotten a glimpse into what’s really happening. There are plenty of morsels dropped that indicate a bigger story is happening and book 2, is sure to shed some additional light into the purpose of The Sunken City, and what it is that has caused it, as well as what it wants. A number of interesting mysteries were left unsolved as what was written occurs in only maybe 3 days I believe.
Rating:

I would give 4.5 out of 5 stars. I have a feeling the next book will be even better. Thank you for stopping by and checking out the review!

[Julia Sarene · Rating 4 out of 5]

As someone who's always on the lookout for female led Urban Fantasy which is not in fact a Paranormal Romance, I can't even tell you how much I loved Under Ordshaw by Phil Williams.

The main character is a rather pragmatic young woman who earns her living playing cards. She gets sucked into quite the adventure, and rescues a tiny fairy. A very sweary fairy!
I loved the humour and banter between these two, which made a nice balance for a darker backstory.

One of the most important side characters was well developed as well, and fascinating to read. He's out to do the right thing, but in order to achieve what he deems right, he's willing to do anything. On the one hand you know he's a bad person. Williams managed to write him in such a way, you still understand him in a way. I love it when there's more shades of grey instead of clear cut black and white characters.

This was one fast and entertaining read, which I devoured in no time at all!
But not just the style was catching, I also adored the world building! I mean the dark underbelly of a city is not a new idea, but the way it was interwoven with the normal world, and the creatures had me intrigued right away. There's a lot of cool ideas there, and the mad mix of creatures, magic and fairies with guns just worked!

[Richard Buxton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well conceived, well executed and well nigh impossible to put down.

The story-line is centred around Pax, a professional poker player who, through no fault of her own, is dragged into the Ordshaw’s secret underworld in more senses than one. Shady governmental agencies, criminal operators and the fantastical and factionalised world of the Fae, all have secret axes to grind while Ordshaw’s unknowing citizenry go about life above ground. But what they don’t know might still hurt them. Pax is a loner but there are people in danger here and she steps up to the plate. The plate turns out to be more monstrous than she ever imagined.

Phil Williams hits the ground running in this novel and never stops. There’s a fair body of characters alongside Pax, but all are well conceived from the get go and their own fears and motivations sync seamlessly with a fast-moving plot. Enough is held back and the characters nuanced enough to keep the reader guessing as to who is on the right side of the tracks. Not only is there a subterranean world for us to discover alongside Pax, but that world has its own history that informs the present crisis.

I can’t wait to see where he takes it from here. Luckily, I don’t have to as the next three are already in print. Thoroughly recommended.

[Alana Bloom · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Thank you to Storytellers on Tour and Phil Williams for the review copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Employing several POVs, whatever is deemed necessary to move the plot along, we are introduced quickly to an interesting cast of flawed and morally grey characters that operate outside the norm. Pax is a card player that generally only ventures out after sundown. Her background is shady at best and I am still thoroughly confused as to her choices in life. We also follow Barton, a family man with a dark past thoroughly entangled with the mess under Ordshaw, and we can’t forget the positively unhinged Casaria. Casaria’s POV and internal dialogue is as fascinating as it is disturbing. His more fanciful plans including Pax definitely earned a few snort laughs from me. Most of the world-building happens through Pax’s view, as she was the newcomer to this shadowy underworld.

The pacing lagged a bit in some places for me, usually after a major POV jump. I freely admit that POV changes usually take me out of the story so this won’t be an issue for other readers. I’m not really convinced of Pax’s role for the long term but I’m hoping the next book will help me feel a bit more settled in that respect. Also, there are SO many questions and not nearly enough answers. Williams really knows how to withhold so I’m forced to rearrange my TBR just to fit book two in.

A word of caution, there are some exceedingly grim moments (yes, I know it is partially classified as horror) that made me feel uncomfortable particularly towards the end while the characters gallivanted around the underbelly of Ordshaw. So, maybe don’t read this particular book close to bedtime which I strongly suspect you all will ignore. Enjoy your monster dreams.

Overall, this was a well-crafted start to an urban fantasy world with a healthy dose of dark and creepy. You won’t find any heroes, but there are plenty of monstrous things, murderous fae, and morally questionable characters. I’m looking forward to picking up book two!

[Damien Larkin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Under Ordshaw is an explosive and fast paced urban fantasy that fans of the genre and newcomers will enjoy.

Spread over a three day period, we follow poker hustler Pax as a chance encounter causes her life to spiral out of control. Coerced by a shady government ministry and threatened by a gang of psychopathic, murderous fae, she risks everything to protect a young orphan while uncovering the secrets of what really lurks under Ordshaw...

With fantastic characters, an intriguing world and gripping action, the author has crafted an amazingly intriguing tale not to be missed. I look forward to checking out book 2!

[Cathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book from the author. I had the opportunity to review or not.

There is something underneath the city of Ordshaw. Something weird, dangerous, and totally unexpected by the citizens. When Pax Kuranes sets out to win a stake for herself, she enters into a poker game. With skill and determination, Pax wins a very comfortable fortune and pictures herself getting all she dreams of. Stepping into a bar to celebrate, her luck runs out and a young man steals her fortune.

The chase is on. In her attempt to retrieve her money Pax finds herself entangled in a frightening situation that makes no sense to her. A hard-nosed, practical woman, she cannot understand what she is being told. Monsters – under Ordshaw?

Mr. Williams writes a believable, unbelievable tale. His descriptive writing brought the underground tunnels and dangers to life. Unfortunately, that’s not all that’s alive under Ordshaw. Nasty creatures abound. His characters are believable, likable, and strongly developed. The interaction among the characters is real, humorous, and well done. This is a very interesting tale with lots of twists and turns, enough to delight any reader. The next book in the should be even more delightful. I look forward to it.

[Stormi (StormReads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I started this I wasn't sure what I would think of it but I was pretty surprised as once I got into it it was very enjoyable. Pax is pretty broke and then her money is stolen she must get it back. When she goes after the person who stole it she gets more than she bargains for when she finds out there is a whole lot more out there than she thought. Like fairies with attitude and scare creatures! I really enjoyed the characters in this story! Pax was a pretty cool character but I really liked the fairy Letty who was a bit foul-mouthed and temperamental. :) Interesting take on the fae mythos.

[Leelynn (Sometimes Leelynn Reads) ❤ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to Storytellers on Tour and Rumian Publishing for this free copy. All quotes in this review are taken from the Advanced Reader Copy and may change in final publication.

I haven’t read much urban fantasy before but whenever I get a chance to, I find that they can be pretty enjoyable.

Under Ordshaw is about a woman named Pax that is living a hard life in the city of Ordshaw. She – like many of us in the world – lives paycheck to paycheck and one wrong move can send her homeless on the rough streets of Ordshaw. Unfortunately, someone ends up stealing her hard earned stash and she finds out that the city of Ordshaw is even more dangerous than she initially thought. To the point that, now that she knows what’s really lurking under the city streets, she can lose her life at any point.

Welcome to the thunder-dome, am I right? Or more… the fae underground that is probably surrounding us to this day and we just can’t see it.

This was certainly a wild ride for me, and one that I enjoyed while I was in this world. We can see the British humor from our author sprinkled all over this novel, and it definitely made me wish that I was more versed in British humor and colloquialism, but it was still understandable for a newbie like me. Pax had to deal with a lot in this world, and I certainly don’t envy her with all of the turmoil and horror that she was immersed in, but I was rooting for her to make it out in one piece as much as possible.

The fae in this world aren’t your typical fae that you see in the YA world, which works for this adult urban fantasy. They aren’t the kind of fae you want to make angry, or even look at them the wrong way. They will mess you up, and not in the fun way. I liked that a lot about them, even if it meant they were not going to be some of my favorite characters. They were still enjoyable to read, which worked out for me.

This was a great introduction to the Ordshaw series, and if you’re an audiobook fan like me, the audiobook was recently published this year for your listening pleasure. I recommend it.

[S.J. Higbee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m not going to claim that the premise is anything particularly original – it isn’t. Ordshaw is a city with a dark underbelly where lethal creatures inhabit the network of tunnels hidden beneath the streets. Most people, particularly those who are out and about during the day, don’t have any inkling about the battle going on between the creatures and humanity – but those who are largely out at night have more of an idea that something isn’t quite right. Pax falls into this category, given she is a card player who spends most of her time working at night.

However, for me she isn’t the most interesting character in this book. Cano Casaria, an agent for the Ministry of Environmental Energy, in theory should be one of the good guys. In fact, the character seemed very familiar to me – driven by a desire to keep humanity safe; possessing a fanatical loathing of the terrible creatures wreaking havoc; determined to ensure that their agenda doesn’t prevail. In many other hands, Casaria would be the protagonist. But he’s not. While it’s his efforts that initially involve Pax in the whole business, his brutal methods characterised by the end absolutely justifying any means repel her, particularly after she encounters Letty the tiny fairy, whom Casaria cripples.

It is the interplay between these characters that had me turning the pages wanting to know what would happen next. While some of the monsters are definitely unpleasant and there is a great deal we don’t yet know about them, it wasn’t the battle between them and humanity that powered the story, but the rivalries and relationships formed between those who were trying to stop them.

In making this the focus of the story, Williams has succeeded in giving this urban fantasy a fresh twist so that while it started quite slowly, as it gathered pace I found it difficult to put down. Recommended for fans of well-written urban fantasy, who’d appreciate something a little different. While I obtained a review copy of Under Ordshaw from the author, the views I have expressed are my honest opinion of the book.
9/10

[Jonny · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the second urban fantasy book I’ve read in a row – the other one being the first Dresden Files book – and now I know that urban fantasy actually doesn’t mean the same thing as paranormal romance I think this is a genre I could really get into. Cos there ain’t no romance in UNDER ORDSHAW folks. This is a gritty, grimy tale of subterranean monsters, foul-mouthed rifle-strapped fairies and the people tasked to hunt them down in the name of national security. This review iss part of the Storytellers on Tour blog tour for the book, so make sure to check them out for the rest of the tour schedule as well as a bunch of other great reviews.

I’ll start by saying I sat down with this book, blinked a couple times, had a few sips of tea and “What the fuck I’m halfway through already?”. I churned through that first half like butter cos it just has a bunch of stuff I’m an absolute sucker for. Shady government agencies covering shit up, an outcast main character living on the fringes of society and (something I didn’t realise I loved until I read this book) those foul-mouthed rifle-strapped fairies!

So our main protagonist is Pax, an outcast who makes a living playing poker. I was invested in Pax straight away, not least because I actually played poker professionally for a few years and it’s something I don’t think I’ve ever seen explored in fantasy and science fiction, but also because of how quickly she’s thrust into the crazy and intriguing mystery that sets the book up. Yeah, there’s no messing about in the intro, Pax is in the wrong place at the wrong time, has a bunch of money stolen by a strange kid called Rufaizu and almost immediately attracts the attention of one Cana Casario, an agent of the covertly-named Ministry of Environmental Energy. Casario becomes an immediate pain in Pax’s arse after she discovers a bunch of mysterious items in the wreck of a house belonging to the strange guy who stole her cash. This was the strongest part of the book for me and the part that really got me to buy in. It’s mildly spoilery to go into the exact things Pax finds in Rufaizu’s flat, but they’re weird, they’re obviously important, they make no sense whatsoever on the surface and it’s probably the biggest mistake of Pax’s life that she decides to keep them as collateral for the money he stole from her.

There’s always discussion in writing circles about how to get readers to identify with and root for your main character and I thought Williams did a great job of this by having the reader discover these weird mysteries alongside Pax, almost having us stand alongside her as we both puzzle over what hell is going on. This part of the book also does double-duty as seamless world-building, showing the reader this world isn’t the world we know, that there’s some weird shit going on, even if we don’t yet know exactly what.

One character in particular deserves a special mention and that’s Letty. Letty is a fairy and she is awesome. Drinks like a sailor, swears like a motherfucker and packs a whole lotta punch for a two inch tall Layer Fae. Some of the absolute best dialogue in Under Ordshaw comes out of Letty’s foul mouth and I love the relationship that develops between her and Pax. There’s an edge and a friction to their relationship that’s downright dangerous a lot of the time – and that never really goes away – but the friendshiiip(???), if not something bordering on mutual respect, that develops between them is great and one of my favourite things about this book.

There were parts of Under Ordshaw that I didn’t vibe with quite as much. I found aspects of the plot a bit confusing at times, mainly regarding some characters’ motivations for doing certain things. This may have partly been down to me just not keeping up, cos there are a lot of shifting alliances at different point of the book – people working together at one point are working against each other later on and vice versa. I did have to sit and think through why people were doing what they were doing sometimes, which detracted a little bit from the story and there’s still some things I don’t really get. For instance, I still don’t get why Rufaizu stole Pax’s money at all in the first chapter. I mean, it set Pax up to get involved in all this sure, but like, was it just a convenient plot device or did he actually have a reason to do it? Maybe I missed something but it’s still not clear to me.

(EDIT: Thinking about this, I feel like it may not actually have been Rufaizu who stole the money at all, but Casario, who did so as a way of deliberately pulling Pax into his world. I’m possibly just dumb as a bag of rocks, but I didn’t pick up on this at the time. Have you read the book? If so please let me know your take on this).

One major drawback for me was that honestly, I just didn’t care about the Barton family =/. Darren Barton is a monster hunter, but one who does it for the thrills rather than through official channels. He gave it up years before the book begins to save his marriage but the desire to be out there doing something and the frustration of being cooped up takes its toll on him and his marriage. Darren (aka Citizen) Barton gets drawn back into the shady underground monster-hunting biz and his wife (Holly) and daughter (Grace) are unwittingly drawn back in with him. Clearly this spells danger for the Bartons and much of the second part of the book centres around their plight. Unfortunately I thought Darren was a bit of a wooden character, Holly is one-dimensional and quite irritating and similarly there’s just not much to Grace either. I found this surprising given that Williams does such a great job with almost every character except the Bartons. Pax, Letty, Casario, they’re all great characters. Casario is a creepy, unlikable, borderline narcissistic piece of shit sure, but still well-written and fleshed out. Not so any of the Barton family. Which is unfortunate, given that so much of the tension towards the end centres around the danger they faced and I dunno man, I just didn’t really care what happened to them. Maybe I’m just a bad person.

Overall I enjoyed Under Ordshaw. At it’s best it’s awesome, just top-notch devourable urban fantasy with great character work, world-building and dialogue. It’s main drawback for me was the strange blip on the radar when it came to the Barton family. I just find it so odd that I loved everyone else except them, but it is what it is. Def pick this book up though, there’s a lot to enjoy and well worth the read.

[Sean Cunningham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Under Ordshaw's in-world field guide/monster manual is the urban fantasy thing I didn't realise I needed. Apothel's Miscellany is a guide for the horrors living in the tunnels beneath Ordshaw. And horrors they are.

Under Ordshaw is the tale of Pax Kuranes, a card player drawn into the darker side of the city's night, and Citizen Barton, a fighter drawn back in after many years trying to live a daylight life. It's a story of the monsters in the tunnels, of the people who guard them and are fascinated by them, of the terrible effect the mysteries of the Sunken City exert on the world above. And fairies. Vicious little things.

If anything, I wanted to journey deeper into the Sunken City and the horrors that dwell within. Maybe the author is saving that for future books in the series. Because plenty of mysteries remain.

Under Ordshaw sits somewhere between urban fantasy and horror, drawing on elements of both and adding a touch of noir. "You have to see it for yourself," Pax is told. When you see it, you'll want to know more.

[Melissa Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recieved this book as part of a book tour from Storytellers On Tour. I had no previous knowledge of this series. I just thought it sounded interesting. I absolutely loved it. I wasn't really expecting to, but I can't wait to read the rest of the series now.
This book made me think of a detective film noir style meets Men in Black and Neverwhere. A secret government agency who police and protect the citizens of Orshaw from Fae and monsters in tunnels of the Sunken City. Not all characters were likeable or relatable, but they don't need to be. The story was fast paced, engaging and violent. I loved Pax, a night dwelling card player drawn into this secret world quite by accident. Letty, a foul mouthed gun brandishing Fae, was probably the best character for me. She was emotional, violent, angry and she got things done. I cannot recommend this booke enough. 5 stars!

[Jake Swartz · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was given this book in exchange for an honest review.

My favorite part of this book was the characters. There was such a colorful variety of perfectly flawed characters. This is one of the few books that has multiple perspectives where I was never bothered when the perspective switched to another character. That doesn't mean I liked every character, but I definitely enjoyed their perspective. I think not liking each character made it more enjoyable though.

Fun twists and turns.

**SPOILER** Slight, if at all.

I was slightly underwhelmed with what lurked under the city.

It seemed like it was just a bunch of monsters thrown in the sewers. Granted the monsters were very unique. Perhaps more will be explained about what lies beneath in the sequel.

[Jason P · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Solid, Original Urban Fantasy and a Strong Female Lead

Shades of Neverwhere accompany Under Ordshaw into it's own unique world below. But this is it's own unique tale, with interesting, engaging characters, unique world building and a plethora of well designed fantastical critters, both good and otherwise.

Blending the familiar with the rarely explored and the functionally fantastic, Under Ordshaw offers up a clever, suspenseful adventure through a fantastical underworld that is surprisingly authentic in the telling.

[Marco · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book through the TBRindR-service. Which means I got it for free, which means nothing because I write what I want;)
So today I talk about something from the “Urban Fantasy”-genre. Which for the most meant (at least for me) usually a magician/detective in a situation close to a noire film and mostly in the first person. I got the noire-vibe from this one in parts but the rest greatly differs.
Under Ordshaw takes place in a city that to me feels like London transported to the USA (I looked it up and the author is from the UK so I’m probably at least right in some parts here – also he wrote books on English grammar and I probably should read some of them…) The setting doesn’t feel fully realized probably due to the fact that a city doesn’t need the wordbuilding usually required in a Fantasy novel as it’s familiar enough to the reader. You have a few bars and houses and factory buildings and of course the Sunken City which is located under Ordshaw. Where the world takes more shape and form is in its fantastical elements in the Fae, the Sunken City, the MEE (not gonna spoil that😉).
While most of it is somewhat familiar there (Fae = Fairies) there is a twist about most of this elements that keeps things interesting. Also I have to say I never would have thought of Fairies with a market for artificial wings. The town of the Fae is also a really neat idea the FTC is basically a nomadic city hidden somewhere in Ordshaw that can move at any time when it is necessary.
The main attraction/threat to this world, what’s going on under Ordshaw, is not really explored or explained which for me keeps it interesting as there is enough information to get some ideas but not enough to solve the thing. There are many events mentioned in the novel that take place in the past and shape the story going forward or are direct causes of events in the novel. Sometimes it feels a bit like we’re left out of some of the probably most interesting stuff in this world but on the other hand the events leading to the forming of the FTC, the MEE or the group around Apothel can easily be explored in their own novels which gives them more air to breath and be fleshed out.
The approach to characters is starting with one and then growing from there. We start out with Pax a power player who just won a big game and plans on going to a big tournament (and paying the rent). She is drawn into the events by Rufaizu and spends most of her time either looking out for herself or trying to help someone else. Pax is a great character as she keeps consistent throughout the story (no big hidden powers) and unlike most of the other Urban stuff I read is just a normal human being no magic no nothing. Her strength and talents aren’t really explored or used I think as there is only a handful of human characters she can fool or read. There is no training montage and she survives the fights through luck or help from others and this never feels cheap as mostly it’s earned by her for either being braver or more intelligent than her adversaries.
We get a few chapters from the POV from other characters but mostly the focus is on Pax. One I want to mentioned because she is awesome is Letty the fairy rebel with a bit of an alcoholic problem and wearer of an artificial wing later in the novel. Don’t want to spoil to much but Letty is great.
Rufaizu and a few others serve to bring the story forward but mostly with Pax and don’t really have a development of their own throughout the story. Don’t get me wrong the characters which get more time are great (maybe except Barton he is a bit generic and has a backstory that sounds interesting but is never really explored only hinted at) but some are just filler or serve only to get things in motion/ be a hindrance in an inorganic way.
The book suffers a bit from a slowdown in the middle where most of the players run around and the path is laid for the finale where every thread runs together but it could use a bit trimming here. The world building is still well down but sometimes it feels more like an infodump than an organic way or learning about this world.
That leaves me with a book with an interesting world and story, a mood and atmosphere close to a Noir Thriller (which I like), some cool characters and bit of an slow middle part.

[Steph Warren · Rating 5 out of 5]

*I received a free ARC of this book with thanks to the author. The decision to review and my opinions are my own.*

I found Under Ordshaw are bit difficult to get into at the beginning, as all of the characters are prickly arseholes. Luckily they grew on me once I got to know them a bit better.

Just a few pages in and I was utterly hooked on this urban fantasy, with its fresh take on old favourites like fairies and monsters. The worldbuilding of Layer Fae, the Blue Angel and the MEE is superb and really draws the reader into the story, and the characters: Pax, Letty, Barton and Casaria really grow on you, even as it remains unclear where they fit on the moral spectrum! The development of characters from ‘goodie’ to ‘baddie’ and vice versa is often surprising and yet evolves naturally from the situations and personalities.

The tone is a little bit Buffy, a little bit Simon R. Green, a little bit Grimm, a little bit Charles de Lint. There is a nice balance of whimsy and arsekicking; humour and horror; strong language and witty banter, that really worked to keep the story moving in new directions. And the monsters are pretty horrific. Think of video games like Resident Evil, Silent Hill or Forbidden Siren, but with your brain filling in the details with your own worst imaginings. Definitely a couple of lights-on, covers-up moments!

I particularly love the little touches of realism that made the characters feel authentic: Holly looking for a man in authority that she can tell off to control her fear; Pax lacking mysterious ‘Chosen One’ fighting skills or magical powers and just tackling the job in front of her with what she has (mad bluffing skills and an attitude); Casaria persuading himself that it’s his upper brain doing the thinking when it comes to Pax; Letty’s rage in general. All those little touches that pull the reader into living the story instead of merely reading it.

At times it did feel like I was missing a previous instalment that explains the history between Asphodel, Rufaizu, Barton, Dr Mandy and the Layer Fae. Phil Williams filters in the need-to-know details as the story unfolds, but I still had a lingering sense that I had missed something that would have enriched the Barton thread of this story. Amazon assures me that this is Book 1 in the series, but maybe the author could be tempted into a prequel novella or two…?!

Basically my only complaint is that I want more Sunken City, and luckily there is already a sequel available, plus a short story and novella set in the same universe. I wholeheartedly recommend this book to fellow urban fantasy enthusiasts and will be definitely be adding Phil William’s Ordshaw series to my personal must-read list!





The book lay open on a sketch of an Underground train surrounded by what looked like lightning. There were people in the windows, with shaded doubles of themselves lifting from their bodies, as though something was pulling their souls out.
The evocative artwork made her frown. She read Rufaizu’s marginal comment: Minotaur’s Grasp. Does this even need explaining?
“Yes, it needs explaining, you dick,” Pax grumbled, turning the page to see if there was any more.

– Phil Williams, Under Ordshaw

Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog
https://bookshineandreadbows.wordpres...

[Becky'sBookBlog · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Reeling from her winnings, Pax Kuranes doesn’t take much notice of the seemingly innocent boy rambling about minotaurs and asking her some bizarre questions. That is until he gets aggressively arrested by a agent from the MEE, and Pax realises she’s been robbed. Using her contacts to find the boys address she stumbles upon a device, and a book with sketches of creatures that look like they’ve been drawn from the darkest places of someone’s imagination. What Pax doesn’t realise is these creatures do actually exist, and that there’s a whole other city Under Ordshaw that only a select few people know anything about.

One thing I enjoyed about this book is pretty much the whole way though I was unsure who were the ‘goodies and baddies.’ There are plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing, and even after finishing the book there are still characters you are on the fence about, simply making you want to read the next book sooner.

The descriptions and imagery were exceptional. You really grasp the horrific nature of the creatures, and every scene drags you in more until you are fully under the spell of the world Under Ordhsaw.

Pax’s character and story-line were both really interesting. Clearly dragged into something over her head, seeing how she reacted, played who she needed to play and make alliances with people she needed on her side made her a likeable and way more realistic character. She acted exactly how someone in that situation should, and all the interactions made her more believable.

My favourite character has to be Letty, the kick ass Fae who is definitely a character you are unsure you can trust through most of the book. Her relationship with Pax is hilarious, and I love her fear nothing attitude, even considering Pax could squash her like a bug. Casaria was a character that had me really intrigued. He had some serious sociopathic tendencies, and I just couldn’t work out his character. Was he good? Bad? Was he on Pax’s side or not? His story-line was one of the more interesting, and one I would definitely like to see more of in the series.

A truly unique and interesting Urban Fantasy series, my one down point would be that it seemed, at times, there were too many ‘monsters’ to keep track of, and maybe introducing them throughout the series rather than all in the first book would have made them easier to keep track of. That being said, it took nothing from the overall plot and my enjoyment of the book. An easy 4* read and one I will definitely be recommending.

[Phil Parker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Under Ordshaw is a fun, thrill-a-minute urban fantasy full of unique characters, exciting action and wonderfully comic moments that made me laugh out loud.
The premise is a simple one; the supernatural threat exists beneath the urban sprawl of a city, accessed via abandoned factories and rarely used underground stations. The combatants are many and varied – from the conflicted and mysterious Ministry for Environmental Energy, to the Fae (more of them shortly) and the individuals who get caught up in all the hostilities.
The ministry offers that touch of reality that leads you to imagine how the civil service would react to fantastical creatures found in their domain. There are the obvious attempts at being politically correct and diplomatic overtures towards creatures who don’t qualify as human and so need to be handled ‘sensitively’. Anyone who crosses these boundaries can expect disciplinary action and getting trapped in a desk job dealing with all the red tape.
But the fun doesn’t stop there. For me, the best part of the story is the author’s invention of an alternative form of fairy. They’re still small and winged but there any traditional comparisons end. These Fae are violent menaces, mercenaries with guns and an eagerness to inflict as much pain and damage as possible. “The next step’s a bullet through your ovaries!” Letty, the main source of this pocket-sized belligerence reminded me of Carol Kane’s Ghost of Christmas Present in the film Scrooged, where she regularly smacks Bill Murray around while talking in a squeaky little voice. Letty is inspired characterisation.
I also loved the consistently high threat level that is maintained against the main protagonists. There are so many dangers, all of them irrational and unpredictable, and those are the ones above ground! Go below and the monsters are not only highly dangerous but incredibly original in their inception.
All in all, a light-hearted but thrilling story, packed with action that never takes its foot off the pedal but also manages to maintain a well-crafted balance between fantasy and reality, as all good urban fantasy should do.
This is the first book in the series. I’ve already bought the second!

[Alan Medhurst · Rating 5 out of 5]

*I received a complimentary copy of the book from the author via Voracious Readers Only*

What if fairies were real? Suppose they were more technologically advanced than humans? How about if they are psychos with guns and bombs?

Pax is a citizen of the night, making her living by playing poker and trying to make enough to enter the Poker World Championship. One evening, after a decent win, she is approached in a bar and ends up robbed of her money. After reaching out to her shady contacts in an effort to track the culprit she stumbles into something she never even remotely dreamed of. There are hideous creatures below her city.

This is urban fantasy at its best. Phil Williams’ masterfully crafted story switches the focus often between characters with each change bringing a subtle variation in writing tone so that it’s possible to tell which character is the subject before their name is even mentioned. The horrors under the city are both described and suggested which adds an extra chilling dimension to the claustrophobic things-that-go-bump-in-the-night scare factor. His people are well sketched with enough detail to get the feel of their personalities but not overly drawn so as to be bogged down; sometimes more could be divined about the character from the things they didn’t do, in a sort of literary equivalent of art’s negative space technique.

There are books I read, and books I collect. This is one I want to have on my bookshelf so that I can sit in the sun with a beer and get lost in Ordshaw's grimy underpinnings. Seedy night-life, sketchy gangsters, a mysterious Ministry with dodgy employees, and tooled-up two-inch high fairies with bad attitudes. To paraphrase Zaphod Beeblebrox- if I told you how much I wanted to read more of this I wouldn’t have time to read it.

My only disappointment was not in the book itself but the format as the rest of the series doesn’t seem to be available in epub for Kobo. I’m probably going to have to bite the 1-mm calibre bullet and invest in a Kindle.

[Alan Medhurst · Rating 5 out of 5]

*I received a complimentary copy of the book from the author via Voracious Readers Only*

What if fairies were real? Suppose they were more technologically advanced than humans? How about if they are psychos with guns and bombs?

Pax is a citizen of the night, making her living by playing poker and trying to make enough to enter the Poker World Championship. One evening, after a decent win, she is approached in a bar and ends up robbed of her money. After reaching out to her shady contacts in an effort to track the culprit she stumbles into something she never even remotely dreamed of. There are hideous creatures below her city.

This is urban fantasy at its best. Phil Williams’ masterfully crafted story switches the focus often between characters with each change bringing a subtle variation in writing tone so that it’s possible to tell which character is the subject before their name is even mentioned. The horrors under the city are both described and suggested which adds an extra chilling dimension to the claustrophobic things-that-go-bump-in-the-night scare factor. His people are well sketched with enough detail to get the feel of their personalities but not overly drawn so as to be bogged down; sometimes more could be divined about the character from the things they didn’t do, in a sort of literary equivalent of art’s negative space technique.

There are books I read, and books I collect. This is one I want to have on my bookshelf so that I can sit in the sun with a beer and get lost in Ordshaw's grimy underpinnings. Seedy night-life, sketchy gangsters, a mysterious Ministry with dodgy employees, and tooled-up two-inch high fairies with bad attitudes. To paraphrase Zaphod Beeblebrox- if I told you how much I wanted to read more of this I wouldn’t have time to read it.

My only disappointment was not in the book itself but the format as the rest of the series doesn’t seem to be available in epub for Kobo. I’m probably going to have to bite the 1-mm calibre bullet and invest in a Kindle.

[Peter Bradley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Please give my review a helpful vote - https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-re...

I came to this book via the author, Phil Williams' book on English tenses. I thought I would give this a try and I am glad to say that I do not regret that decision.

The story is set in the English city of Ordshaw, a city with several million inhabitants, a healthy downtown area, a developed highway system and a series of underground tunnels which are filled with unusual fauna. The underground tunnel system is essentially unknown to the citizens of Ordshaw. Its secrecy is protected by the Ministry of Environmental Energy, but a decade or so ago, a talented group of amateurs discovered the secret. Their leader was killed, and his son went into hiding. Now, the son, Rufaizu, has reappeared and is being hunted.

Pax Kuranes meets Rufaizu in a bar after she has had a big night of winning at poker. Rufaizu is arrested by MEE agent Cano Casaria (and, basically, disappears from the book, having performed his task of starting the plot rolling.) This meeting results in Pax learning something about the underground and its many monsters. Pax also gets threatened by a foul-mouthed voice on the phone, who turns out to belong to Lettie, a three-inch tall fairy. She then goes onto meet "Citizen" Barton, who had been part of the original civilian crew fighting the monsters (and the fairies) in the past.

From there it is all plot and counterplot as Pax learns about the mysterious world that she has stumbled into.

This is the "origin story" of a series. The characters did not fit into my initial expectations. Clearly, Letty and Pax will form an alliance. Casaria, on the other hand, is a psychopath, but is also infatuated with his imagined version of Pax. Barton comes across as solid, but although his title of "Citizen" is often mentioned, it is never explained.

I like this book a lot and I recommend it.

[Buttercupp77 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think that this novel is spectacularly written. It's subject matter and mood are dark and gritty, so it's not for those who want to feel joyous and uplifted. In fact, it's a pretty harrowing read, but not gratuitous.

The pacing is excellent - drawing the reader in from the beginning, and building to a crescendo. There is ample vivid description skillfully woven through the action and never slowing the pace.

The world-building is phenomenal, with Ordshaw itself reading as a critical character rather than just the setting for the events. It has a personality and almost a consciousness of its own. The universe created is rich and enticing even though we largely are exposed to the layers of its seedy underbelly.

The characters are among some of the best-developed I've ever read. All are heart-breakingly realistic, with their own flaws, strengths, motivations, and blind spots. Pax and Letty are my hands-down favourites (as in, those I'd most like to hang out with), but, though I hate him, I also have a soft spot for Casaria. (He's so blind to his own flaws that I can't help but feel for him).

The editing was near-flawless.

This novel hit the bullseye on all the elements I normally evaluate. Moreover, it exceeded my expectations in a lot of ways, and managed to surprise me. Knowing that there are more installments coming, I'm not too concerned with the plot threads that seemed to be abandoned - the author has left hints that they will inform future entries in the series.

This was a fantastic read - I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys gritty urban fantasy!

I received a copy of this novel through Voracious Readers Only.

[Rachel Barnard · Rating 5 out of 5]

“I avoided an ordinary life long enough for the extraordinary to corner me. Now I’m trying to do something about it.”

Pax Kuranes is a card player. She only works during the night, when a certain type of person is out and about. She doesn’t mind it. She enjoys her nights and her wins. With her current night’s winnings she hopes to get into a poker tournament and win big. But after a crazy spouting nonsense about a minotaur bumps into her and suddenly her winnings disappear, a mysterious man who wants to recruit her for a nearly fictitious branch of the government, rumors of monsters and creatures turn out to be true, Pax won’t be able to go back to her simple life playing cards.

The author is great at pushing the msytery early on while giving us just enough details to keep us interested as the story slowly unfolds. The language is complex and the writing style is excellent. I love that the main character is a female, but without any gendered baggage. Pax is just as sharp as the author and his writing.

I think Letty was my favorite character. She is hilariously rude. Her insults are snappy and creative. She is such a funny character. Letty is a kick-butt character who is uncompromising in her personality and I wish more female characters (good or bad) were like her.

Phil Williams has expertly mastered the art of description and sensory detail. This book was so masterfully written that I got lost in the scenes and the imagery.

As someone trying to learn better negotiating I appreciated the parts where Pax negotiated. I loved seeing negotiating in action.

Very rarely do I find an urban fantasy that is so good I can’t put it down. An urban fantasy any reader would enjoy. An urban fantasy that is well written. Typically I don’t even like this genre of fantasy, but Under Ordshaw was an amazing and shining example of a good book that happened to be urban fantasy.

I liked how the diverse characters had equal voices and equal stories. I liked how well developed the fantastical elements were and how vivid the descriptions of the beasts were. I liked How witty the dialogue was and how fast-paced the action was.

The writing is also sometimes as cheeky as the dialogues between Letty and Pax, kind of like Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.