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The Vanguard Chronicles #2
The Hand That Casts the Bone
"Effortlessly readable. Grimdark Gaslamp at its very best," - Peter McLean, author of Priest of Bones
‘The Hand that Casts the Bone’ is the second book in the Vanguard Series and continues the journey of protagonist, John Vanguard, as he negotiates his way through a city rife with crime and corruption. A Grimdark gas lamp novel, ‘The Hand that Casts the Bone’ follows 'We Men of Ash and Shadow' in its themes of redemption, betrayal and revolution.
‘It was funny how everything came down to resources. Who had them, who wanted them, and who would die for them. That was the thing, when you cast a bone into the dog pit to watch the hounds fight; it was not the strongest dog that won. It was the hand that cast the bone.’
Alone in a city on the cusp of revolution, separated from his allies and with nothing to his name, former mercenary John Vanguard finds vigilante life can be a poorly paid gig. When an influential aristocrat's death causes a sudden shift in the balance of power, Vanguard finds himself once more caught in the crossfire between dangerous men with murderous ambitions.
From his tower far above the city, Captain Sanquain seeks to tighten his iron grip on the capital and its citizens. Amidst the chaos of the Black Zone, a deadly turf war is brewing between the crime lords. Outside the city, libertarian Argent Cooke struggles to gather support for the uprising. And from the smog-stained rooftops, Vanguard's former protégé Tarryn Leersac is watching all.
With any hopes of redemption fading, Vanguard finds one last shred of hope in the form of an old friend, risen from the dead and promising the chance for atonement.
‘The Hand that Casts the Bone’ is the second book in the Vanguard Series and continues the journey of protagonist, John Vanguard, as he negotiates his way through a city rife with crime and corruption. A Grimdark gas lamp novel, ‘The Hand that Casts the Bone’ follows 'We Men of Ash and Shadow' in its themes of redemption, betrayal and revolution.
‘It was funny how everything came down to resources. Who had them, who wanted them, and who would die for them. That was the thing, when you cast a bone into the dog pit to watch the hounds fight; it was not the strongest dog that won. It was the hand that cast the bone.’
Alone in a city on the cusp of revolution, separated from his allies and with nothing to his name, former mercenary John Vanguard finds vigilante life can be a poorly paid gig. When an influential aristocrat's death causes a sudden shift in the balance of power, Vanguard finds himself once more caught in the crossfire between dangerous men with murderous ambitions.
From his tower far above the city, Captain Sanquain seeks to tighten his iron grip on the capital and its citizens. Amidst the chaos of the Black Zone, a deadly turf war is brewing between the crime lords. Outside the city, libertarian Argent Cooke struggles to gather support for the uprising. And from the smog-stained rooftops, Vanguard's former protégé Tarryn Leersac is watching all.
With any hopes of redemption fading, Vanguard finds one last shred of hope in the form of an old friend, risen from the dead and promising the chance for atonement.
416 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 21, 2022
27 people are currently reading
181 people want to read
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January 3, 2023
I received an ARC of "The Hand that Casts the Bone" in exchange for an honest review. In addition, I was honoured to be a sensitivity reader for this book.
Here is my honest review of "The Hand That Casts the Bone". Thank you again H.L. Tinsley for the privilege of being able to read it.
"That was the thing, when you cast a bone into the dog pit and watch the hounds fight; it wasn't the strongest dog that won. It was the hand that cast the bone."
The recent Self Published Fantasy Blog-Off (SPFBO) #7 Finalist entry, that has taken the Indie fantasy world by storm, Tinsley's debut grimdark / gaslamp novel, is the first book in "The Vanguard Chronicles."
I wonder what readers and reviewers like Benjamin are going to think of the incredible follow-up to "We Men of Ash and Shadow", entitled, "The Hand That Casts the Bone". Because for me, it's even better than Tinsely's first book, which was one of the BEST ten books I read in 2021 https://beforewegoblog.com/more-of-bw...
In "The Hand That Casts the Bone", H.L. Tinsley only builds on her growing reputation for outstanding character development, awesome action sequences, haunting prose, gritty dialogue, and very authentic world-building. Yet, perhaps what is beginning to set Tinsley apart from other great writers the most is her absolutely irresistible opening lines to her books.
The first few lines of "We Men of Ash and Shadow" have become legendary in grimdark fantasy circles as one of the most memorable openings in these types of books. I am sure a lot of Tinsley's fans were waiting with anticipation to see if Tinsley could deliver another phenomenal opening salvo. Boy did she ever come through in stellar fashion with "The Hand That Casts the Bone", as you can see from below excerpt:
"There was an indisputably distinct smell to the Hook. Downwind the neighbourhood had the aroma of an old wet dog. Upwind wasn't much better. Given that the city had been unseasonably warm for weeks, there was no longer anywhere you could escape it. The sun had rendered the area so pungent you could taste the smell, and John Vanguard was only responsible for half of it."
But Tinsley's writing is about so much more than great opening lines such as the aforementioned. As hinted in the passage above, Vanguard is back, and still taking on the worst that society has to offer. The former military officer turned mercenary, whose talents include a bit of magic, a lot of brutality, and keeping a handy backpack with sparse contents save the knife he uses to bring justice to those who few will miss by their deaths, returns in the second installment of the series.
Yet Vanguard is even more down on his luck than ever, and for someone who was barely living above vagrancy, that's saying a lot. No longer with even a bathtub to call home, Vanguard, the killer with a heart of gold, is forced to turn to an old enemy, the ruthless and clever crime boss Mandego, to survive, and recover from wounds sustained in an assassination attempt gone wrong.
The crime lord, who talks to his dead lover's head, kept in a jar, has his sights set squarely on elbowing the other mob bosses out of the way, and ruling supreme over illicit activities in the region. Mandego sees a way Vanguard can be of use, and trades caring for Vanguard in exchange for the mercenary's services. So Vanguard swaps working for one tyrannical mob boss - Felix Sanquain, who has now put a price on Vanguard's head - to work for another in Mandego.
Meanwhile, said Felix Sanquain, the slick, urbane, puppet-master ruler of D'Orsee, is still pulling the strings of everyone in his sphere of influence, and even those beyond it. Sanquain is trying to plant a high level politician in place that will be loyal to him, and serve his agenda, since the politician's mother and deceased father are indebted to Sanquain financially.
But this move by Sanquain is just part of a much larger plan to propel the cunning and scheming captain to being supreme military leader of the surrounding cities. Moreover, Sanquain still has the relentless and unstoppable killer (and young protegee-turned-foe of Vanguard), noble-born Tarryn Leersac, just barely on a leash, and able to help Sanquain in his plans for domination.
But Tarryn is not someone easily controlled, and he has his own demented, sinister plans. Part of those plans leads him on a crash course with his old mentor, Vanguard. But now the pupil's talents have exceeded the teacher's, and things have never looked so bleak for Vanguard's survival, with, inevitably, a decisive, brutal confrontation against Tarryn looming.
While all of this is occurring, former high society darling, the goodhearted Argent Cooke, is trying to make good on his plan to bring decency and order, oust the despotic crime bosses and secure the city for the people, and the common good. But while Cooke courts his influential cousin Javier to assist him, Cooke's supporters who include favourite characters from the previous book, like Henriette, Carmen, Kosioc, Demetrio, struggle just to stay alive in the tinder-box that is D'Orsee.
Tensions continue to escalate, as gang wars and the ambitions of men like Mandego and Sanquain threaten to rip a city already in turmoil apart completely. And while Henriette is harbouring a secret that has a definite impact on Vanguard, a woman from Vanguard's past is returning, that will force the beleaguered mercenary to confront a past more painful than bullets and knife thrusts.
In "The Hand That Casts the Bone", Tinsley has managed to keep her prose lean, tight, impactful, delicious, without wasting any words, and yet still spin a tale that is as immersive and ambitious as "We Men of Ash and Shadow, though this second book is a good hundred pages longer than the first entry.
You feel like you can rub your fingers together and touch the grime, moral decay, and desperation that oozes off the pages, when you read Tinsley. Grimdark fans will be satiated on the feast of realism and pragmatism that Tinsley brings to fantasy - it is truly well done.
Once again, Tinsley strikes just the right tone and mood, and the tension is revved up high throughout the novel, and maintained even in the quieter, more reflective moments. That brooding, melancholy, and creepy vibe, infused with poignant hope and optimism, redemption, and catharsis, that I found in the first book, carries forward in this book. Along with that vibe, there were some passages of really great dark humor from the witty Tinsley that elicited a few belly laughs from me as I read it.
Be warned though, this book is bleak at times, some of the scenes will tear your heart out, and Tinsley will force you to enjoy every minute of your despair, and angst over the fate of major, and even minor characters. Be prepared for all the trauma, blood-letting, and psychological issues that will surface in the book.
Additionally, Tinsley bravely intensifies her focus on heavy subject matter, such as racism, injustice, and abuse, all spun adroitly within the narrative, making this novel even more poignant than the previous one. She handles all those sensitive issues with aplomb, and keeps the reader invested at all times, evoking strong emotions.
This book reads as quickly as its predecessor, though it's longer, and I was completely unable to put it down for any length of time - it was so incredible and held me raptly in it's spell. Few authors can pace a book so effectively. You'll want to stop and re-read, in admiration of Tinsley's lovely writing, but you won't be able to at the first go - you'll just want to compulsively keep reading to see what happens next.
The jewel of reading Tinsley, and this series, is still Vanguard, the emotional wreck on the inside who always seems in control on the outside. Vanguard's innate humanity and integrity, despite some of the horrible things he has done, are clearly evident.
As I said in my review of "We Men of Ash and Shadow", Vanguard should ultimately go down as one of Grimdark fiction’s great protagonists, right up there with Jorg Ancarth and Sand an Glokta. There are heaps of dirt and foulness on the surface of the man, but underneath there's plenty of shine, and the complexity of the character is only becoming more fascinating, as more reveals about him come out as the series moves forward.
After reading "We Men of Ash and Shadow" I stated Tinsley had established herself, very quickly out of the gate, as grimdark royalty. "The Hand That Casts the Bone" only solidifies this position, for me, and I don't see Tinsley surrendering her crown anytime soon.
Five plus stars easily for "The Hand That Casts the Bone"! A simply terrific read!
Here is my honest review of "The Hand That Casts the Bone". Thank you again H.L. Tinsley for the privilege of being able to read it.
"That was the thing, when you cast a bone into the dog pit and watch the hounds fight; it wasn't the strongest dog that won. It was the hand that cast the bone."
The recent Self Published Fantasy Blog-Off (SPFBO) #7 Finalist entry, that has taken the Indie fantasy world by storm, Tinsley's debut grimdark / gaslamp novel, is the first book in "The Vanguard Chronicles."
I wonder what readers and reviewers like Benjamin are going to think of the incredible follow-up to "We Men of Ash and Shadow", entitled, "The Hand That Casts the Bone". Because for me, it's even better than Tinsely's first book, which was one of the BEST ten books I read in 2021 https://beforewegoblog.com/more-of-bw...
In "The Hand That Casts the Bone", H.L. Tinsley only builds on her growing reputation for outstanding character development, awesome action sequences, haunting prose, gritty dialogue, and very authentic world-building. Yet, perhaps what is beginning to set Tinsley apart from other great writers the most is her absolutely irresistible opening lines to her books.
The first few lines of "We Men of Ash and Shadow" have become legendary in grimdark fantasy circles as one of the most memorable openings in these types of books. I am sure a lot of Tinsley's fans were waiting with anticipation to see if Tinsley could deliver another phenomenal opening salvo. Boy did she ever come through in stellar fashion with "The Hand That Casts the Bone", as you can see from below excerpt:
"There was an indisputably distinct smell to the Hook. Downwind the neighbourhood had the aroma of an old wet dog. Upwind wasn't much better. Given that the city had been unseasonably warm for weeks, there was no longer anywhere you could escape it. The sun had rendered the area so pungent you could taste the smell, and John Vanguard was only responsible for half of it."
But Tinsley's writing is about so much more than great opening lines such as the aforementioned. As hinted in the passage above, Vanguard is back, and still taking on the worst that society has to offer. The former military officer turned mercenary, whose talents include a bit of magic, a lot of brutality, and keeping a handy backpack with sparse contents save the knife he uses to bring justice to those who few will miss by their deaths, returns in the second installment of the series.
Yet Vanguard is even more down on his luck than ever, and for someone who was barely living above vagrancy, that's saying a lot. No longer with even a bathtub to call home, Vanguard, the killer with a heart of gold, is forced to turn to an old enemy, the ruthless and clever crime boss Mandego, to survive, and recover from wounds sustained in an assassination attempt gone wrong.
The crime lord, who talks to his dead lover's head, kept in a jar, has his sights set squarely on elbowing the other mob bosses out of the way, and ruling supreme over illicit activities in the region. Mandego sees a way Vanguard can be of use, and trades caring for Vanguard in exchange for the mercenary's services. So Vanguard swaps working for one tyrannical mob boss - Felix Sanquain, who has now put a price on Vanguard's head - to work for another in Mandego.
Meanwhile, said Felix Sanquain, the slick, urbane, puppet-master ruler of D'Orsee, is still pulling the strings of everyone in his sphere of influence, and even those beyond it. Sanquain is trying to plant a high level politician in place that will be loyal to him, and serve his agenda, since the politician's mother and deceased father are indebted to Sanquain financially.
But this move by Sanquain is just part of a much larger plan to propel the cunning and scheming captain to being supreme military leader of the surrounding cities. Moreover, Sanquain still has the relentless and unstoppable killer (and young protegee-turned-foe of Vanguard), noble-born Tarryn Leersac, just barely on a leash, and able to help Sanquain in his plans for domination.
But Tarryn is not someone easily controlled, and he has his own demented, sinister plans. Part of those plans leads him on a crash course with his old mentor, Vanguard. But now the pupil's talents have exceeded the teacher's, and things have never looked so bleak for Vanguard's survival, with, inevitably, a decisive, brutal confrontation against Tarryn looming.
While all of this is occurring, former high society darling, the goodhearted Argent Cooke, is trying to make good on his plan to bring decency and order, oust the despotic crime bosses and secure the city for the people, and the common good. But while Cooke courts his influential cousin Javier to assist him, Cooke's supporters who include favourite characters from the previous book, like Henriette, Carmen, Kosioc, Demetrio, struggle just to stay alive in the tinder-box that is D'Orsee.
Tensions continue to escalate, as gang wars and the ambitions of men like Mandego and Sanquain threaten to rip a city already in turmoil apart completely. And while Henriette is harbouring a secret that has a definite impact on Vanguard, a woman from Vanguard's past is returning, that will force the beleaguered mercenary to confront a past more painful than bullets and knife thrusts.
In "The Hand That Casts the Bone", Tinsley has managed to keep her prose lean, tight, impactful, delicious, without wasting any words, and yet still spin a tale that is as immersive and ambitious as "We Men of Ash and Shadow, though this second book is a good hundred pages longer than the first entry.
You feel like you can rub your fingers together and touch the grime, moral decay, and desperation that oozes off the pages, when you read Tinsley. Grimdark fans will be satiated on the feast of realism and pragmatism that Tinsley brings to fantasy - it is truly well done.
Once again, Tinsley strikes just the right tone and mood, and the tension is revved up high throughout the novel, and maintained even in the quieter, more reflective moments. That brooding, melancholy, and creepy vibe, infused with poignant hope and optimism, redemption, and catharsis, that I found in the first book, carries forward in this book. Along with that vibe, there were some passages of really great dark humor from the witty Tinsley that elicited a few belly laughs from me as I read it.
Be warned though, this book is bleak at times, some of the scenes will tear your heart out, and Tinsley will force you to enjoy every minute of your despair, and angst over the fate of major, and even minor characters. Be prepared for all the trauma, blood-letting, and psychological issues that will surface in the book.
Additionally, Tinsley bravely intensifies her focus on heavy subject matter, such as racism, injustice, and abuse, all spun adroitly within the narrative, making this novel even more poignant than the previous one. She handles all those sensitive issues with aplomb, and keeps the reader invested at all times, evoking strong emotions.
This book reads as quickly as its predecessor, though it's longer, and I was completely unable to put it down for any length of time - it was so incredible and held me raptly in it's spell. Few authors can pace a book so effectively. You'll want to stop and re-read, in admiration of Tinsley's lovely writing, but you won't be able to at the first go - you'll just want to compulsively keep reading to see what happens next.
The jewel of reading Tinsley, and this series, is still Vanguard, the emotional wreck on the inside who always seems in control on the outside. Vanguard's innate humanity and integrity, despite some of the horrible things he has done, are clearly evident.
As I said in my review of "We Men of Ash and Shadow", Vanguard should ultimately go down as one of Grimdark fiction’s great protagonists, right up there with Jorg Ancarth and Sand an Glokta. There are heaps of dirt and foulness on the surface of the man, but underneath there's plenty of shine, and the complexity of the character is only becoming more fascinating, as more reveals about him come out as the series moves forward.
After reading "We Men of Ash and Shadow" I stated Tinsley had established herself, very quickly out of the gate, as grimdark royalty. "The Hand That Casts the Bone" only solidifies this position, for me, and I don't see Tinsley surrendering her crown anytime soon.
Five plus stars easily for "The Hand That Casts the Bone"! A simply terrific read!
January 27, 2023
My goodness me, HL Tinsley can write.
I never wanted this to end!
Her dialogue, characters, action sequences, and overall prose are an absolute delight and I cannot get enough of her writing!
This superb sequel to SPFBO7 Finalist, We Men Of Ash And Shadow, delivers on everything that made the first book great, and expands upon it in every way.
Vanguard returns far more worse for wear after the end of We Men Of Ash And Shadow.
Other returning characters I absolutely adored included Carmen, Henriette, Mandego, Kosioc, Demetrio, and Vince. Each of them are so distinct and real, helped massively by the outstanding audiobook delivery from RJ Bayley.
Tarryn, also is back and ahhhhhh my goodness the evolution he has been through is horrendous and spectacular in equal measure. He is like a car crash you can’t tear your gaze from, and unbelievably sinister and intimidating in everything that he does.
I want to sympathise with him so badly but he is honestly beyond redemption, yet I do feel for the things he goes through and has to deal with - especially regarding his mother.
The pacing is absolutely sensational from start to finish. I only wish the book had been twice as long so I could spend more time watching the machinations at play.
We have crime lords, corruption, and a city that is much a character as anyone walking around - a veritable melting pot of gritty awesomeness.
The politics are back and growing, everyone is moving about the board on their own agenda. Felix Sanquaine is pushing his authority to a higher level than ever before. Argent Cooke continues to try and find some good in a city as grimy as the crime lords who rule.
There are a number of themes explored in quite great detail - racism and injustice chief among them, as well as family, legacy, and how you can never quite escape your past. Mental health is also explored in a number of ways from different viewpoints.
There is so much tension and yet a fair amount of humour that is never off-base. HL has masterfully wrapped up so much in this sequel and I feel so immersed in it that I can almost picture myself beside the canal or alleys alongside these characters.
It is dark and gritty and absolutely a world I would not like to visit, but my goodness does everything breathe as if it is real.
Oh, and once again the audiobook was SENSATIONAL. RJ Bayley is an incredible talent and has a gift for bringing these characters to life in a fabulous way. He delivers every emotion perfectly, and made the listening an absolute joy.
HIGHLY recommend this series and I cannot wait to read more!
I never wanted this to end!
Her dialogue, characters, action sequences, and overall prose are an absolute delight and I cannot get enough of her writing!
This superb sequel to SPFBO7 Finalist, We Men Of Ash And Shadow, delivers on everything that made the first book great, and expands upon it in every way.
Vanguard returns far more worse for wear after the end of We Men Of Ash And Shadow.
Other returning characters I absolutely adored included Carmen, Henriette, Mandego, Kosioc, Demetrio, and Vince. Each of them are so distinct and real, helped massively by the outstanding audiobook delivery from RJ Bayley.
Tarryn, also is back and ahhhhhh my goodness the evolution he has been through is horrendous and spectacular in equal measure. He is like a car crash you can’t tear your gaze from, and unbelievably sinister and intimidating in everything that he does.
I want to sympathise with him so badly but he is honestly beyond redemption, yet I do feel for the things he goes through and has to deal with - especially regarding his mother.
The pacing is absolutely sensational from start to finish. I only wish the book had been twice as long so I could spend more time watching the machinations at play.
We have crime lords, corruption, and a city that is much a character as anyone walking around - a veritable melting pot of gritty awesomeness.
The politics are back and growing, everyone is moving about the board on their own agenda. Felix Sanquaine is pushing his authority to a higher level than ever before. Argent Cooke continues to try and find some good in a city as grimy as the crime lords who rule.
There are a number of themes explored in quite great detail - racism and injustice chief among them, as well as family, legacy, and how you can never quite escape your past. Mental health is also explored in a number of ways from different viewpoints.
There is so much tension and yet a fair amount of humour that is never off-base. HL has masterfully wrapped up so much in this sequel and I feel so immersed in it that I can almost picture myself beside the canal or alleys alongside these characters.
It is dark and gritty and absolutely a world I would not like to visit, but my goodness does everything breathe as if it is real.
Oh, and once again the audiobook was SENSATIONAL. RJ Bayley is an incredible talent and has a gift for bringing these characters to life in a fabulous way. He delivers every emotion perfectly, and made the listening an absolute joy.
HIGHLY recommend this series and I cannot wait to read more!
April 24, 2022
The Hand that Casts the Bone is a fantastic sequel, closing the door on any feared second book syndrome with its highly recognizable characters, fascinating plot, and outstanding characterization.
The Hand that Casts the Bone is the follow up to We Men of Ash and Shadow – which is one of the ten finalists in the current SPFBO7 (self published fantasy competition). If you’re looking to get into more self published fantasy, enter confidently knowing that the first book in this series is one of the best out of a field of 300 entries.
H.L. Tinsley exceeded all expectations. Gaslamp fantasy has been a new and interesting fantasy sub-genre for me as a reader, one filled with mystical and supernatural elements— ghosts, deaths, magical abilities, and so on.
Set in the same world as Tinsley’s debut, The Hand that Casts the Bone embodies everything that I love in a sequel. Tinsley reintroduces us to the bleak and desolate city and I found myself looking forward to expanding my knowledge of the world and returning to the lives of these characters where those remaining will go to any length to be successful. The different POVs enriched the story and allowed me to form more of an emotional connection and better understand their personal motivations. It was rewarding to explore more of the country, Soussan, and learn of its intricate yet fractured history.
Tinsley is adept at drawing her readers into a story with her vivid imagery, creating an immersive experience as if we inhabit the same space as the characters. I know this review is about the sequel, but I need to talk about We Men for a minute so that I can illustrate what I loved so much about the second book. I mentioned in my review of We Men that I thought the first half of the story was tightly written with a clear focus, but felt that the second half was a little unfocused and rushed – and that I felt there were many great ideas inside one book and the merging of them by the end struggled in its execution.
As I made my way through The Hand that Casts the Bone, I was blown away by how in control Tinsley was with her story. This sequel was tightly written from beginning to end, using a clever command of language to turn a phrase. There were a few different plot lines occurring within different locations, and Tinsley’s deft hand brought it all together. I loved seeing her growth as a writer and how flawless it ended up being in the end. The writing flowed. It had balance and originality.
I started this book right before bed one evening and ended up finishing 30% in a single sitting. One reason why I love this author is because of the risks taken and how she never sacrifices the integrity and direction of her plots in the name of comfort and predictability. Not once did I anticipate how the story would go and that is largely due to the book’s unapologetic nature. I have the utmost trust in Tinsley to deliver a heck of a story because she’s earned it. I am waiting in anticipation for the next installment.
Thank you to the author (H.L. Tinsley) for an advance reading copy of The Hand that Casts the Bone. This did not influence my thoughts or opinions. The Hand that Casts the Bone released April 21st, 2022.
The Hand that Casts the Bone is the follow up to We Men of Ash and Shadow – which is one of the ten finalists in the current SPFBO7 (self published fantasy competition). If you’re looking to get into more self published fantasy, enter confidently knowing that the first book in this series is one of the best out of a field of 300 entries.
H.L. Tinsley exceeded all expectations. Gaslamp fantasy has been a new and interesting fantasy sub-genre for me as a reader, one filled with mystical and supernatural elements— ghosts, deaths, magical abilities, and so on.
Set in the same world as Tinsley’s debut, The Hand that Casts the Bone embodies everything that I love in a sequel. Tinsley reintroduces us to the bleak and desolate city and I found myself looking forward to expanding my knowledge of the world and returning to the lives of these characters where those remaining will go to any length to be successful. The different POVs enriched the story and allowed me to form more of an emotional connection and better understand their personal motivations. It was rewarding to explore more of the country, Soussan, and learn of its intricate yet fractured history.
Tinsley is adept at drawing her readers into a story with her vivid imagery, creating an immersive experience as if we inhabit the same space as the characters. I know this review is about the sequel, but I need to talk about We Men for a minute so that I can illustrate what I loved so much about the second book. I mentioned in my review of We Men that I thought the first half of the story was tightly written with a clear focus, but felt that the second half was a little unfocused and rushed – and that I felt there were many great ideas inside one book and the merging of them by the end struggled in its execution.
As I made my way through The Hand that Casts the Bone, I was blown away by how in control Tinsley was with her story. This sequel was tightly written from beginning to end, using a clever command of language to turn a phrase. There were a few different plot lines occurring within different locations, and Tinsley’s deft hand brought it all together. I loved seeing her growth as a writer and how flawless it ended up being in the end. The writing flowed. It had balance and originality.
I started this book right before bed one evening and ended up finishing 30% in a single sitting. One reason why I love this author is because of the risks taken and how she never sacrifices the integrity and direction of her plots in the name of comfort and predictability. Not once did I anticipate how the story would go and that is largely due to the book’s unapologetic nature. I have the utmost trust in Tinsley to deliver a heck of a story because she’s earned it. I am waiting in anticipation for the next installment.
Thank you to the author (H.L. Tinsley) for an advance reading copy of The Hand that Casts the Bone. This did not influence my thoughts or opinions. The Hand that Casts the Bone released April 21st, 2022.
May 5, 2025
The Hand that Casts the Bone (HCB) is the sequel to HL Tinsley’s superb debut fantasy novel We Men of Ash and Shadow (WMOAAS). I received an ARC of HCB from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review and I’ll admit I was excited to get my hands on this story. WMOAAS was my favourite fantasy read in 2021 and for me it was a near perfect novel. I clearly remember discovering Tinsley’s writing for the first time and being drawn into that story from the very first page. Her storytelling has an undeniable wow factor and I found WMOAAS impossible to put down.
So, the question is whether Tinsley has been able to maintain those very high standards in her follow-up, to which I’m delighted to say the answer is an emphatic yes. HL Tinsley’s distinctive author voice really stands out and what distinguishes her from her peers is her particular turn of phrase. Conventional wisdom is the reader shouldn’t notice the prose in the novel – they should be absorbed in the story and the characters. Tinsley’s writing is different. The plot and wonderful characters (we’ll come on to both of those in a moment) are absolutely there and fully present in HCB but it’s the way this is expressed that elevates this series.
In keeping with the tone set by WMOAAS, HCB is a dark read and tackles difficult themes. What makes this so enjoyable is how Tinsley uses humour to lift the mood and draw a wry smile from the reader, whilst making her point crystal clear:
“Tarryn did not imagine Mrs Brown to be a great fan of wildlife. She had the look of someone who drowned kittens by the sack.”
“The barkeep gestured to a young lad with a nose that could have cracked the pavement if he fell down face first.”
At other times, Tinsley’s prose is simply beautiful – there’s no other word for it. I could pick so many lines to demonstrate this but I’ve gone for this one:
"Then and there, the sky opened. It was as though a divine being had designed this moment just for Tarryn, crafting it so perfectly that it came in the infinitesimal fraction of time between the clouds groaning and the first drops of rain hitting the ground."
All the component parts that made WMOAAS such a standout novel are present in HCB but the other challenge of a sequel is writing a story that holds up in its own right. John Vanguard is back, still recovering from the events of the previous novel. There’s also a welcome return of key characters such as Sanquain, Cooke, Mandego, Carmen, Henriette, Tarryn and Kosic.
HCB has less focus on Vanguard this time round, weaving his story in with that of Kosic and Carmen, who have travelled to the city of Lycroix with Argent Cooke to try and get support to prevent Sanquain further increasing his power. Kosic faces his own dilemma as we learn more about his past and hopes for the future. Carmen also gets more focus and as we explore her origin story the novel, and I suspect the whole series, begins to move in an unexpected and interesting direction.
In terms of plot, the world is expanded on in HCB. Whilst WMOAAS kept events centred almost exclusively on the grim city of D’Orsee, HCB gives us a wider perspective of the country of Soussan to which it belongs, linking in with the wider politics of its principal cities and neighbouring countries. Unsurprisingly, Sanquain is up to his usual tricks, taking advantage of the death of one of Soussan’s councilmen to build his powerbase.
However, Sanquain isn’t getting everything his own way. His rival Cooke is trying to challenge his power and build a better world for Soussan, whilst in D’Orsee a mysterious movement known as the Cousins has formed, led by the secretive Monroe. The reveal of Monroe’s identity is a strand of this novel I particularly enjoyed and is handled well, taking the story into the seedier side of life in D’Orsee and a showdown between the city’s criminal elements, with Hector Mandego again taking centre stage in those events.
Magic is more prominent in this installment, leaving you in no doubt this is a fantasy novel, and Tinsley is clearly setting the scene for a much bigger story to come. I didn’t see this coming and it was a welcome surprise, with plenty of questions being posed for exploration in the final two books of this quartet.
The Hand that Casts the Bone is a strong continuation of this excellent grimdark fantasy series, building on the impressive foundations of the first book and giving the reader more of everything that made that such a good novel. This novel delivers an emotional gut punch that leaves an enduring impression on the reader, the hallmark of an author at the top of their game. With its brilliant characters, well thought out plot and distinctive setting this is an outstanding novel in what's clearly going to be a terrific fantasy series.
So, the question is whether Tinsley has been able to maintain those very high standards in her follow-up, to which I’m delighted to say the answer is an emphatic yes. HL Tinsley’s distinctive author voice really stands out and what distinguishes her from her peers is her particular turn of phrase. Conventional wisdom is the reader shouldn’t notice the prose in the novel – they should be absorbed in the story and the characters. Tinsley’s writing is different. The plot and wonderful characters (we’ll come on to both of those in a moment) are absolutely there and fully present in HCB but it’s the way this is expressed that elevates this series.
In keeping with the tone set by WMOAAS, HCB is a dark read and tackles difficult themes. What makes this so enjoyable is how Tinsley uses humour to lift the mood and draw a wry smile from the reader, whilst making her point crystal clear:
“Tarryn did not imagine Mrs Brown to be a great fan of wildlife. She had the look of someone who drowned kittens by the sack.”
“The barkeep gestured to a young lad with a nose that could have cracked the pavement if he fell down face first.”
At other times, Tinsley’s prose is simply beautiful – there’s no other word for it. I could pick so many lines to demonstrate this but I’ve gone for this one:
"Then and there, the sky opened. It was as though a divine being had designed this moment just for Tarryn, crafting it so perfectly that it came in the infinitesimal fraction of time between the clouds groaning and the first drops of rain hitting the ground."
All the component parts that made WMOAAS such a standout novel are present in HCB but the other challenge of a sequel is writing a story that holds up in its own right. John Vanguard is back, still recovering from the events of the previous novel. There’s also a welcome return of key characters such as Sanquain, Cooke, Mandego, Carmen, Henriette, Tarryn and Kosic.
HCB has less focus on Vanguard this time round, weaving his story in with that of Kosic and Carmen, who have travelled to the city of Lycroix with Argent Cooke to try and get support to prevent Sanquain further increasing his power. Kosic faces his own dilemma as we learn more about his past and hopes for the future. Carmen also gets more focus and as we explore her origin story the novel, and I suspect the whole series, begins to move in an unexpected and interesting direction.
In terms of plot, the world is expanded on in HCB. Whilst WMOAAS kept events centred almost exclusively on the grim city of D’Orsee, HCB gives us a wider perspective of the country of Soussan to which it belongs, linking in with the wider politics of its principal cities and neighbouring countries. Unsurprisingly, Sanquain is up to his usual tricks, taking advantage of the death of one of Soussan’s councilmen to build his powerbase.
However, Sanquain isn’t getting everything his own way. His rival Cooke is trying to challenge his power and build a better world for Soussan, whilst in D’Orsee a mysterious movement known as the Cousins has formed, led by the secretive Monroe. The reveal of Monroe’s identity is a strand of this novel I particularly enjoyed and is handled well, taking the story into the seedier side of life in D’Orsee and a showdown between the city’s criminal elements, with Hector Mandego again taking centre stage in those events.
Magic is more prominent in this installment, leaving you in no doubt this is a fantasy novel, and Tinsley is clearly setting the scene for a much bigger story to come. I didn’t see this coming and it was a welcome surprise, with plenty of questions being posed for exploration in the final two books of this quartet.
The Hand that Casts the Bone is a strong continuation of this excellent grimdark fantasy series, building on the impressive foundations of the first book and giving the reader more of everything that made that such a good novel. This novel delivers an emotional gut punch that leaves an enduring impression on the reader, the hallmark of an author at the top of their game. With its brilliant characters, well thought out plot and distinctive setting this is an outstanding novel in what's clearly going to be a terrific fantasy series.
July 28, 2022
Please find my review at the link below:
https://escapistbookcompany.com/2022/...
Thanks for taking the time to read my review. As always, happy reading and Stay Great!!
https://escapistbookcompany.com/2022/...
Thanks for taking the time to read my review. As always, happy reading and Stay Great!!
May 6, 2022
Full review over at Fantasy Book Critic
Overall rating = 4.5 stars
OVERVIEW/ANALYSIS: The Hand That Casts The Bone is the sequel to recent SPFBO finalist We Men Of Ash And Shadow and a book that I very much enjoyed. This sequel book focusses on events set immediately after the tragic events of WMOAAS, the city of D'orsee is in absolute chaos and has a power vacuum. We all know the maxim about nature and vacuums and it is no surprise when different criminal elements rush in to take advantage of this all. Captain Felix Sanquain however has his plans for the city and when a political seat opens up, he will leave no stone unturned to make sure that his cup overfloweth. There are things moving and once again it will be upto John Vanguard and a few others to survive it all.
The story’s main focus this time around shared between John Vanguard, Tarryn Leersac and Carmen and the story is richer for it. Vanguard is recuperating from his climatic fight in WMOAAS and now finds himself on the thin and narrow road of redemption. It will be a hard road and made harder by the fact that his former protégé and new criminal gangs are now openly hunting him. Tarryn finds himself in the ambivalent graces on John Sanquain and he tries his hardest to understand and control his powers. Carmen travels along with a new found family (of sorts) in Cooke, Kosic & Henriette. They will have learn of each other’s foibles and strengths while also surviving everything. There’s this all and to add to the mix, the author brings to the fore Hector Mandego (whom we have met before in the preceding title).
This book is a solid improvement on the plus-points that Holly Tinsley brilliant displayed in WMOAAS. Her debut was a dark one and it highlighted a city caught up in crime and chaos. Here she expands on the world while having her characters push back and make shining examples of themselves. None better exemplified by the new (& increased) POV role given to Carmen. There has been a legitimate air of mystery about her and we get some crucial answers within. The side characters of Cooke and Henriette also share some of the spotlight. Lastly, I have to highlight how brilliantly the author portrays the Machiavellian villains in Sanquain and Mandego. Both of them are charismatic bastards who are scene-stealers and yet have no qualms of killing people (by the score) to further their plans and schemes.
H. L. Tinsley has a real knack for writing such dastardly and brilliant characters and this is seen solidly in this book with Carmen, Tarryn, Sanquain & Mandego. The action is also of the brutal kind, as there are both individualistic and massive action pieces. Overall there’s a big mystery centered around the identity of a certain individual and it keeps the plot streamlined and the readers guessing throughout. Lastly for me, the only complaint I had was that in a sea of brilliant characterization, John Vanguard seems to be the only left behind.
For me this book played on the strengths showcased in its predecessors and diluted the drawbacks brilliantly. Therefore, I didn’t have any major issues about it but I must say objectively this is another dark book full of murder, double crosses, & plenty of horrible things happening to all sorts of people. Therefore, if you do not enjoy the darker side of fantasy, this is definitely NOT the book for you. Another point I must raise is that the author certainly has a way with titles and I cannot wait to see what she comes up with next.
CONCLUSION: The Hand That Casts The Bone is a terrific sequel in a series that has become a must read for me. If you love terrific characters, darker settings and political-crime machinations, then H. L. Tinsley’s Vanguard Chronicles should be an insta-buy for you. DO NOT MISS IT!
Overall rating = 4.5 stars
OVERVIEW/ANALYSIS: The Hand That Casts The Bone is the sequel to recent SPFBO finalist We Men Of Ash And Shadow and a book that I very much enjoyed. This sequel book focusses on events set immediately after the tragic events of WMOAAS, the city of D'orsee is in absolute chaos and has a power vacuum. We all know the maxim about nature and vacuums and it is no surprise when different criminal elements rush in to take advantage of this all. Captain Felix Sanquain however has his plans for the city and when a political seat opens up, he will leave no stone unturned to make sure that his cup overfloweth. There are things moving and once again it will be upto John Vanguard and a few others to survive it all.
The story’s main focus this time around shared between John Vanguard, Tarryn Leersac and Carmen and the story is richer for it. Vanguard is recuperating from his climatic fight in WMOAAS and now finds himself on the thin and narrow road of redemption. It will be a hard road and made harder by the fact that his former protégé and new criminal gangs are now openly hunting him. Tarryn finds himself in the ambivalent graces on John Sanquain and he tries his hardest to understand and control his powers. Carmen travels along with a new found family (of sorts) in Cooke, Kosic & Henriette. They will have learn of each other’s foibles and strengths while also surviving everything. There’s this all and to add to the mix, the author brings to the fore Hector Mandego (whom we have met before in the preceding title).
This book is a solid improvement on the plus-points that Holly Tinsley brilliant displayed in WMOAAS. Her debut was a dark one and it highlighted a city caught up in crime and chaos. Here she expands on the world while having her characters push back and make shining examples of themselves. None better exemplified by the new (& increased) POV role given to Carmen. There has been a legitimate air of mystery about her and we get some crucial answers within. The side characters of Cooke and Henriette also share some of the spotlight. Lastly, I have to highlight how brilliantly the author portrays the Machiavellian villains in Sanquain and Mandego. Both of them are charismatic bastards who are scene-stealers and yet have no qualms of killing people (by the score) to further their plans and schemes.
H. L. Tinsley has a real knack for writing such dastardly and brilliant characters and this is seen solidly in this book with Carmen, Tarryn, Sanquain & Mandego. The action is also of the brutal kind, as there are both individualistic and massive action pieces. Overall there’s a big mystery centered around the identity of a certain individual and it keeps the plot streamlined and the readers guessing throughout. Lastly for me, the only complaint I had was that in a sea of brilliant characterization, John Vanguard seems to be the only left behind.
For me this book played on the strengths showcased in its predecessors and diluted the drawbacks brilliantly. Therefore, I didn’t have any major issues about it but I must say objectively this is another dark book full of murder, double crosses, & plenty of horrible things happening to all sorts of people. Therefore, if you do not enjoy the darker side of fantasy, this is definitely NOT the book for you. Another point I must raise is that the author certainly has a way with titles and I cannot wait to see what she comes up with next.
CONCLUSION: The Hand That Casts The Bone is a terrific sequel in a series that has become a must read for me. If you love terrific characters, darker settings and political-crime machinations, then H. L. Tinsley’s Vanguard Chronicles should be an insta-buy for you. DO NOT MISS IT!
September 6, 2024
.𖥔 ݁ ˖ ✰ 4.75 .𖥔 ݁ ˖
It's crazy how underrated this series is. Until I finished it, I was stunned by everything that happened in this book. This book shows how the author has grown in their writing and delivers a well-written plot.
It's been so long since I’ve felt so connected to a book that every page I opened left me in awe. There’s more exploration of the world-building, where we get to know other countries like Soussan and glimpses of others like Amidian and Yiscjan.
This book gives more depth in character development, revealing a lot about their past and families, with less focus on war. But don’t worry, the political games and dirty schemes are still present, and they’re even more complicated in this book. All those schemes come from every corner, and people are bound to each other by the fight for freedom, no matter the outcome. The slight glimpses of families, whether by blood or not, whether from the same country or not, show how they stick together, which warms my heart.
For me, the arcs of Vanguard and Tarryn are the ones that left me thinking the most. Their dynamic is still there, even just scraping the surface, but the connection they had from the beginning never fades. And the author made it clear that there’s no redemption for any of them. The women in this book are badass; I love them all and adore their actions and beliefs, especially Carmen. I feel like she’s the mastermind behind everything until the end. As for Harriette and Lucy’s friendship, I couldn’t ask for a better portrayal of women’s friendship. It’s reluctant, but the bond is already growing. The ending sets up some pretty good unfinished business. It feels like a new beginning, with plenty of new power struggles and plans.
All in all, this series is absolutely worth reading. It has an excellent plot and complex characters. I can’t wait for the next installment because there are so many things I’m already expecting to happen. I just want to say, this author knows how to write something good, and she nailed it.
It's crazy how underrated this series is. Until I finished it, I was stunned by everything that happened in this book. This book shows how the author has grown in their writing and delivers a well-written plot.
It's been so long since I’ve felt so connected to a book that every page I opened left me in awe. There’s more exploration of the world-building, where we get to know other countries like Soussan and glimpses of others like Amidian and Yiscjan.
This book gives more depth in character development, revealing a lot about their past and families, with less focus on war. But don’t worry, the political games and dirty schemes are still present, and they’re even more complicated in this book. All those schemes come from every corner, and people are bound to each other by the fight for freedom, no matter the outcome. The slight glimpses of families, whether by blood or not, whether from the same country or not, show how they stick together, which warms my heart.
For me, the arcs of Vanguard and Tarryn are the ones that left me thinking the most. Their dynamic is still there, even just scraping the surface, but the connection they had from the beginning never fades. And the author made it clear that there’s no redemption for any of them. The women in this book are badass; I love them all and adore their actions and beliefs, especially Carmen. I feel like she’s the mastermind behind everything until the end. As for Harriette and Lucy’s friendship, I couldn’t ask for a better portrayal of women’s friendship. It’s reluctant, but the bond is already growing. The ending sets up some pretty good unfinished business. It feels like a new beginning, with plenty of new power struggles and plans.
All in all, this series is absolutely worth reading. It has an excellent plot and complex characters. I can’t wait for the next installment because there are so many things I’m already expecting to happen. I just want to say, this author knows how to write something good, and she nailed it.
March 24, 2022
I received an advanced reader copy of The Hand that Casts the Bone in exchange for an honest review.
I gave ‘We Men of Ash and Shadow’, the first book of The Vanguard Chronicles, a resounding 5 stars. I’m just saying, I saw it first, people. It’s a finalist in this year’s SPFBO competition up there with 9 other indie publishing heavyweights.
I was swept away by HL Tinsley’s debut novel, a dark masterpiece with such beautiful prose. Believe me, this author knows how to turn a phrase. I write books, and I was filled with envy while reading her work. I don’t highlight passages when I’m reading, but, if I did, both of Tinsley’s books would have text marked on the majority of pages. I paused many times to take a moment considering something clever or amusing I’d just read.
I said of WMOAAS that it was ‘reminiscent of Bernard Cornwell’s Sharpe, Assassin’s Creed, Sherlock Holmes and Les Miserables!’
I’m throwing Gangs of New York and Batman into the mix.
Tinsley’s vision of her own setting is astounding. She must see, hear, taste, smell and feel everything in her world (she should probably get some vaccines and buy some anti-bacterial spray) and the reader experiences everything with her. D’Orsee and the world beyond is entirely real. I don’t want to see what she makes up next, I want to find out what she can tell us about this pseudo-Victorian world of hers, that exists, presumably, for her to be able to capture it so utterly.
I said in my review of ‘We Men of Ash and Shadow’ that the book was challenging at times, and there were a couple of point of view changes that required some concentration, although they never ever broke my enjoyment. Suffice to say, Tinsley has listened to feedback and this one reads…smoooooth. Nothing jarred while reading The Man Who Casts the Bone.
But, it is still challenging intellectually! If you want to work out what’s going on before the characters a la mystery novels, you will have to put your thinking cap on.
John Vanguard, old soldier and former mercenary, is at his lowest ebb. He has become a lone pariah, injured, in a city on the brink of revolution, while his former protege stalks the rooftops and alleys. If WMOAAS told the story of D’Orsee, the camera pans out in The Hand that Casts the Bone, and we begin to learn, not only of the world beyond, but of the brewing situation across the nation of city states. Old friends travel away from familiar territory or skulk through the dim light afforded by the gas lamps, meeting in secret.
Whispering. Plotting.
But what path will Vanguard take next?
The primary antagonist, Captain Felix Sanquain, is masterfully depicted, and, as in the first book, the simmering schemes remain largely below the surface of the main narrative, only occasionally coming up for air and to hint at what is to come when Tinsley finally decides to give it all up.
And let’s not forget Tarryn Leersac, who vies with Sanquain for the title of most dangerous man in D’Orsee. Intricately conceived, psychologically fascinating and always about to tear down everyone and everything about him, Leersac surely won’t let Vanguard move on with his life, will he? Or is his former mentor an irrelevance now the young aristocrat is off the leash?
You won’t regret reading these books. They are more than just a good read, they are fantasy literature.
I gave ‘We Men of Ash and Shadow’, the first book of The Vanguard Chronicles, a resounding 5 stars. I’m just saying, I saw it first, people. It’s a finalist in this year’s SPFBO competition up there with 9 other indie publishing heavyweights.
I was swept away by HL Tinsley’s debut novel, a dark masterpiece with such beautiful prose. Believe me, this author knows how to turn a phrase. I write books, and I was filled with envy while reading her work. I don’t highlight passages when I’m reading, but, if I did, both of Tinsley’s books would have text marked on the majority of pages. I paused many times to take a moment considering something clever or amusing I’d just read.
I said of WMOAAS that it was ‘reminiscent of Bernard Cornwell’s Sharpe, Assassin’s Creed, Sherlock Holmes and Les Miserables!’
I’m throwing Gangs of New York and Batman into the mix.
Tinsley’s vision of her own setting is astounding. She must see, hear, taste, smell and feel everything in her world (she should probably get some vaccines and buy some anti-bacterial spray) and the reader experiences everything with her. D’Orsee and the world beyond is entirely real. I don’t want to see what she makes up next, I want to find out what she can tell us about this pseudo-Victorian world of hers, that exists, presumably, for her to be able to capture it so utterly.
I said in my review of ‘We Men of Ash and Shadow’ that the book was challenging at times, and there were a couple of point of view changes that required some concentration, although they never ever broke my enjoyment. Suffice to say, Tinsley has listened to feedback and this one reads…smoooooth. Nothing jarred while reading The Man Who Casts the Bone.
But, it is still challenging intellectually! If you want to work out what’s going on before the characters a la mystery novels, you will have to put your thinking cap on.
John Vanguard, old soldier and former mercenary, is at his lowest ebb. He has become a lone pariah, injured, in a city on the brink of revolution, while his former protege stalks the rooftops and alleys. If WMOAAS told the story of D’Orsee, the camera pans out in The Hand that Casts the Bone, and we begin to learn, not only of the world beyond, but of the brewing situation across the nation of city states. Old friends travel away from familiar territory or skulk through the dim light afforded by the gas lamps, meeting in secret.
Whispering. Plotting.
But what path will Vanguard take next?
The primary antagonist, Captain Felix Sanquain, is masterfully depicted, and, as in the first book, the simmering schemes remain largely below the surface of the main narrative, only occasionally coming up for air and to hint at what is to come when Tinsley finally decides to give it all up.
And let’s not forget Tarryn Leersac, who vies with Sanquain for the title of most dangerous man in D’Orsee. Intricately conceived, psychologically fascinating and always about to tear down everyone and everything about him, Leersac surely won’t let Vanguard move on with his life, will he? Or is his former mentor an irrelevance now the young aristocrat is off the leash?
You won’t regret reading these books. They are more than just a good read, they are fantasy literature.
April 27, 2023
Excellent sequel to We Men of Ash and Shadow (4th place for me in my spfbo 7 read). The writing is polished and well-paced with great characters. The city of D’Orsee remains grungy, creepy and brutal environment to live in. There is a brief glimpse of the larger world and it’s going to be interesting exploring in the next instalment.
July 10, 2023
There is definitely a middle book syndrome apparent here. Even though this is longer than the first book not much happens, at least not enough to justify it's length.
Even though I'm a fan of the world and the characters introduced in We Men of Ash and Shadow, I feel that this was a missed oppurunity. One of the main relationships among our M.C and his nemesis feels like an afterthought here and we're stripped from what could be (IMO) some great moments.
In general this felt less polished than the first entry in the series. It was still a good book but the bar was set higher by the author with her previous book and didn't reach the same levels of greatness.
Still invested in the series though and looking forward for the next book..
6,1/10
Even though I'm a fan of the world and the characters introduced in We Men of Ash and Shadow, I feel that this was a missed oppurunity. One of the main relationships among our M.C and his nemesis feels like an afterthought here and we're stripped from what could be (IMO) some great moments.
In general this felt less polished than the first entry in the series. It was still a good book but the bar was set higher by the author with her previous book and didn't reach the same levels of greatness.
Still invested in the series though and looking forward for the next book..
6,1/10
March 26, 2023
The Hand That Casts the Bones is an excellent follow up to the brilliant We Men of Ash and Shadow.
I loved being immersed in this world again. Further world-building beyond the city is welcomed, and the political plotting ramps up.
This book's strength, and the series so far, is its characters. The character work and development in this book is excellent. My favourites are Kosic and Carmen. I enjoyed John's story in this book, his struggle is well told.
Tarryn's story arc didn't really work for me in this book. I didn't find that he added anything to the overall story. Perhaps this is because I relate to his character the least.
If this book is anything to go by, then the next book will be even better. I'm looking forward to seeing where this series takes the characters next.
I loved being immersed in this world again. Further world-building beyond the city is welcomed, and the political plotting ramps up.
This book's strength, and the series so far, is its characters. The character work and development in this book is excellent. My favourites are Kosic and Carmen. I enjoyed John's story in this book, his struggle is well told.
Tarryn's story arc didn't really work for me in this book. I didn't find that he added anything to the overall story. Perhaps this is because I relate to his character the least.
If this book is anything to go by, then the next book will be even better. I'm looking forward to seeing where this series takes the characters next.
October 24, 2022
This scored a 3.9 on my matrix - which equates to 4 stars on rounding
There was an improvement in the character work in this book compared to the first. Vanguard continued to be an intriguing and thought provoking character, surrounded with background mysteries from his past. However in this book, some of the fringe characters really did get to shine - Carmen and Vince in particular
The writing style itself, isn’t totally my jam and i find it hard to grasp why some of the layering in the story happens and the value it brings. However the wonderful world building and the aforementioned characters do create a good score on the entertainment value for me
The story itself tied off some loose ends from book 1 and set up some intriguing threads for the next book.
A good read
May 9, 2022
With very popular books I'm often curious to check what all the fuzz is about. But my real passion is finding the hidden gems almost no one knows about. The Vanguard Chronicles by H.L. Tinsley are certainly such gems. We Men of Ash and Shadow was a pleasant surprise and I absolutely loved it.
In a way the sequel The Hand That Casts the Bone even improved on it. There is way less distracting head hopping from one sentence to the next, I appreciate that there is more female power added to the former male dominated cast of characters and there are some softer moments woven into the very dark story. The writing style has lost nothing of its charme, crisp and punch. H.L. Tinsley certainly has a way with words, there is a delightful signature oddity to it which pulls all the right strings on my soul guitar.
The only reason I enjoyed it a bit less than the predecessor is that at some points it was quite hard for me to follow the story or fully understand the character motivations. That might have been entirely my fault, I was certainly not at the peak of my attention while reading this.
It is a bridge book which requires reading the predecessor and screams "to be continued" at the very end. It does not deliver a satisfying conclusion which is fine with me because I am damn sure I won't miss out on the next series entry.
All in all a fantastic sequel which missed the fifth star only by a hairs breadth.
A longwinded side note on goodreads search algorithm
The author has no space before the last name and the goodreads search algorithm doesn't cope well with that. Dots are generally ignored by the algorithm. Both together makes it almost impossible to find the author on goodreads. The only search term which delivers a result is "hltinsley" but who would enter that into the search mask? Even worse it makes it harder to find the work aswell. E.g. entering "tinsley bone" will deliver no result, while "casts bone" will work and I think doing something like the first is common practice.
So Holly, if you read this it might be worth spending a space to your profile name.
Just in case some goodreads programmer reads this: Treating dots as space instead of ignoring it might improve the user experience.
In a way the sequel The Hand That Casts the Bone even improved on it. There is way less distracting head hopping from one sentence to the next, I appreciate that there is more female power added to the former male dominated cast of characters and there are some softer moments woven into the very dark story. The writing style has lost nothing of its charme, crisp and punch. H.L. Tinsley certainly has a way with words, there is a delightful signature oddity to it which pulls all the right strings on my soul guitar.
The only reason I enjoyed it a bit less than the predecessor is that at some points it was quite hard for me to follow the story or fully understand the character motivations. That might have been entirely my fault, I was certainly not at the peak of my attention while reading this.
It is a bridge book which requires reading the predecessor and screams "to be continued" at the very end. It does not deliver a satisfying conclusion which is fine with me because I am damn sure I won't miss out on the next series entry.
All in all a fantastic sequel which missed the fifth star only by a hairs breadth.
A longwinded side note on goodreads search algorithm
The author has no space before the last name and the goodreads search algorithm doesn't cope well with that. Dots are generally ignored by the algorithm. Both together makes it almost impossible to find the author on goodreads. The only search term which delivers a result is "hltinsley" but who would enter that into the search mask? Even worse it makes it harder to find the work aswell. E.g. entering "tinsley bone" will deliver no result, while "casts bone" will work and I think doing something like the first is common practice.
So Holly, if you read this it might be worth spending a space to your profile name.
Just in case some goodreads programmer reads this: Treating dots as space instead of ignoring it might improve the user experience.
May 7, 2022
And hell hath no fury like a girl who remembers.
I already loved We Men Of Ash And Shadow, the first book in this series, but The Hand That Casts The Bone is even better.
The sometimes a bit meandering pace and unsteady POV has been massively improved, so this one is a smooth and addictive read all the way through.
The characters gain so much more depth, and especially Carmen quickly became a favourite of mine! Having the book split between a couple of POVs made it all the more gripping, at let me fly through the pages (or rather minutes, as I was audio booking) in no time at all. I can't even tell you who I liked to read most!
And best of all, I enjoyed reading them for very different reasons.
There's villains here who I just love to hate.
Then there's the charismatic ones you don't want to win, but you somehow still kinda (secretly) root for, because they might be horrendous bastards, but they are so in a convincing way... I mean you don't get into a position of power by being a push over...
We also get Vanguard who is trying to deal with everything that happened in the last book, as well as finding some way forward.
Henriette nodded, jaw clenched into a smile that could have shattered teeth. "Wonderful."
And then, I really fell in love with Carmen, Beth and Henriette. I love me some female characters who do their thing, and I adore having three very different ones in one book.
She was a powerhouse of love. A force of nature perpetually wrapped in a cloak of tiny people who de pended on her, needed her, adored her.
Aside from the characters, THTCTB has not just one mystery at its heart, but a couple of them, and I really couldn't wait to get to the bottom of them. Some we do get answered, but boy the ending... Do I want another book right this second!
Beware, this is just as dark, bloody and violent as the first book. There's plenty of swearing, murdering and whatever else you'd expect from a really grim book.
June 26, 2022
Well.
That was a little spectacular.
Revisiting John Vanguard and his shadowy world, the author has given us this second insight into the way that Vanguard works, his machinations and his abilities. Just what makes him tick. What drives him. The author has interwoven a story that gives as much as it asks new questions of the characters as well as the reader. This story also leaves enough space for the characters to grow and further intertwine…
Munro as a secondary hero is given to us and shouts “you knew really” but in an expert way, the author has given us a story that you can believe in as well as realise that you knew all along without really knowing…
The female characters scream depth and I’m a little in love with Carmen whilst Tarryn and Captain Sanquain give enough performance to the daring “evil” elements
There’s enough mystery, storyline, heart, pain, angst, death and salvation in this book that has left me wanting the conclusion, or at least the next instalment.
Vanguard is my new favourite. A proper hero/anti-hero with enough grey ambiguity to like a person with dark morals. Enough troubling thought and darkness with a little heart and simple love.
There’s not much I can say without proper spoiling the read, but I’m going to have to wait for the next book - and I don’t want to. That should tell you all you need to know.
Artfully written by Holly and excellently performed in audio version by RJ. A quality combination I would highly recommend.
That was a little spectacular.
Revisiting John Vanguard and his shadowy world, the author has given us this second insight into the way that Vanguard works, his machinations and his abilities. Just what makes him tick. What drives him. The author has interwoven a story that gives as much as it asks new questions of the characters as well as the reader. This story also leaves enough space for the characters to grow and further intertwine…
Munro as a secondary hero is given to us and shouts “you knew really” but in an expert way, the author has given us a story that you can believe in as well as realise that you knew all along without really knowing…
The female characters scream depth and I’m a little in love with Carmen whilst Tarryn and Captain Sanquain give enough performance to the daring “evil” elements
There’s enough mystery, storyline, heart, pain, angst, death and salvation in this book that has left me wanting the conclusion, or at least the next instalment.
Vanguard is my new favourite. A proper hero/anti-hero with enough grey ambiguity to like a person with dark morals. Enough troubling thought and darkness with a little heart and simple love.
There’s not much I can say without proper spoiling the read, but I’m going to have to wait for the next book - and I don’t want to. That should tell you all you need to know.
Artfully written by Holly and excellently performed in audio version by RJ. A quality combination I would highly recommend.
December 18, 2022
From book one to book two, H.L. Tinsley has truly delivered a setting where actions lead to consequences, characters suffer physical and mental changes and the world reacts accordingly (all be it in a very dark way). Shit truly escalates in these novels.
I can't wait to read book three to see the fallout.
I can't wait to read book three to see the fallout.
June 18, 2022
Adored this sequel to We Men of Ash & Shadow.
Loving the character development, most especially of Carmen & and spending time with Vanguard is always a pleasure.
Loving the character development, most especially of Carmen & and spending time with Vanguard is always a pleasure.
November 22, 2025
Wow I’m wrecked in the best way possible.
No one gets out of this story in one piece and many don’t make it at all.
Loved every page and can’t wait for Book 3
No one gets out of this story in one piece and many don’t make it at all.
Loved every page and can’t wait for Book 3
January 13, 2023
Overall Score: 8/10
I originally read the first book in the Vanguard series, We Men of Ash and Shadow in 2021 when it became a SPFBO finalist. That book became one of my insta-favorites, and I ranked it as my second overall pick in its finalist pool (my overall favorite was Legacy of the Brightwash - yes, there are common themes in my obsession with dark gaslamp fantasies!). I was completely and entirely absorbed into the city of D'Orsee, and I was fascinated by the complex and honestly pretty messed up relationship between John Vanguard and his protégée (if that is even the right word) Tarryn.
This series is a total standout of a grimdark fantasy series, and I would really like to see it get spoken about with same enthusiasm and popularity of the other major grimdark authors. Tinsley's books perhaps evoke the greatest sense or feeling of a dark and gritty fantasy, to the extent where I could feel the grit and grime on my skin as I read Tinsley's prose. If you want a series that feels like its crawling with an underground world of crime and terror, D'Orsee is going to be one of your new favorite fantasy cities. In a (relatively, for the fantasy genre) short book and pretty sparse descriptions, Tinsley paints a perfect picture of a gritty city on the precipice of collapse and revolution. Without taking 1000 pages Tinsley populates D'Orsee with a wide variety of fantasy characters that you might not necessarily come to love (because nothing about this book is warm and fuzzy) but you are more than guaranteed to be entertained by.
Because of this grimy aesthetic, the magic in this book is pretty much absent. A couple of the characters do have a bit of magic, in which they can make themselves invisible. Thematically and aesthetically this works so well for book because Tinsley invokes the danger of the shadowy corners, nooks, and crannies of D'Orsee. The protagonist, John Vanguard, is able to use the shadows to use his magical abilities to hide, but so can other more nefarious characters!
While I am focusing on many of the grimmer and darker elements here, and this book is definitely a grimdark novel, I do want to say that Tinsley exhibits a lot of restraint and control. Sometimes authors go way too far in terms of the violence, gore, etc. It even gets to the point sometimes where dark = sexual assault in a gross way. Tinsley does none of that here. There are some squelchy moments in the books, but Tinsley uses them sparingly for maximum effect. The grimmness and darkness of this story comes more from the sense of dread Tinsley cultivates. It also comes from Tinsley's emphasis on the plight of the working and underclasses; Tinsey vividly paints the slop and oppression of those not in power , and class relations are a major theme throughout the novel.
If you have already read We Men of Ash and Shadow, be ready for a very different reading experience with The Hand that Casts the Bone. I still really liked this second book, but in very different ways than I liked the first one. This book felt a lot bigger in terms of its world and politics than the first book. We spend a lot of time outside of D'Orsee with new POV characters (some new to the series, others characters we came to know in the previous book!). Therefore, while We Men was very much rooted in the relationship between Vanguard and Tarryn, this book is much more about the larger global politics and power grabs that are going on. There are, admittedly, some pros and cons with this shift in perspective and scope. On the good end, there were some really awesome payoffs for things that Tinsley started in We Men. However, on the downside this means that we spend a lot less time with Vanguard and Tarryn in this book. I particularly felt that Tarryn got the short end of the stick here; he was the most fascinating character from We Men, but plays a pretty minor role here. Maybe it was just me, but I kind of got the feeling that Tinsley didn't know how to incorporate Tarryn into the larger politics that were shifting the main focus of the narrative. None of these elements ruined the book for me, but they did throw me off at first. I also want to note that there is a confrontation between Vanguard and Tarryn that was one of the best and intense scenes in a fantasy novel I have read!
The other major change is that the POVs are a bit more...stationary? If you read We Men then you probably already know that Tinsley was very loose with the POV shifts; a POV could shift from one sentence to the next with little indication. This didn't bother me at all, but I know it bothered a lot of other readers. Those abrupt shifts in POV don't really happen in The Hand that Casts the Bone.
The end of the book shakes everything up and radically changes the status quo. Tinsley really didn't hold back in allowing the plot and characters to push forward in many exciting ways. I asked Tinsley on Twitter a while back how many more books we should expect, and she said (at the time) she was planning on one or two more in the Vanguard series. I will definitely join the ride for how many every books are left!
Concluding Thoughts: Another entertaining entry in Tinsley's gaslamp grimdark series, this book expands the city of D'Orsee and beyond. Tinsley's prose continues to vividly illustrate the grit and grime of an oppressed population and a city on the precipice of revolution. Highly recommended for all fans of gritty and grimy fantasy with complicated characters and politics.
All of my reviews and more available at nathansfantasyreviews.wordpress.com.
I originally read the first book in the Vanguard series, We Men of Ash and Shadow in 2021 when it became a SPFBO finalist. That book became one of my insta-favorites, and I ranked it as my second overall pick in its finalist pool (my overall favorite was Legacy of the Brightwash - yes, there are common themes in my obsession with dark gaslamp fantasies!). I was completely and entirely absorbed into the city of D'Orsee, and I was fascinated by the complex and honestly pretty messed up relationship between John Vanguard and his protégée (if that is even the right word) Tarryn.
This series is a total standout of a grimdark fantasy series, and I would really like to see it get spoken about with same enthusiasm and popularity of the other major grimdark authors. Tinsley's books perhaps evoke the greatest sense or feeling of a dark and gritty fantasy, to the extent where I could feel the grit and grime on my skin as I read Tinsley's prose. If you want a series that feels like its crawling with an underground world of crime and terror, D'Orsee is going to be one of your new favorite fantasy cities. In a (relatively, for the fantasy genre) short book and pretty sparse descriptions, Tinsley paints a perfect picture of a gritty city on the precipice of collapse and revolution. Without taking 1000 pages Tinsley populates D'Orsee with a wide variety of fantasy characters that you might not necessarily come to love (because nothing about this book is warm and fuzzy) but you are more than guaranteed to be entertained by.
Because of this grimy aesthetic, the magic in this book is pretty much absent. A couple of the characters do have a bit of magic, in which they can make themselves invisible. Thematically and aesthetically this works so well for book because Tinsley invokes the danger of the shadowy corners, nooks, and crannies of D'Orsee. The protagonist, John Vanguard, is able to use the shadows to use his magical abilities to hide, but so can other more nefarious characters!
While I am focusing on many of the grimmer and darker elements here, and this book is definitely a grimdark novel, I do want to say that Tinsley exhibits a lot of restraint and control. Sometimes authors go way too far in terms of the violence, gore, etc. It even gets to the point sometimes where dark = sexual assault in a gross way. Tinsley does none of that here. There are some squelchy moments in the books, but Tinsley uses them sparingly for maximum effect. The grimmness and darkness of this story comes more from the sense of dread Tinsley cultivates. It also comes from Tinsley's emphasis on the plight of the working and underclasses; Tinsey vividly paints the slop and oppression of those not in power , and class relations are a major theme throughout the novel.
If you have already read We Men of Ash and Shadow, be ready for a very different reading experience with The Hand that Casts the Bone. I still really liked this second book, but in very different ways than I liked the first one. This book felt a lot bigger in terms of its world and politics than the first book. We spend a lot of time outside of D'Orsee with new POV characters (some new to the series, others characters we came to know in the previous book!). Therefore, while We Men was very much rooted in the relationship between Vanguard and Tarryn, this book is much more about the larger global politics and power grabs that are going on. There are, admittedly, some pros and cons with this shift in perspective and scope. On the good end, there were some really awesome payoffs for things that Tinsley started in We Men. However, on the downside this means that we spend a lot less time with Vanguard and Tarryn in this book. I particularly felt that Tarryn got the short end of the stick here; he was the most fascinating character from We Men, but plays a pretty minor role here. Maybe it was just me, but I kind of got the feeling that Tinsley didn't know how to incorporate Tarryn into the larger politics that were shifting the main focus of the narrative. None of these elements ruined the book for me, but they did throw me off at first. I also want to note that there is a confrontation between Vanguard and Tarryn that was one of the best and intense scenes in a fantasy novel I have read!
The other major change is that the POVs are a bit more...stationary? If you read We Men then you probably already know that Tinsley was very loose with the POV shifts; a POV could shift from one sentence to the next with little indication. This didn't bother me at all, but I know it bothered a lot of other readers. Those abrupt shifts in POV don't really happen in The Hand that Casts the Bone.
The end of the book shakes everything up and radically changes the status quo. Tinsley really didn't hold back in allowing the plot and characters to push forward in many exciting ways. I asked Tinsley on Twitter a while back how many more books we should expect, and she said (at the time) she was planning on one or two more in the Vanguard series. I will definitely join the ride for how many every books are left!
Concluding Thoughts: Another entertaining entry in Tinsley's gaslamp grimdark series, this book expands the city of D'Orsee and beyond. Tinsley's prose continues to vividly illustrate the grit and grime of an oppressed population and a city on the precipice of revolution. Highly recommended for all fans of gritty and grimy fantasy with complicated characters and politics.
All of my reviews and more available at nathansfantasyreviews.wordpress.com.
June 12, 2022
When I reviewed the first book in the series, We Men of Ash and Shadows (see my review here) I felt it was good, but had potential to be great. I set my expectations for the sequel high and Tinsley more than delivered. We're in presence of greatness here.
"I went out and saw a bit of the world. Didn't think much of it," says one of the characters. I have to admit I've been stalling, as I saw too much of the real world in the last years and didn't think much of it either. I didn't really want to make myself feel worse. Tinsley's world is bleak and grim, but, unlike ours, it comes with the wonderfully British humour I liked so much in the first instalment. It turns out that it's possible to create dark escapism even when the themes and the characters are uncomfortably realistic. And this was how I thought I'd sample a bit to see if I can deal with a book as heavy as this one and found myself 40% in at 2:30am. I did not want to waste time on sleep, I was busy.
The Hand disposes with all the problems I had with We Men,and does so in a very unexpected way. The blurb suggests plot driven by one clear-cut conflict – the protagonist, Vanguard, against the villain, Felix Sanquin, with the exciting enigma of Tarryn Leersac. Technically, all those things are true. The Hand, however, is many sub-plots, rather than "a revolution with detours." The explosions mostly happen off-page as Tinsley's busy breaking our hearts. This is not a straightforward three-act structure novel, but something truly different and special.
While Sanquin is a proper Evil Villain, there is no one protagonist here. Vanguard is often absent as others' fates play out. Carmen, Kosic, Tarryn have stories as important as Vanguard, and sometimes more interesting. Kosic's journey put tears in my eyes, and I did not foresee myself being heartbroken by Tarryn's unnecessary suffering.
“Vanguard should have been where he belonged, pacing amongst the shadows, his only desire to find Tarryn Leersac and exact bloody justice upon him. No. He was drinking tea.”
Perhaps this is the best way to describe The Hand That Casts the Bone – those who expected 400 pages of Vanguard searching for Tarryn (and vice versa) while the evil Sanquin cackles will be disappointed. The book goes somewhat meta here, breaking Tarryn's heart and already rather vague relationship with sanity. I don't think it's a spoiler to say that he doesn't let go of his obsession, perhaps made even worse by the fact that it isn't reciprocated – how can you not hate even more someone who doesn't care that you hate them? Vanguard might want to savour that cup of tea, because this character-based book's plot doesn't believe in slowing down.
I did not like the ending. Well. I probably would have liked it if the third instalment was out. To say the book ends on a cliffhanger is like saying that George RR Martin sometimes hurts his characters (by the way, Tinsley doesn't mind killing hers either). I was left with ALL the questions and a not completely unpleasant feeling that the answers were foreshadowed and I might need to re-read the book to figure them out.
The Hand That Casts the Bone is a beautiful, complex puzzle with living, breathing characters. It's also one of my favourite reads of the year so far. I would rather like the author to hurry up with the third part, though.
"I went out and saw a bit of the world. Didn't think much of it," says one of the characters. I have to admit I've been stalling, as I saw too much of the real world in the last years and didn't think much of it either. I didn't really want to make myself feel worse. Tinsley's world is bleak and grim, but, unlike ours, it comes with the wonderfully British humour I liked so much in the first instalment. It turns out that it's possible to create dark escapism even when the themes and the characters are uncomfortably realistic. And this was how I thought I'd sample a bit to see if I can deal with a book as heavy as this one and found myself 40% in at 2:30am. I did not want to waste time on sleep, I was busy.
The Hand disposes with all the problems I had with We Men,and does so in a very unexpected way. The blurb suggests plot driven by one clear-cut conflict – the protagonist, Vanguard, against the villain, Felix Sanquin, with the exciting enigma of Tarryn Leersac. Technically, all those things are true. The Hand, however, is many sub-plots, rather than "a revolution with detours." The explosions mostly happen off-page as Tinsley's busy breaking our hearts. This is not a straightforward three-act structure novel, but something truly different and special.
While Sanquin is a proper Evil Villain, there is no one protagonist here. Vanguard is often absent as others' fates play out. Carmen, Kosic, Tarryn have stories as important as Vanguard, and sometimes more interesting. Kosic's journey put tears in my eyes, and I did not foresee myself being heartbroken by Tarryn's unnecessary suffering.
“Vanguard should have been where he belonged, pacing amongst the shadows, his only desire to find Tarryn Leersac and exact bloody justice upon him. No. He was drinking tea.”
Perhaps this is the best way to describe The Hand That Casts the Bone – those who expected 400 pages of Vanguard searching for Tarryn (and vice versa) while the evil Sanquin cackles will be disappointed. The book goes somewhat meta here, breaking Tarryn's heart and already rather vague relationship with sanity. I don't think it's a spoiler to say that he doesn't let go of his obsession, perhaps made even worse by the fact that it isn't reciprocated – how can you not hate even more someone who doesn't care that you hate them? Vanguard might want to savour that cup of tea, because this character-based book's plot doesn't believe in slowing down.
I did not like the ending. Well. I probably would have liked it if the third instalment was out. To say the book ends on a cliffhanger is like saying that George RR Martin sometimes hurts his characters (by the way, Tinsley doesn't mind killing hers either). I was left with ALL the questions and a not completely unpleasant feeling that the answers were foreshadowed and I might need to re-read the book to figure them out.
The Hand That Casts the Bone is a beautiful, complex puzzle with living, breathing characters. It's also one of my favourite reads of the year so far. I would rather like the author to hurry up with the third part, though.
August 11, 2022
I liked The Hand that Casts the Bone, but boy is it depressing. Despite giving this the same rating as the first book, I do think We Men of Ash and Shadow is the superior book (see my review for that book why I only gave it 4 stars). John Vanguard may have survived the events of the first book, but he did not get away unscathed. He is injured, without allies, and his powers have started failing just as an unexpected death creates a power vacuum in his city state. Meanwhile, Argent Cooke and their allies are attempting and failing to find support from the other city states.
“𝘐 𝘢𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘪𝘱𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘰𝘯 𝘢 𝘱𝘰𝘯𝘥. 𝘈 𝘧𝘰𝘰𝘵𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘪𝘭. 𝘐 𝘢𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘤𝘩𝘰 𝘰𝘧 𝘢 𝘷𝘰𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘥… 𝘐 𝘢𝘮 𝘢 𝘮𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘺. 𝘞𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴.”
The book is really dark throughout even if it never reaches to the darkest depths that the first book went to. I could really have used some brighter moments to break all that bleakness. The story itself feels like its bridging the events of the first book to the next as there really wasn’t a single story thread that was driving the narrative forward. There are three or four plotlines that are mostly separate and just intersecting occasionally. I needed more Vanguard actually (after all, this series is called the Vanguard Chronicles), but he did not get much to do here. Despite that, I wouldn’t cut the other parts because I do like where their stories are going (except that of Tarryn who’s entire arc was wasted and dropped). That’s the thing… it feels like the book is headed somewhere good, but this installment is still just shuffling the characters around to get there.
𝘐𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘢𝘺 𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘩𝘢𝘥, 𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘦𝘵 𝘨𝘰 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘪𝘵.
The Hand that Casts the Bone is certainly a dark and grim grimdark gaslamp fantasy that is building up towards what promises to be an epic endgame.
“𝘐 𝘢𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘪𝘱𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘰𝘯 𝘢 𝘱𝘰𝘯𝘥. 𝘈 𝘧𝘰𝘰𝘵𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘪𝘭. 𝘐 𝘢𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘤𝘩𝘰 𝘰𝘧 𝘢 𝘷𝘰𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘥… 𝘐 𝘢𝘮 𝘢 𝘮𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘺. 𝘞𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴.”
The book is really dark throughout even if it never reaches to the darkest depths that the first book went to. I could really have used some brighter moments to break all that bleakness. The story itself feels like its bridging the events of the first book to the next as there really wasn’t a single story thread that was driving the narrative forward. There are three or four plotlines that are mostly separate and just intersecting occasionally. I needed more Vanguard actually (after all, this series is called the Vanguard Chronicles), but he did not get much to do here. Despite that, I wouldn’t cut the other parts because I do like where their stories are going (except that of Tarryn who’s entire arc was wasted and dropped). That’s the thing… it feels like the book is headed somewhere good, but this installment is still just shuffling the characters around to get there.
𝘐𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘢𝘺 𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘩𝘢𝘥, 𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘦𝘵 𝘨𝘰 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘪𝘵.
The Hand that Casts the Bone is certainly a dark and grim grimdark gaslamp fantasy that is building up towards what promises to be an epic endgame.
June 21, 2022
An amazing sequel, a compelling story and a cast of incredibly well developed characters. The Hand That Casts the Bone definitely didn't not disappoint!
5/5 🌟
When I read We Men of Ash and Shadow earlier this year, I found it to be such a fresh and entertaining book. It was dark, violent and intense but also had great humour, touching moments and characters that felt so unique.
This book managed to take everything that happened in its predecessor - all the character development, all the world-building, all the fierce plot work - and just add to it all.
We learn so much more about the other cities, armies and cultures of the world in this book, which is something I was so glad to experience. I was so intrigued by what was going on outside of D'orsee and it added that final piece that was missing from WMOAAS (for me anyway).
I loved the progression of Carmen's character in particular. She grew so much and became so much stronger and interesting to me.
The plot expands to a much grander scale too and obviously I can't go into too much detail for spoiler reasons but you can tell that shit is gonna go down in book 3.
I'll just end by saying that I genuinely believe this is one of the best ongoing series that (unfortunately) not enough people are talking about. So please if you see this review, check out Holly's work, you won't regret it!
PS RJ Bayley is a top tier narrator.
5/5 🌟
When I read We Men of Ash and Shadow earlier this year, I found it to be such a fresh and entertaining book. It was dark, violent and intense but also had great humour, touching moments and characters that felt so unique.
This book managed to take everything that happened in its predecessor - all the character development, all the world-building, all the fierce plot work - and just add to it all.
We learn so much more about the other cities, armies and cultures of the world in this book, which is something I was so glad to experience. I was so intrigued by what was going on outside of D'orsee and it added that final piece that was missing from WMOAAS (for me anyway).
I loved the progression of Carmen's character in particular. She grew so much and became so much stronger and interesting to me.
The plot expands to a much grander scale too and obviously I can't go into too much detail for spoiler reasons but you can tell that shit is gonna go down in book 3.
I'll just end by saying that I genuinely believe this is one of the best ongoing series that (unfortunately) not enough people are talking about. So please if you see this review, check out Holly's work, you won't regret it!
PS RJ Bayley is a top tier narrator.
June 17, 2024
Why I picked this up: The first book in the series, We Men of Ash and Shadow, had me hooked and I had to continue.
Genre: Grimdark, gaslamp
Tone: Gritty with a bit of snark, and the grimdark casual approach to violence.
Plot: Following the previous book; one assassin’s lost his mojo, the other’s lost his marbles, the revolution’s struggling to get a leg up, and the city’s going to sh*t with gang violence.
Pacing: Quick. Short book. Easy to smash through.
Prose: 3rd person omniscient POV. Having acquainted myself with this style in the previous book, I slipped back into the flow easily and didn’t feel the same disorientation I did last time. A lean writing style, and the dialogue has a sprinkling of vulgarity for flavour.
World: The world expands a little beyond the main city, and there’s a tease of something other than politics and crime that’s lurking in the shadows.
Characters: Some familiar faces, some new. They never felt stagnant and I still think they’re awesome.
Conflict: A steady build-up from the previous book, and we’re left knowing that some serious sh*t is about to go down.
Cringe: Tinsley once again nails the perfect balance of darkness and gore for a grim story without triggering the cringe.
Overall enjoyment: I NEED THE NEXT BOOK.
Genre: Grimdark, gaslamp
Tone: Gritty with a bit of snark, and the grimdark casual approach to violence.
Plot: Following the previous book; one assassin’s lost his mojo, the other’s lost his marbles, the revolution’s struggling to get a leg up, and the city’s going to sh*t with gang violence.
Pacing: Quick. Short book. Easy to smash through.
Prose: 3rd person omniscient POV. Having acquainted myself with this style in the previous book, I slipped back into the flow easily and didn’t feel the same disorientation I did last time. A lean writing style, and the dialogue has a sprinkling of vulgarity for flavour.
World: The world expands a little beyond the main city, and there’s a tease of something other than politics and crime that’s lurking in the shadows.
Characters: Some familiar faces, some new. They never felt stagnant and I still think they’re awesome.
Conflict: A steady build-up from the previous book, and we’re left knowing that some serious sh*t is about to go down.
Cringe: Tinsley once again nails the perfect balance of darkness and gore for a grim story without triggering the cringe.
Overall enjoyment: I NEED THE NEXT BOOK.
May 17, 2022
Fantastically Stabbly Goodness
Damn, Hell hath no fury, move over there's a new queen of Grimdark and her name is H.L Tinsley. Wow what a dark, grim and slasher fest follow up to her beautifully written first book We Men Of Ash And Shadow. H.L. Tinsley's world building, setting is fantastic and the plot will have you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. Full of Villians and unsavoury characters that you will love and load to hate. After surviving an assassination attempt by his old psychotic apprentice Tarryn Leersac, John Vanguard has become alone wolf, injured and out of pocket in a city on the brink of destruction. Tarryn Leersac is stalking rooftops and alleys in hope his former master is still a live. Leersac finds himself still in the employment of the devious and power hungry Captain Sanquain who looking to take control of the council. With Captain Sanquain schemes and manipulations, there is only going to be one outcome. Blood, death and war is coming to D’Orsee and y'all best be ready when it does, it's gonna be a bloodbath. If you love your fantasy grim, a good oul stabaton and just some good good storytelling at its finest, look no further I very highly recommend. Cant wait for book three....🗡💥😁🖤☠️
Damn, Hell hath no fury, move over there's a new queen of Grimdark and her name is H.L Tinsley. Wow what a dark, grim and slasher fest follow up to her beautifully written first book We Men Of Ash And Shadow. H.L. Tinsley's world building, setting is fantastic and the plot will have you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. Full of Villians and unsavoury characters that you will love and load to hate. After surviving an assassination attempt by his old psychotic apprentice Tarryn Leersac, John Vanguard has become alone wolf, injured and out of pocket in a city on the brink of destruction. Tarryn Leersac is stalking rooftops and alleys in hope his former master is still a live. Leersac finds himself still in the employment of the devious and power hungry Captain Sanquain who looking to take control of the council. With Captain Sanquain schemes and manipulations, there is only going to be one outcome. Blood, death and war is coming to D’Orsee and y'all best be ready when it does, it's gonna be a bloodbath. If you love your fantasy grim, a good oul stabaton and just some good good storytelling at its finest, look no further I very highly recommend. Cant wait for book three....🗡💥😁🖤☠️
August 30, 2022
What It's About: In this sequel to Men of Ash and Shadow, Tinsley returns to the grim city where killers stalk the shadows and the mercenary-turned-reluctant-vigilante Vanguard is trying to save the city from itself. Gang violence, murders, and the struggle for survival make up the bulk of the story, but Vanguard's looming confrontation with his former protege is always there, building inevitably throughout.
What I Thought: Just as good as the first book, and maybe better. All the strengths of the first volume return in full here: the clear, thoughtful prose, the dark, fully imagined characters (who I appreciated still gave us some good traits to root for, even at their morally dark-grey-est of all), the thoughtful specificity of the worldbuilding.
Who Should Read It: Anyone who likes dark fantasy, gaslamp, or low fantasy would enjoy this. And if you don't tend to care for those genres, this is so strongly written I could see it being a place to start!
What I Thought: Just as good as the first book, and maybe better. All the strengths of the first volume return in full here: the clear, thoughtful prose, the dark, fully imagined characters (who I appreciated still gave us some good traits to root for, even at their morally dark-grey-est of all), the thoughtful specificity of the worldbuilding.
Who Should Read It: Anyone who likes dark fantasy, gaslamp, or low fantasy would enjoy this. And if you don't tend to care for those genres, this is so strongly written I could see it being a place to start!
October 26, 2022
4.5/5 stars.
HL Tinsley's characters continue to shine. I love Taryn's character conveying the psychopathic traits especially in one scene in particular was just incredible. I also love that we got to see more of the world beyond D'Orsay's walls in this one. The world is just so grim, there's no better word for it.
I will say I want to reread both of these books before we get more in the world, it had been awhile since I read book 1 and took me a bit to get back into the swing of who is one what side and what the ties and history between characters was.
HL Tinsley's characters continue to shine. I love Taryn's character conveying the psychopathic traits especially in one scene in particular was just incredible. I also love that we got to see more of the world beyond D'Orsay's walls in this one. The world is just so grim, there's no better word for it.
I will say I want to reread both of these books before we get more in the world, it had been awhile since I read book 1 and took me a bit to get back into the swing of who is one what side and what the ties and history between characters was.
September 24, 2025
I listened to this book immediately after We Men of Ash and Shadow (see that book for full review). The Vanguard Chronicles are grimdark gaslamp low fantasy. Grime-laden, blood-soaked storytelling that had me hooked from the first page of We Men of Ash and Shadow to the last smooth tones of RJ Bayley’s narration of The Hand That Cats The Bones. Wow.
I wholeheartedly recommend these books and await the next with bated breath.
I wholeheartedly recommend these books and await the next with bated breath.
Read
December 30, 2022The Hand That Casts the Bone seamlessly continues the engrossing readability of the debut novel, with perhaps a bit less raw violence and a bit more character development and polish. Sample the first book and if it works for you, plan on going all in the series. I am.
April 10, 2023
Stunning sequel
Every minor gripe I had about the first book was improved upon.
The character development, the pov shifts, and the plot all felt really smooth and planned.
This was a really fun book, and I breezed through it. Vanguard 3 can't come soon enough!
Every minor gripe I had about the first book was improved upon.
The character development, the pov shifts, and the plot all felt really smooth and planned.
This was a really fun book, and I breezed through it. Vanguard 3 can't come soon enough!
July 28, 2022
a step up from book one. a more confident author, I think. beautiful descriptions and atmosphere.
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