What do you think?
Rate this book
Red Kingdom #1
Dream of Death City
Chilling, dark fantasy with a heavy dose of Sherlock Holmes in this new series of twisty mysteries in fantasy worlds.
Pale moths haunt an icy frontier. Beneath the shadow of a drowned death god, a frozen body is unearthed from the snow.
Investigators arrive to a superstitious island to solve a brutal crime. Among them is a lowly slave desperate to prove her worth and a soldier with dark dreams. Neither are prepared for what they find.
Death City is a strange and violent frontier, and no one who survives comes back clean.
First though, Thora and Diem must survive.
Welcome to the Red Kingdom.
The Red Kingdom is a new series of dark mysteries in fantasy worlds that delve into a land of vicious crimes, strange lore and Purge House zealots.
Pale moths haunt an icy frontier. Beneath the shadow of a drowned death god, a frozen body is unearthed from the snow.
Investigators arrive to a superstitious island to solve a brutal crime. Among them is a lowly slave desperate to prove her worth and a soldier with dark dreams. Neither are prepared for what they find.
Death City is a strange and violent frontier, and no one who survives comes back clean.
First though, Thora and Diem must survive.
Welcome to the Red Kingdom.
The Red Kingdom is a new series of dark mysteries in fantasy worlds that delve into a land of vicious crimes, strange lore and Purge House zealots.
523 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 14, 2022
34 people are currently reading
739 people want to read
About the author
P.J. Nwosu
3 books44 followersPJ Nwosu writes dark mysteries in epic fantasy worlds. She loves reading gritty detective and fantasy novels, and is obsessed with learning about strange, creepy tales from history.
PJ Nwosu tells twisty, dark stories against epic fantasy backdrops, and loves all things memento mori. She lives by the sea in Australia with her husband and black cat.
Find a free series VISUAL GUIDE and short story prequel on the author's website at: www.pjnwosu.com
PJ Nwosu tells twisty, dark stories against epic fantasy backdrops, and loves all things memento mori. She lives by the sea in Australia with her husband and black cat.
Find a free series VISUAL GUIDE and short story prequel on the author's website at: www.pjnwosu.com
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 92 reviews
April 21, 2024
I went into this book completely blind, but it took me exactly one page to realise that this book would just click for me on every single level. These days, it’s rare for me to get so sucked into a story that I simply lose track of time, but Dream of Death City accomplished exactly that and completely entranced me from the very first page.
Welcome to the Red Kingdom, a brutal and dark fantasy world where your caste decides your fate in life. The strict Red Reform Laws ensure that the wealthy Sun-Nobles keep thriving off the poor, while the lowly Dust-Caste slaves suffer and remain oppressed. Anyone even thinking of stepping out of line will be swiftly and brutally punished by the Purge House’s Red Warriors, but that doesn’t stop Dust-Caste slave Thora from daring to dream of a better life for herself.
When a young Sun-Noble daughter disappears from her tower in Death City, Thora seizes upon the chance to improve her lot in life and convinces Investigation House to put her on the case as assistant-investigator. Along with the recently demoted Low-Investigator Diem Lakein, she is sent off to the wild, icy Thousand Island Frontier. Neither are prepared for what they find in the strange Death City, though, and they must do everything in their power to survive the dangerous web of conspiracies that they quickly find themselves entangled in.
I am absolutely floored by the depth and breadth of the world building in this novel. As someone who struggles to visualise while reading, it’s rare for me to have a fully immersive reading experience. So imagine my wonder and excitement when I opened this book and discovered P.J. Nwosu’s incredible ability to transport me into her world.
From the peculiar speech patterns in the dialogue, to the vivid and evocative descriptions of the uncanny settings, to the fascinating death-worshipping culture with its elusive magic and finally to the all-encompassing oppression of the strict rules upholding this hierarchical society; it all just comes together into a hauntingly mesmerising story. The themes of corruption, oppression, sexism, and religious zealotry are also beautifully woven into the narrative and the messaging never feels on the nose. The world building bleeds through into every aspect of the story, which creates a unique flair that will completely entrance you.
But that’s not where these author’s talents end, because the character work was also simply outstanding. Diem and Thora are incredibly compelling characters to follow, because they both dare to dream of a better life in a world where dreaming could result in death.
This is not the story of heroes or rulers, but the story of scarred, flawed and honestly just average citizens trying to survive in a harsh and restrictive world. Both of them are haunted by their dark and mysterious pasts, which adds a captivating level of complexity and suspense to their stories. And even though we quickly learn that they have both done less than savoury things in order to survive, you can’t help but fall in love with them.
Thora’s journey was especially gripping to me, as we see this seemingly demure slave trying to gain a sense of agency and create something for her own in a world that is trying to break her down. She might appear compliant on the outside, but when you get a peek inside her mind, you realise that she’s a force to be reckoned with.
Diem is also a fascinating character in his own right though. As his past starts catching up to him, we slowly start to learn about his deepest regrets and fears, which makes for some incredibly compelling character work.
The character development throughout the story was so well done and I loved seeing how these characters’ individual journeys played into the overarching story. Also, it was a joy to see the slow build up of trust and love between Thora and Diem. Their relationship is unexpected, complex and bittersweet, but I absolutely adored it.
Finally, throw in a riveting mystery plot with lots of jaw-dropping twists and turns and a satisfying resolution, and the whole picture is complete. I am completely satisfied with this entire story… and yet I am left hungering for more (in the best way possible). These are exactly the types of reading experiences that I am always on the hunt for, making this an instant new favourite for me.
If you enjoy dark fantasy stories with rich world building, compelling characters, riveting mysteries, strange and macabre settings, thought-provoking themes and incredibly immersive and unique prose, then Dream of Death City is the book for you. I cannot recommend it highly enough.
Thank you to NetGalley and Small Heart Press for providing me with an eARC of this book. All opinions are my own.
Welcome to the Red Kingdom, a brutal and dark fantasy world where your caste decides your fate in life. The strict Red Reform Laws ensure that the wealthy Sun-Nobles keep thriving off the poor, while the lowly Dust-Caste slaves suffer and remain oppressed. Anyone even thinking of stepping out of line will be swiftly and brutally punished by the Purge House’s Red Warriors, but that doesn’t stop Dust-Caste slave Thora from daring to dream of a better life for herself.
When a young Sun-Noble daughter disappears from her tower in Death City, Thora seizes upon the chance to improve her lot in life and convinces Investigation House to put her on the case as assistant-investigator. Along with the recently demoted Low-Investigator Diem Lakein, she is sent off to the wild, icy Thousand Island Frontier. Neither are prepared for what they find in the strange Death City, though, and they must do everything in their power to survive the dangerous web of conspiracies that they quickly find themselves entangled in.
I am absolutely floored by the depth and breadth of the world building in this novel. As someone who struggles to visualise while reading, it’s rare for me to have a fully immersive reading experience. So imagine my wonder and excitement when I opened this book and discovered P.J. Nwosu’s incredible ability to transport me into her world.
From the peculiar speech patterns in the dialogue, to the vivid and evocative descriptions of the uncanny settings, to the fascinating death-worshipping culture with its elusive magic and finally to the all-encompassing oppression of the strict rules upholding this hierarchical society; it all just comes together into a hauntingly mesmerising story. The themes of corruption, oppression, sexism, and religious zealotry are also beautifully woven into the narrative and the messaging never feels on the nose. The world building bleeds through into every aspect of the story, which creates a unique flair that will completely entrance you.
But that’s not where these author’s talents end, because the character work was also simply outstanding. Diem and Thora are incredibly compelling characters to follow, because they both dare to dream of a better life in a world where dreaming could result in death.
This is not the story of heroes or rulers, but the story of scarred, flawed and honestly just average citizens trying to survive in a harsh and restrictive world. Both of them are haunted by their dark and mysterious pasts, which adds a captivating level of complexity and suspense to their stories. And even though we quickly learn that they have both done less than savoury things in order to survive, you can’t help but fall in love with them.
Thora’s journey was especially gripping to me, as we see this seemingly demure slave trying to gain a sense of agency and create something for her own in a world that is trying to break her down. She might appear compliant on the outside, but when you get a peek inside her mind, you realise that she’s a force to be reckoned with.
Diem is also a fascinating character in his own right though. As his past starts catching up to him, we slowly start to learn about his deepest regrets and fears, which makes for some incredibly compelling character work.
The character development throughout the story was so well done and I loved seeing how these characters’ individual journeys played into the overarching story. Also, it was a joy to see the slow build up of trust and love between Thora and Diem. Their relationship is unexpected, complex and bittersweet, but I absolutely adored it.
Finally, throw in a riveting mystery plot with lots of jaw-dropping twists and turns and a satisfying resolution, and the whole picture is complete. I am completely satisfied with this entire story… and yet I am left hungering for more (in the best way possible). These are exactly the types of reading experiences that I am always on the hunt for, making this an instant new favourite for me.
If you enjoy dark fantasy stories with rich world building, compelling characters, riveting mysteries, strange and macabre settings, thought-provoking themes and incredibly immersive and unique prose, then Dream of Death City is the book for you. I cannot recommend it highly enough.
Thank you to NetGalley and Small Heart Press for providing me with an eARC of this book. All opinions are my own.
October 15, 2022
I didn't enjoy this book. However, Literally Everyone who has reviewed it before me gave it 5stars, so I'm not sure if you should take my word for it.
This book follows Thora, a slave with aspirations of becoming an investigator. She and her friend Diem get shipped off to solve a mystery and play the game of politics.
I think the greatest falling of this book was on a nuts-and-bolts level. I was constantly confused. Like, I think the character is alone, but then it turned out they were in a crowd. I didn't understand what Thora's short term objectives were. I couldn't feel time passing due to the transitions often being minimal.
The worldbuilding felt like it wasn't really rooted. People have an interesting vocabulary, where they say certain words (reckon, true) a lot. Where did this come from? The religious culture is obsessed with death. Does this really come into play when actual death is taking place? Not really. It's mostly just a mantra and artistic style.
And don't even get me started on the winter hat. I get that it's a symbol of romantic commitment and rebellion against the caste system, but do we have to flip flop how we feel about it 3 times in the end of the book alone?
Thanks to Netgalley and Small Heart Press for a copy of this book to review. All opinions are my own.
This book follows Thora, a slave with aspirations of becoming an investigator. She and her friend Diem get shipped off to solve a mystery and play the game of politics.
I think the greatest falling of this book was on a nuts-and-bolts level. I was constantly confused. Like, I think the character is alone, but then it turned out they were in a crowd. I didn't understand what Thora's short term objectives were. I couldn't feel time passing due to the transitions often being minimal.
The worldbuilding felt like it wasn't really rooted. People have an interesting vocabulary, where they say certain words (reckon, true) a lot. Where did this come from? The religious culture is obsessed with death. Does this really come into play when actual death is taking place? Not really. It's mostly just a mantra and artistic style.
And don't even get me started on the winter hat. I get that it's a symbol of romantic commitment and rebellion against the caste system, but do we have to flip flop how we feel about it 3 times in the end of the book alone?
Thanks to Netgalley and Small Heart Press for a copy of this book to review. All opinions are my own.
February 23, 2025
So not only was I offered an E-book for an honest review, I then won a giveaway for a signed paperback before the official release!
Let me start by saying that this is one of the most original fantasies I’ve ever read. Like I said for ‘Pyres in the Long Night’ (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...) and ‘A Pale Box on the Distant Shore’ (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...), with this story being a fantasy mixed with mystery, it definitely had the feeling of Morgan Rice’s ‘Shadowseer: London’ (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...), however Nwosu’s features an entirely created fantasy world, while the former is urban fantasy. That for me stood out as singularly unique, at least in my reading experience thus far.
It is a murder mystery set in this incredibly gritty, visceral, dark fantasy world. Death City is a far off island in the Red Kingdom. A kingdom in which a political party known as Purge House has incredible sway and commands the kingdom’s people and fear. Those found guilty are literally burned alive publicly on pyres. They’re feared in such a way that even innocent people avoid even looking at them.
The main characters, Thora and Diem, are incredible. Emotional, stoic, real, and ever-changing. They don’t miss a beat in this winding, twisty mystery.
Honestly the description of the found bodies will haunt my dreams, so please prepare for a dose of horror in there as well.
Incredible and professional level of world building, story weaving and editing. I will certainly continue to read anything this author has to offer. I will say for anyone thinking of getting a physical copy (if I had to pick one single small gripe) that the book is long and so tightly pressed that I really wish some of the outer margin had been sacrificed, as I found it practically impossible to read through it without cracking the spine—and I hate doing that. Beautiful quality though!
Personally a 5/5*! This just released!! Get it and support. Right now!
https://fanfiaddict.com/review-dream-...
Let me start by saying that this is one of the most original fantasies I’ve ever read. Like I said for ‘Pyres in the Long Night’ (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...) and ‘A Pale Box on the Distant Shore’ (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...), with this story being a fantasy mixed with mystery, it definitely had the feeling of Morgan Rice’s ‘Shadowseer: London’ (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...), however Nwosu’s features an entirely created fantasy world, while the former is urban fantasy. That for me stood out as singularly unique, at least in my reading experience thus far.
It is a murder mystery set in this incredibly gritty, visceral, dark fantasy world. Death City is a far off island in the Red Kingdom. A kingdom in which a political party known as Purge House has incredible sway and commands the kingdom’s people and fear. Those found guilty are literally burned alive publicly on pyres. They’re feared in such a way that even innocent people avoid even looking at them.
The main characters, Thora and Diem, are incredible. Emotional, stoic, real, and ever-changing. They don’t miss a beat in this winding, twisty mystery.
Honestly the description of the found bodies will haunt my dreams, so please prepare for a dose of horror in there as well.
Incredible and professional level of world building, story weaving and editing. I will certainly continue to read anything this author has to offer. I will say for anyone thinking of getting a physical copy (if I had to pick one single small gripe) that the book is long and so tightly pressed that I really wish some of the outer margin had been sacrificed, as I found it practically impossible to read through it without cracking the spine—and I hate doing that. Beautiful quality though!
Personally a 5/5*! This just released!! Get it and support. Right now!
https://fanfiaddict.com/review-dream-...
December 30, 2022
“What’s dead is dead and all shall die”
PJ Nwosu was kind enough to send me an ARC of Dream of Death City after reading and reviewing the novellas and I was genuinely surprised at how enjoyable this was. Not because I didn't expect much but because it exceeds expectations and was an incredibly thought-out and intense story.
Pale moths haunt an icy frontier. Beneath the shadow of a drowned death god, a frozen body is unearthed from the snow.
Investigators arrive to a superstitious island to solve a brutal crime. Among them is a lowly slave desperate to prove her worth and a soldier with dark dreams. Neither are prepared for what they find.
Death City is a strange and violent frontier, and no one who survives comes back clean.
First though, Thora and Diem must survive.
Welcome to the Red Kingdom.
This was a story, much like the novellas, that yearns for more. There is a talent evident in Nwosu's writing that suggests this is a carefully constructed piece filled with grey characters, a dark fantasy world and monsters. Nwosu has built an enforced empire that matches the plot itself. Cohesive and brutal, there is a thrust of importance and elegance in its writing that helps visualise the impact that Nwosu has taken us on. The writing here reeks of poetic realism filled to the brim with fear, understanding and morality.
This was an incredible debut for PJ Nwosu that has me invested for the future. Thank you again for sending me a copy.
PJ Nwosu was kind enough to send me an ARC of Dream of Death City after reading and reviewing the novellas and I was genuinely surprised at how enjoyable this was. Not because I didn't expect much but because it exceeds expectations and was an incredibly thought-out and intense story.
Pale moths haunt an icy frontier. Beneath the shadow of a drowned death god, a frozen body is unearthed from the snow.
Investigators arrive to a superstitious island to solve a brutal crime. Among them is a lowly slave desperate to prove her worth and a soldier with dark dreams. Neither are prepared for what they find.
Death City is a strange and violent frontier, and no one who survives comes back clean.
First though, Thora and Diem must survive.
Welcome to the Red Kingdom.
This was a story, much like the novellas, that yearns for more. There is a talent evident in Nwosu's writing that suggests this is a carefully constructed piece filled with grey characters, a dark fantasy world and monsters. Nwosu has built an enforced empire that matches the plot itself. Cohesive and brutal, there is a thrust of importance and elegance in its writing that helps visualise the impact that Nwosu has taken us on. The writing here reeks of poetic realism filled to the brim with fear, understanding and morality.
This was an incredible debut for PJ Nwosu that has me invested for the future. Thank you again for sending me a copy.
October 11, 2022
Nordic Noir in a Fantasy Setting
In the oppressive Red Kingdom, society is organized along strict caste lines and Thora knows her place: at the bottom. As a Dust Caste slave belonging to Investigation House, she can expect her days to be filled with laundry, cleaning floors, chopping vegetables, and similar chores. But Thora knows she is capable of much more and when she’s chosen to accompany an investigator looking into the disappearance of a Sun Noble girl, she’s determined to use this opportunity to prove herself, no matter the cost, even as it becomes clear that there is far more wrong in Death City than a single girl gone missing.
I loved this book. Thora is an engaging character, one you sympathize with and root for, through all her plans, hopes, fears and mistakes (and she makes some big ones). Diem, by contrast, is drawn more in outline, but his history makes him sympathetic and his support for Thora makes him likeable. Her hope and his cynicism made a satisfying contrast.
The book is well plotted, with enough information given that you have a good idea of how things are going all along, instead of relying on a big reveal at the end. It starts with a bang in chapter one, then settles into a slow burn that gradually grows as the investigation builds, and leads to a satisfying ending.
The world building was deftly done. Enough background is given to understand the society, bleak and oppressive though it is, while the fantasy elements (death giants, crooked beat) added enough awe and uncanniness to suggest that the Red Kingdom is not as completely in control as they try to pretend.
Highly recommend this book to those who enjoy dark fantasy, or Nordic noir or hard boiled detective novels in fantasy settings.
I will definitely be reading book two, whenever it comes available.
Thank you to NetGalley, Victory Editing, and the author for providing me a free review copy in exchange for an honest review.
In the oppressive Red Kingdom, society is organized along strict caste lines and Thora knows her place: at the bottom. As a Dust Caste slave belonging to Investigation House, she can expect her days to be filled with laundry, cleaning floors, chopping vegetables, and similar chores. But Thora knows she is capable of much more and when she’s chosen to accompany an investigator looking into the disappearance of a Sun Noble girl, she’s determined to use this opportunity to prove herself, no matter the cost, even as it becomes clear that there is far more wrong in Death City than a single girl gone missing.
I loved this book. Thora is an engaging character, one you sympathize with and root for, through all her plans, hopes, fears and mistakes (and she makes some big ones). Diem, by contrast, is drawn more in outline, but his history makes him sympathetic and his support for Thora makes him likeable. Her hope and his cynicism made a satisfying contrast.
The book is well plotted, with enough information given that you have a good idea of how things are going all along, instead of relying on a big reveal at the end. It starts with a bang in chapter one, then settles into a slow burn that gradually grows as the investigation builds, and leads to a satisfying ending.
The world building was deftly done. Enough background is given to understand the society, bleak and oppressive though it is, while the fantasy elements (death giants, crooked beat) added enough awe and uncanniness to suggest that the Red Kingdom is not as completely in control as they try to pretend.
Highly recommend this book to those who enjoy dark fantasy, or Nordic noir or hard boiled detective novels in fantasy settings.
I will definitely be reading book two, whenever it comes available.
Thank you to NetGalley, Victory Editing, and the author for providing me a free review copy in exchange for an honest review.
October 15, 2022
Most people would know author Poppy Nwosu from her 3 absolutely amazing YA novels, but this is her first foray into the very adult world of dark fantasy, and I definitely hope it won't be her last - hint, hint.
In a harsh world where a strict hierarchy enforces the Laws of the Red Reform, dust-caste slaves can never rise above their station, and breaking the rules results in swift and brutal punishment.
But Dust-Caste Thora, owned by Investigation House, is determined to show her worth as an assistant Investigator, and so improve her lot in life.
Recently demoted Low-Investigator Diem and Thora have worked together before and find themselves sent to the remote Death City to investigate the disappearance of a noble's daughter.
In Death City, where all Dust-Caste slaves have been set free, both Thora and Diem dare to dream of a different future - but in the Red Kingdom, to dream is a dangerous thing.
I absolutely loved this book, and the accompanying novellas, and can't wait for more of Thora and Diem.
Poppy is such a talented writer that you will find yourself totally immersed in this world - the depth of the world building is astonishing. Everything from the unique speech patterns, the completeness of the rules that all citizens must live by, to the way you feel the cold, feel the fear and practically see the harsh landscape and poverty that all but the nobles live in.
Thora and Diem are characters you can't help falling in love with - even though both have done things to survive and to bring about their own form of justice that certainly aren't above board - but this just goes to bring an added depth to theif characters.
And then throw in an absolutely riviting mystery to solve - and this is a five star read that I cannot recommend enough.
Thanks to the author for the review copy of this book.
In a harsh world where a strict hierarchy enforces the Laws of the Red Reform, dust-caste slaves can never rise above their station, and breaking the rules results in swift and brutal punishment.
But Dust-Caste Thora, owned by Investigation House, is determined to show her worth as an assistant Investigator, and so improve her lot in life.
Recently demoted Low-Investigator Diem and Thora have worked together before and find themselves sent to the remote Death City to investigate the disappearance of a noble's daughter.
In Death City, where all Dust-Caste slaves have been set free, both Thora and Diem dare to dream of a different future - but in the Red Kingdom, to dream is a dangerous thing.
I absolutely loved this book, and the accompanying novellas, and can't wait for more of Thora and Diem.
Poppy is such a talented writer that you will find yourself totally immersed in this world - the depth of the world building is astonishing. Everything from the unique speech patterns, the completeness of the rules that all citizens must live by, to the way you feel the cold, feel the fear and practically see the harsh landscape and poverty that all but the nobles live in.
Thora and Diem are characters you can't help falling in love with - even though both have done things to survive and to bring about their own form of justice that certainly aren't above board - but this just goes to bring an added depth to theif characters.
And then throw in an absolutely riviting mystery to solve - and this is a five star read that I cannot recommend enough.
Thanks to the author for the review copy of this book.
December 9, 2022
I guess it is time to face the music… DNF at 80%
I believe I stopped reading this weeks ago but I thought if I could just push myself to read it, I could finish it. I turned out to be wrong. A disclaimer though, this book did not work for me. I believe it will be loved by many, it just wasn't my cup of tea. (I know it sounds like that classic “You will make someone very happy one day, it’s just not me.” break-up line but bear with me.)
To start on a more positive note, this book had an amazing world with its unique magic system. I’ve never read anything quite like this and I almost only read fantasy so kudos to the author for being able to surprise me. The writing style was hard to get into at first but once you get used to it, it flows pretty easily. I can count so many good things about this book so why didn’t it work for me? Well, let's get right into it.
First things first, the rhythm of the story. More like the lack of it. It started off pretty slow. Way too slow. So slow that even though I found the world to be intriguing, I fell asleep a few times trying to get through it. Don’t let the prequel chapter fool you, the rest is definitely not like that. Once you get to the 60% mark, it picks up and you finally get into the exciting part. Only for that part to end at 80% mark hence why I DNF’ed there.
It also failed to meet my expectations with many things. The biggest of them being the magic system. It was and I can’t stress this enough, very original but the author failed to use it. It was hardly a part of the main plot and it wasn’t executed very well. I honestly would like to know more about the crooked beat just not in this book.
I also thought the traumatic event Thora apparently went through would be important and not something that gets mentioned in a few chapters without affecting the way Thora feels or reacts. She didn’t care, so as the reader I could not care which made the constant mention of it without proper explanation annoying.
And the final thing that didn’t work for me was, and this could be a minor spoiler, Thora and Diem’s love. Throughout the book, I always felt like they had this brother/sister kind of relationship instead of a romantic one so once they got together, it was extremely weird for me. I honestly couldn’t support them or even read their romance without cringing. I think it was the biggest letdown for me.
To finish this review off, I’d say you all should give this one a chance and judge for yourself.
I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I believe I stopped reading this weeks ago but I thought if I could just push myself to read it, I could finish it. I turned out to be wrong. A disclaimer though, this book did not work for me. I believe it will be loved by many, it just wasn't my cup of tea. (I know it sounds like that classic “You will make someone very happy one day, it’s just not me.” break-up line but bear with me.)
To start on a more positive note, this book had an amazing world with its unique magic system. I’ve never read anything quite like this and I almost only read fantasy so kudos to the author for being able to surprise me. The writing style was hard to get into at first but once you get used to it, it flows pretty easily. I can count so many good things about this book so why didn’t it work for me? Well, let's get right into it.
First things first, the rhythm of the story. More like the lack of it. It started off pretty slow. Way too slow. So slow that even though I found the world to be intriguing, I fell asleep a few times trying to get through it. Don’t let the prequel chapter fool you, the rest is definitely not like that. Once you get to the 60% mark, it picks up and you finally get into the exciting part. Only for that part to end at 80% mark hence why I DNF’ed there.
It also failed to meet my expectations with many things. The biggest of them being the magic system. It was and I can’t stress this enough, very original but the author failed to use it. It was hardly a part of the main plot and it wasn’t executed very well. I honestly would like to know more about the crooked beat just not in this book.
I also thought the traumatic event Thora apparently went through would be important and not something that gets mentioned in a few chapters without affecting the way Thora feels or reacts. She didn’t care, so as the reader I could not care which made the constant mention of it without proper explanation annoying.
And the final thing that didn’t work for me was, and this could be a minor spoiler, Thora and Diem’s love. Throughout the book, I always felt like they had this brother/sister kind of relationship instead of a romantic one so once they got together, it was extremely weird for me. I honestly couldn’t support them or even read their romance without cringing. I think it was the biggest letdown for me.
To finish this review off, I’d say you all should give this one a chance and judge for yourself.
I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
June 12, 2023
Excellent!
A young woman mysteriously vanishes. In the strict caste society of the Red Kingdom an opportunity appears. A dangerous investigation plagued with lies & corruption.
Fantastic prose. Greatly described vivid dark world. Chilling & engrossing.
A young woman mysteriously vanishes. In the strict caste society of the Red Kingdom an opportunity appears. A dangerous investigation plagued with lies & corruption.
Fantastic prose. Greatly described vivid dark world. Chilling & engrossing.
October 7, 2022
"A missing dust-caste girl and a missing sun-mistress.
A quiet island tower guarded day and night by heavily armed mercenaries.
And a rich, powerful father who desperately used his connection with the Red Palace to request an investigation that he then blocked at every turn."
Dust-caste Thora (no last name, because slaves have none) has been sent to Death City with Low-investigator Diem Lakein to investigate the disappearance of Sun-mistress Shae Sandin. What they discover way out on the Thousand Island Frontier is a different way of life than they're used to in City of Pillars. Secrets of the eleventh Daughter the Red Kingdom have kept hidden, more than one missing girl, women who practice the 'crooked beat', and to Thora's complete awe, no dust-caste.
"“What do you know of the … crooked beat?” Thora could barely bring herself to say those words, just as she couldn’t bear to speak of the eleventh Daughter aloud. In City of Pillars, a woman would burn for far less. Even a groundless accusation was all it took for purge officers to light a fire. The barest hint of subversion led to death.
It was safer to keep your head down and do what was expected. To stay quiet and unnoticed.
All things Thora had trouble with."
As new desires and a fascination for this unfamiliar city gets under Thora's skin, Diem is haunted by an old case, and the decisions that turned him into a man others fear. But Thora and Diem have worked together before. Not only do they know each other, they know how each other work, they've become a notorious team. But in Death City they are faced with more challenges than they could have been prepared for. This is like no case they've ever encountered. And with each clue leading to more unanswered threads, the web of scandal and secrets in Death City only widens.
The Red Kingdom is dark, elusive, and vast. Nwosu has painted a portrait of this world that is so well executed, it goes beyond simple descriptions so it is integrated into every sentence of the page to make it feel real and alive, even with all its death.
"“What’s dead is dead and all shall die,” Thora whispered. The wind howled as snow melted on the swelling black ocean. Across the wind-swept beach, chunks of clear ice washed ashore. And strewn between them, lay the carved-up carcasses of blubber whales, stinking under the clouds. Only bones left, and even those were being worked on by people draped in crimson. Rib bones snapped and sawed. Delicate fin bones pulled loose. Destined for fine sun-noble towers in the capital. To be made into figurines or jewellery or elaborate head-dresses for gold women. Black blood glistened over the stones on the beach, and gulls screamed as they took their fill of whatever rotted flesh the citizens of Death City had left behind.
The whole world stunk like death."
Amongst this dark and gothic death filled world, with sprinklings of magic and death giants (gods?), and an intricately weaved mystery, is the simmering dread of what's to come.
I cannot wait.
"The sky stretched black and red. The hollow night was in full bloom. Over the mountains and between the jagged peaks, Diem caught the movement of a giant – a glimpse of a monster lumbering its unexplained way through the churning sea."
A quiet island tower guarded day and night by heavily armed mercenaries.
And a rich, powerful father who desperately used his connection with the Red Palace to request an investigation that he then blocked at every turn."
Dust-caste Thora (no last name, because slaves have none) has been sent to Death City with Low-investigator Diem Lakein to investigate the disappearance of Sun-mistress Shae Sandin. What they discover way out on the Thousand Island Frontier is a different way of life than they're used to in City of Pillars. Secrets of the eleventh Daughter the Red Kingdom have kept hidden, more than one missing girl, women who practice the 'crooked beat', and to Thora's complete awe, no dust-caste.
"“What do you know of the … crooked beat?” Thora could barely bring herself to say those words, just as she couldn’t bear to speak of the eleventh Daughter aloud. In City of Pillars, a woman would burn for far less. Even a groundless accusation was all it took for purge officers to light a fire. The barest hint of subversion led to death.
It was safer to keep your head down and do what was expected. To stay quiet and unnoticed.
All things Thora had trouble with."
As new desires and a fascination for this unfamiliar city gets under Thora's skin, Diem is haunted by an old case, and the decisions that turned him into a man others fear. But Thora and Diem have worked together before. Not only do they know each other, they know how each other work, they've become a notorious team. But in Death City they are faced with more challenges than they could have been prepared for. This is like no case they've ever encountered. And with each clue leading to more unanswered threads, the web of scandal and secrets in Death City only widens.
The Red Kingdom is dark, elusive, and vast. Nwosu has painted a portrait of this world that is so well executed, it goes beyond simple descriptions so it is integrated into every sentence of the page to make it feel real and alive, even with all its death.
"“What’s dead is dead and all shall die,” Thora whispered. The wind howled as snow melted on the swelling black ocean. Across the wind-swept beach, chunks of clear ice washed ashore. And strewn between them, lay the carved-up carcasses of blubber whales, stinking under the clouds. Only bones left, and even those were being worked on by people draped in crimson. Rib bones snapped and sawed. Delicate fin bones pulled loose. Destined for fine sun-noble towers in the capital. To be made into figurines or jewellery or elaborate head-dresses for gold women. Black blood glistened over the stones on the beach, and gulls screamed as they took their fill of whatever rotted flesh the citizens of Death City had left behind.
The whole world stunk like death."
Amongst this dark and gothic death filled world, with sprinklings of magic and death giants (gods?), and an intricately weaved mystery, is the simmering dread of what's to come.
I cannot wait.
"The sky stretched black and red. The hollow night was in full bloom. Over the mountains and between the jagged peaks, Diem caught the movement of a giant – a glimpse of a monster lumbering its unexplained way through the churning sea."
October 10, 2022
5 out of 5 stars.
"Death had crept nearby but missed them in the waves."
Special thanks to Victory Editing, NetGalley and, of course, the author, PJ Nwosu, for allowing me the opportunity to read this book pre-release, in exchange for an honest review.
As someone who was always considered an avid reader as a child (and an overachiever in the department to boot), I feel that my adult life has been spent constantly chasing that feeling I was so used to back then. When a book could capture my imagination from the very first line; when nothing and no-one could pull me away from a story, no matter the time of day or the appointments already arranged. It's not often that I find such a tale now. This is one of those.
I devoured this book in one sitting, something I don't believe I've done for a few years, and even after finishing it, I am not satiated. I'm hungry and impatient for the next book in the Red Kingdom series, which I already know will become a favourite of mine.
If you're looking for an easy, simple read, this is not the story for you. If you're looking for a dark fantasy world filled with morally grey characters, monsters that also come in the form of humans, and a world built from the ground up with the undeniable talent of the author - you're going to want to pre-order this one immediately. (Not to mention, a touch of romance).
The plot itself contains elements that have been seen before, but somehow brings them together in a cohesive and entirely original manner. Think Six of Crows meets The Handmaid's Tale meets 1984 meets The Alienist. The author does an incredible job of worldbuilding - which is an imperatively important skill to have when it comes to fantasy, in my opinion - and the reader is able to visualise it all, and be swept away in it. Further, the added addition of illustrations and a map (!!!) are a beautiful bonus.
Nwosu is able to describe things and people in a way that is poetic but realistic. You fear what the characters fear, and you understand what they feel; what they see. A truly fantastic debut into dark fantasy that makes me excited for Nwosu's future, and for us, as readers, knowing that there will be at least one more tale of the Red Kingdom to explore.
Read. This. Book. That's all.
"If he loved her less, it wouldn't have mattered quite so much."
"Death had crept nearby but missed them in the waves."
Special thanks to Victory Editing, NetGalley and, of course, the author, PJ Nwosu, for allowing me the opportunity to read this book pre-release, in exchange for an honest review.
As someone who was always considered an avid reader as a child (and an overachiever in the department to boot), I feel that my adult life has been spent constantly chasing that feeling I was so used to back then. When a book could capture my imagination from the very first line; when nothing and no-one could pull me away from a story, no matter the time of day or the appointments already arranged. It's not often that I find such a tale now. This is one of those.
I devoured this book in one sitting, something I don't believe I've done for a few years, and even after finishing it, I am not satiated. I'm hungry and impatient for the next book in the Red Kingdom series, which I already know will become a favourite of mine.
If you're looking for an easy, simple read, this is not the story for you. If you're looking for a dark fantasy world filled with morally grey characters, monsters that also come in the form of humans, and a world built from the ground up with the undeniable talent of the author - you're going to want to pre-order this one immediately. (Not to mention, a touch of romance).
The plot itself contains elements that have been seen before, but somehow brings them together in a cohesive and entirely original manner. Think Six of Crows meets The Handmaid's Tale meets 1984 meets The Alienist. The author does an incredible job of worldbuilding - which is an imperatively important skill to have when it comes to fantasy, in my opinion - and the reader is able to visualise it all, and be swept away in it. Further, the added addition of illustrations and a map (!!!) are a beautiful bonus.
Nwosu is able to describe things and people in a way that is poetic but realistic. You fear what the characters fear, and you understand what they feel; what they see. A truly fantastic debut into dark fantasy that makes me excited for Nwosu's future, and for us, as readers, knowing that there will be at least one more tale of the Red Kingdom to explore.
Read. This. Book. That's all.
"If he loved her less, it wouldn't have mattered quite so much."
October 12, 2022
Book 1 of the Red Kingdom is an epic fantasy in a dark war destroyed land where towered cities rise from the earth controlled by strict laws demanding total obedience to the Red King. The people live in a caste/class system in Houses that they serve and who ensure their people uphold the Red Reform laws. The main character, Thora is Dust Caste, the lowest, who serves the Investigation House, a slave who has dreams above her station. She and her Moon Caste (a free man) Diem, are sent to a far off city to find a kidnapped Sun Nobles daughter. The world building is detailed and weaves throughout the story, the characters are interesting and well developed. The land is menacing, mysterious and dangerous. The story is dynamic and the atmosphere is one of impending doom both to individuals and places. It is a crime thriller in a fantasy world and I for one have never read anything like it. I immersed myself in this world, enjoyed it immensely, it would make an incredible movie and look forward to the next book in the series. “What’s dead is dead and all shall die”
#netgalley Released 19th November 2022
#netgalley Released 19th November 2022
October 11, 2022
Loved the visual guides and artwork with this story. I always feel like little touches like this truly add to the story.
Really good world building combined with lots of details makes for a really good story.
Would recommend
Really good world building combined with lots of details makes for a really good story.
Would recommend
June 8, 2024
Stars: 4 out of 5
The Red Kingdom is a fascinating world. It's dark, brutal, and unforgiving. The caste system is rigid and hopeless, to tell you the truth, and life is hard for anyone who is not a Sun Noble. Resources are scarce, violence is rampant, people are burned at the pyre for the smallest of transgressions, and if you managed to survive that, the black lung will take you to your grave in the end.
It should be dark and depressing, right? And it is dark, but it's strangely beautiful as well. You can see that a lot of love went into creating this world. I already had a glimpse of it in A Pale Box on the Distant Shore where we met some of the characters that Thora and Diem encounter in Death City. This book shows us a bigger glimpse of the Red Kingdom and the capital City of Pillars, but you can see that the Frontier and Death city is a favorite of the author's.
And I can't complain about it. It's a wonderfully grotesque city and island where the harsh nature and living conditions, as well as the remoteness from the rest of the Kingdom and its rigid Red Doctrine have created a unique culture seeped in superstition and "low ways". And it's hard to blame the citizens of Death City when they have a corpse of a god lying in the waves just offshore, and dead giants walk the sea on hollow moon nights...
I liked the mystery our characters came to unravel as well. What seemed at first glance as a simple kidnaping of a Sun Noble's daughter led them to uncovering a whole human trafficking ring. And transformed everyone involved in fundamental ways. Nobody left Death City the same as they arrived into it, though some didn't leave at all.
So why did I give this book 4 stars instead of 5? That's because I didn't particularly like Thora, who is one of our main characters. Oh, I understand her motivation and her desire to be more than mere Dust, to prove herself to her masters and have a chance at doing more than scrubbing floors and cleaning bedsheets all her life. What I didn't like is how selfish she is in her pursuit of that dream and how willing she is to sacrifice everything and everyone to achieve that goal.
Her accusing Diem of taking justice in his own hands and doing things an Investigator shouldn't sounded very hypocritical when she is the one who planted evidence, obtained false eyewitness statements, and created a diversion that got a lot of people killed. Not to mentioned persuaded a colleague to go against direct orders and do something that she knew could put her in danger. And when it got that colleague killed, she raged at anyone BUT herself. Yes, she didn't hold her head under the water or hung her from a tree branch afterwards, but Thora was the one who sent her to her death nevertheless. It's that double standard Thora has towards everyone else that seems hypocritical to me. That self-righteousness when she is definitely in the wrong.
But this is just a small gripe for what is an excellent book. I am definitely looking forward to reading more book about this world and seeing how things progress in the Red Kingdom and outside its borders.
PS: I received an advanced copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The Red Kingdom is a fascinating world. It's dark, brutal, and unforgiving. The caste system is rigid and hopeless, to tell you the truth, and life is hard for anyone who is not a Sun Noble. Resources are scarce, violence is rampant, people are burned at the pyre for the smallest of transgressions, and if you managed to survive that, the black lung will take you to your grave in the end.
It should be dark and depressing, right? And it is dark, but it's strangely beautiful as well. You can see that a lot of love went into creating this world. I already had a glimpse of it in A Pale Box on the Distant Shore where we met some of the characters that Thora and Diem encounter in Death City. This book shows us a bigger glimpse of the Red Kingdom and the capital City of Pillars, but you can see that the Frontier and Death city is a favorite of the author's.
And I can't complain about it. It's a wonderfully grotesque city and island where the harsh nature and living conditions, as well as the remoteness from the rest of the Kingdom and its rigid Red Doctrine have created a unique culture seeped in superstition and "low ways". And it's hard to blame the citizens of Death City when they have a corpse of a god lying in the waves just offshore, and dead giants walk the sea on hollow moon nights...
I liked the mystery our characters came to unravel as well. What seemed at first glance as a simple kidnaping of a Sun Noble's daughter led them to uncovering a whole human trafficking ring. And transformed everyone involved in fundamental ways. Nobody left Death City the same as they arrived into it, though some didn't leave at all.
So why did I give this book 4 stars instead of 5? That's because I didn't particularly like Thora, who is one of our main characters. Oh, I understand her motivation and her desire to be more than mere Dust, to prove herself to her masters and have a chance at doing more than scrubbing floors and cleaning bedsheets all her life. What I didn't like is how selfish she is in her pursuit of that dream and how willing she is to sacrifice everything and everyone to achieve that goal.
Her accusing Diem of taking justice in his own hands and doing things an Investigator shouldn't sounded very hypocritical when she is the one who planted evidence, obtained false eyewitness statements, and created a diversion that got a lot of people killed. Not to mentioned persuaded a colleague to go against direct orders and do something that she knew could put her in danger. And when it got that colleague killed, she raged at anyone BUT herself. Yes, she didn't hold her head under the water or hung her from a tree branch afterwards, but Thora was the one who sent her to her death nevertheless. It's that double standard Thora has towards everyone else that seems hypocritical to me. That self-righteousness when she is definitely in the wrong.
But this is just a small gripe for what is an excellent book. I am definitely looking forward to reading more book about this world and seeing how things progress in the Red Kingdom and outside its borders.
PS: I received an advanced copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
November 9, 2022
Holy Wow!
Thank you to the author for supplying me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Dream of Death City was a gritty, class-based fantasy story that claws determination and hope out of its horrific surroundings.
From page one, the reader is thrown into the Red Kingdom. A brutal and strict class-based world, darkened by inverted moons, death gods and blood forests. The Red Reform makes it perfectly clear that it is the only thing in power, and everyone else is beneath its rule.
“What’s dead, is dead, and all shall die”
Thora is the lowest of the low, so low she doesn’t even get a last name. A Dust-Caste slave who will never amount to anything above her status, desperate as she is to be rid of it. After a semi-successful investigation at a local Gold House, she has been named “battle-axe”. She and recently demoted Low Investigator Lakein are Pulled into the office of a low investigation house she has been given another mystery to solve. They are to be sent to Death City, to find and bring back Sun Master Sandin’s wayward daughter.
Desperate for his child yet blocking their efforts at every turn Sun Master Sandin causes frustration amongst our crew. It becomes more and more apparent something much bigger is afoot in Death City and its horrific roots run deeper than anyone of them could have imagined.
This adventure isn’t at all what Thora thought it would be, but it gives her something she has always wanted. A voice and a taste of freedom. That freedom comes with a cost, one she must decide if she is willing to pay.
“What’s dead is dead, and all shall die … and then live again”
Full review with in depth thoughts to be posted on EPICINDIE.NET and on my channel!
Thank you to the author for supplying me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Dream of Death City was a gritty, class-based fantasy story that claws determination and hope out of its horrific surroundings.
From page one, the reader is thrown into the Red Kingdom. A brutal and strict class-based world, darkened by inverted moons, death gods and blood forests. The Red Reform makes it perfectly clear that it is the only thing in power, and everyone else is beneath its rule.
“What’s dead, is dead, and all shall die”
Thora is the lowest of the low, so low she doesn’t even get a last name. A Dust-Caste slave who will never amount to anything above her status, desperate as she is to be rid of it. After a semi-successful investigation at a local Gold House, she has been named “battle-axe”. She and recently demoted Low Investigator Lakein are Pulled into the office of a low investigation house she has been given another mystery to solve. They are to be sent to Death City, to find and bring back Sun Master Sandin’s wayward daughter.
Desperate for his child yet blocking their efforts at every turn Sun Master Sandin causes frustration amongst our crew. It becomes more and more apparent something much bigger is afoot in Death City and its horrific roots run deeper than anyone of them could have imagined.
This adventure isn’t at all what Thora thought it would be, but it gives her something she has always wanted. A voice and a taste of freedom. That freedom comes with a cost, one she must decide if she is willing to pay.
“What’s dead is dead, and all shall die … and then live again”
Full review with in depth thoughts to be posted on EPICINDIE.NET and on my channel!
October 20, 2022
I want to be honest and say I’m not really sure what to think of this book. One big prop to it is that I really had no idea what was about to happen half the time. I would think I had something figured out, then come to find out that’s not what the author had in mind. Another pro for this book is that it was very realistic. Things that occurred weren’t always happy, but were definitely something that would happen in a real-world situation. I guess I was just a bit disappointed that some of the outcomes weren’t more gripping? That is totally my personal opinion, and not a negative about the book; maybe I’m just a bit jaded from what other books I’ve been reading lately. I may come back and decide to rate this higher, but right now I’m in the “what” phase after finishing a book! I do have a suspicion that this tome is a jumping off point for the author and is more setting the stage for future installments.
Also, I want to make clear that this is low-fantasy, and leans more toward a dystopian world than a world with actual magical people. Hopefully that makes sense and helps when you’re reading expecting someone to have powers like I did!
Also, I want to make clear that this is low-fantasy, and leans more toward a dystopian world than a world with actual magical people. Hopefully that makes sense and helps when you’re reading expecting someone to have powers like I did!
January 1, 2026
WHAT A BOOK! What a book indeed !! To summarise, the carefully and beautifully created dark fantasy word and the multidimensional characters totally captivated me and it was a pleasure to read it for a month and don’t regret taking my time to go through this book. First of all: the world, I fell in love with the red kingdom and I can’t have enough of it! I need to learn more about the history, about the death sisters, about the hollow night and the death gods, about the politicians ruling the country, their motives. I need to learn more about the 11th daughter and the crooked beat! Overall all the threads and motives are so beautiful entangled in the story and the world building is done so so well it leaves you amazed on the spot. Secondly - the characters are 12/10 the character development top tier, + the fact all the main trio is doomed by the narrative even before the story started. Highly recommend and hope for many more red kingdom novels !
January 13, 2024
Il primo Badlands non si scorda mai.
E quindi eccoci col primo romanzo letto in questo 2024, un fantasy dark, crudo e malinconico ma che è anche una crime story trascinante e altamente immersiva.
Una menzione è d’obbligo per la cura editoriale, i romanzi della collana Badlands di @letterelettriche_ sono dei gioiellini: compatti, carta incredibile, brossura con alette e agili da leggere, oltre ad avere sempre una buona dose di editoriali e di contenuti extra.
Un romanzo che si fa fatica a mettere giù, consigliatone.
Ah, indossate i cappotti, avrete freddo.
E quindi eccoci col primo romanzo letto in questo 2024, un fantasy dark, crudo e malinconico ma che è anche una crime story trascinante e altamente immersiva.
Una menzione è d’obbligo per la cura editoriale, i romanzi della collana Badlands di @letterelettriche_ sono dei gioiellini: compatti, carta incredibile, brossura con alette e agili da leggere, oltre ad avere sempre una buona dose di editoriali e di contenuti extra.
Un romanzo che si fa fatica a mettere giù, consigliatone.
Ah, indossate i cappotti, avrete freddo.
November 30, 2022
'Death City was steeped in the Eleventh Daughter's touch. Her crooked beat seeped into everything.'
Beautifully written and richly imagined, Dream of Death City is a dark fantasy mystery that will sink its teeth deep beneath your skin. Its characters are complex and fully realised, its world immersive and tangible. Thora and Diem are complicated protagonists, driven by their own pasts and hopes for the future, and shaped irrevocably by their unforgiving environment and the intricacies of the Red Kingdom's (dystopian) power structures.
Just like its prequel novella, A Pale Box on a Distant Shore, Dream of Death City is full of incredible imagery and a skillfully-controlled sense of mystery and anticipation. Nwosu's prose is gorgeous and chilling in turns, perfectly capturing the tension between hope and defeat that threads through the novel. Thora's struggle against the strictures of her place in the Red Kingdom's caste system and the complexities of following her ambition within a world that holds her back are especially poignant (and realistic), and settle this novel naturally beside other speculative dystopias like Crier's War, Brave New World, and The Fifth Season. (It's difficult to find a perfect comparison title to this novel: Dream of Death City is a novel wholly of itself.)
This is all to say that I loved this from start to finish, and will be eagerly awaiting the next novel in the series. If you love dark fantasy, mystery, and/or dystopia, I can't recommend Dream of Death City highly enough.
Beautifully written and richly imagined, Dream of Death City is a dark fantasy mystery that will sink its teeth deep beneath your skin. Its characters are complex and fully realised, its world immersive and tangible. Thora and Diem are complicated protagonists, driven by their own pasts and hopes for the future, and shaped irrevocably by their unforgiving environment and the intricacies of the Red Kingdom's (dystopian) power structures.
Just like its prequel novella, A Pale Box on a Distant Shore, Dream of Death City is full of incredible imagery and a skillfully-controlled sense of mystery and anticipation. Nwosu's prose is gorgeous and chilling in turns, perfectly capturing the tension between hope and defeat that threads through the novel. Thora's struggle against the strictures of her place in the Red Kingdom's caste system and the complexities of following her ambition within a world that holds her back are especially poignant (and realistic), and settle this novel naturally beside other speculative dystopias like Crier's War, Brave New World, and The Fifth Season. (It's difficult to find a perfect comparison title to this novel: Dream of Death City is a novel wholly of itself.)
This is all to say that I loved this from start to finish, and will be eagerly awaiting the next novel in the series. If you love dark fantasy, mystery, and/or dystopia, I can't recommend Dream of Death City highly enough.
October 22, 2022
I've never read a novel that was so visually cohesive from beginning to end. Oily black, foggy white, dusty grey, crimson red, fragments of gold. The colours swallow the characters as they, people from the capital city, travel to the edge of the Red Kingdom and get immersed in the corruption and solemness of Death City. It's enjoyable to see Thora persevering in her goal to rise above her Dust-caste status but getting disillusioned about doing it nobly since everyone around her is dipped in shades of grey. While there is a slowburn between Thora and Diem, I enjoyed that it doesn't overtake the professional relationship they have. It took a while to complete the story; there are parts where it's slow and chock full of descriptions and dialogue (to be expected) and parts when you race through the sections because of the adrenaline, action and mystery. The best thing about this novel is the culture of Death City, which Nwosu notes in her author notes as something she greatly worked on, and it shows.
Thanks to Netgalley and Small Heart Press for providing me with the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks to Netgalley and Small Heart Press for providing me with the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
January 4, 2024
Quello della Nwosu è un romanzo davvero eccellente e intelligente..
Già dalla cover si capiscono i colori che dipingono questa toccante e stratificata storia: bianco, nero, cremisi..
Il bianco della neve, della pelle pallida, delle falene, dell' anima che sbiadisce poco a poco..
Il nero del mare petrolio, del ghiaccio oscuro, degli alberi di sangue, delle piramidi della morte, delle torri, dei giganti, del mistero e della paura..
Il rosso dei guerrieri cremisi, della linfa degli alberi, del re rosso, del sangue, del fuoco dei roghi, della censura..
Il mondo creato è davvero unico, ricco di fervida immaginazione.. un regno che per proteggersi da spietati giganti ha compiuto terribili sacrifici umani.. con l'Ultima Figlia che ha maledetto il regno portandosi via la memoria, la storia, il passato, il nome delle cose.. un regno che per combattere caos ed anarchia ha dovuto creare rigide caste, rigide regole sociali, intransigenti case d'epurazione, che hanno bruciato i libri e chi parla di queste cose, proibendo anche solo i racconti del passato, dando il via a una dittatura totalitaria e spietata..
E che deve fare i conti con strane creature ed eventi, e fenomeni inspiegabili..
In una distopia degna di Orwell e di Bradbury, in un mondo fantasy mistico e misterioso, prende il via un'indagine alla True Detective, ricca di suspance e mistero, con un incedere che mi ha ricordato il ritmo di certi libri di Murakami.. un libro che trascende il semplice essere fantasy, unendo vari elementi culturali e simbolici, donandogli la profondità di romanzi 'classici', e trattando temi importanti quali femminicidio, patriarcato, schiavitù, la libertà di essere donna, l'amore proibito, ma trattandoli senza nessuna forzatura, senza nessuna moda, inserendoli in una storia magica e oscura, straniante e dolorosa.. con un risultato unico..
Un libro meno muscolare di quelli a cui sono abituato, ma che mi ha dato lo stesso forti emozioni, mi ha preso e per tre giorni non mi ha fatto mettere giù il libro, che mi ha fatto pensare solo a cosa sarebbe successo nella prossima pagina, che nonostante una minor presenza di azione mi ha fatto battere il cuore a ogni pagina..
Con uno stile a volte intimo e a tratti onirico, con dense e contrastanti pennellate di atrocità, la Nwosu tocca corde inconsuete per un fantasy..
Qua niente è scontato, niente è delicato, niente è dolce.. nemmeno il finale, conclusivo ma che si apre di sicuro a nuove avventure e indagini..
Molti dei misteri del mondo creato non si svelano, forse non lo faranno mai.. forse non sapremo mai tutto quello che vorremmo, ma con un mondo creato in modo così originale ci possiamo aspettare davvero di tutto dai prossimi volumi e non vedo l'ora di potermi tuffare in un altra storia del Regno Rosso..
Nota sulla traduzione: ottima resa di uno stile linguistico non semplice. L edizione italiana è semplicemente perfetta!!
Già dalla cover si capiscono i colori che dipingono questa toccante e stratificata storia: bianco, nero, cremisi..
Il bianco della neve, della pelle pallida, delle falene, dell' anima che sbiadisce poco a poco..
Il nero del mare petrolio, del ghiaccio oscuro, degli alberi di sangue, delle piramidi della morte, delle torri, dei giganti, del mistero e della paura..
Il rosso dei guerrieri cremisi, della linfa degli alberi, del re rosso, del sangue, del fuoco dei roghi, della censura..
Il mondo creato è davvero unico, ricco di fervida immaginazione.. un regno che per proteggersi da spietati giganti ha compiuto terribili sacrifici umani.. con l'Ultima Figlia che ha maledetto il regno portandosi via la memoria, la storia, il passato, il nome delle cose.. un regno che per combattere caos ed anarchia ha dovuto creare rigide caste, rigide regole sociali, intransigenti case d'epurazione, che hanno bruciato i libri e chi parla di queste cose, proibendo anche solo i racconti del passato, dando il via a una dittatura totalitaria e spietata..
E che deve fare i conti con strane creature ed eventi, e fenomeni inspiegabili..
In una distopia degna di Orwell e di Bradbury, in un mondo fantasy mistico e misterioso, prende il via un'indagine alla True Detective, ricca di suspance e mistero, con un incedere che mi ha ricordato il ritmo di certi libri di Murakami.. un libro che trascende il semplice essere fantasy, unendo vari elementi culturali e simbolici, donandogli la profondità di romanzi 'classici', e trattando temi importanti quali femminicidio, patriarcato, schiavitù, la libertà di essere donna, l'amore proibito, ma trattandoli senza nessuna forzatura, senza nessuna moda, inserendoli in una storia magica e oscura, straniante e dolorosa.. con un risultato unico..
Un libro meno muscolare di quelli a cui sono abituato, ma che mi ha dato lo stesso forti emozioni, mi ha preso e per tre giorni non mi ha fatto mettere giù il libro, che mi ha fatto pensare solo a cosa sarebbe successo nella prossima pagina, che nonostante una minor presenza di azione mi ha fatto battere il cuore a ogni pagina..
Con uno stile a volte intimo e a tratti onirico, con dense e contrastanti pennellate di atrocità, la Nwosu tocca corde inconsuete per un fantasy..
Qua niente è scontato, niente è delicato, niente è dolce.. nemmeno il finale, conclusivo ma che si apre di sicuro a nuove avventure e indagini..
Molti dei misteri del mondo creato non si svelano, forse non lo faranno mai.. forse non sapremo mai tutto quello che vorremmo, ma con un mondo creato in modo così originale ci possiamo aspettare davvero di tutto dai prossimi volumi e non vedo l'ora di potermi tuffare in un altra storia del Regno Rosso..
Nota sulla traduzione: ottima resa di uno stile linguistico non semplice. L edizione italiana è semplicemente perfetta!!
February 1, 2024
Una fredda città sotto l'ombra di gigantesche ossa di Dei morti. Una ragazza nobile scompare nella notte, ma non è la sola. Due investigatori che lottano contro le caste superiori.
Con questa intro true crime vi parlo del primo libro di quest'anno, e lasciatemi dire che se iniziamo così sarà davvero un anno molto interessante a livello di letture!
IL SOGNO DI CITTÀ DELLA MORTE è un viaggio in un mondo che vive nella narrazione.
La cultura della Morte è intessuta fortemente nella parole e nelle azioni dei personaggi, nella splendida architettura delle varie città e nelle emozioni che scatena la lettura.
Come la splendida copertina, il libro ci parla attraverso i diversi colori: Nero, Rosso e Bianco, e per ognuno c'è un profondo simbolismo, e dualismo, e quest'alternanza cromatica ci accompagna lungo tutta la vicenda sottolineando con forza le emozioni che provano i personaggi.
L'intreccio, lo sviluppo e l'evoluzione di Thora e Diem rapiscono durante la lettura, e passare tra una e l'altro riesce a dare una completezza narrativa ai personaggi che più di una volta mi ha entusiasmato. E non poco!
In questo libro ci viene raccontata una storia in un regno distopico ma anche altre, velate e nascoste.
C'è una storia che si mescola alla magia di cuori infranti, ed è una storia che si esprime tramite simboli culturali e temi sociali.
C'è una storia profonda, intrisa di sangue, fiamme e violenza, ed è una storia che parla di speranza. Come trovarla. Come annichilirla.
"Ciò che è morto è morto e tutti moriranno."
Con questa intro true crime vi parlo del primo libro di quest'anno, e lasciatemi dire che se iniziamo così sarà davvero un anno molto interessante a livello di letture!
IL SOGNO DI CITTÀ DELLA MORTE è un viaggio in un mondo che vive nella narrazione.
La cultura della Morte è intessuta fortemente nella parole e nelle azioni dei personaggi, nella splendida architettura delle varie città e nelle emozioni che scatena la lettura.
Come la splendida copertina, il libro ci parla attraverso i diversi colori: Nero, Rosso e Bianco, e per ognuno c'è un profondo simbolismo, e dualismo, e quest'alternanza cromatica ci accompagna lungo tutta la vicenda sottolineando con forza le emozioni che provano i personaggi.
L'intreccio, lo sviluppo e l'evoluzione di Thora e Diem rapiscono durante la lettura, e passare tra una e l'altro riesce a dare una completezza narrativa ai personaggi che più di una volta mi ha entusiasmato. E non poco!
In questo libro ci viene raccontata una storia in un regno distopico ma anche altre, velate e nascoste.
C'è una storia che si mescola alla magia di cuori infranti, ed è una storia che si esprime tramite simboli culturali e temi sociali.
C'è una storia profonda, intrisa di sangue, fiamme e violenza, ed è una storia che parla di speranza. Come trovarla. Come annichilirla.
"Ciò che è morto è morto e tutti moriranno."
October 30, 2022
To be honest I'm not sure what I think or should write about this book.
I have read many books in my life but none were like this one.
The only comparison that comes to mind would be one of the classics, from the old school writers, who wrote in a language where you always had to wonder what they meant by that.
Don't get me wrong, the way the book is written is of course very interesting and definitely took a lot of work, but unfortunately I'm not the right audience for it.
This book was listed as dark fantasy on Netgalley and the blurb was promising, but despite the fact that the book was uniquely written, it had too many descriptions and details, and dragged on too monotonously, so I lost interest in the story very fast.
The story describes very dark times in human history.
The world is divided into noble classes and slaves.
It is very similar to the Medieval Inquisition times where people were afraid to speak their free opinions or even think about them without being punished.
Only in this story the described world is called the Red Kingdom.
I think the book is perfect for all classic fantasy lovers.
It has a mystery murder topic and a little touch of romance in the story.
I have read many books in my life but none were like this one.
The only comparison that comes to mind would be one of the classics, from the old school writers, who wrote in a language where you always had to wonder what they meant by that.
Don't get me wrong, the way the book is written is of course very interesting and definitely took a lot of work, but unfortunately I'm not the right audience for it.
This book was listed as dark fantasy on Netgalley and the blurb was promising, but despite the fact that the book was uniquely written, it had too many descriptions and details, and dragged on too monotonously, so I lost interest in the story very fast.
The story describes very dark times in human history.
The world is divided into noble classes and slaves.
It is very similar to the Medieval Inquisition times where people were afraid to speak their free opinions or even think about them without being punished.
Only in this story the described world is called the Red Kingdom.
I think the book is perfect for all classic fantasy lovers.
It has a mystery murder topic and a little touch of romance in the story.
November 12, 2022
A big thanks to NetGalley and Small Heart Press for gifting me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
I literally don't how to describe this book, save for visceral screaming.
Dream of Death City by PJ Nwosu is a fantasy mystery that follows the many crimes that haunt Death City in the much oppression Red Kingdom. This book follows the life of Thora and her very uneventful life at the Investigation house, working as a servant. But things change when she helps investigate the disappearance of a Sun noble girl. Mix that up with some Nordic inspiration and dark fantasy, and there you have Dream of Death City.
Honestly, this book had me confused at times. With the complicated plotting and society system. Though I did like the world building, as it was a breath of fresh air compared redundant worlds we often see scattered through the deluge of fantasy. But at the same time, I feel like I can't completely tell you what this is about.
I literally don't how to describe this book, save for visceral screaming.
Dream of Death City by PJ Nwosu is a fantasy mystery that follows the many crimes that haunt Death City in the much oppression Red Kingdom. This book follows the life of Thora and her very uneventful life at the Investigation house, working as a servant. But things change when she helps investigate the disappearance of a Sun noble girl. Mix that up with some Nordic inspiration and dark fantasy, and there you have Dream of Death City.
Honestly, this book had me confused at times. With the complicated plotting and society system. Though I did like the world building, as it was a breath of fresh air compared redundant worlds we often see scattered through the deluge of fantasy. But at the same time, I feel like I can't completely tell you what this is about.
May 28, 2023
Oh, my. Oh. My. Oh. My.
Full RTC. Thank you P.J Nwosu for kindly sending me a copy of your stellar DEBUT adult fantasy!
Full RTC. Thank you P.J Nwosu for kindly sending me a copy of your stellar DEBUT adult fantasy!
October 27, 2022
I received an ebook arc of this book from NetGalley for my honest review.
This was a darker feeling epic fantasy/dystopian style novel. The first in a series. I thought the concept was really interesting, having a culture so obsessed with death. The death giant was a really cool imagining.
This is a wordy book. Like, lots of words. Everything is described so well, which is great, but found myself skimming descriptions a lot.
In the beginning you get dropped into chaos and have no idea what’s going on. The main characters, Thora and Diem, already know each other but I couldn’t grasp on what level. Are they friends? Best friends? Co workers? Acquittances? Do they wave when they pass in a hallway? I got nothing from them. Until around 30% in when Diem is like, “I dream about Thora.” And I was like oh! Ok..
There was not a lot of dialogue up until around 20% of the book. I think it hindered me from getting to know and care for these characters. Like they were in a bubble, and I was definitely outside the bubble.
The language is very different. The word “true” is used in almost every sentence of dialogue of every character. “True, reckon, hankering” are words you see a lot. Also..
“What’s dead is dead and all shall die” x100. It’s said.. a lot.
It got a bit repetitive. Viceroy Bearin is a longer-limbed insect man. If you read it you’ll know..
The pacing was a bit off for me. It seemed like a lot of slow parts, but by the end there was a lot of action. 50% and 70% I remember action happening.
Not a lot of romance. In fact 1 out 10 level of romance. I wanted more. But I’m just a romantic.
I liked the book, but I don’t think I liked it enough to continue in the series. I didn’t really enjoy the ending much.
This was a darker feeling epic fantasy/dystopian style novel. The first in a series. I thought the concept was really interesting, having a culture so obsessed with death. The death giant was a really cool imagining.
This is a wordy book. Like, lots of words. Everything is described so well, which is great, but found myself skimming descriptions a lot.
In the beginning you get dropped into chaos and have no idea what’s going on. The main characters, Thora and Diem, already know each other but I couldn’t grasp on what level. Are they friends? Best friends? Co workers? Acquittances? Do they wave when they pass in a hallway? I got nothing from them. Until around 30% in when Diem is like, “I dream about Thora.” And I was like oh! Ok..
There was not a lot of dialogue up until around 20% of the book. I think it hindered me from getting to know and care for these characters. Like they were in a bubble, and I was definitely outside the bubble.
The language is very different. The word “true” is used in almost every sentence of dialogue of every character. “True, reckon, hankering” are words you see a lot. Also..
“What’s dead is dead and all shall die” x100. It’s said.. a lot.
It got a bit repetitive. Viceroy Bearin is a longer-limbed insect man. If you read it you’ll know..
The pacing was a bit off for me. It seemed like a lot of slow parts, but by the end there was a lot of action. 50% and 70% I remember action happening.
Not a lot of romance. In fact 1 out 10 level of romance. I wanted more. But I’m just a romantic.
I liked the book, but I don’t think I liked it enough to continue in the series. I didn’t really enjoy the ending much.
October 31, 2022
Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for providing me with a digital copy of this book.
Unfortunately, this was a DNF pretty early on. Between the huge blocks of description, the lack of grounding the characters in terms of location/relationship/background, the repetition (seriously, it IS possible to indicate that the world has a distinct way of speaking without using the same few words in every...single....line of dialogue).....it just wasn't worth it to keep reading past chapter 5.
Unfortunately, this was a DNF pretty early on. Between the huge blocks of description, the lack of grounding the characters in terms of location/relationship/background, the repetition (seriously, it IS possible to indicate that the world has a distinct way of speaking without using the same few words in every...single....line of dialogue).....it just wasn't worth it to keep reading past chapter 5.
October 29, 2022
pj nwosu made one thing very clear: she’s one hell of a writer. you get completely immersed in this fantasy world where your caste decides your fate: a life of marvelous riches if you’re a sun-noble, a life of almost mediocre circumstances if you’re a moon-caste, and a life of ungrateful servitude and slavery if you’re a dust-caste. as a woman, furthermore, you’re always someone’s property no matter what.
we’re following thora, a dust-caste woman who belongs to the house of investigation as a slave, aiding investigator diem in quite complex cases such as bringing down corruption and those who don’t obey the red reform laws and the king of the red kingdom. our two main characters then find themselves in the midst of a peculiar case of a sun-noble’s daughter’s disappearance, where the father both overimposes resolution yet at the same time stops it from happening. it’s safe to say that he’s suspicious from the get go, especially as multiple young girls are vanishing and someone is working particularly hard to cover it up. it’s up to thora and diem to uncover this mystery in death city, a place where slavery has been abolished and women actively partake in the practice of the crooked beat – a sort of witchcraft that only women can feel in their heartbeat as a gift from the eleventh daughter.
i have to say that as much as i’d like to give this book 5 stars, the predictability was too eminent in the plot. the plot twists aren’t true to their nomenclature, and while what really happens is morally wrong – and a crime – the author builds the fantasy element of the story only to then have no real purpose when push comes to shove.
loved the characters, loved the world building and setting. i wish the second half of the book had gone differently. will still read the rest of the series :)
thank you pj nwosu, victory editing, and netgalley for sending me this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
we’re following thora, a dust-caste woman who belongs to the house of investigation as a slave, aiding investigator diem in quite complex cases such as bringing down corruption and those who don’t obey the red reform laws and the king of the red kingdom. our two main characters then find themselves in the midst of a peculiar case of a sun-noble’s daughter’s disappearance, where the father both overimposes resolution yet at the same time stops it from happening. it’s safe to say that he’s suspicious from the get go, especially as multiple young girls are vanishing and someone is working particularly hard to cover it up. it’s up to thora and diem to uncover this mystery in death city, a place where slavery has been abolished and women actively partake in the practice of the crooked beat – a sort of witchcraft that only women can feel in their heartbeat as a gift from the eleventh daughter.
i have to say that as much as i’d like to give this book 5 stars, the predictability was too eminent in the plot. the plot twists aren’t true to their nomenclature, and while what really happens is morally wrong – and a crime – the author builds the fantasy element of the story only to then have no real purpose when push comes to shove.
loved the characters, loved the world building and setting. i wish the second half of the book had gone differently. will still read the rest of the series :)
thank you pj nwosu, victory editing, and netgalley for sending me this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
November 18, 2022
Thank you, NetGalley, for the chance to read and review Dream of Death City by PJ Nwosu! For those who don't want to stick around for the full review, just know that this is a fantastic book that everyone should read, and I'm leaving giving it four stars!
Dream of Death City is a dark fantasy/mystery read that will be published on the 18th of November. It is the 1st book in the Red Kingdom series. It's 523 pages long and was published by Small Heart Press. My ARC was courtesy of Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op.
The Red Kingdom has people divided into certain classes. Thora (a Dust-Caste slave) is owned by the Investigation House, a part of the government. She is tasked to assist with some investigative work with Diem. As they get to Death City, a place where the Red Kingdom holds a less power, Thora can taste freedom, even if she cannot have it.
I had no expectations going into this book, and then I ended stayed up until 4 am reading it. The book is fantastic! You'll start, and then you'll lose yourself in the world PJ Nwosu built up. Truly fantastic world-building! I could picture the giants and the places, but there was never too much of it. It always felt like it belonged to the text and not like the author was forcing it down.
I was a big fan of Thora. She makes hard decisions, takes action, and puts herself on the line for her beliefs. She has a goal, a position no other Dust Caste could ever hope for, and she works hard for it. That being said, despite her being clever, she makes mistakes. She miscalculates, speaks out of turn, and she loses a great deal while trying to get the job done. Sometimes the price is too high.
I was also a big fan of the other characters. Diem, the viceroy, and all the people around them were easy to picture and could be understood. The layers of corruption in the Kingdom were also interesting. I'm sure we'll see a clash coming in the following books.
All in all, I would wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone interested in dark fantasy!
Dream of Death City is a dark fantasy/mystery read that will be published on the 18th of November. It is the 1st book in the Red Kingdom series. It's 523 pages long and was published by Small Heart Press. My ARC was courtesy of Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op.
The Red Kingdom has people divided into certain classes. Thora (a Dust-Caste slave) is owned by the Investigation House, a part of the government. She is tasked to assist with some investigative work with Diem. As they get to Death City, a place where the Red Kingdom holds a less power, Thora can taste freedom, even if she cannot have it.
I had no expectations going into this book, and then I ended stayed up until 4 am reading it. The book is fantastic! You'll start, and then you'll lose yourself in the world PJ Nwosu built up. Truly fantastic world-building! I could picture the giants and the places, but there was never too much of it. It always felt like it belonged to the text and not like the author was forcing it down.
I was a big fan of Thora. She makes hard decisions, takes action, and puts herself on the line for her beliefs. She has a goal, a position no other Dust Caste could ever hope for, and she works hard for it. That being said, despite her being clever, she makes mistakes. She miscalculates, speaks out of turn, and she loses a great deal while trying to get the job done. Sometimes the price is too high.
I was also a big fan of the other characters. Diem, the viceroy, and all the people around them were easy to picture and could be understood. The layers of corruption in the Kingdom were also interesting. I'm sure we'll see a clash coming in the following books.
All in all, I would wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone interested in dark fantasy!
July 2, 2024
I had high hopes for this book. Although the world building was very detailed and vivid, it wasn’t enough for me. I’m a character driven reader and I wasn’t crazy about the characters here.
There’s a blossoming romance which peaks in the middle and fizzles out. I didn’t buy into the relationship anyway. Both main characters had flaws which was fine, but they weren’t likable. Also the speech pattern was awkward. I just couldn’t get used to certain phrases like true in the middle of a thought. It was jarring.
The death theme didn’t seem to go anywhere. There’s a mantra everyone says but what does it mean? Is it a prayer of sorts? We read portions of the death laws, but why are they so strictly against dust-caste and moon-caste people?
The magic is very low key. It was also hard to understand was the crooked beat really was. And why did it reveal itself to Thora?
The plot took a long time to get moving. There was language repetition which didn’t add anything to the story. I hoped things would improve. I enjoyed some parts of like when Thora was following a thread to discover the murderer. But some decisions by her and Diem were confusing to me.
I guess this type of mystery fantasy just wasn’t my cup of tea.
There’s a blossoming romance which peaks in the middle and fizzles out. I didn’t buy into the relationship anyway. Both main characters had flaws which was fine, but they weren’t likable. Also the speech pattern was awkward. I just couldn’t get used to certain phrases like true in the middle of a thought. It was jarring.
The death theme didn’t seem to go anywhere. There’s a mantra everyone says but what does it mean? Is it a prayer of sorts? We read portions of the death laws, but why are they so strictly against dust-caste and moon-caste people?
The magic is very low key. It was also hard to understand was the crooked beat really was. And why did it reveal itself to Thora?
The plot took a long time to get moving. There was language repetition which didn’t add anything to the story. I hoped things would improve. I enjoyed some parts of like when Thora was following a thread to discover the murderer. But some decisions by her and Diem were confusing to me.
I guess this type of mystery fantasy just wasn’t my cup of tea.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 92 reviews