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Shattered Sigil #2
Die Chroniken von Ninavel - Stadt der Magier
Dev is a desperate man. After narrowly surviving a smuggling job gone wrong, he’s now a prisoner of the Alathian Council, held hostage to ensure his friend Kiran — former apprentice to one of the most ruthless mages alive — does their bidding.But Kiran isn’t Dev’s only concern. Back in his home city of Ninavel, the child he once swore to protect faces a terrible fate if he can’t reach her in time, and the days are fast slipping away. So when the Council offers Dev freedom in exchange for his and Kiran’s assistance in a clandestine mission to Ninavel, he can’t refuse, no matter how much he distrusts their motives.Once in Ninavel the mission proves more treacherous than even Dev could have imagined. Betrayed by allies, forced to aid their enemies, he and Kiran must confront the darkest truths of their pasts if they hope to save those they love and survive their return to the Tainted City.
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First published January 1, 2012
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About the author
Courtney Schafer
5 books297 followersA voracious reader, Courtney Schafer took up writing when she found that fantasy books weren't published fast enough to satisfy her craving for new worlds full of magic and wonder. When not writing, Courtney figure skates, climbs mountains, squeezes through desert slot canyons, and skis way too fast through trees. To support her adrenaline-fueled hobbies and writing habit, she received a degree in electrical engineering from Caltech and works in the aerospace industry. After many years living and working in Colorado, she moved with her husband and son to Lake Hawea, New Zealand.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 97 reviews
July 27, 2025
(Can anyone look at the cover and not read the title as Tilted City?)
This was a 'review' by proxy since my wife nabbed the book on arrival. When she finished she declared it was even better written than The Whitefire Crossing (which she loved) and where was book 3 ...?
Now it's also my review as I finally finished the book during a stay in hospital with my little daughter. And yes, my wife was right (this once) - it's a better book than The Whitefire Crossing, and that was a great book itself.
In The Tainted City things get more complicated and a large cast is involved. The plot in Whitefire was fairly complex and the cast wasn't small - so believe me when I say it's involved. Closer to a murder mystery than a traditional hack & slash fantasy. Though it's not a murder mystery and there is plenty of blood and gore (though no swords or armour).
The world Schafer has built here is a fascinating one revolving around magic of many kinds, mostly lying in the hands of a wizarding elite but devolved into the hands of 'common' men through charms and wards. We see the story unfold through the eyes of a non-magical but extremely resourceful man and through the less cynical eyes of a young man born into magical power but also bound by it.
The first book really focused on the relationship between the two point-of-view characters, Dev and Kiran. The second has much more on its plate and these two spend relatively small amounts of time in each other's company so the emphasis is more on problem solving and it's a less emotional book - but that's not to say you won't get involved, I know I did. Lots of the problems have a large relationship element to them so the book is definitely character driven despite the labyrinthine plot.
Setting aside the plot I'll focus on what (I think) these books are about. It seems to me that Whitefire and to a greater extent, Tainted City, are about freedom. They're concerned with freedom in a host of different flavours and shades, and with the currencies different people use to purchase them, and how high a price they're prepared to pay.
An engrossing and imaginative read that builds on the strong foundations of book 1 and keeps your interest for the third book. You guys should read these!
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...
This was a 'review' by proxy since my wife nabbed the book on arrival. When she finished she declared it was even better written than The Whitefire Crossing (which she loved) and where was book 3 ...?
Now it's also my review as I finally finished the book during a stay in hospital with my little daughter. And yes, my wife was right (this once) - it's a better book than The Whitefire Crossing, and that was a great book itself.
In The Tainted City things get more complicated and a large cast is involved. The plot in Whitefire was fairly complex and the cast wasn't small - so believe me when I say it's involved. Closer to a murder mystery than a traditional hack & slash fantasy. Though it's not a murder mystery and there is plenty of blood and gore (though no swords or armour).
The world Schafer has built here is a fascinating one revolving around magic of many kinds, mostly lying in the hands of a wizarding elite but devolved into the hands of 'common' men through charms and wards. We see the story unfold through the eyes of a non-magical but extremely resourceful man and through the less cynical eyes of a young man born into magical power but also bound by it.
The first book really focused on the relationship between the two point-of-view characters, Dev and Kiran. The second has much more on its plate and these two spend relatively small amounts of time in each other's company so the emphasis is more on problem solving and it's a less emotional book - but that's not to say you won't get involved, I know I did. Lots of the problems have a large relationship element to them so the book is definitely character driven despite the labyrinthine plot.
Setting aside the plot I'll focus on what (I think) these books are about. It seems to me that Whitefire and to a greater extent, Tainted City, are about freedom. They're concerned with freedom in a host of different flavours and shades, and with the currencies different people use to purchase them, and how high a price they're prepared to pay.
An engrossing and imaginative read that builds on the strong foundations of book 1 and keeps your interest for the third book. You guys should read these!
Join my Patreon
Join my 3-emails-a-year newsletter #prizes
...
May 21, 2017
Ruined district of Ninavel
Even better than the first one – intense and action packed epic fantasy adventure that grabs you from the first pages and doesn’t let go. Less mountains and travelling this time, but plenty of magic, mystery and investigation inside the city as the brutal murders of mages start threatening the survival of the whole Ninavel.
Recommended to everyone who likes fantasy.
Blood magic
December 3, 2012
Courtney Schafer's debut, The Whitefire Crossing, book one in The Shattered Sigil was not only one of the biggest surprises for me last year, it was one of my favorite reads. The blend of Schafer's passion for climbing with the high use of magic and fast-paced plot had me reading my eyes out.
Because this is her second novel, I guess we have to ask (sorry it's in the contract), did she survive the sophomore slump? Yes, I answer, a resounding yes!! (with exclamation marks so you know it's true) The Tainted City lives up to its predecessor and more.
Following the end of The Whitefire Crossing, Dev and Kiran are captives of Alathia, through which Kiran was successfully smuggled in his escape from his former master, Ruslan, but later captured. Dev working in the mines and Kiran working on the spell patterns contained in the charms and wards used by Simon Levanian who was able to disregard Alathia's powerful border wards which keep bloodmages, who rely on human sacrifice to fuel their magical power, like him out.
The Alathians preferred to execute Kiran and Dev, which is their normal course for bloodmages like Kiran and their minions, like Dev, keeping with their very strict laws against the use of any magic. However, their hands were stayed mostly by the argument of one Martennan, an Alathian in high standing and general proponent of acting reasonably. That's because although Kiran is a bloodmage, he would do anything to escape his past and that includes helping the Alathians strengthen their borders.
In keeping Kiran, the Alathians garnered the wrath of Ruslan who vowed to destroy them in his pursuit of his former apprentice, whom he considers his property. Just when things seem to be going well, Alathia's wards come under attack and even begin to fail as an unknown disturbance, or Ruslan according to Dev, assaults them.
Kiran and Dev are needed to find out what the problem is and it seems to be coming directly from Ninavel, the city from whence Kiran and Dev came and which is the diametric opposite to Alathia, allowing essentially any magic no matter where it is derived.
A small group is brought together to find out and solve the problem that is causing the wards to fail, which means a visit to Ninavel, yay! I say this because while it would be nice to discover more about Alathia, which is best done through the characters, Ninavel presents the opportunity to showcase all the magic that is involved in this world. It's a lot and it's awesome.
The magic permeates every page and this is probably my favorite part of the entire experience. Not taking away from great characterization, intense descriptions of climbing (which are cut down a bit in this volume), and the general readability of the piece (all of which I loved), the magic is still my favorite. Almost every problem, solution, engagement between characters, everything revolves around use of magic whether it's magical charms that allow nathahlen (non-magic-user) to use magic and essentially facilitates trade to full-blown mages who practice their art.
The reason behind Ruslan's relentless pursuit of Kiran is because of the deep and intricate bond he shares with Kiran that allows them to cast magic. It is not something that is built up in a day, it takes years and years and Ruslan refuses to start over.
Even Ninavel itself is completely based around magic. Set up on the largest confluence of magic (facilitates magic use) around, while Ninavel is great for mages, it lacks basic things such as running water. In order for the city to survive, mages are required to do magic to produce the life-giving resource.
In addition to the magic being everywhere, it is also extremely complex, requiring hours to set up and complete spells, using spell-lines with the requisite materials such as silver or blood and generally taking immense amounts of concentration and willpower. You can start to see how many problems can occur to create a compelling work of fiction.
Almost right away, there are some big surprises that I don't want to spoil, so with that, I'll jump into the protection of the spoiler warning for just a bit. I can't resist discussing these parts because they have me really introspective at the moment, having raised some interesting questions about the effects our life experience have on us.
Making me think my own thoughts might just be unforgivable. :D
One of the best reads this year as well as last, Courtney Schafer has delivered again. Not only with engaging characters and compelling plot, but with something new and diverse that I can't wait to come back to in The Labyrinth of Flame, book three in The Shattered Sigil.
4 out of 5 Stars (Highly Recommended!)
I just got an interview up with the author herself.
Because this is her second novel, I guess we have to ask (sorry it's in the contract), did she survive the sophomore slump? Yes, I answer, a resounding yes!! (with exclamation marks so you know it's true) The Tainted City lives up to its predecessor and more.
Following the end of The Whitefire Crossing, Dev and Kiran are captives of Alathia, through which Kiran was successfully smuggled in his escape from his former master, Ruslan, but later captured. Dev working in the mines and Kiran working on the spell patterns contained in the charms and wards used by Simon Levanian who was able to disregard Alathia's powerful border wards which keep bloodmages, who rely on human sacrifice to fuel their magical power, like him out.
The Alathians preferred to execute Kiran and Dev, which is their normal course for bloodmages like Kiran and their minions, like Dev, keeping with their very strict laws against the use of any magic. However, their hands were stayed mostly by the argument of one Martennan, an Alathian in high standing and general proponent of acting reasonably. That's because although Kiran is a bloodmage, he would do anything to escape his past and that includes helping the Alathians strengthen their borders.
In keeping Kiran, the Alathians garnered the wrath of Ruslan who vowed to destroy them in his pursuit of his former apprentice, whom he considers his property. Just when things seem to be going well, Alathia's wards come under attack and even begin to fail as an unknown disturbance, or Ruslan according to Dev, assaults them.
Kiran and Dev are needed to find out what the problem is and it seems to be coming directly from Ninavel, the city from whence Kiran and Dev came and which is the diametric opposite to Alathia, allowing essentially any magic no matter where it is derived.
A small group is brought together to find out and solve the problem that is causing the wards to fail, which means a visit to Ninavel, yay! I say this because while it would be nice to discover more about Alathia, which is best done through the characters, Ninavel presents the opportunity to showcase all the magic that is involved in this world. It's a lot and it's awesome.
The magic permeates every page and this is probably my favorite part of the entire experience. Not taking away from great characterization, intense descriptions of climbing (which are cut down a bit in this volume), and the general readability of the piece (all of which I loved), the magic is still my favorite. Almost every problem, solution, engagement between characters, everything revolves around use of magic whether it's magical charms that allow nathahlen (non-magic-user) to use magic and essentially facilitates trade to full-blown mages who practice their art.
The reason behind Ruslan's relentless pursuit of Kiran is because of the deep and intricate bond he shares with Kiran that allows them to cast magic. It is not something that is built up in a day, it takes years and years and Ruslan refuses to start over.
Even Ninavel itself is completely based around magic. Set up on the largest confluence of magic (facilitates magic use) around, while Ninavel is great for mages, it lacks basic things such as running water. In order for the city to survive, mages are required to do magic to produce the life-giving resource.
In addition to the magic being everywhere, it is also extremely complex, requiring hours to set up and complete spells, using spell-lines with the requisite materials such as silver or blood and generally taking immense amounts of concentration and willpower. You can start to see how many problems can occur to create a compelling work of fiction.
Almost right away, there are some big surprises that I don't want to spoil, so with that, I'll jump into the protection of the spoiler warning for just a bit. I can't resist discussing these parts because they have me really introspective at the moment, having raised some interesting questions about the effects our life experience have on us.
Making me think my own thoughts might just be unforgivable. :D
One of the best reads this year as well as last, Courtney Schafer has delivered again. Not only with engaging characters and compelling plot, but with something new and diverse that I can't wait to come back to in The Labyrinth of Flame, book three in The Shattered Sigil.
4 out of 5 Stars (Highly Recommended!)
I just got an interview up with the author herself.
February 28, 2017
This is an incredible follow-up novel. The return to Ninavel and the increased looks into the characters and their relationships and the magic system are fantastic. The tension is consistently high throughout the book, as the stakes just keep getting bigger and you keep getting more attached to the characters.
Great for folks who are looking for a non-European setting, non-white characters, some queer characters, character focused and driven storytelling, well-drawn magic systems, and a small cast of characters.
Great for folks who are looking for a non-European setting, non-white characters, some queer characters, character focused and driven storytelling, well-drawn magic systems, and a small cast of characters.
September 24, 2012
Full Review originally at Fantasy Book Critic
ANALYSIS: Courtney Schafer’s debut was one that was highly appreciated over here at FBC as well as other places on the blogosphere. I loved it and consequently it was #5 in my list of the 2011 top ten debuts . Based on the blurb details, one can make out that this time the story faces a reverse pattern, previously both characters were racing towards the Alathian border but this time they are coming back to Ninavel and it doesn't look like they might get a pleasant reception.
The actual plot opens with Dev being stuck to mine work as part of his punishment in smuggling goods across the border. Kiran on the other hand has been all but magically handicapped as his magic is just anathema to the Alathian magic moral code. Things have been a bit tumultuous with the Alathian borders facing a strange magical assault. The Alathians are forced to send a covert team to Ninavel from wherein these waves seem to emanate and it has been targeting the Ninavel power confluence as well. Kiran is very hesitant to join the Alathian team, as this will lead him right back in to Ruslan’s backyard, a situation he desperately wants to avoid. Dev on the other hand, is in two minds about the trip but will be forced to go as his concern for Melly outweighs his personal concerns. The party selected to go to Ninavel will have to be on their guard as they are entering a nest wherein nobody can be trusted and there are more dangers than previously thought of.
This book is a very good sequel to The Whitefire Crossing and in many ways a book that is as different from its predecessor as oranges and apples. This book is a reverse journey for the characters, who go from Alathia to Ninavel and the reader gets a good feel as to why Ninavel is considered by many to be so dangerous. The storyline is drastically different in the style utilized as while the first book was very much an adventure thriller in the vein of James Rollins’ books, focusing on the Whitefire Mountain terrain that was so vividly described. This book is more akin to a Noir-mystery with multiple twists similar to Steve Hamilton’s stories wherein the protagonists and readers are equally in the dark.
The characterization is top notch similar to the first book and follows the curious pattern of Dev in the first and Kiran in the third-person narrative. This time around the side character cast is visibly widened. Kiran’s mage comrades Ruslan, Mikael and Lizaveta are given center stage as we get a detailed look into their way of life and behavior. It becomes very clear to the readers why Kiran was so wary and wanted to get away from them at any cost. Ruslan and Lizaveta’s behavior is sociopathic to say the least but the events that occur in the book reveal the depth of their cunning and determination to get things done their way. There are also quite some sexual shenanigans occurring in this story, which are again different from those in the first book. This curious turn of events harbors some dark forebodings and perhaps might be further explored in the concluding volume.
On the Alathian side there are a few new faces that get a chance to showcase their views on the usage of magic and also further complicate the relationship and view between the two primary protagonists. Dev’s past life (acquaintances, relationships, etc) also plays a huge role in the events of this book and the readers will truly appreciate the insight they offer about Dev. I was also very impressed by the world setting and nuances to this world created by Courtney. Beginning from the phrases utilized by the characters to the theology presented as well the cultures described; this world is a very rich one in terms of world-building factors. I think the author can perhaps explore other corners and timelines of the world once this story is over and I would be the first in line to read any book featuring such.
On the pacing factor, things don’t look so rosy for the first hundred pages when the story is being set up. The story seems to be stuck in stasis a bit however things do pick up once the crew reaches Ninavel and things soon go from bad to worse with a couple of plot twists. The author has to be lauded for making this story extremely unpredictable, beginning from the direction of the story to the style presented as well as the end twists. Nothing happens as expected for the characters and the readers will get to experience this form of literary confusion as well. Courtney Schafer is something of an enigma in terms of her writing as she allows to the story to go haphazardly as per the character dictates and yet it feels like part of her overall story plan. This curious move with the story direction is something that might stump a few of the readers who are looking for the action-oriented adventure feel of her debut. I would caution them not to throw in the towel but give the story a try as once they reach the end; they will get a definite idea about where the story is heading and what the climax entails for Dev, Kiran and the rest.
The only drawback to this story is the slow pace of the story within the first hundred pages but after that it’s a very good story with the twists coming left, right & center, leaving the reader and protagonists completely bewildered. The other deterrent to this fine mix is a personal nitpick, in regards to the lack of a map. I always prefer a map and in this case one of Ninavel as well as the terrain around it, is something that I would really loved to see. Also I would have liked if a glossary about the cultures, theology and nations of the world was also presented.
CONCLUSION: Courtney Schafer takes her story in a slightly different direction whilst never compromising on the positives that made her debut such a stand out one. This book is another excellent book from this very talented lady and I for one can’t wait to see how it all goes down in The Labyrinth of Flame. I hope that the author continues her superb writing form, and surprises us all in the exciting climax to the Shattered Sigil series.
January 29, 2016
Mind-blowing! An investigation and so many twists and turns! A family of blood mages like vampires....a great cast of characters...I can't believe this is the author's second book. And what a middle-book-in-a-trilogy! Just a caveat: do yourself a favour, and keep the final book ready at hand (guess I said so about this very same book, too, after reading the first!!!).
May 25, 2018
Very good second volume. Intense, with a lot of drama, despair and hope, action and magic, a lot of intrigues and nasty situations. Good writing, good characters, good ideea.
Overall, not such a big surprise, because I liked the first volume,but still, I didn`t expected to enjoy it as much as I did.
Excellent stuff!
Recommended!
Overall, not such a big surprise, because I liked the first volume,but still, I didn`t expected to enjoy it as much as I did.
Excellent stuff!
Recommended!
May 10, 2017
The Tainted City was a solid upgrade on the first instalment of the Shattered Sigil series. It had all the good elements of the first book and less of its slower moments. It was a big plus for me that this instalment had less running around in the mountains and more of a focus on mystery, magic, and intrigue in Ninavel.
After the way things ended in The Whitefire Crossing both Dev and Kiran find themselves prisoners of the Alathian Council. Dev is being kept as a hostage by the Alathians to be sure of his loyalty. Dev is offered the opportunity to free himself and Kiran if only he can convince Kiran to risk falling into Ruslan's clutches and return to their old home city of Ninavel to deal with a new threat that troubles the safety of both Alathia and Ninavel.
The story was pretty exciting as Dev and Kiran had to survive the machinations of both the Alathian mages as well as Ruslan's attentions all while trying to deal with a new enemy who was murdering mages and threatening to destroy Ninavel and everyone living in it!
I quite enjoyed the tale. The mystery and intrigue kept my full attention and Courtney Schafer managed a few surprise twists and turns that I never expected and definitely made the story more exciting!
All in all this was a solid improvement the first book in the series.
Rating: 4 stars.
Audio Note: The was narrated by Andy Caploe. I'm really warming to Caploe as a narrator. He deals well with both the general narration and in voicing the characters.
After the way things ended in The Whitefire Crossing both Dev and Kiran find themselves prisoners of the Alathian Council. Dev is being kept as a hostage by the Alathians to be sure of his loyalty. Dev is offered the opportunity to free himself and Kiran if only he can convince Kiran to risk falling into Ruslan's clutches and return to their old home city of Ninavel to deal with a new threat that troubles the safety of both Alathia and Ninavel.
The story was pretty exciting as Dev and Kiran had to survive the machinations of both the Alathian mages as well as Ruslan's attentions all while trying to deal with a new enemy who was murdering mages and threatening to destroy Ninavel and everyone living in it!
I quite enjoyed the tale. The mystery and intrigue kept my full attention and Courtney Schafer managed a few surprise twists and turns that I never expected and definitely made the story more exciting!
All in all this was a solid improvement the first book in the series.
Rating: 4 stars.
Audio Note: The was narrated by Andy Caploe. I'm really warming to Caploe as a narrator. He deals well with both the general narration and in voicing the characters.
November 20, 2012
[7/10]
"It's complicated!" doesn't even begin to describe the plot twists and turns in this sequel to Whitefire Crossing. For a novel told from the point of view of only two characters (Devan and Kiran), it has more than its fair share of double-dealing, betrayal, misdirection and divided loyalties. I do not recommend skipping the first book, I actually struggled in the beginning to remember all the complications and the pacts that left Dev and Kiran prisoners in Alathia and to bring myself up to date in order to follow new developments. Basically, this volume abandons most of the mountain climbing part of the story that initially made me pick up the series (with a single exception towards the end) and concentrates on the "urban" fantasy part and the criminal investigation type of plot so prevalent in contemporary novels dealing with the supernatural (Butcher et Co.). As such, I felt the series loses some of its freshness and originality, but there is a second aspect that works really well here and will probably keep me as one of the author followers: Magic : it drives the story forward and permeates every aspect of life, from the basic need for water in the desert city of Ninavel, to main instrument of investigation in the search for the killer, principal mode of attack and defense in the one on one duels and principal source of moral speculation regarding the actions of the main characters.
The "Tainted" city from the title is Ninavel, hometown of Dev and the former master of Kiran - the bloodmage Ruslan. Ninavel has for me a certain Wild West flavor, of the frontier town situated near a precious resource ( a vast reservoir of magical energy in this case), becoming the focal point for every golddigger, speculator, fast gun, outcast or enterprising crook looking for easy marks. The strongest and the most ruthless survive and the rest of the population has to either join a local ganglord or hope they don't attract the attention of the powerful. Instead of fastguns, we have at the top of the food chain magicians of different persuasions (wind, sand, fire, etc) and the strongest of them are the ones that use blood as the medium of controlling the wild natural resources: Ruslan, Lizaveta, Mikhail, the "family" that raised and now tries to controll Kiran. The taint in the city also refers to the natural manipulators of the wild magic, the children born with the talent like Dev, who use it in the the criminal activities of the ganglords until puberty makes them lose the skills. Because I already said this is a complicated setting, there's a third party of masters of magic : the investigative team from neighboring Alathia sent to help stop the serial killer before the uncontrolled magical upheavals destroy the protective barriers of their own kingdom. In opposition to the "free range" style of Ninavel's survival of the fittest, Alathian mages are under rigid restrictions and have to work together in order to cast.
The novel works really well in getting inside the mind of Dev and Kiran and in exploring the quandaries of necessary evil and the difficulty of maintaining integrity towards friends and lovers. Dev reminds me in a good way of the classic Kurosawa movie with the samurai caught between two warring clans in a lawless city and trying to play them one against the other in order to bring some relief for the little people.
The pacing is fast and the action sequences good, but I was less impressed by the dialogue which tends to be either preachy or contrived in trying to explain too much of the plot through discussions between different characters. A couple of passionate scenes didnt work all that well either - not that they were gratuitous or too explicit, just out of sync with the mood of the moment. I miss the ruggedness of the Whitefire mountains, with the several passages describing the scaling of walls and towers inside the city not enough for my outdoor craving tastes. I liked the complexity of the plot, but even here, I didn't find it all that original or surprising. In fact, there's such a thing as twisting too much and leaving the door open for speculation about possible plot holes.
even if couldn't give that extra "wow" star for The Tainted City, I'm still in for the next book in the series.
"It's complicated!" doesn't even begin to describe the plot twists and turns in this sequel to Whitefire Crossing. For a novel told from the point of view of only two characters (Devan and Kiran), it has more than its fair share of double-dealing, betrayal, misdirection and divided loyalties. I do not recommend skipping the first book, I actually struggled in the beginning to remember all the complications and the pacts that left Dev and Kiran prisoners in Alathia and to bring myself up to date in order to follow new developments. Basically, this volume abandons most of the mountain climbing part of the story that initially made me pick up the series (with a single exception towards the end) and concentrates on the "urban" fantasy part and the criminal investigation type of plot so prevalent in contemporary novels dealing with the supernatural (Butcher et Co.). As such, I felt the series loses some of its freshness and originality, but there is a second aspect that works really well here and will probably keep me as one of the author followers: Magic : it drives the story forward and permeates every aspect of life, from the basic need for water in the desert city of Ninavel, to main instrument of investigation in the search for the killer, principal mode of attack and defense in the one on one duels and principal source of moral speculation regarding the actions of the main characters.
The "Tainted" city from the title is Ninavel, hometown of Dev and the former master of Kiran - the bloodmage Ruslan. Ninavel has for me a certain Wild West flavor, of the frontier town situated near a precious resource ( a vast reservoir of magical energy in this case), becoming the focal point for every golddigger, speculator, fast gun, outcast or enterprising crook looking for easy marks. The strongest and the most ruthless survive and the rest of the population has to either join a local ganglord or hope they don't attract the attention of the powerful. Instead of fastguns, we have at the top of the food chain magicians of different persuasions (wind, sand, fire, etc) and the strongest of them are the ones that use blood as the medium of controlling the wild natural resources: Ruslan, Lizaveta, Mikhail, the "family" that raised and now tries to controll Kiran. The taint in the city also refers to the natural manipulators of the wild magic, the children born with the talent like Dev, who use it in the the criminal activities of the ganglords until puberty makes them lose the skills. Because I already said this is a complicated setting, there's a third party of masters of magic : the investigative team from neighboring Alathia sent to help stop the serial killer before the uncontrolled magical upheavals destroy the protective barriers of their own kingdom. In opposition to the "free range" style of Ninavel's survival of the fittest, Alathian mages are under rigid restrictions and have to work together in order to cast.
The novel works really well in getting inside the mind of Dev and Kiran and in exploring the quandaries of necessary evil and the difficulty of maintaining integrity towards friends and lovers. Dev reminds me in a good way of the classic Kurosawa movie with the samurai caught between two warring clans in a lawless city and trying to play them one against the other in order to bring some relief for the little people.
The pacing is fast and the action sequences good, but I was less impressed by the dialogue which tends to be either preachy or contrived in trying to explain too much of the plot through discussions between different characters. A couple of passionate scenes didnt work all that well either - not that they were gratuitous or too explicit, just out of sync with the mood of the moment. I miss the ruggedness of the Whitefire mountains, with the several passages describing the scaling of walls and towers inside the city not enough for my outdoor craving tastes. I liked the complexity of the plot, but even here, I didn't find it all that original or surprising. In fact, there's such a thing as twisting too much and leaving the door open for speculation about possible plot holes.
even if couldn't give that extra "wow" star for The Tainted City, I'm still in for the next book in the series.
August 28, 2013
Fantasy Review Barn
Oh boy, finally a book that allows me to use up all the reviewer clichés in one go! You don’t know how long I have waited for this. Stop the printing; I am sure the next round of paperbacks is going to want a few of these blurbs for the back. I’ll even make it easy and place quotes around what a publisher may want to blurb, because that is the kind of helpful guy I am.
“Even better than the original!”
‘Whitefire Crossing’ was a fine, fine book on its own. A quick pace, tight cast of characters, plenty of excitement and a world that was laid in front of the reader in just the right amounts to avoid ever being dull. While it tied up its loose ends, we were left with both of our protagonist in captivity, an extremely pissed of powerful mage promising to get his way. Can the series shift from a two man escape story to a save the land type of one? Oh yes, it certainly can.
Back to the city of Ninavel, home of magical anarchy, we go. Dev is bound to rival Alathians, those who imprisoned him in WC. Something unknown is attacking the confluence, the magical force that drew all the mages to Ninavel in the first place. Whatever it is it’s threatening to tear down the Alathian’s magical barrier as well, so an unlikely alliance is forged between their chosen team and, Ruslan (main villain of the first book), enforced by an oath sworn to the ruler of Ninavel .
“The rare middle book that holds up on its own!”
What this second outing gives us is a completely different style, but it does so in a way that makes it seem similar. The two POV narration style is back, with Dev in first person and Bloodmage Kiran in third (I have tried to reword that sentence a couple times, and you know what, the awkward phrasing stays. Don’t judge me). As they end up working for rival sides this allows us to keep up with both ends of the investigation, giving the book a magical whodunit feel with a apocalyptic threat hanging over the entire investigation. This shift in style keeps the book from ever being in danger or rehashing old territory, despite some similar threats to the protagonists. Dev helps with the investigation, but still is trying to save his friends daughter, all while knowing he is surrounded by people who can kill him with a thought. Kiran’s story takes a completely different turn that would be hard to discuss without spoilers, but his love then hate relationship with Ruslan again plays the biggest role.
Knowing that the city of Ninavel doesn’t just feed the mages the power they crave, but the magi are the only thing keeping the city’s residences alive, the stakes feel quite high indeed. No the world won’t end, but one city certainly could be snuffed. So while we know this is a middle book, and we know it is likely the protagonists are going to survive, it is not so clear whether or not anyone else they have interacted with will.
Speaking of the magic, a small note. Though mysterious it stays believable, and it is one of the more memorable set ups I have read recently. But I sure would like to learn a bit about the non-blood mages; there is supposed to be a diverse cast of them but we never see how they are really different.
The book finishes up in a similar manner as the first one. With the main storyline wrapped up nicely but enough interesting threads to have me craving the sequel. One of the most interesting dynamics of the book was the heroes being forced to work with a major villain to go against a different villain. Especially when the secondary villain’s cause seems nobler, even if his actions to reach the goal are deplorable. It is only a minor spoiler to note that though Ruslan may be working with Dev and Co., he remains a baddie throughout and the third book promises some big fireworks for a possible final showdown. Great stuff.
Oh geez, time is almost up; better throw out a few more clichés!
“I have been a fan of the author for years” –Oh, not really true, just discovered her this year.
“A truly unique voice” – Good, but not really snappy enough.
“The best Urban Fantasy I have read in a long time” – Wait, how did that one get in there?
“The series has had me hooked from page one” –There it is, that’s the ticket. Let’s go with that one.
4 Stars
Oh boy, finally a book that allows me to use up all the reviewer clichés in one go! You don’t know how long I have waited for this. Stop the printing; I am sure the next round of paperbacks is going to want a few of these blurbs for the back. I’ll even make it easy and place quotes around what a publisher may want to blurb, because that is the kind of helpful guy I am.
“Even better than the original!”
‘Whitefire Crossing’ was a fine, fine book on its own. A quick pace, tight cast of characters, plenty of excitement and a world that was laid in front of the reader in just the right amounts to avoid ever being dull. While it tied up its loose ends, we were left with both of our protagonist in captivity, an extremely pissed of powerful mage promising to get his way. Can the series shift from a two man escape story to a save the land type of one? Oh yes, it certainly can.
Back to the city of Ninavel, home of magical anarchy, we go. Dev is bound to rival Alathians, those who imprisoned him in WC. Something unknown is attacking the confluence, the magical force that drew all the mages to Ninavel in the first place. Whatever it is it’s threatening to tear down the Alathian’s magical barrier as well, so an unlikely alliance is forged between their chosen team and, Ruslan (main villain of the first book), enforced by an oath sworn to the ruler of Ninavel .
“The rare middle book that holds up on its own!”
What this second outing gives us is a completely different style, but it does so in a way that makes it seem similar. The two POV narration style is back, with Dev in first person and Bloodmage Kiran in third (I have tried to reword that sentence a couple times, and you know what, the awkward phrasing stays. Don’t judge me). As they end up working for rival sides this allows us to keep up with both ends of the investigation, giving the book a magical whodunit feel with a apocalyptic threat hanging over the entire investigation. This shift in style keeps the book from ever being in danger or rehashing old territory, despite some similar threats to the protagonists. Dev helps with the investigation, but still is trying to save his friends daughter, all while knowing he is surrounded by people who can kill him with a thought. Kiran’s story takes a completely different turn that would be hard to discuss without spoilers, but his love then hate relationship with Ruslan again plays the biggest role.
Knowing that the city of Ninavel doesn’t just feed the mages the power they crave, but the magi are the only thing keeping the city’s residences alive, the stakes feel quite high indeed. No the world won’t end, but one city certainly could be snuffed. So while we know this is a middle book, and we know it is likely the protagonists are going to survive, it is not so clear whether or not anyone else they have interacted with will.
Speaking of the magic, a small note. Though mysterious it stays believable, and it is one of the more memorable set ups I have read recently. But I sure would like to learn a bit about the non-blood mages; there is supposed to be a diverse cast of them but we never see how they are really different.
The book finishes up in a similar manner as the first one. With the main storyline wrapped up nicely but enough interesting threads to have me craving the sequel. One of the most interesting dynamics of the book was the heroes being forced to work with a major villain to go against a different villain. Especially when the secondary villain’s cause seems nobler, even if his actions to reach the goal are deplorable. It is only a minor spoiler to note that though Ruslan may be working with Dev and Co., he remains a baddie throughout and the third book promises some big fireworks for a possible final showdown. Great stuff.
Oh geez, time is almost up; better throw out a few more clichés!
“I have been a fan of the author for years” –Oh, not really true, just discovered her this year.
“A truly unique voice” – Good, but not really snappy enough.
“The best Urban Fantasy I have read in a long time” – Wait, how did that one get in there?
“The series has had me hooked from page one” –There it is, that’s the ticket. Let’s go with that one.
4 Stars
Read
August 22, 2013If you liked the first book in this series, this one would not disappoint. Schafer continues with taut suspense and a refreshing complexity with morality, tough issues of loyalty, and characters with driven goals that are not handled according to heroic stereotypes. She's upped the stakes in ways that are more threatening, but not deep, or more complex. If you are looking for a fast paced adventure fantasy with plenty of twists and betrayals, and solidly drawn characters, this is a good book to pick up where the last left off.
January 31, 2013
Courtney Schafer’s debut novel The Whitefire Crossing was one of the pleasant surprises of 2011. A character driven fantasy tale in an original setting it ending with a satisfying conclusion that left our heroes alive but not necessarily in the best of circumstances. Fast forward to 2012′s release of The Tainted City and we return to see the climber Dev forced to work in the mines of Alathia to pay off his crimes for participating in Kiran’s blood magic. Kiran, his magic is bound by the Alathian Council, struggles through his own captivity doing his level best to try and convince his captors that he is truly a changed man. However, Kiran’s master Ruslan is not so easily thwarted and the warded country of Alathia finds its wards under attack by vast magical forces. It isn’t long before Dev and Kiran are reunited and press ganged into aiding an Alathian mission to Ninavel tasked with uncovering the nature and source of these magical attack.
Much as in The Whitefire Crossing the characters of Dev and Kiran mirror one another at the outset of The Tainted City. Kiran is bound from practicing magic while Dev is not allowed the scale the mountains the taunt him on the horizon. Kiran’s love of magic and Dev’s love of climbing, their passion for their respective arts, is what binds them together. Schafer does a wonderful job in capturing the way in which their respective captivities really hobbles each of them in turn. In many ways they are both less than complete without the ability to follow their passion. Once they are reunited together in many ways they each recognize that same loss in each other and the bond between forged between the two characters really comes to the forefront.
Bonds, both Kiran and Devs and others, play a central role in the novel. Moreso than the adventure laden previous novel The Tainted City focuses strongly on relationships and the way the connections between different people can drive the world it various directions. On the one hand you have the bonds Kiran has formed with Ruslan, Mikail and Lizaveta these are bonds with an emotional presence and tangible magical presence. There are the bonds Dev has forged with those in his past life and his promise to save his (decseased) best friend’s daughter. There are bonds between the members of the Althasian group that play important roles in the plot. Schafer has woven an intricate web of relationships among these characters and done so with such elegance and grace that it never once feels forced, it never once grows confusing, and you constantly find yourself fascinating even by the most despicable of characters.
There is certainly less adventure in The Tainted City than in the previous book I didn’t really miss it. The tensions caused by the various relationships in the novel and their interactions with one another more are as exciting and engaging as anything The Whitefire Crossing; in truth I found The Tainted City’s plot more engaging as a result. As she did in The Whitefire Crossing, Schafer once again shows an impressive ability at crafting a satisfying conclusion that somehow manages to further complicate the lives of our heroes. You’ll also note that I’ve deliberately avoiding talking about the plot too much. There are some interesting twists, particularly involving Kiran, that I don’t want to reveal for potential readers. I will say that novel takes a little while to get a full head of steam but by the time the characters have hit Ninavel things accelerate quite rapidly with new twists and turn coming with increasingly frequency as the novel ramps up for its conclusion.
The Tainted City takes everything I love about The Whitefire Crossing, particularly in terms of characterization, and turns it up a notch creating a tense, emotional novel that with only some relatively minor pacing problems was an absolute joy to read. With her subtle worldbuilding and unique setting Courtney Schafer is definitely an author that deserves your attention, particularly if you enjoy character driven fantasy. I’ll definitely on board when the next volume of the Shattered Sigil series releases.
Much as in The Whitefire Crossing the characters of Dev and Kiran mirror one another at the outset of The Tainted City. Kiran is bound from practicing magic while Dev is not allowed the scale the mountains the taunt him on the horizon. Kiran’s love of magic and Dev’s love of climbing, their passion for their respective arts, is what binds them together. Schafer does a wonderful job in capturing the way in which their respective captivities really hobbles each of them in turn. In many ways they are both less than complete without the ability to follow their passion. Once they are reunited together in many ways they each recognize that same loss in each other and the bond between forged between the two characters really comes to the forefront.
Bonds, both Kiran and Devs and others, play a central role in the novel. Moreso than the adventure laden previous novel The Tainted City focuses strongly on relationships and the way the connections between different people can drive the world it various directions. On the one hand you have the bonds Kiran has formed with Ruslan, Mikail and Lizaveta these are bonds with an emotional presence and tangible magical presence. There are the bonds Dev has forged with those in his past life and his promise to save his (decseased) best friend’s daughter. There are bonds between the members of the Althasian group that play important roles in the plot. Schafer has woven an intricate web of relationships among these characters and done so with such elegance and grace that it never once feels forced, it never once grows confusing, and you constantly find yourself fascinating even by the most despicable of characters.
There is certainly less adventure in The Tainted City than in the previous book I didn’t really miss it. The tensions caused by the various relationships in the novel and their interactions with one another more are as exciting and engaging as anything The Whitefire Crossing; in truth I found The Tainted City’s plot more engaging as a result. As she did in The Whitefire Crossing, Schafer once again shows an impressive ability at crafting a satisfying conclusion that somehow manages to further complicate the lives of our heroes. You’ll also note that I’ve deliberately avoiding talking about the plot too much. There are some interesting twists, particularly involving Kiran, that I don’t want to reveal for potential readers. I will say that novel takes a little while to get a full head of steam but by the time the characters have hit Ninavel things accelerate quite rapidly with new twists and turn coming with increasingly frequency as the novel ramps up for its conclusion.
The Tainted City takes everything I love about The Whitefire Crossing, particularly in terms of characterization, and turns it up a notch creating a tense, emotional novel that with only some relatively minor pacing problems was an absolute joy to read. With her subtle worldbuilding and unique setting Courtney Schafer is definitely an author that deserves your attention, particularly if you enjoy character driven fantasy. I’ll definitely on board when the next volume of the Shattered Sigil series releases.
June 9, 2016
Another enjoyable read.
September 16, 2012
Originally published at Risingshadow.
Before I write anything else, I'll mention that during the last couple of years Night Shade Books has published exciting books from several talented speculative fiction authors. Courtney Schafer is a perfect example of such an author, because her books are excellent fantasy entertainment for adults. (I have to mention that I have lots of respect for Night Shade Books, because they have courage to publish quality fantasy, which differs from mainstream fantasy.)
I'll also mention that I think it's important to read The Whitefire Crossing before reading this book. You have to know what has happened before, because otherwise you won't understand what's going on.
--- --- ---
The first thing that comes to my mind when I think of The Tainted City and its plot structure is "Wow, what an amazing fantasy book!". I enjoyed reading the previous book,The Whitefire Crossing, but this book is so much better and more complex than The Whitefire Crossing that I loved it very much. (Writing a second book in a trilogy can be difficult and challenging, but Courtney Schafer has managed to write a book, which surpasses the first book in every area: character development is better, worldbuilding is more complex and the story has more layers than before.)
Before I write more about The Tainted City, here's a bit of information about the first book and its happenings:
In The Whitefire Crossing Dev agreed to take Kiran across the Whitefire Mountains from Ninavel to Alathia. Dev didn't know anything about Kiran and Kiran's secrets troubled him. Kiran had a good reason to keep his secrets, because his was running away from a very dangerous person who was a threat to his life. Dev and Kiran didn't trust one another, but they had to find a way to trust one another. Things didn't go as well as they had planned and they had to face several difficult and dangerous situations during and after the journey. When they reached Alathia, they soon found out that things got from bad to worse and they had to fight for their lives...
The Tainted City fantastically continues the story, which started in The Whitefire Crossing. The events take place a bit after the events of the first book. At the beginning of the book Dev is a prisoner and tries to find a way to escape. Kiran is also a tightly guarded prisoner, because the Alathian mages don't trust him (he's a blood mage and Alathians don't like blood mages). Kiran helps the mages and tries to find out how Simon Levanian crossed the Alathian border with the help of a charm. Kiran's access to magic has been blocked, but he can still sense and see magic. He's afraid Ruslan Khaveirin and desperately wants to get rid of him, because he knows that he'll never be free of him unless something is done. Dev and Kiran are given a chance to get their freedom back in excange for participating in a mission, which will take them to Ninavel. The purpose of the mission is to find out what's causing earthquakes and problems with the magic. Unfortunately Dev and Kiran don't know what's in store for them - they soon find out that betrayal is easy and even friends can be deceitful... (This is all I'll write about the story, because I don't want to reveal too much information.)
I didn't think it would be possible to raise the quality of this series, because the first book was an amazingly well written book, but I was wrong. Courtney Schafer has exceeded all my expectations with this book, because it's an astonishingly good fantasy book for adults.
The Whitefire Crossing only hinted at the possibilities of The Shattered Sigil trilogy, but The Tainted City shows the full potential of this trilogy. Courtney Schafer showed lots of promise in The Whitefire Crossing, but now she delivers an even more satisfying story, which makes the readers marvel at her imagination (she clearly has a gift for this kind of storytelling and she uses her gift wonderfully).
The first book was a sophisticated and complex story about prejudice, sacrifice, magic and friendship. This second book is also a similar story, but now the stakes are higher and more things happen to the characters. I think it's fair to say that The Tainted City delivers on all fronts and pleases the author's fans in every possible way.
Everybody who has read quality fantasy probably knows that worldbuilding is one of the most imaginative parts of writing and good authors have a tendency to create wondrous and believable worlds. Courtney Schafer is one of these good authors, because her worldbuilding is sophisticated and amazingly nuanced. The worldbuilding may seem minimalistic at first, but it's far from it, because careful readers will notice how perfectly the author has constructed her fantasy world.
The Tainted City reveals several new things about the world, the characters and the things which have led to the current state of affairs. The author writes surprisingly well and engagingly about Alathia and Ninavel. The political and cultural differences are handled nicely in this book. The comments of the characters reveal quite a lot about the cultural differences and complications involving political things. In this fantasy world little things mean a lot.
The Whitefire Crossing was an exciting adventure fantasy, but this second book is a bit different kind of a book, because the author focuses on elements, which add more depth to the storyline and make the story even more entertaining than before. The Tainted City has adventure elements, but it's closer to mystery fantasy than pure adventure fantasy, because the characters try to find out why the confluence has become unstable and why it causes fluctuations. I've always liked fantasy books with compelling mystery elements, so I was impressed by the author's way of writing about these things. They remind me a bit of the similar elements in Martha Wells' Ile-Rien books and Lynn Flewelling's Nightrunner books.
There are also more differences between The Whitefire Crossing and The Tainted City. The first book allowed the readers to fall in love with the beautiful Whitefire Mountains, but this book lets the readers fall in love with Ninavel and its wonders (towers, alleys, bridges, buildings, people etc). This kind of a change of scenery is welcome, because the readers have a chance to read more about Ninavel.
Courtney Schafer's prose is wonderfully descriptive and she pays a lot of attention to small details, which add depth to her fantasy world. She keeps the story flowing and adds surprises and shocks to the story when needed. She starts the story slowly, but adds fascinating plot twists and surprises along the way. I was impressed by the author's skill to continue the story in a new and fresh way, because there are authors who have had trouble continuing the story and making things interesting for the reader (second books are often "middle books" and suffer from lack of excitement etc, but in this case everything is in order).
I think that fans of Martha Wells, Bradley P. Beaulieu and Lynn Flewelling will devour this book in one sitting, because Courtney Schafer's writing style will appeal to their readers (she uses similar kind of storytelling and knows how to entertain her readers).
Now I'll write a few paragraphs about the character development and my feelings about it.
Character development is flawless and works perfectly, because the main characters are different and have their own feelings and motives. Courtney Schafer writes lovingly about the characters and makes her readers care about them.
Dev and Kiran are realistic and believable characters, because both of them have their own hopes, problems and fears of which the author writes in an interesting way. The author makes both of these characters come to life with her words. In my opinion Dev and Kiran are among the most memorable fantasy characters ever, because they continue to develop and become more interesting with each new book. In this book the author writes more about them and their past.
I think that several readers will agree with me that it's interesting to read how Dev and Kiran return to Ninavel. Their return to Ninavel isn't happy, but they do what they can and try to survive. Reading about their struggles and problems is thrilling and fascinating.
Here's a bit of information about the main characters and their situation at the beginning of the book:
Dev has promised to save Melly, but fears that he won't be able to save her. He yearns for the mountains and wants to climb them again. He also wants to help Kiran, because he feels that he's partly resposible of his situation (he feels that what he did to Kiran in Alathia is similar to what happened to Kiran in Ninavel). Kiran fears the wrath of Ruslan Khaveirin and wants to be free of him, because he knows that Ruslan doesn't give up easily. Kiran is also haunted by Alisa's death and the circumstances which led to her shocking death.
The conversations between the characters are fluent and enjoyable. For example, the moment when Kev and Cara meet again is perfect, because Dev has feelings for her. The scenes with Kiran and Ruslan are also amazing, because the author builds up tension and keeps the readers guessing what will happen next (the scene in which Kiran and Ruslan meet each other is a stunningly effective and memorable scene and the dialogue is sharp).
The feelings and actions of the characters are fully believable - it's easy to believe that both Dev and Kiran suffer, because they feel helpless against the overwhelming odds. The way the author writes about the feelings and actions of the characters is touching and compelling - she conveys the feelings to the readers with a few words and happenings and avoids melodramatic dialogue. She creates surprisingly complex (and even vulnerable) relationships between the characters.
The minor characters also have their own feelings, actions and motives, which is nice. For example, Ruslan is motivated by power and greed, and Marten is motivated by his sense of duty, because he works for the good of Alathia. Marten is an interesting character, because he seems friendly and wants to help people, but he always thinks about his duty first and then other people. Lizaveta, Cara and Lena are also interesting characters.
Alisa is also worth mentioning, because Kiran's memories and thoughts about her are touching and painful, because he misses her and partly blames himself for her death. Reading about her and her fate is fascinating (everybody who has read the first book knows what happened to her, so I won't write more about her death and the tragic events which led to it).
I think that the readers will notice how fluently and easily Courtney Schafer writes about male and female characters. Although the female characters are minor characters, they're important and nuanced characters. She pays attention to their differences and lets each character be different. I think it's also good to mention that reading about the differences between the mages and normal people is fascinating.
There are shockingly brutal scenes in this book, because certain characters try to manipulate and dominate other characters. Some of the characters are willing to make huge and unexpected sacrifices in order to get what they want. Things aren't black and white in this book, because there are several shades of grey and even good characters seem to be able to make bad choices. The good characters try to justify their doings by saying that they did what they had to do, but there are always victims who suffer from their doings. I love this kind of realistic storytelling, because it makes everything more intriguing.
Here's a few words about the narrative modes:
The author uses first-person narrative mode in Dev's chapters and third-person narrative mode in Kiran's chapters (the author used both narrative modes in the first book too). These narrative modes add freshness to the book. Using two narrative modes is difficult, but Courtney Schafer succeeds in it, because both characters are different and writing about them in this way allows the author to explore several things more deeply.
In my opinion Courtney Schafer has a sophisticated sense of humour. One of the most delightful things about this book is that Dev makes sharp and witty observations about characters. His observations feel funny and amazingly accurate - this is quite an achievement, because fantasy authors don't usually write this way about the characters. For example, Dev's negative feelings about Marten are easily noticeable.
Courtney Schafer writes about magic in an entertaining way. Her descriptions of the spells, wards and other magical things are interesting and the readers want to know more about them. I'm sure that every reader wants to know more about the confluence etc. It's great how she writes about the Alathians and their feelings towards magic - Alathians don't like magic very much and abhor blood magic. They seem to think that a person who uses blood magic is a brutal monster and must be executed immediately.
What I like most about the magical elements is that magic can't be used without paying a price for it (for example, blood mages use blood and the life force of others to fuel their spells and innocents may be affected by their spells). There are different kind of mages, wards, charms and spells in this book, so readers who are interested in these things will be in for a treat.
I'm sure that readers will notice that this book is full of surprises and revelations. This is good, because they keep the readers interested in the story. I'm not going to reveal what secrets the author reveals, but I'll mention that it was interesting to find out about the homosexuality of certain characters (sorry, I won't mention the names of these characters - you'll have to read the book in order to find out who they are ;)). It's nice that the society treats these characters respectfully and doesn't try to treat them differently because of their sexuality.
It's truly amazing how brilliantly and fascinatingly the author writes about climbing and all things related to it. It's easy to see that she loves climbing and knows how to write about it. Dev's mountain climbing skills are put to good use in this book, so the readers have a chance to read about them. (I think it's possible that certain readers may become interested in mountain climbing by reading about Dev's skills.)
Before I finish writing this review, I think I'll mention a few words about how this book can be categorized, because there are probably readers who want to know about it. The Tainted City can be categorized as sword-and-sorcery kind of fantasy, but in my opinion it's much closer to high fantasy, which is full of magic. (This book can be read as an entertaining fantasy book, but when you think about the happenings, you'll come to the conclusion that there's a lot more to this book than plot twists and revelations.)
As you may have already guessed, The Tainted City made a huge impression on me, because I praise it. The Tainted City is one of the best and most exciting fantasy books of 2012, so it deserves all the praise it gets. With this book Courtney Schafer proves that she's one of the best and most talented new fantasy authors.
The Tainted City is bigger, better, richer, more complex and more exciting that The Whitefire Crossing. Within the pages of The Tainted City the readers will find human life and feelings, magic, difficult situations and exquisite storytelling. There's a surprising amount of depth, details and happenings in this book. The author leaves several authors behind her, because she takes the storyline to a new level and adds more depth to it as happenings gather momentum. She has created a complex and deliciously dark and entertaining story which will please fans of political machinations, magical energies and difficult relationships.
I have to admit that I've become a big fan of Courtney Schafer and I can hardly wait to read The Labyrinth of Flame, because I want to know how the story ends (just like the previous book, this book left me wanting more). I'm sure that the third and final book of this trilogy will be an unforgettable and even more complex book than the previous books. Read this book and let yourself be hooked by the story!
Highly recommended!
Before I write anything else, I'll mention that during the last couple of years Night Shade Books has published exciting books from several talented speculative fiction authors. Courtney Schafer is a perfect example of such an author, because her books are excellent fantasy entertainment for adults. (I have to mention that I have lots of respect for Night Shade Books, because they have courage to publish quality fantasy, which differs from mainstream fantasy.)
I'll also mention that I think it's important to read The Whitefire Crossing before reading this book. You have to know what has happened before, because otherwise you won't understand what's going on.
--- --- ---
The first thing that comes to my mind when I think of The Tainted City and its plot structure is "Wow, what an amazing fantasy book!". I enjoyed reading the previous book,The Whitefire Crossing, but this book is so much better and more complex than The Whitefire Crossing that I loved it very much. (Writing a second book in a trilogy can be difficult and challenging, but Courtney Schafer has managed to write a book, which surpasses the first book in every area: character development is better, worldbuilding is more complex and the story has more layers than before.)
Before I write more about The Tainted City, here's a bit of information about the first book and its happenings:
In The Whitefire Crossing Dev agreed to take Kiran across the Whitefire Mountains from Ninavel to Alathia. Dev didn't know anything about Kiran and Kiran's secrets troubled him. Kiran had a good reason to keep his secrets, because his was running away from a very dangerous person who was a threat to his life. Dev and Kiran didn't trust one another, but they had to find a way to trust one another. Things didn't go as well as they had planned and they had to face several difficult and dangerous situations during and after the journey. When they reached Alathia, they soon found out that things got from bad to worse and they had to fight for their lives...
The Tainted City fantastically continues the story, which started in The Whitefire Crossing. The events take place a bit after the events of the first book. At the beginning of the book Dev is a prisoner and tries to find a way to escape. Kiran is also a tightly guarded prisoner, because the Alathian mages don't trust him (he's a blood mage and Alathians don't like blood mages). Kiran helps the mages and tries to find out how Simon Levanian crossed the Alathian border with the help of a charm. Kiran's access to magic has been blocked, but he can still sense and see magic. He's afraid Ruslan Khaveirin and desperately wants to get rid of him, because he knows that he'll never be free of him unless something is done. Dev and Kiran are given a chance to get their freedom back in excange for participating in a mission, which will take them to Ninavel. The purpose of the mission is to find out what's causing earthquakes and problems with the magic. Unfortunately Dev and Kiran don't know what's in store for them - they soon find out that betrayal is easy and even friends can be deceitful... (This is all I'll write about the story, because I don't want to reveal too much information.)
I didn't think it would be possible to raise the quality of this series, because the first book was an amazingly well written book, but I was wrong. Courtney Schafer has exceeded all my expectations with this book, because it's an astonishingly good fantasy book for adults.
The Whitefire Crossing only hinted at the possibilities of The Shattered Sigil trilogy, but The Tainted City shows the full potential of this trilogy. Courtney Schafer showed lots of promise in The Whitefire Crossing, but now she delivers an even more satisfying story, which makes the readers marvel at her imagination (she clearly has a gift for this kind of storytelling and she uses her gift wonderfully).
The first book was a sophisticated and complex story about prejudice, sacrifice, magic and friendship. This second book is also a similar story, but now the stakes are higher and more things happen to the characters. I think it's fair to say that The Tainted City delivers on all fronts and pleases the author's fans in every possible way.
Everybody who has read quality fantasy probably knows that worldbuilding is one of the most imaginative parts of writing and good authors have a tendency to create wondrous and believable worlds. Courtney Schafer is one of these good authors, because her worldbuilding is sophisticated and amazingly nuanced. The worldbuilding may seem minimalistic at first, but it's far from it, because careful readers will notice how perfectly the author has constructed her fantasy world.
The Tainted City reveals several new things about the world, the characters and the things which have led to the current state of affairs. The author writes surprisingly well and engagingly about Alathia and Ninavel. The political and cultural differences are handled nicely in this book. The comments of the characters reveal quite a lot about the cultural differences and complications involving political things. In this fantasy world little things mean a lot.
The Whitefire Crossing was an exciting adventure fantasy, but this second book is a bit different kind of a book, because the author focuses on elements, which add more depth to the storyline and make the story even more entertaining than before. The Tainted City has adventure elements, but it's closer to mystery fantasy than pure adventure fantasy, because the characters try to find out why the confluence has become unstable and why it causes fluctuations. I've always liked fantasy books with compelling mystery elements, so I was impressed by the author's way of writing about these things. They remind me a bit of the similar elements in Martha Wells' Ile-Rien books and Lynn Flewelling's Nightrunner books.
There are also more differences between The Whitefire Crossing and The Tainted City. The first book allowed the readers to fall in love with the beautiful Whitefire Mountains, but this book lets the readers fall in love with Ninavel and its wonders (towers, alleys, bridges, buildings, people etc). This kind of a change of scenery is welcome, because the readers have a chance to read more about Ninavel.
Courtney Schafer's prose is wonderfully descriptive and she pays a lot of attention to small details, which add depth to her fantasy world. She keeps the story flowing and adds surprises and shocks to the story when needed. She starts the story slowly, but adds fascinating plot twists and surprises along the way. I was impressed by the author's skill to continue the story in a new and fresh way, because there are authors who have had trouble continuing the story and making things interesting for the reader (second books are often "middle books" and suffer from lack of excitement etc, but in this case everything is in order).
I think that fans of Martha Wells, Bradley P. Beaulieu and Lynn Flewelling will devour this book in one sitting, because Courtney Schafer's writing style will appeal to their readers (she uses similar kind of storytelling and knows how to entertain her readers).
Now I'll write a few paragraphs about the character development and my feelings about it.
Character development is flawless and works perfectly, because the main characters are different and have their own feelings and motives. Courtney Schafer writes lovingly about the characters and makes her readers care about them.
Dev and Kiran are realistic and believable characters, because both of them have their own hopes, problems and fears of which the author writes in an interesting way. The author makes both of these characters come to life with her words. In my opinion Dev and Kiran are among the most memorable fantasy characters ever, because they continue to develop and become more interesting with each new book. In this book the author writes more about them and their past.
I think that several readers will agree with me that it's interesting to read how Dev and Kiran return to Ninavel. Their return to Ninavel isn't happy, but they do what they can and try to survive. Reading about their struggles and problems is thrilling and fascinating.
Here's a bit of information about the main characters and their situation at the beginning of the book:
Dev has promised to save Melly, but fears that he won't be able to save her. He yearns for the mountains and wants to climb them again. He also wants to help Kiran, because he feels that he's partly resposible of his situation (he feels that what he did to Kiran in Alathia is similar to what happened to Kiran in Ninavel). Kiran fears the wrath of Ruslan Khaveirin and wants to be free of him, because he knows that Ruslan doesn't give up easily. Kiran is also haunted by Alisa's death and the circumstances which led to her shocking death.
The conversations between the characters are fluent and enjoyable. For example, the moment when Kev and Cara meet again is perfect, because Dev has feelings for her. The scenes with Kiran and Ruslan are also amazing, because the author builds up tension and keeps the readers guessing what will happen next (the scene in which Kiran and Ruslan meet each other is a stunningly effective and memorable scene and the dialogue is sharp).
The feelings and actions of the characters are fully believable - it's easy to believe that both Dev and Kiran suffer, because they feel helpless against the overwhelming odds. The way the author writes about the feelings and actions of the characters is touching and compelling - she conveys the feelings to the readers with a few words and happenings and avoids melodramatic dialogue. She creates surprisingly complex (and even vulnerable) relationships between the characters.
The minor characters also have their own feelings, actions and motives, which is nice. For example, Ruslan is motivated by power and greed, and Marten is motivated by his sense of duty, because he works for the good of Alathia. Marten is an interesting character, because he seems friendly and wants to help people, but he always thinks about his duty first and then other people. Lizaveta, Cara and Lena are also interesting characters.
Alisa is also worth mentioning, because Kiran's memories and thoughts about her are touching and painful, because he misses her and partly blames himself for her death. Reading about her and her fate is fascinating (everybody who has read the first book knows what happened to her, so I won't write more about her death and the tragic events which led to it).
I think that the readers will notice how fluently and easily Courtney Schafer writes about male and female characters. Although the female characters are minor characters, they're important and nuanced characters. She pays attention to their differences and lets each character be different. I think it's also good to mention that reading about the differences between the mages and normal people is fascinating.
There are shockingly brutal scenes in this book, because certain characters try to manipulate and dominate other characters. Some of the characters are willing to make huge and unexpected sacrifices in order to get what they want. Things aren't black and white in this book, because there are several shades of grey and even good characters seem to be able to make bad choices. The good characters try to justify their doings by saying that they did what they had to do, but there are always victims who suffer from their doings. I love this kind of realistic storytelling, because it makes everything more intriguing.
Here's a few words about the narrative modes:
The author uses first-person narrative mode in Dev's chapters and third-person narrative mode in Kiran's chapters (the author used both narrative modes in the first book too). These narrative modes add freshness to the book. Using two narrative modes is difficult, but Courtney Schafer succeeds in it, because both characters are different and writing about them in this way allows the author to explore several things more deeply.
In my opinion Courtney Schafer has a sophisticated sense of humour. One of the most delightful things about this book is that Dev makes sharp and witty observations about characters. His observations feel funny and amazingly accurate - this is quite an achievement, because fantasy authors don't usually write this way about the characters. For example, Dev's negative feelings about Marten are easily noticeable.
Courtney Schafer writes about magic in an entertaining way. Her descriptions of the spells, wards and other magical things are interesting and the readers want to know more about them. I'm sure that every reader wants to know more about the confluence etc. It's great how she writes about the Alathians and their feelings towards magic - Alathians don't like magic very much and abhor blood magic. They seem to think that a person who uses blood magic is a brutal monster and must be executed immediately.
What I like most about the magical elements is that magic can't be used without paying a price for it (for example, blood mages use blood and the life force of others to fuel their spells and innocents may be affected by their spells). There are different kind of mages, wards, charms and spells in this book, so readers who are interested in these things will be in for a treat.
I'm sure that readers will notice that this book is full of surprises and revelations. This is good, because they keep the readers interested in the story. I'm not going to reveal what secrets the author reveals, but I'll mention that it was interesting to find out about the homosexuality of certain characters (sorry, I won't mention the names of these characters - you'll have to read the book in order to find out who they are ;)). It's nice that the society treats these characters respectfully and doesn't try to treat them differently because of their sexuality.
It's truly amazing how brilliantly and fascinatingly the author writes about climbing and all things related to it. It's easy to see that she loves climbing and knows how to write about it. Dev's mountain climbing skills are put to good use in this book, so the readers have a chance to read about them. (I think it's possible that certain readers may become interested in mountain climbing by reading about Dev's skills.)
Before I finish writing this review, I think I'll mention a few words about how this book can be categorized, because there are probably readers who want to know about it. The Tainted City can be categorized as sword-and-sorcery kind of fantasy, but in my opinion it's much closer to high fantasy, which is full of magic. (This book can be read as an entertaining fantasy book, but when you think about the happenings, you'll come to the conclusion that there's a lot more to this book than plot twists and revelations.)
As you may have already guessed, The Tainted City made a huge impression on me, because I praise it. The Tainted City is one of the best and most exciting fantasy books of 2012, so it deserves all the praise it gets. With this book Courtney Schafer proves that she's one of the best and most talented new fantasy authors.
The Tainted City is bigger, better, richer, more complex and more exciting that The Whitefire Crossing. Within the pages of The Tainted City the readers will find human life and feelings, magic, difficult situations and exquisite storytelling. There's a surprising amount of depth, details and happenings in this book. The author leaves several authors behind her, because she takes the storyline to a new level and adds more depth to it as happenings gather momentum. She has created a complex and deliciously dark and entertaining story which will please fans of political machinations, magical energies and difficult relationships.
I have to admit that I've become a big fan of Courtney Schafer and I can hardly wait to read The Labyrinth of Flame, because I want to know how the story ends (just like the previous book, this book left me wanting more). I'm sure that the third and final book of this trilogy will be an unforgettable and even more complex book than the previous books. Read this book and let yourself be hooked by the story!
Highly recommended!
June 30, 2017
Solid, fun book. I do so enjoy Courtney's characters.
This time round we have a race to save the city, working with the deadly enemies. It's actually rather interesting seeing the interactions between the two groups, and how Ruslan is always trying to screw the others over. Also, the climbing. The climbing! It's been a while since I read the first book, and there was a Huge focus on it towards the end. As a climber, really appreciated that section. Sweaty palms for daaaays. The ending has me pumped for the next one.
My one peeve about the book was that there were too many times were the characters went "and then they explained everything that happened". Like, there were a lot of them...
This time round we have a race to save the city, working with the deadly enemies. It's actually rather interesting seeing the interactions between the two groups, and how Ruslan is always trying to screw the others over. Also, the climbing. The climbing! It's been a while since I read the first book, and there was a Huge focus on it towards the end. As a climber, really appreciated that section. Sweaty palms for daaaays. The ending has me pumped for the next one.
My one peeve about the book was that there were too many times were the characters went "and then they explained everything that happened". Like, there were a lot of them...
February 4, 2013
a fun sequel to one of favorite newly discovered authors last year. the world is vividly drawn and the two PoV characters, particularly, Dev are lots of fun. again, i was kinda baffled by the magical system, but not so much that i didn't greatly enjoy the book. i'm very much looking forward to where schafer takes the series next.
August 30, 2025
Another excellent entry, full of twists and turns. Will keep it at 4 stars, I think, though it's more 4,5.
(hoping book 3 will be be rerated higher)
(hoping book 3 will be be rerated higher)
October 14, 2012
I really enjoyed this book, it's definitely a great follow up to the Whitefire Crossing. However, I think that I probably liked this one a little less than the first book, mainly because I didn't love the new villain, and parts of the story feel a little like a rehash. Still, I'm really looking forward to the third entry of this series. For this story, other than the beginning plot device to get Kiran and Dev back into Ninavel, I loved the plot in this book. It's really nothing I've seen done in a fantasy novel, where what would happen if everything a character did in the first book of the series (and what led up to the beginning of the first book), events that completely changed who the character was, were wiped from the character's mind? This creates some really cool events, where you get to see Kiran with his Blood Mage family of Ruslan, Lisaveta, and Mikhail in a facsimile of what they were like before. You also get to see what Kiran could become, if he embraced the murderous power of being a Blood Mage. There were only two things I didn't love about the story, and that was how it relied a little too much on putting people in danger for Dev to save them, or Zelda/Princess Peach Syndrome. The second being that by the end of the story, the characters are at a relatively similar place as the beginning of the book, there isn't too much conflict resolution.
For the characters, I loved everything that was done with them. The character development of Kiran is really interesting, where he has much of his memory missing, and this new version of himself is developing in a tangent to where he developed in the first book. With Dev, there isn't too much development, but I loved when he met and spent more time with his bitch of an ex-girlfriend that made him desperate enough in the first book to take on the escort mission, along with Melly and Cara. However, with Cara it was a little annoying how he kept trying to protect her by getting her to hide or run away, something I'm sure that a character like Cara would hate, however there is some redemption here leading up to the climax of the book. With the new main villain (other than Ruslan) he was effective as just some unbeatable force, but the attempt to humanize and give him a motive was a little weak. This is a slight spoiler, but the basic idea here was that he came to Ninavel with his wife and child, but after the child just happened to bump into a Mage, his family was murdered by the Mage without any consequence. That part is fine and really fits the world and it's a good motive for a realistic villain, but what we see of his reasoning doesn't really make sense. Where because of the actions of one mage, he slaughters Tainted children to gather enough power to destroy the confluence, which would not only kill every Mage linked to its power, it would also probably result in the slow death of everyone else in the city. As without the Mages summoning water, the entire populace (especially the poor) would all die of dehydration, and most of them probably wouldn't be able to flee to another city since it's pretty secluded. I mean I just couldn't wrap my head around his reasoning, it could make sense if the guy went crazy after his family was killed, but nothing written in the book implied that. Still, this villain provided a nice twist with who was helping him, one that I thought might happen, but I was far from certain and did come as a surprise.
For the world building, there wasn't too much here that wasn't already established in the first book, but the reader does get to see more of the magic, and the unique use of channels to power large spells, and there's the confirmation that demons are real in this world. The demons aren't clearly defined, but they are apparently evil, powerful, and will probably be one of the main threats in the third book. The writing in Tainted City is again very well done, causing the book to be a real page turner with lots of rise and fall that drives the story and reader on. I really enjoyed the two different uses of narratives for the two main characters, as it really helps differentiate between the two.
Overall, I really loved the book, and I'm disappointed that I'll probably have to wait a year for the next one to see the conclusion of the trilogy. You could read this one by itself, but you'd probably lose a lot of meaning in the plot of this book, so especially with the first book being free atm on Kindle, a new reader should start with Whitefire Crossing. I'd definitely recommend this book/series to any fantasy fan, and the fantasy might be light enough that even fans of other genres should love it too. With this book and the first entry of the series, Courtney Schafter has probably become one of my favorite new authors, and I'm anxiously anticipating her further works in the Fantasy genre.
For the characters, I loved everything that was done with them. The character development of Kiran is really interesting, where he has much of his memory missing, and this new version of himself is developing in a tangent to where he developed in the first book. With Dev, there isn't too much development, but I loved when he met and spent more time with his bitch of an ex-girlfriend that made him desperate enough in the first book to take on the escort mission, along with Melly and Cara. However, with Cara it was a little annoying how he kept trying to protect her by getting her to hide or run away, something I'm sure that a character like Cara would hate, however there is some redemption here leading up to the climax of the book. With the new main villain (other than Ruslan) he was effective as just some unbeatable force, but the attempt to humanize and give him a motive was a little weak. This is a slight spoiler, but the basic idea here was that he came to Ninavel with his wife and child, but after the child just happened to bump into a Mage, his family was murdered by the Mage without any consequence. That part is fine and really fits the world and it's a good motive for a realistic villain, but what we see of his reasoning doesn't really make sense. Where because of the actions of one mage, he slaughters Tainted children to gather enough power to destroy the confluence, which would not only kill every Mage linked to its power, it would also probably result in the slow death of everyone else in the city. As without the Mages summoning water, the entire populace (especially the poor) would all die of dehydration, and most of them probably wouldn't be able to flee to another city since it's pretty secluded. I mean I just couldn't wrap my head around his reasoning, it could make sense if the guy went crazy after his family was killed, but nothing written in the book implied that. Still, this villain provided a nice twist with who was helping him, one that I thought might happen, but I was far from certain and did come as a surprise.
For the world building, there wasn't too much here that wasn't already established in the first book, but the reader does get to see more of the magic, and the unique use of channels to power large spells, and there's the confirmation that demons are real in this world. The demons aren't clearly defined, but they are apparently evil, powerful, and will probably be one of the main threats in the third book. The writing in Tainted City is again very well done, causing the book to be a real page turner with lots of rise and fall that drives the story and reader on. I really enjoyed the two different uses of narratives for the two main characters, as it really helps differentiate between the two.
Overall, I really loved the book, and I'm disappointed that I'll probably have to wait a year for the next one to see the conclusion of the trilogy. You could read this one by itself, but you'd probably lose a lot of meaning in the plot of this book, so especially with the first book being free atm on Kindle, a new reader should start with Whitefire Crossing. I'd definitely recommend this book/series to any fantasy fan, and the fantasy might be light enough that even fans of other genres should love it too. With this book and the first entry of the series, Courtney Schafter has probably become one of my favorite new authors, and I'm anxiously anticipating her further works in the Fantasy genre.
March 29, 2017
That book. Was really really good.
Intriguing magic system, fully-fleshed characters, plot twists that I never saw coming, and never a dull moment. We once again see the story from Dev and Kiran's perspectives, but there is so much more than them. From the Alathians to Ruslan and co., everyone had a common goal but a different agenda.
It feels nice to read a book where the entire plot is not Good Guys vs Bad Guys, Good Guys do good things for the Greater Good, Bad Guys do bad things because that's what Bad Guys do. No one in this book is 100% good. There is no boy scouts, no one rushing to sacrifice themselves because that's what's expected of the good guys, to place the goal before their own needs and wishes.
It could so easily have been more black and white, but I thank the Gods it wasn't, because it's in the different shades of its characters that this book really stands out. That and the non-stop action and twists. Every time I thought the story was going to go a certain way, the plot took a different turn. My only critiques would be the total lack of levity (don't go in there expecting a laugh, these characters are allowed no fun, there is no time for jokes because murders), and the fact that the villain of this book wasn't as well-rounded and as fleshed out as the others. We didn't learn much about him besides his basic motivation and what pushed him to it. And while those reasons were valid (because mages can be real dicks), he was more of a means to an end, really. But it worked, and served to pave the ground to the next Bad Guy, who's not really a guy. But I won't say anything else, because you know, spoilers.
All in all, a wonderful book that I can't recommend enough.
Intriguing magic system, fully-fleshed characters, plot twists that I never saw coming, and never a dull moment. We once again see the story from Dev and Kiran's perspectives, but there is so much more than them. From the Alathians to Ruslan and co., everyone had a common goal but a different agenda.
It feels nice to read a book where the entire plot is not Good Guys vs Bad Guys, Good Guys do good things for the Greater Good, Bad Guys do bad things because that's what Bad Guys do. No one in this book is 100% good. There is no boy scouts, no one rushing to sacrifice themselves because that's what's expected of the good guys, to place the goal before their own needs and wishes.
It could so easily have been more black and white, but I thank the Gods it wasn't, because it's in the different shades of its characters that this book really stands out. That and the non-stop action and twists. Every time I thought the story was going to go a certain way, the plot took a different turn. My only critiques would be the total lack of levity (don't go in there expecting a laugh, these characters are allowed no fun, there is no time for jokes because murders), and the fact that the villain of this book wasn't as well-rounded and as fleshed out as the others. We didn't learn much about him besides his basic motivation and what pushed him to it. And while those reasons were valid (because mages can be real dicks), he was more of a means to an end, really. But it worked, and served to pave the ground to the next Bad Guy, who's not really a guy. But I won't say anything else, because you know, spoilers.
All in all, a wonderful book that I can't recommend enough.
March 30, 2013
I've forgotten how much I love this characters. The second I read Dev and Kiran POVs again I've been captured again by them. The two different POVs (1st POV for Dev and 3rd POV for Kiran) still work so good for their stories and experiences.
Kiran, oh, Kiran. I was screaming 'NO' out loud when Marten handed you over to Ruslan and to think what you had to go through until Ruslan ereased your memory? And everything after? The blackmail by Ruslan? Your love for Mikail and his betrayal? *wibbles*
And Dev? Having to witness Kiran being handed over and later on everything with Melly? Meeting Jylla again? Dealing and having to work together with Marten while trying to save Kiran? *meep*
*hugs both so much*
I really like where the stroy took these two and what they had to go through. There were some surprises and twists (*gnah* I really don't like it when a character I like turns out to be (one of) the bad guy(s).) I didn't see coming and it was a lot of fun to read this book.
I only have two things I didn't like:
1) That Kiran killed Stevan. I really wish that that wasn't necessary and that another way could have been found. I was so happy about this book and everything and then this happend and it just took some of the enjoyment away. :/
2) I'm not quite sure that I'm okay with the ending. Kiran being a temple child of Demons, addicted to a drug that will kill him, on the run, not having his memories back and having made some decisions that changed him and turned him into a different Kiran from the one I fell in love with... :/
Other than that - I'm looking forward to the third book even though I couldn't find a release date for it.
Kiran, oh, Kiran. I was screaming 'NO' out loud when Marten handed you over to Ruslan and to think what you had to go through until Ruslan ereased your memory? And everything after? The blackmail by Ruslan? Your love for Mikail and his betrayal? *wibbles*
And Dev? Having to witness Kiran being handed over and later on everything with Melly? Meeting Jylla again? Dealing and having to work together with Marten while trying to save Kiran? *meep*
*hugs both so much*
I really like where the stroy took these two and what they had to go through. There were some surprises and twists (*gnah* I really don't like it when a character I like turns out to be (one of) the bad guy(s).) I didn't see coming and it was a lot of fun to read this book.
I only have two things I didn't like:
1) That Kiran killed Stevan. I really wish that that wasn't necessary and that another way could have been found. I was so happy about this book and everything and then this happend and it just took some of the enjoyment away. :/
2) I'm not quite sure that I'm okay with the ending. Kiran being a temple child of Demons, addicted to a drug that will kill him, on the run, not having his memories back and having made some decisions that changed him and turned him into a different Kiran from the one I fell in love with... :/
Other than that - I'm looking forward to the third book even though I couldn't find a release date for it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 30, 2012
I went immediately to this book after finishing the first in the series, "The Whitefire Crossing", because I loved the first book and I had to know what happened next. I wasn't disappointed.
I thought the author did a great job of avoiding second book syndrome, when the plot seems to drag and it's mostly a set-up for the conclusion. At this point, I have no idea how many future books will be written in this series (I assume there's at least one more) and I'm ready to read them all.
The tone is totally changed with this book. Instead of fleeing through the mountains, the characters mostly stay in Ninavel, desert city of mages. I got some twists I didn't see coming, which I won't spoil for a change, and the book became about finding information and politicking for what the characters wanted. Tension remained high.
The folks who seemed to have been set up as the "good guys" in the first book end up being very much shades of gray. Martennan, in particular, was willing to let ends justify means, although his ultimate motivation is still unsure. Dev hated him and distrusted him the whole book, which felt unusual to me with this sort of plot, but it worked out in a very interesting way.
I'm on board with this author and am more than ready to read the next book.
I thought the author did a great job of avoiding second book syndrome, when the plot seems to drag and it's mostly a set-up for the conclusion. At this point, I have no idea how many future books will be written in this series (I assume there's at least one more) and I'm ready to read them all.
The tone is totally changed with this book. Instead of fleeing through the mountains, the characters mostly stay in Ninavel, desert city of mages. I got some twists I didn't see coming, which I won't spoil for a change, and the book became about finding information and politicking for what the characters wanted. Tension remained high.
The folks who seemed to have been set up as the "good guys" in the first book end up being very much shades of gray. Martennan, in particular, was willing to let ends justify means, although his ultimate motivation is still unsure. Dev hated him and distrusted him the whole book, which felt unusual to me with this sort of plot, but it worked out in a very interesting way.
I'm on board with this author and am more than ready to read the next book.
January 22, 2013
I was having a grumpy day... one of those where you struggle to pull yourself out of that random funk. After some listless wandering around, I picked up The Tainted City. Now, I loved The Whitefire Crossing, and you know how it's sometimes scary to read a second book in a series because you're afraid it won't be as awesome as the first? Fear not! The Tainted City was *even more awesome*! It totally de-grumpified me... and also kept me up waaaay too late several nights in a row.
There's a bit less climbing/mountaineering in The Tainted City, but the plot is wonderfully twisty, the reveals surprising, and the characters compelling and complex. The author takes some cool risks in this book, which definitely pushes it head-and-shoulders above the ordinary.
Love this book!
There's a bit less climbing/mountaineering in The Tainted City, but the plot is wonderfully twisty, the reveals surprising, and the characters compelling and complex. The author takes some cool risks in this book, which definitely pushes it head-and-shoulders above the ordinary.
Love this book!
February 24, 2013
As great as the first book in this series is, this one is at least as good it not better. At the end of the first book, Kiran is a "captive" of their Althanian hosts and Dev has been sentenced to 10 years labor in the mines. All of a sudden, they find themselves back on the road to Ninival to help find out why there is an instability in the confluence.
Ms. Schafer has spun another wonderful tale of magic and adventure. My only complaint is she left me hanging!! Hurry up with the next book in the series.
Ms. Schafer has spun another wonderful tale of magic and adventure. My only complaint is she left me hanging!! Hurry up with the next book in the series.
March 3, 2016
The pacing here was a little disjointed. Individually, I enjoyed the various sections: Dev in the mines, the hunt for information in Ninavel, the return to the Whitefires. (The mountain climbing descriptions are as always a joy to read.) But they felt like individual pieces of scenery; I never quite got a sense of the world as one connected place. Still, the ending raises a lot of questions about the world; maybe in answering them, the third book will bring things together more holistically.
January 8, 2013
Schafer is a good writer, as much as her world building isn't as exciting as many of the fantasy authors out there, this is an impressive book. There isn't a drawn out explanation of the world, but overall I'm impressed. This is a solid book with great characters. The reality is that most writers in this genre suffer from a little too much writing excitement and tend to dump words onto a page.
May 28, 2021
Read a review somewhere which mentioned that this series gets tighter in the subsequent parts. So I obviously had to re-read the first part (Whitefire Crossing) which I had read a long long time ago.
So first, Whitefire crossing - 5 stars, who knew a book crossing heists with mountain climbing could be so good. Loved the "bromance" between Dev and Kiran, the questions getting answered over time, the mountain climbing sequences and the subsequent sort-of-heist after Dev's conscience kicks in. It also helped that the author gave Dev a humane reason to resort to smuggling.
So Tainted City, was it as tight as promised? Yes. First, the author had a good plot/story, which many second parts of good first books don't have. The genre slightly changed to thriller, but don't worry - the author still had a mountaineering scene. But the characters are definitely much greyer than the first part. Each one is scheming, double-crossing, withholding information and making deals left, right and center. At least in Dev's case, his priority is still the same, so the characters don't come off as unpredictable, they just take some dubious decisions.
Good book and good second part, but the book lacks the innocence that made the first book amazing and its characters endearing.
So first, Whitefire crossing - 5 stars, who knew a book crossing heists with mountain climbing could be so good. Loved the "bromance" between Dev and Kiran, the questions getting answered over time, the mountain climbing sequences and the subsequent sort-of-heist after Dev's conscience kicks in. It also helped that the author gave Dev a humane reason to resort to smuggling.
So Tainted City, was it as tight as promised? Yes. First, the author had a good plot/story, which many second parts of good first books don't have. The genre slightly changed to thriller, but don't worry - the author still had a mountaineering scene. But the characters are definitely much greyer than the first part. Each one is scheming, double-crossing, withholding information and making deals left, right and center. At least in Dev's case, his priority is still the same, so the characters don't come off as unpredictable, they just take some dubious decisions.
Good book and good second part, but the book lacks the innocence that made the first book amazing and its characters endearing.
June 25, 2017
Well things are "interesting" for Dev and Kiran in this book. I wish I could give it 5 stars as have many other reviewers. I had trouble this time with the near-constant info-dump. Dev anticipates an action and then various mental conversations and/or backflashes happen and then 3 pages later the action finally occurs (and this reader sometimes had lost the context of the action and had to backtrack to find out whatthehell was happening). With all the political and psychological machinations (as well as the blatant betrayals) I found it amazing that our heroes survive with whole skins at the end of the book. Although in Kiran's case....
All in all a rousing good read and I am really hoping Book 3 delivers in kind.
Oh. Did I mention I finished THIS one at 1:30 AM?
All in all a rousing good read and I am really hoping Book 3 delivers in kind.
Oh. Did I mention I finished THIS one at 1:30 AM?
June 3, 2024
Second book, delightfully rock solid! I do not understand why Shafer's books aren't more known. I will recommend them to everyone I know of the fantastic persuasion, too bad they're so hard to get a hold of.
October 12, 2013
You can read the full review over at The Founding Fields:
http://thefoundingfields.com/2013/10/...
Shadowhawk reviews the second novel in the Shattered Sigil adventure fantasy trilogy.
“A brilliant sequel to what was a brilliant debut.” ~Shadowhawk, The Founding Fields
When I read The Whitefire Crossing last year, the first book in the Shattered Sigil trilogy, I had thought that adventure fantasy was a somewhat new thing. But its not, exactly. A lot of novels that can be called heroic fantasy fall well within the umbrella of the term “adventure fantasy”. Barely a year into reviewing novels and comics, it was a new term for me however, and so when I reviewed The Whitefire Crossing, I was approaching the term from that context. You can read the review here.
Regardless of that term and its definition and reach, the novel itself proved to be very good. It had some great characters, some really good exploration of magic, and a fun story that I enjoyed thoroughly. Sadly, it took me more than a year to get around to reading the sequel, The Tainted City, and so I deprived myself of these same characters and this setting for that long. Quite glad that I finally got around to it. Gladder still that I enjoyed the sequel as much as I did the debut.
After everything that happened in the first novel, things are rather dire for both Kiran and Dev and they are about to get diverse. Courtney leads in with a really stark and grim depiction of their current status in Alathia, and it shows how bad things really are for them. Both are distrusted by their… hosts, but there is little they can do about it since their hands are essentially tied and there is no way out unless either of them takes a drastic measure. But salvation, of sorts is at hands. The price being that they have to return to Ninavel and help the Alathian mages discover just what is going on in the city with all the magic happen-stance since whatever happens in Ninavel, especially the events of such magnitude as are occurring at the time, has huge ramifications for Alathia as well. Of course, there are plenty of reasons why neither Kiran nor Dev wish to return to the city but they have no choice. So starts off another chapter in the lives of these two characters as they must overcome some serious adversity once again.
What I liked most about these characters was how consistent they are throughout and how well they match up with their depiction in The Whitefire Crossing. This is a rather key point as sometimes from book to book an author loses track of how some characters, especially the protagonists, are portrayed and things get confusing. Courtney however stays on the right path and she writes both Kiran and Dev just as I remember from last year. Obviously, the two of them changed in all the time that they’ve spent in Alathia of late, so they aren’t exactly the same characters as I read in the debut, but that’s just fine. There is ample room for character growth and Courtney does not miss a single beat in that regard. Whether the first page or the last page or any other page in between, these characters continue to develop and grow as they undergo one trial after another. Really fun to see that entire process.
We also get to see a lot more of the secondary characters this time around, such as Mikhail, Lizveta, Ruslan, Cara and the others. In the previous novel, scenes involving these characters were limited since the main portion of the story took place while the protagonists were trekking through the Whitefire mountains as part of a caravan. This time however, the location is static: the city of Ninavel. So you could say that the story is very grounded in that respect. And this approach allows the author to explore a completely different part of the world that she created in her debut. Before it was the the sheer charisma of a mountain trek, this time it is the “wretched hive of scum and villainy” that we are concerned with. We finally learn more about Dev’s background, especially his relationship with a fellow thief that ended in disaster for him and caused him to take on the job to smuggle Kiran into Alathia in The Whitefire Crossing.
Each character, like before, is able to stand apart from the others. Each character brings something different to the novel: a piece of the greater puzzle, a mystery, motivations, action, and so on. Distinct characters with distinct attitudes and personalities. And there really is a lot of diversity here in that regard. I loved every bit of it. Even Dev’s traitorous ex-flame. Or Ruslan for that matter, and he is as cold and calculating and ruthless as they come, that’s for sure. An unrepentant *evil* character you just love to hate.
http://thefoundingfields.com/2013/10/...
Shadowhawk reviews the second novel in the Shattered Sigil adventure fantasy trilogy.
“A brilliant sequel to what was a brilliant debut.” ~Shadowhawk, The Founding Fields
When I read The Whitefire Crossing last year, the first book in the Shattered Sigil trilogy, I had thought that adventure fantasy was a somewhat new thing. But its not, exactly. A lot of novels that can be called heroic fantasy fall well within the umbrella of the term “adventure fantasy”. Barely a year into reviewing novels and comics, it was a new term for me however, and so when I reviewed The Whitefire Crossing, I was approaching the term from that context. You can read the review here.
Regardless of that term and its definition and reach, the novel itself proved to be very good. It had some great characters, some really good exploration of magic, and a fun story that I enjoyed thoroughly. Sadly, it took me more than a year to get around to reading the sequel, The Tainted City, and so I deprived myself of these same characters and this setting for that long. Quite glad that I finally got around to it. Gladder still that I enjoyed the sequel as much as I did the debut.
After everything that happened in the first novel, things are rather dire for both Kiran and Dev and they are about to get diverse. Courtney leads in with a really stark and grim depiction of their current status in Alathia, and it shows how bad things really are for them. Both are distrusted by their… hosts, but there is little they can do about it since their hands are essentially tied and there is no way out unless either of them takes a drastic measure. But salvation, of sorts is at hands. The price being that they have to return to Ninavel and help the Alathian mages discover just what is going on in the city with all the magic happen-stance since whatever happens in Ninavel, especially the events of such magnitude as are occurring at the time, has huge ramifications for Alathia as well. Of course, there are plenty of reasons why neither Kiran nor Dev wish to return to the city but they have no choice. So starts off another chapter in the lives of these two characters as they must overcome some serious adversity once again.
What I liked most about these characters was how consistent they are throughout and how well they match up with their depiction in The Whitefire Crossing. This is a rather key point as sometimes from book to book an author loses track of how some characters, especially the protagonists, are portrayed and things get confusing. Courtney however stays on the right path and she writes both Kiran and Dev just as I remember from last year. Obviously, the two of them changed in all the time that they’ve spent in Alathia of late, so they aren’t exactly the same characters as I read in the debut, but that’s just fine. There is ample room for character growth and Courtney does not miss a single beat in that regard. Whether the first page or the last page or any other page in between, these characters continue to develop and grow as they undergo one trial after another. Really fun to see that entire process.
We also get to see a lot more of the secondary characters this time around, such as Mikhail, Lizveta, Ruslan, Cara and the others. In the previous novel, scenes involving these characters were limited since the main portion of the story took place while the protagonists were trekking through the Whitefire mountains as part of a caravan. This time however, the location is static: the city of Ninavel. So you could say that the story is very grounded in that respect. And this approach allows the author to explore a completely different part of the world that she created in her debut. Before it was the the sheer charisma of a mountain trek, this time it is the “wretched hive of scum and villainy” that we are concerned with. We finally learn more about Dev’s background, especially his relationship with a fellow thief that ended in disaster for him and caused him to take on the job to smuggle Kiran into Alathia in The Whitefire Crossing.
Each character, like before, is able to stand apart from the others. Each character brings something different to the novel: a piece of the greater puzzle, a mystery, motivations, action, and so on. Distinct characters with distinct attitudes and personalities. And there really is a lot of diversity here in that regard. I loved every bit of it. Even Dev’s traitorous ex-flame. Or Ruslan for that matter, and he is as cold and calculating and ruthless as they come, that’s for sure. An unrepentant *evil* character you just love to hate.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 97 reviews