Reviews and Comments

Picked up The Vagrant by Peter Newman after the interesting AMA at r/fantasy last week, and boy was I lucky. I loved reading it, finishing in 2 sittings.

Fast paced, in a world so bleak yet interesting, brutal yet heart-full: a story I couldn't categorize but could enjoy. The hope, the mission, the side characters that are equally interesting in their own way and last but far from begin the least - the comedy are all that made it stood out to being one of my favorite reads.

Peter Newman's writing is one that I should say something about: an omnipresent tense with viewpoints that gets juggled among the players in the current scene is very unique and you can see the intelligence of the writer here. You will not be spoon fed. You need to give it your attention. But that doesn't mean you need to follow each word like in the novels of Malazan or Jean Le Flambeur books, and that I think is what makes this book reach a sweet spot to keep the interest piqued at the same time the story move fast paced.

Another aspect I loved was how the author expanded the world in drips instead of pages sprawling with geography text. I did not observe this until I was around 80% of the book and thinking to myself how fluid the writing was and how much of the world I knew without having to crawl through paragraphs after paragraphs of world building.

Goat - I shouldn't end the review without saying something about the choice of pet the Vagrant has. A goat. This is the first book I've read a MC's pet being a goat and not the go-to pet of choice of a dog. This girl chews and chews and chews and hits scathing look of violence and tries to help in altercations by pulling the leash, bringing down it's holder. She was well written and the crumbs of fun littered around the text makes for much enjoyable read.

All in all a 5/5, a breadth of fresh air in the days of door-stopper epic bleak fantasy. Will pick the 2nd book up asap.

Probably the story to which I became most addicted to. The sentence flows, story unfolds, characters leave their mark in your heart, mystery bobbles, eeriness creeps, fear engulfs, beauty of the city enchants, the setting amplifies an experience that is sure to stay with you long.
The book, though it's translation, still has same narrative quality like the 1st volume, though that had what I'd call the most beautiful friendship put on paper, The Angel's game has people befriending and holding on due to respect and love and longing. The twist in this story is .. I'd spoil if I type it here. Go ahead and read and become a fan of his works.
I'd just want to add two qualities in the story that I was very attracted to - one the mystery and two - Barcelona. The author has wrote without overusing adjectives and without supplicating towards the city through paragraphs of sweet prose but has weaved the story beautifully around what 'happens' that there is no dry passage or 'having to push yourself' through. I'd love if he sets more stories in this literary universe of the cemetery of forgotten books.
Now on to the third novel.