Silent No More

This was exactly the type of romp I needed to end the year. Short has created an engaging, hilarious, dark, fun fantasy in a way not many can. 

First, worldbuilding. Set in a land much like post-WW2 Germany, the book starts as a war ends, and the main character, Viktor, is on the losing end. The general feel of the world is one of deconstruction. The war has affected everyone, and the nation of Reinvald is set to try to rebuild what it lost during the war. While not being overcomplicated, the worldbuilding was immersive, and from the outset, you get a good feel for the setting of the story. The dwarves were viewed somewhat like the Jews would have been in post-war Germany, if not quite that badly. The opening felt like Short was a fan of World War 2, honestly, and I wasn’t complaining. 

Second, the magic system. Magic users are referred to as tumorlings, which is generally a derogatory term in Reinvald. It references the way the user, when drawing on their magic, starts to manifest the magic itself. Meaning, for example, using Dragon magic – growing scales, or wings, or horns, the more magic you use. There are different Wells that users can draw from, and different types of ways to manifest it. There is seer magic, dragon magic, void magic, etc. and Wells associated with each one. The Breath of Azzax is a special type of way Dragon users can inhale the magic and blast it out like fire from their mouths. But using it has a price – Viktor, a Dragon Well user, starts to have scales appear on his arm the more he uses it. And there are other types of ways to use the Wells. It was a fascinating magic system, yet without being confusing. In fact, none of the story was hard to follow or understand. 

Third, the characters. There was a delightfully idiotic Devin, who was a nobleman’s son, and an aspiring thief. There was Viktor, the soldier, trying to rebuild his life after losing the war. There was Izola, a prickly scholar with an ex-husband who was downright irritating. The cast of side characters were equally lovable – an eccentric professor who liked getting high, a scholar dwarf who was an outcast, a delightfully diabolical professor intent on regaining the lost glory of Reinvald with suspicions of the wealthy and those of other races (sound familiar?) And of course the aforementioned irritating ex-husband who I wanted to punch in the face. Short does characters really, really well. For the size of the book, the character arcs weren’t bad either. I would have liked to see a little more change and growth, but I’d imagine that happens as the series continues. 

Fourth, the plot. It was straightforward – all plotlines of the characters converge in one city that’s been built over another city. In Indiana Jones type style, there’s secrets buried underneath that leads the characters to converge in a conglomerate of madness and mayhem. Viktor just wants to be healed from his tumors, Izola is pulled in as the local expert being used by the bad guys, and poor Devin is just an idiot who finds himself having fallen in with the wrong people, at the wrong place, at the wrong time. I was definitely reading in anticipation, waiting for the moment when they would all run into each other and the story would coalesce into the climax. 

Fifth, the writing. It was downright hilarious. This is a dark tale, no doubt, but Short manages to create an epic story that doesn’t take itself too seriously without being stupid (well, actually, it was pretty stupid at times but not annoyingly so), and drags the reader into it. Like, really drags you in. I was flying through this book, completely immersed by the clipped writing style, witty banter, dick jokes that made me chuckle like I was a twelve year old boy, and zinging one liners that had me literally laughing out loud. Now, I’m the type who prefers huge, sweeping, epic tales with complicated politics and magic systems. This wasn’t that. The politics were barely there, only mentioned to move the story along, and the magic was easily understood. However, the writing was so good that I didn’t care. That’s hard to do. I will DNF a book after the first few chapters if it’s clear the story isn’t a politically-heavy, magically-charged story. Rarely do I continue on just because it’s fun. But Short managed to convince me, with very little effort, that this tale would be worth my while. 

All in all, if you are looking for a dark, witty, fun, Indiana Jones-esque adventure, look no further. I’ve already started the second book, that’s how much I enjoyed this one. 

4.5/5 stars.