Blog Tours

Blog Tour: The Blacktongue Thief – Christopher Buehlman

Hello and welcome on another blog tour! Today, I’m featuring the fun and exciting The Blacktongue Thief by Christopher Buehlman, out tomorrow from Gollancz. This is the rare unicorn – a Grimdark book that isn’t grim at all. It has a fantastic voice that pulls it all together and made me really enjoy it! As a friend put it: the voice is great, reminiscent of K.J. Parker and has echoes of Terry Pratchett… And if that’s not an endorsement, I don’t know what is. Also, go check out some of the other wonderful bloggers that they recruited for this tour, that’s a stellar lineup!

Big thank you to Will O’Mullane and Gollancz for having me on the tour and sending me a copy for review.

RELEASE DATE: 27/05/2021

STAR RATING: 4/5 ✶

SUMMARY: Kinch Na Shannack owes the Takers Guild a small fortune for his education as a thief, which includes (but is not limited to) lock-picking, knife-fighting, wall-scaling, fall-breaking, lie-weaving, trap-making, plus a few small magics. His debt has driven him to lie in wait by the old forest road, planning to rob the next traveler that crosses his path.

But today, Kinch Na Shannack has picked the wrong mark.

Galva is a knight, a survivor of the brutal goblin wars, and handmaiden of the goddess of death. She is searching for her queen, missing since a distant northern city fell to giants.

Unsuccessful in his robbery and lucky to escape with his life, Kinch now finds his fate entangled with Galva’s. Common enemies and uncommon dangers force thief and knight on an epic journey where goblins hunger for human flesh, krakens hunt in dark waters, and honor is a luxury few can afford. (from Gollancz)

OPINIONS: This book was SO MUCH FUN! I loved my reading experience – I really did not expect this to have a voice this distinctive and entertaining going in. This has all of the elements of Grimdark but is not actually grim to read – you have the hallmark morally shady characters, unhospitable world and political issues that don’t really end well for anyone, but you’ll have a blast while reading about them. I cannot emphasize this enough.

The Blacktongue Thief is a fast-paced story full of interesting lore, weird magic and lots and lots of tattoos. I already want to start rereading it for all the things I might have missed on my first read. And I mean, the book starts with the lines “I was about to die. Worse, I was about to die with bastards.” Kinch is a great narrator, self-aware, sarcastic and dry-witted. (Though he is the only first person narrator, so this will not work for r/fantasy bingo hard more, I’m afraid. But it has chapter titles!) Honestly, it seems like most pages have some sort of quote that stands out. I am looking forward to people making art with all the fun quotes! Also blind cat <3

Basically, think the wit of Pratchett (though of course no one can live up to the master) combined with Mike Shackle’s dark and murky morality and compelling characters. Really, just a delight, and one I know I will be rereading again – and I have already started throwing it at friends. Add The Blacktongue Thief to your Goodreads here, and order a copy from Bookshop here (affiliate link).

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