FANTASY REVIEW: Among Thieves - Douglas Hulick

Release Date: 01/04/11

SYNOPSIS:

Drothe is a Nose, an informant who finds and takes care of trouble inside the criminal organization he's a part of. He also smuggles imperial relics on the side. When his boss sends him to Ten Ways to track down who's been leaning on his organization's people, Drothe discovers hints of a much bigger mystery. Someone is trying to stir up trouble between lower-level criminal organizations, including the one Drothe belongs to. And there's a book rumored to contain imperial glimmer (or magic) that a lot of very dangerous people seem to be looking for - including two crime bosses known as the Gray Princes. When Drothe discovers the book, he finds himself holding a bit of swag that can bring down emperors, shatter the criminal underworld, and unlock forbidden magic...that's if he can survive long enough to use it.


REVIEW:

Since the first title in the Gentlemen Bastard series by Scott Lynch (The Lies of Locke Lamour) broke onto the scene a few years ago, fans have been crying out for more fantasy adventures that do justice to one of fantasy’s most enduring character archetypes outside of the warrior profession, that of the thief. This new title by Douglas has something for everyone, you want dirty double dealings, you got it, you want a thief thrust into the middle of war due to his acquisitions, yep that’s there too, finally you want an anti-hero who will do his damnedest to get out of trouble and is prepared to fight dirty to achieve this, yep, check this box as well.

Add to this wonderfully written dialogue, a great overall arc and a tale that will stretch for several books as our character discovers himself and you know that its going to be a series that will delight as well as enthuse readers the world over. A great time to jump and try this debut author as I get the feeling that he’s going to be something special over the next few years.