Name: A. D. Knapp's review of Blackwing by Ed McDonald
Item: Blackwing
Rating: 5
Author: A. D. Knapp

Ed McDonald

The republic faces annihilation, despite the vigilance of Galharrow's Blackwings. When a raven tattoo rips itself from his arm to deliver a desperate message, Galharrow and a mysterious noblewoman must investigate a long dead sorcerer's legacy. But there is a conspiracy within the citadel: traitors, flesh-eaters and the ghosts of the wastelands seek to destroy them, but if they cannot solve the ancient wizard's paradox, the Deep Kings will walk the earth again, and all will be lost. The war with the Eastern Empire ended in stalemate some eighty years ago, thanks to Nall's 'Engine', a wizard-crafted weapon so powerful even the Deep Kings feared it. The strike of the Engine created the Misery - a wasteland full of ghosts and corrupted magic that now forms a No Mans Land along the frontier. But when Galharrow investigates a frontier fortress, he discovers complacency bordering on treason: then the walls are stormed, and the Engine fails to launch. Galharrow only escapes because of the preternatural magical power of the noblewoman he was supposed to be protecting. Together, they race to the capital to unmask the traitors and restore the republic's defences. Far across the Misery a vast army is on the move, as the Empire prepares to call the republic's bluff. Blackwing is a gritty epic fantasy for fans of Mark Lawrence, Scott Lynch and Daniel Polansky.

Blackwing

Catalina

"Under a cracked and wailing sky, the Misery is a vast and blighted expanse, created when the Engine, the most powerful weapon in the world, was unleashed against the immortal Deep Kings. Across the wasteland, teeming with corrupted magic and malevolent wraiths, the Deep Kings and their armies are still watching--and still waiting."--Goodreads.

A. D. Knapp

I received this ARC from Goodreads Giveaways.

I'm no where near the consumer of fantasy fiction that I was as a teenager and young adult, but every time I dip my toe back in, I'm pleasantly surprised by what I find. Ed McDonald's Blackwing sits comfortably next to Scott Lynch's The Lies of Locke Lamora as the best of those. Both share in a certain grittiness, in well-drawn characters and particularly in the quality of world building on display in both series. 

The world presented by McDonald is in some ways reminiscent of the "world that moved on" from King's Dark Tower series. One that's maybe moved on a bit farther than even Roland's world had. It's a world twisted and made weird by the magics hurled between two warring, godlike factions who've burned a no-man's land filled with horrors called the Misery between the human realms to the west and the lands of the Deep Kings and their minions to the east. It is here that McDonald's vast imagination and creativity are on full display. The Misery is where the novel opens and where we are introduced to our main character, Ryhalt Galharrow.

Galharrow is something of a bounty hunter/mercenary grown weary of the life, haunted by what he's seen and what he's done to survive as long as he has. He's a violent drunkard with a particularly black brand of gallows humor perfectly suited for the world he finds himself in. His comrades are pitch perfect in their dirtbaggery. Most notably, noseless Nenn, who despite being rude, insubortinant and just outright unpleseant, is a joy. The other really standout character is the battle spinner, Ezabeth Tanza. A woman from Galharrow's past and the focus of much of the central msytery of the novel.

This was a fantastic read. I decided early on to savor this one and fought down the urge to rush through to get all the answers. It wasn't easy. The smaller mysteries along the way are compelling and they are solved with a timing that builds a momentum towards the end where the answer to the central mystery lies waiting. The writing was supurb and full of detail, invention and humor. McDonald is one to watch. Highly recommended. Five stars.

Adeline

** spoiler alert **
           Really liked this, despite the fact that I’m not a huge fan of first POVs books but the world building and plot were great. The grimdark fantasy setting was well done and I liked how the author added some elements of horror, post-apocalyptic and sci-fi in it. The author’s writing style was excellent, I even highlighted some phrases I found well written, which I rarely do. 

The diversity of characters was great too, I especially loved having disabled women in the cast and a gay male character that actually survives at the end. Each character was very complex and interesting in their own way. 

The mc, Galharrow was interesting too, hard, violent and uncompromising (but he didn’t end up being the sort of terrible human being you just want them to diaf). I just really liked his voice and dark humour, plus I always love when characters curse a lot. The love and devotion he still had for Ezabeth after so many years and the deep affection he had for the members of his crew made him a touching character too. I liked how he was the most « emotional » one in the relationship with Ezabeth. 
I loved Ezabeth too. She first appears to be an aloof and mysterious powerful figure, but she really is a strong person, emotionally and physically with her own insecurities (the fear of becoming mad like other magician because of her powers, accepting Galharrow’s love for her despite the past etc). 
I’ll definitely read the rest of the series.

Savannah Winchell

Lauren Sullivan

Nall's Engine was created by the Nameless and last used a hundred years ago to push the Deep Kings away from Dortmark, creating the magic-warped landscape of the Misery. Legions of Talents toil away spinning phos from moonlight to power the engines, while more powerful magicians, called Spinners, can use the phos as a weapon. The stalemate seems ready to hold for another hundred years until Ryhalt Galharrow is sent to retrieve a Spinner from one of the Stations near the Misery. The woman from his past, however, doesn't need to be saved - rather, she needs help unveiling a treasonous plot that's infiltrated farther than anyone could expect.

Wow. Just wow. I usually avoid grimdark because so many books that brand themselves as that seem just wallow in misery and throw in a bit of a plot as an afterthought. I was pleasantly surprised by this book from the first chapter. Yes, there's the general "life sucks and then you die" background of the book, but there's also great characters, political plots, and hints of humor. The action is a bit backloaded in the book, but the twisty plot held my interest well enough that I didn't mind and honestly didn't even really notice.

It took me a chapter or so to get in to the story, but after that, I was hooked. The magic system is original and fascinating, Ezabeth and Nenn are amazing awesome, and Ryhalt is the perfect mix of flawed hero. The Brides, drudge, and Darlings are creepy-spectacular. This is the first in a series, but it works well as a standalone. Unlike the first in some other series, I felt like the main plot wrapped up to a satisfying conclusion. Definitely recommended to anyone looking for an exciting, enthralling read!

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in return for an honest review.

Christian Huss

Nickie Mohler

This is a fantastic grimdark debut!!!

This book follows Blackwing Captain Ryhalt Galharrow and his band of misfits as they patrol the Range and protect Valengrad from the horrors that live in the Misery. 

The Misery is a remnant of the war between The Nameless and the Deep Kings that ended a century ago. The Misery is a dead land, tainted by long ago magic. The only things that thrive there are unnatural and evil. Crowfoot created the Misery, and Nall created his engine to drive the Deep Kings back. It worked. After seeing the devastation caused by Nall's engine, the Deep Kings have stayed out of range. But they are not gone. They are waiting.

Galharrow is an agent of Crowfoot. Although he's had no orders for years now, he keeps patrolling, and rooting out the creatures that have slipped through. He's starting to believe that he is free of Crowfoot until the bird tattooed on his arm bursts free with a message. He is to find Lady Ezabeth Tanza and protect her at all costs. 

The Deep Kings are coming.

I absolutely loved this book!! I loved the magic of the Spinners, and the world was interesting. The characters are awesome. I loved them all, but Galharrow and Ezabeth are my faves. And Nenn and Tnota. Just all of them! 

If you like grimdark, you have to read this book. I'm kind of glad I waited to read it because Ravencry will be out on June 18th. YAY!!!

Lisa Beasley

This one took me a while to get into as the world and everything is a little sense but once I did I enjoyed it. The characters are interesting and the plot has lots of nuances to it. Looking forward to book 2.

Catalina &
Blackwing by Ed McDonald

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