Michael Barnes
The unique setting of a new year's eve party combined with a resetting 'groundhogs day' provides a driving narrative to reveal the wondrous/terrifying world building of Melissa Caruso’s The Last Hour Between Worlds. The night begins in a prime level of reality, and then we have echoes, which can be thought of as sub-levels of reality. The levels grow increasingly bizarre and more alien and I enjoyed discovering the oddities and mind twisting realities described as each new reset descended levels. The deeper you go, the more alien--or more precisely fey (there is a strong faerie theme in the book).
The setting feels European 19th Century and the oligarchic nature of the city government (and the people, power and politics of same, which becomes plot relevant) also lends itself to that atmosphere. Our protagonist, Kembral, is a new mom who is on leave from work as a 'hound' one who descends these echoes to recover folk who have fallen through voids. She is an outstanding hound who has saved children (and dogs) all stemming from a drive of losing a childhood friend.
The other half of my favorite frenemy to lovers couple since Gideon Nav and Harrowhark Nonagesimus Rika Nonesuch. She works as a "Cat" a professional thief and a good one. The reveal of her reasons for her attitude and frustration with Kem is well developed and satisfying especially given her origin.
And throughout this game are the inexplicable Empyreans who give strong lords of Fey vibes with names as clever as the sentient ships in the Culture universe of Iain Banks, Stars Tangled In Her Web, Laughing As He Rises and Tilting Towards Oblivion.
Please note it is the first in the Echo Archives series and I do now want to read Melissa Caruso's other series 'Swords and Fire' and 'Rooks and Ruin'.
The unique setting of a new year's eve party combined with a resetting 'groundhogs day' provides a driving narrative to reveal the wondrous/terrifying world building of Melissa Caruso’s The Last Hour Between Worlds. The night begins in a prime level of reality, and then we have echoes, which can be thought of as sub-levels of reality. The levels grow increasingly bizarre and more alien and I enjoyed discovering the oddities and mind twisting realities described as each new reset descended levels. The deeper you go, the more alien--or more precisely fey (there is a strong faerie theme in the book).
The setting feels European 19th Century and the oligarchic nature of the city government (and the people, power and politics of same, which becomes plot relevant) also lends itself to that atmosphere. Our protagonist, Kembral, is a new mom who is on leave from work as a 'hound' one who descends these echoes to recover folk who have fallen through voids. She is an outstanding hound who has saved children (and dogs) all stemming from a drive of losing a childhood friend.
The other half of my favorite frenemy to lovers couple since Gideon Nav and Harrowhark Nonagesimus Rika Nonesuch. She works as a "Cat" a professional thief and a good one. The reveal of her reasons for her attitude and frustration with Kem is well developed and satisfying especially given her origin.
And throughout this game are the inexplicable Empyreans who give strong lords of Fey vibes with names as clever as the sentient ships in the Culture universe of Iain Banks, Stars Tangled In Her Web, Laughing As He Rises and Tilting Towards Oblivion.
Please note it is the first in the Echo Archives series and I do now want to read Melissa Caruso's other series 'Swords and Fire' and 'Rooks and Ruin'.