Tome of the Undergates by Sam Sykes

[Idoru]

I recently started reading this and I'm about halfway through already. I'm really enjoying it and was wondering if anyone else had read it and what they thought?

 

[tinkerdan]

The preface lost me on this one. It seems rather pointless especially considering this is a debut novel. I read the sample and that was much more impressive, but struck me as being very similar to Simon Green's DeathStalker series. Much the same level of description and detail and wry humor during the gritty parts. I made it through Deathstalker because I was able to obtain those from a used book bookshop.

This book is overpriced for both the paper and the electronic edition and for a debut I'd have to have a sense that it's going somewhere I'd be comfortable following for that many pages and the sample, though impressive as it was, is simply not enough for me. I'd likely have to go into a bookstore and see how far I could get through it before someone tapped me on the shoulder and suggested I should buy or leave.

An author I know would be an easy decision because I could most times depend on him to not disappoint me. I'm not so sure about this one even though he captured my attention I'd hate to get to the last page and feel the same way I did by the end of the sample. As it was I got to the end and all I was sure of was that everyone was going to die and I wasn't sure there was anyone in there I was willing to try to save or at least hope would be saved.

Some day if I find the paper edition in the used book store maybe I'll find out.

 

[Idoru]

I actually downloaded it for Kindle for £1.99 - I'm not sure I would have bought it at full price. But I'm pleased I did. It reminds me of Joe Abercrombie's stuff, and I'm a huge fan of his. Still really enjoying the book.

What's the DeathStalker series? I've never heard of that.