Sanguine and Silver – Headless

Charming

I followed an ad to this book yesterday, and read to the end of book 1. (Apparently there may or may not be a book 2.) It was fun to read, and there was never a chapter end that didn’t make me want to read the start of the next chapter.

What could be better:

• The story escalates too quickly at the end of the volume. We move from track-a-pickpocket scales to multiple groups with fantastic powers and access to gods in about five minutes of story time.

• The DAA can detect any use of power by either of the protagonists. This constrains the story awkwardly - not so much in volume 1, as hardly any time has passed, but going forward.

• Abuse of power is used as a recurring device to nudge the plot. To give a minor example (most of the major examples have to do with DAA agents), the admissions clerk can look up Florence’s admission but still refuse to look up her room assignment?