Synopsis:
For a thousand years, The Old Town has stood as humanity’s last bastion against the maalkonis, malignant black mists that reduced the rest of the world to ash. They are kept at bay by rusty machines on the town’s walls. In order to survive, the dwindling population depends on one another.
Since a young age, Justīne has embraced the harsh responsibilities that accompanied her apprenticeship on the last farm in existence. Her younger sister, Anna, is beginning her own apprenticeship as well. Learning engineering was not Anna’s first choice, but the town’s last mage fell to the maalkonis years prior, leaving nothing behind but confusing books and strange runes.
When food runs low during a particularly harsh winter, distrust spreads like a plague, and Justīne is blamed for it. As hunger leads to violence, she and her siblings are forced to flee The Old Town, embarking on a perilous journey into the very mists that had formed their cage. Their fight to survive in the dark develops into a hopeful mystery as they follow the breadcrumbs of a mage’s efforts to save the world. Meanwhile something pursues them through the maalkonis…
Review:
This isn’t my first Adam Bassett adventure, so I already knew I was in for a good time. When told the genre was post-apocalyptic, I was sold. I truly had no idea what a great time I was in for.
The first half of this story involves a lot of world-building, but not in the way of info-dumps. Bassett throws you into the Old Town, takes you through some day-to-day situations, all while teaching you about the characters and the setting without tedious explanation. There is a glossary at the beginning, but I found I didn’t need it, as Bassett provides incredible context.
The first half of this story I would actually consider to be quite cozy. Typically, I prefer my stories with a bit more tension and thrills. Nevertheless, I found the Old Town to be delightful, the characters to be lovable and relatable, and the events interesting, even without any conflict. Yet.
The second half of this book takes a darker turn, showing how fear and uncertainty can push people to their limits. I found it fascinating to see the different ways people respond in times of desperation. Our main characters recognize that the path forward won’t be easy, and their choices have lasting consequences.
The journey of the three siblings carries them into new territory where they uncover secrets, discover new allies, and even reveal a touch of magic. Bound together by their circumstances, they learn to rely on each other, especially during events that could alter the future of their people forever.
The setting in this story is a mix of medieval times and steampunk culture. While the Old Town is comprised of farming, smithing, and baking, the outer wall, which protects them from the vile darkness, contains atstrumeters, which are copper devices that have been found to keep the maalkonis at bay. The defenses used by the townspeople are swords and arquebuses. The town has a mayor, but overall, things seem to be decided by hearing everyone’s voice, which is easy in this small town.
One of my favorite tropes that is well-employed here is that the darkness isn’t always the evil, terrible thing it’s perceived to be. While the maalkonis is dangerous, the creatures residing in it are considered equally so. However, it’s found out that they may be something else entirely.
The magic system used in the story is very cool. It reminded me of Skyrim’s Words of Power. The characters draw runes that represent a single term or event. They can be combined to create different effects. Simple to understand, though unique, including some facets that add depth to it.
If I had to make a critique, I would say that one of my favorite characters, Uli the Ox, was not featured enough, and I would have enjoyed more to the story, though it sounds like Bassett is already working on it.
This story was one that I highly enjoyed. It drew me in, and from the first few pages, I was completely immersed in the Old Town and its culture. Then, I was barrelling through a series of unpredictable events as the characters battled their way through the maalkonis, and came to a gentle stop with an open yet satisfactory conclusion.
Strong female leads, magic, and an all-consuming world, this story has it all. It’s a steampunk, dystopian tale that stands tall in the genre, utterly fascinating and impossible to forget.
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