Synopsis
The Hinterlands are a lawless place of broken dreams and broken people.
Roth is a bodyguard trying to leave his dark past behind, but history has a way of turning back up. Cynthia is a bandit who’s trying to make a future by wading through blood. They travel separately, trying to live by their own codes. All while a man in a red cloak tracks their blood-soaked footprints.
Review
“Cynthia the Bloody stood up, her name earned once again as she looked like a crimson ghost amongst the snow.”
I loved this book but ZB definitely needs to pay me for therapy. It is not because he killed my favorite character, it is because he made me like the character that killed my favorite character. I have to go to a therapist and find out what is wrong with me.
The first scene has a character decapitating someone with a bladed whip and it only gets more dark from there. I was not ready. From there, I loved everything about the writing. The setting, the characters, the tone, the plot, the dialogue, the action, short chapters – everything is a win. The best way for me to describe it would be Red Dead Redemption 2- a game where every aspect of it is perfect- but with the darkness dialed all the way up. I don’t want to pick apart individual plot beads and expand because I firmly believe it is best enjoyed going in blind. If you have triggers, it is definitely advisable to check the trigger warnings before going in but if you’re a heathen that cannot get enough grimdark in your life, stop and rejoice because you have arrived.
“You’re not very forthcoming.”
“You didn’t pay for the drink.”
“I’m the one who knifed the bartender.” “I’m sure he appreciated that.”
“Probably not,” Cynthia said as she topped off her own drink, “but paid in blood is paid indeed.”
The rising star of grimdark fantasy title is well warranted and this book becomes the easiest recommendation for dark fantasy and grimdark fans. It is short but ̶s̶w̶e̶e̶t̶ sinful book and you will love it. Or you will start questioning yourself. Either way, you WILL be engaged.
Side note, I didn’t even have to wait to finish the book to judge it as a 5 – star read; the first Vonnegut reference I came across I knew I wouldn’t be able to give it any less than 5 stars. I won’t talk about the person Z.B. but the author Z.B. – I am just genuinely scared of how much I’m falling in love with his writing.
Leave a Reply