Gail Z. Martin

What a fast read, all 500+ pages, and I am surprised that I am the only one on LT that is reviewing it so far. This book centers on the city of Ravenwood where monsters are running amuck and randomly killing the townsfolk. Ravenwood is set up like a medieval city, with a Lord Mayor, Guilds, a port, and there is even room for Wanderers (similar to Gypsies) and Below, an underground City. And I read it and enjoyed it, and I'm not even into monsters as a plot point!

We begin with three brothers, Corran, Rigan, and Kell, who are born into a family and therefore Guild of undertakers. In this realm, the trade one is born into is the trade one assumes as an adult, so apprenticing does not enter into the picture. Part of what the undertakers do when they prepare the dead includes painting sigils on the bodies to honor their life, and easing their spirits into the afterlife. One night as Rigan is going about his work, he realizes that the spirit of the young woman is manifesting as a ghost and telling her story to him.

The oldest brother, Corran, who has assumed the head of household designation after the death of first their father, then their mother, at the hands of the various monsters, is taking up a secret and highly illegal position as a hunter of the monsters that are terrorizing Ravenwood because the guards are not keeping all the townsfolk safe. And the youngest brother, Kell, collects the bodies with the dead cart and keeps them all fed.

All of this is against the backdrop of the Lord Mayor Machison, who seeks to maintain his hold on power with the help of a shadowy bloodwitch; both are under the employ of the Crown Prince of the kingdom. Trade negotiations are taking place and Machison wants the Guilds indebted to him while keeping the different ambassadors of the other cities constantly looking over their shoulders.

There were days when I read this book that I almost clocked out of work early to open it and see where the next adventure was going to take place. And then there were sections that became too bogged down in details (like Machison's court intrigues and the brothers' constant fighting against monsters, getting hurt, then getting healed). I realize that much of it advanced the plot, but the repetitive nature could have been remedied a bit. Still, as someone who likes my fantasy realms monster free, I thought their use in this book was spot-on, and the interplay between the three brothers was very well done.… (more)