Review – Grim Solace by Ben Galley

Chasing Graves was one of my favourite books of 2018, so there’s always an air of trepidation regarding whether the follow-up can maintain the quality, especially when it’s the midpoint of a trilogy. Well, never fear. Not only does the author keep up the pace, but he ups the ante, setting up a potentially blockbuster end to the series.

Caltro, everyone’s favourite “locksmith”, returns, but his lot hasn’t improved. He gets stolen from the widow Horix by a minor tor, leading him down a very strange rabbit hole.

Temsa makes a big move, going from small-time soulstealer to big league criminal, with the help of Empress-in-Waiting Sisine and an unlikely ally in the Cult/Church of Sesh. But will his ambition cause dissent among the ranks?

Nilith continues her return to Araxes with murdered Farazar in tow, but time is ticking. Not only must she get to the city to bind her husband before he fades away, but can she stay ahead of a pack of brigands who pursue her all the way?

So all your favourite characters return, and a few new ones. There’s also talking animals, a talking sword (yes, and he’s quite awesome), dead gods and more ghosts than you can shake a shitty stick at. The author continues to build his world, showing more of the land beyond Araxes, as Nilith continues her journey home. In addition, we see more of the long-standing machinations that run the upper echelons of Araxes. The writing is sublime, often hilarious despite the pitch-dark subject matter. I highlighted quite a number of quotes while reading, and the story leaves you on a note that just makes you want to read book three, which hopefully comes out soon enough.

So the big question is, is this as good as book one? Well consider Grim Solace to be The Empire Strikes Back to Chasing Graves’ Star Wars. Let’s just hope the third book isn’t The Return of the Jedi.

 

5/5 stars