We Men of Ash and Shadow by HL Tinsley

This is my third review for Self-Published Authors Appreciation Week, and this time around I’m introducing a debut author – I got this ARC from Booksprout, essentially Netgalley for self-published authors. I don’t use them often, but I have found some gems there – like this book. This is the first book by the author, HL Tinsley, who has done a great job promoting her book and she’s very engaging on social media. I’d recommend any first-time authors following her on Twitter (@hollytinsl3y), just to see how self-promotion is done (don’t ask me though). As I got the book from Booksprout, there is the expectation of a review (although horribly late), but all my opinions are my own. Probably. I’ve just found out that We Men of Ash and Shadow has made the semi-finals of SPFBO – that’s a sign of quality in itself.

So, what’s it all about?

D’Orsee, a city ruled with an iron fist, yet rife with crime. Enter John Vanguard, a former soldier and sole survivor of a horrific siege, now a hunter of criminals. He’s no ordinary bounty hunter, John has a gift – the ability to hide in plain sight – a gift that makes him perfect for his job. When he’s sent to investigate the killing of two guards, his search leads him to Tarryn Leersac, a young fallen socialite who shares John’s gift. The more John digs, the deeper the rabbit hole goes, and he finds himself not just investigating a crime but discovering the truth about the war that changed his life forever.

Is it any good?

Yep! Vanguard and Tarryn are opposing ends of the same spectrum. John is essentially a good guy, tortured by his past and using his powers to make amends and keep the people of D’Orsee safe. Tarryn is a former socialite who has fallen on hard times and uses his powers to take out his anger on others. When they cross paths, John takes Tarryn on his apprentice to try and set him on the right path, but things don’t work out, especially when John’s boss finds out he has a new toy to play with that lacks a moral compass. It’s not just about the two leads – every character drips with authenticity, and Vanguard finds allies in the strangest of places. There are no boo-hiss bad guys as everyone has justifiable if questionable motivations. The city itself is a fine dystopia, rife with crime and run by a mysterious power structure. The writing is excellent, Tinsley has a fine turn of phrase and the story is peppered with dark humour (always a thumbs up for me). The plot is multi-stranded and clever, slowly revealing itself yet leaving more than enough for the next book, which I really hope comes out soon.

Verdict

A dark, fun and accomplished debut.

• Format: E-book
• Obtained from: Booksprout
• Print length: 356 pages (pb)
• Publisher: Independently published
• ISBN: 9798680219720