A Tale Of The Kin

It's not often you get a likable murderer, but in his Tales of the Kin series Douglas Hulick manages to do just that. Drothe lives in a world of snitches, killers, and thieves, and he's perfectly suited to that world. He's not an incredibly powerful magician, instead relying on supernatural night vision and good fighting skills to keep him alive. Drothe's forte is information brokering, not killing, but he doesn't shy away from murder if will get him what he wants. When his line of work leads him to a valuable artefact, he becomes the target of entire empires and has to fight tooth and nail to stay alive. Other than the incredible character building, Hulick brings years of expertise to the sub-genre. The man has an MA in medieval history and is a martial arts and 17th-century rapier expert. That shines through heavily in this book, with a Byzantine-inspired setting and incredible action scenes. If you're tired of drawn-out, unrealistic swordfights, it's safe to say this book is for you. Drothe is not immune to injury and often survives through dumb luck. This combines with some truly satisfying moments as the puzzle pieces form a cohesive bigger picture. The result is a gritty, fast-paced series that keeps you entertained the whole way through. Read if you like: The Lies of Locke Lamora, dark fantasy, first-person perspective.