Very quickly though just as the young Jovan and the heir to the throne Tain, come back from abroad they are plunged into a violent and dangerous situation along with Jovan’s sister Kalina. In Silasta that has focused around the role of the ruling Chancellor and has been passed down the family line – all is ordered in a country known for its ingenuity, technology, art and trading far more than any desire to become a military empire.

Welcome to the concept of the Proofer – the person who tastes their employer’s food and looks out for dangers. Into this picture comes a brilliant new debut from Sam Hawke with one of the most fascinating stories I’ve read this year. Writers and their stories still fascinated by moral ambiguity but rather than simply the noir tales of everyone being violent and amoral there is a much more interesting examination of how societies create such people and how they work – perhaps like now everyone wants to know how did we get here? Epic fantasy being able to examine a world is better placed than many genres to examine how countries work/slide into chaos. I do think we are getting into a great new period of fantasy possibly seeing the next stage after the grimdark era develop. It falls to Jovan and Kalina to protect the heir and save their homeland – but first they must make their way through a new world of unexpected treachery, a world where the ancient spirits are rising…and angry But when the Chancellor succumbs to an unknown poison and an army storms the gates, the so-called Bright City is completely unprepared. Until now peace has reigned in Silasta for hundreds of years. While other women of the city hold positions of power and responsibility, her path is full of secrets and lies – some hidden even from her brother. His sister Kalina is too frail to share in their secret family duty. In reality, Jovan has been trained for most of his life to detect, concoct and withstand poisons in order to protect the ruling family. The quiet, forgettable friend of the Chancellor’s charming, irresponsible heir. To most, he is just another son of the ruling class. Only a handful of people in Silasta know Jovan’s real purpose in life. I was seven years old the first time my uncle poisoned me…

I would like to thank the publisher for an advance copy of this novel in exchange for a fair and honest review

Sam hawke city of lies