The Blacktongue Thief

Product Information

When you mix a fantastical surreal world, with multiple layers of humour and quirky characters, you’re onto a winning book for me. The author has written several books in the contemporary fantasy/horror genre, but I believe this is his first “pure” fantasy fiction. The Blacktongue Thief is told in first person, with Kinch giving us an intimate account of all that happened to him from the day he met Galva. Although this isn’t Christopher Buehlman’s first novel, it is the first novel I’ve read by him and I can firmly say I’m impressed. Also, look for a more comprehensive telling of Galva’s experiences as a young soldier in the Daughters’ War.

If you’re looking for an entertaining fantasy tale that slyly delves into deeper topics, try this one.In the meantime, Buehlman is also digging into the rules for the card game Kinch plays (sometimes with good luck and sometimes bad): Towers. I loved the way Galva would insult Kinch in her Spanth mother-tongue, the way they bantered together, often never seeing eye to eye, but always helping each other nonetheless.

In the world of THE BLACKTONGUE THIEF, iron and steel damp magic, where copper and natural materials amplify it. I was instantly drawn in to the world of Kinch and Galva, the Takers Guild, Norrigal and the after effects of the goblin wars. Often humorous, occasionally horrifying, and sometimes incredibly poignant,I love every single pageof this book.

Christopher Buehlman really hit the ground running in building the world and characters in his story, but at the end of the day I found his performance as a narrator better than the book. Much of the world-building, particularly the history of the world and the magic system, is told through Kinch’s inner monologues or through direct speech between characters.

I was charmed, often left dazed or horrified, but thoroughly entertained from the very beginning to the very end. With a sonnet, a villanelle, or a pantoum, you have to respect a rhyme scheme, or a repetition pattern, and/or a syllable count. This isn’t exact or formulaic, as it can be in poetry, but it needs to have its own internal rhythm.

We’re excited to share the cover for Christopher Buehlman’s fantasy adventure The Blacktongue Thief—publishing in May 2021 with Tor Books! Then there was the humour, the cleverly written turn of phrase, the outright absurd scenes, and even one harrowing scene.

Overall, I kind of enjoyed The Blacktongue Thief, but it certainly ranks at the bottom for the books I've read (or listened to) this year. I’m glad he dived in; I absolutely loved this book and hope there will be more, because I cannot wait to read more about Kinch and his adventures!Magic can be ‘free’ as with a spell, or ‘caught’ as a tattoo that turns weapons used with the dominant hand, or that staff Deadlegs made that becomes a clockwork horse. There are lots of ways to win, and lose, and strategy is a huge component–nearly as important as luck.