The complexity and scope of the world building in this book has me completely in awe. It's uncommon for me to have a completely immersive reading experience because I have trouble visualizing what I'm reading. You can only imagine my amazement and delight upon opening this book and realizing how effortlessly P.J. Nwosu was able to immerse me in her world.
The plot and Nwosu's constructed empire are exactly the same. Its writing is both cohesive and ruthless, with a sense of importance and grace that lets us visualize the journey that Nwosu has taken us on. This writing is dripping with morality, understanding, and fear—poetic realism done to the extreme.

Dream of Death City has all of my favorite fantasy elements: it's dark, the worldbuilding is incredible, has a twisting mystery that will keep you hooked and guessing, and has a brutal political system. I'd highly recommend going into the book blind; it's an absolute treat.

I really, really wanted to like this, but ended up not my cup of tea.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an e-ARC copy of this book, in exchange for this honest review.

Unfortunately this was a dnf for me. I might not have been in the right mood to read this! Great premise and ideas, it was me that was the problem!

"Dream of Death City" by PJ Nwosu is a thrilling and imaginative journey into a world of mystery and suspense. Nwosu's storytelling prowess shines as he crafts a tale of intrigue, secrets, and unexpected twists. The book's vividly depicted setting and well-developed characters create an immersive reading experience that keeps readers engaged. Nwosu's ability to build tension and suspense adds depth to the narrative, making it a must-read for those who enjoy stories that keep them on the edge of their seats. "Dream of Death City" is an exhilarating adventure that invites readers to explore a world where nothing is as it seems, leaving them eager to uncover the truth behind the mysteries that unfold.

Pj Nwosu's Dream of Death City is a striking and wholly original mix of dark fantasy and noir mystery set in a world reminiscent of the Bronze Age. The story investigates the disappearances of young noblewomen on the very edges of the Red Kingdom. Nwosu brings up interesting questions about the connection between an empire's metropole and its borderlands, particularly when attempting to enforce religious and cultural uniformity. I also love that it is clearly historically inspired, but the mix of ideas is so original that I wasn't taken out of the book because of historical references or inconsistencies. It was like hearing your favorite chords in a new song that you cannot help but tell everyone to listen to. I am absolutely obsessed with this series and am already a devoted fan of Nwosu after just one book.

It took me 500000000 years to start reading this but it was INCREDIBLE!! The WORLDBUILDING!! The magic system! The complicated relationships between characters! The originality! I'm such a big fan of this book and the writing style, it's detailed enough to give you all the information you need but not in a way that's too overwhelming - it's the perfect level. The story is brutal and horrifying but intriguing and satisfying at the same time. Honestly, big fan. Excited for the second one!

wow wow wow! it (admittedly) took be a bit to get through this book. the pace was a bit slower than i usually prefer but it was worth it!

the perfect blend of mystery, macabre, magic and the tiniest splash of romance, death city is definitely somewhere i am looking forward to getting back to! such a unique world and there is so much left to explore if the map on the authors website is any indication.

thanks to the publisher for providing an arc through netgalley. this title is available now and on kindle unlimited!

Dream of Death City is an epic mystery fantasy, creating a dark and twisted Sherlock Holmes vibe.

This was a book that completely drew me in by the cover, and I’m so glad that it did! This was such a fun read, checking all the boxes on my dark fantasy wish list.

I do wish that maybe there was a bit more at the end, but that may be because I didn’t want the story to end. I needed more from the characters and a bit more plot to really make this a permanent part of my physical library, but I will still keep an eye out for this author as I really enjoyed the book!

The Red Kingdom delivers a chilling and captivating blend of dark fantasy and mystery. With a touch of Sherlock Holmes, the series takes readers on a twisted journey through fantastical realms filled with brutal crimes and eerie lore. The atmospheric setting of Death City sets the stage for an intense and unpredictable narrative. Thora and Diem, our complex protagonists, are compelling characters who face unimaginable challenges as they navigate this treacherous world. The writing is atmospheric and immersive, pulling you deeper into the Red Kingdom's secrets. Fans of dark fantasy and intricate mysteries will be enthralled by this gripping series.

I was intrigued by the premise of this book. I didn't really know what to expect as this is a new author for me. Unfortunately it wasn't my vibe, but the potential is there.

Dream of Death City is a captivating and original fantasy novel that kept me engrossed from start to finish. Although some elements didn't quite resonate with me, I would still recommend this book to others.

One of the novel's major strengths is its world-building, which is masterfully crafted. The author's ingenuity in creating the magic system left a strong impression on me, and I found myself getting lost in this fascinating and immersive world. While the writing style initially took some getting used to, it eventually flowed seamlessly.

However, I did find the pacing of the story to be somewhat problematic. The beginning was a bit sluggish, and it took a while for the action to pick up. Once it did, it was gripping, but the ending felt somewhat abrupt, leaving me wanting more. Additionally, although the crooked beat was an intriguing concept, I felt that it could have been more effectively utilized in the main plot.

Despite these issues, the book was still a compelling read. The characters were fully fleshed out, and their relationships felt genuine. Although Thora and Diem's romance was somewhat awkward for me, it was a sweet and sincere addition to the story. While I wish that Thora's traumatic experience had been explored more deeply, I appreciated that it was acknowledged.

In summary, Dream of Death City is a well-crafted fantasy novel that boasts a unique world and intriguing characters. Although it has its flaws, I would still recommend this book to anyone looking for an engaging read, and I eagerly anticipate the author's future works.

This book was – ok. I liked the world and the magic system. Very unique, with many surprising details. And the writing - took me a minute to get used to it, but I ended up really liking it.

But the writing also had some weird moments where I’d think I know how a certain scene looks like, and it would turn out the author had something completely different in mind. The pacing was very slow for the most part. And then it had some weird picks that felt off for some reason, even though I’ve been hoping the whole time the things will pick up.

Also, a couple of the concepts of the magic system had a lot of potential, but not many of it was actually used on page. And the characters – I guess I liked more the idea of them than how they were actually executed.

A huge thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc!

Chilling and dark…. If you're looking for a dark fantasy world filled with morally grey characters, monsters that also come in the form of humans, and a world built from the ground up with the undeniable talent of the author - you're going to want to pre-order this one immediately. (Not to mention, a touch of romance).⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I knew as I dived into this book that this is dark fantasy. I mean the title and cover speak for themselves. However, I did read the novella, A Pale Box on the Distant Shore, for which the story was told from a different protagonist who was a little more upbeat. While he is present in this book, his is not the main point of view. He is merely a minor character here. I missed him!!

Instead we have Dust-Caste slave Thora for whom everything is a struggle. Primarily because she has to squeeze herself into a tiny little ball when she really wanted just to be herself; all in a bid to survive a world in which she cannot escape. This makes the read really frustrating a lot of the time and sometimes, depressing. I think you'd have to be in the right headspace to read this book.

As much as I was fascinated with this very red & extremely brutal world, the ending was a little bit disappointing. Yes, it sounds true to the reality of that universe but it's FICTION! I wanted something more; something that made the struggle through the story worthwhile. I'm not sure if I'm keen to know what Thora will get up to next; we'll see.

My thanks to Small Heart Press for ecopy of book via NetGalley in exchange of my honest thoughts

Unfortunately I was not able to finish this one. I love epic fantasy, it's my jam but the voabulary and semantics used on this book is not something I jive with. It makes it difficult to follow along the storyline and for the first 200 pages, I felt just lost more than ever

I went into this book completely blind, but only a few pages in and I realized that this book would just click for me on every single level. These days, it’s rare for me to get so sucked into a story that I simply lose track of time, but Dream of Death City accomplished exactly that and completely entranced me from the very first page.

the author painted the world of The Red Kingdom as dark, elusive, and vast. It goes beyond simple descriptions so it is integrated into every sentence of the page to make it feel real and alive, even with all its death.

What a book full of twists and surprises, truly a breath of fresh air! Cannot wait to read more from the author.

It was quite an interesting read, with pretty good world building. Some of the characters felt flat to me, however they were enjoyable overall. It was a bit slow to start, but got quite gripping towards the middle. Very good!

The cover art is pretty, but the plot was lacking. I couldn’t even finish this one, honestly. The author didn’t do so well with the world building, I definitely struggled trying to imagine it!

Beautiful dark fantasy novel that will send you into a truly different world, with its very peculiar culture, and terribly unforgiving rules. The heroes are very flawed, but do the best they can with what they are given as investigators trying to solve the disappearance of a ruling-class daughter.
The pace is slow and heavy and creepy, a little like trudging in mud, and the atmosphere is incredible. I think I preferred the short story that came before the novel, but this is still very good, like nothing else and it definitely feels like there is soooo much more to explore in this world, and so much space for continued growth in our characters.
Will definitely be waiting for the next one and highly recommend to people who liked the manga Attack on Titan, or the TV series True Detective but with a fantasy lense.