This book was a pleasure to read. The captivating first-person narrative revealed a remarkably well-written antihero protagonist in Saevus Corax, and the supporting characters were also done well. Sharp, easily flowing dialog throughout, and a good coverage of relevant social themes. Another winner from KJ Parker.

This was an all-around fun book to read. I enjoyed the fresh storyline and was unable to predict what came next! I think anyone who loves suspense and a quick read will enjoy this book!

3 stars

A humorous, irreverent fantasy tale about a battlefield scavenger obstinately refusing to be a part of Great Destinies. The snarkiness reminds me a little of Jonathan Stroud, but clearly written for an adult audience, while the trials and adventures of our titular protagonist remind me of Odysseus (though perhaps by way of Taylor Mac, à la ‘Gary’). If you like slightly ridiculous swashbuckling and grandiose, seat-of-your-pants, god-I-hope-we-survive-this shenanigans, this will be the book for you,

At times Saevus Corax’s disclaimers to the audience get a little too precious. He is constantly telling the reader that he is not a likeable man, that the reader is going to hate him because he is oh-so-practical and mercenary and not at all nice. Meanwhile, the side characters are constantly calling him a goody-two-shoes who’s too nice for his own good, and he’s constantly making brilliant plans in order to avoid others’ deaths. This ‘not-like-other-girls’-ness gets wearying after a while, and I also feel like the story drags on a little too long, which is why this is a solid three stars—a good and entertaining read, but I doubt I will continue with the series.

Saevus Corax is a battlefield salvager. Meaning, he and his team strip the dead bodies soldiers of weapons, armour, jewellery, and anything else of value, then repair the items and sell them to suppliers of battlefield gear. They also burn the dead.

Saevus and his men have been doing this for years, securing salvage contracts from various powers, and competing against other salvagers for the rights to a particular battlefield. And if it hadn’t been for a wounded man recognizing him, requiring Corax to deal with the man, any number of violent, terrible and humorous things would not have occurred subsequently.

You see, Saevus Corax is a liar, and has been on the run for years . Who he is isn’t revealed till partway through the book, but we do see that he’s smart, a smart aleck, a fast, analytical thinker, and always looking out for number one. Which means finding ways to thwart numerous people who either want to use him for their own ends and/or kill him.

The story is framed as Saevus writing his memoirs, of a sort. He freely admits that he's a terrible person; he's reluctant to deepen his relationships beyond the transactional, reticent about his past, the reason for which becomes more obvious as he slowly reveals that he has prices on his head, or his former identity does.

I love K.J. Parker's logistics-heavy, military or military-adjacent, snarky stories. full of byzantine-level complicated schemes and plots created by the main character. If that's not your thing, this book won't be for you. However, I loved it. I fully appreciate the humour, as well as the frequently misanthropic, possibly criminal, self-centred main characters I've encountered in the works I've read by this author, including his "The Siege" series. How Corax uses his years of knowledge about the nations in the world, as well as a little fast-thinking, to repeatedly escape from those after him, and when that doesn't work, pitting various factions against each other, initiating war in the process, all to save his sorry hide, was frankly totally enjoyable. I am eager to continue with this reprobate's adventures.

Thank you to Netgalley and to Orbit Books for this ARC in exchange for my review.

An entertaining book but my issue is that the main character feels like any of the main characters from the previous first person trilogy from KJ parker I've read. Zany and sardonic and arrogant. If you had told me this was the same person form 16 Ways to Defend a Walled City I would believe you.

And unfortunately, it's just not a character type I like that much. This voice was maybe a bit better than that trilogy, but I still struggled with it.

Although, I did audio for this one and I think the narrator, while technically good, is mismatched for this book. So I will try the second one physically and see if that helps.

Delving into KJ Parker's, "Saevus Corax Deals with the Dead," proved to be an enthralling experience. From the captivating first-person narrative to the intricately developed characters, this novel offers a blend of cynicism, wit, and unexpected twists that kept me hooked from start to finish.

Parker's strength lies in skillful character development. Saevus Corax, the protagonist, is masterfully crafted, managing to be both devious and self-aware. The narrative cleverly unfolds as Corax withholds parts of himself, creating an air of mystery and intrigue.

Corax's self-awareness infuses the narrative with a unique blend of cynicism, wit, and insight. The banter between characters, especially Corax, adds a delightful layer of humor, making the reading experience enjoyable.

Secondary characters are not overlooked, with Parker's attention evident in their development, contributing to the overall richness of the story. Clever and twisted plotting took me by surprise, showcasing Parker's mastery in crafting a compelling and unpredictable storyline.

The writing style is another highlight—easy to read, fluid, and effortlessly guiding the reader through the intricacies of the plot. In conclusion, I'm eager to explore more works from KJ Parker. "Saevus Corax Deals with the Dead" is a testament to Parker's prowess in storytelling, character development, and plot intricacies. Thanks to NetGalley and Orbit Books for the opportunity to review this book. I look forward to delving into more adventures by this talented author.

Saevus Corax Deals With the Dead by K. J. Parker

A while back, I became a fan of K. J. Parker. It started when I read an eARC of A Practical Guide to Conquering the World by K.J. Parker and loved it! It was grabby (in a “can’t put this book down” kind of way) and it was thoroughly enjoyable. I said I’d be looking out for more books by K. J. Parker and I later really enjoyed an eARC of the Long Game and Pulling the Wings off Angels, which were both delightful books! After that, I went back and read Sixteen Ways to Defend A Walled City and How to Rule an Empire and Get Away with It, which were also wonderful. Parker’s books that I have read have been first person tales whose protagonists are usually clever bastards (in a thoroughly enjoyable manner).

The titular Saevus Corax is no different - a man who is too clever by half that runs a business reclaiming armor and other loot from battlefield corpses. I don’t want to spoil the plot, which was full of delightful surprises, but suffice it to say that Corax is more than he originally appears, and he cleverly gets into and out of various and sundry scrapes.

When I tried to start reading this book the first time, I wasn’t quite in the mood for it, and couldn’t get more than a few pages in, but when I went back to it, I could not put it down. It has that same grabbiness as the other Parker books that I have read.

With Parker’s books, you know exactly what you were going to get. This book feels very similar to every other Parker book that I’ve already read, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Anyone that has ever enjoyed any of his books before should enjoy this one.

Thanks to NetGalley and Orbit Books for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

My thanks to NetGalley for making an eARC of this book available to me.

The narrator (and title character) is the owner/operator of a successful business that scavenges goods from battlefields. However, he is also much, much more. His past and secrets play out as the book progresses, and he gets deeper and deeper into trouble along the way. The descriptions the narrator gives of working on these battlefields, war, family, friends, the theatre, and life in general are fascinating and insightful. Not to mention snarky and full of dark humor. It's also the first of a new trilogy, so be prepared to get sucked in.

I've liked Parker for a few books now, and I still do. Similar enough style and prose that I predict I'll like the trilogy enough to keep reading anything by Parker.

Some days, you just need a witty, sarcastic, cycnical writer who also moonlights as a battle field scavenger telling you about the absurdity that is his life, and how it all manages to both fall apart and come together. You also get into the nitty gritty of military strategy, and Corax's voice is the key that holds this all together. Kind of leaves me wondering if there's an audiobook of this. Either. way - it's a good time, and I highly recommend picking this up if you've liked KJ Parker's works before.

Thank you to Orbit Books and Netgalley for providing me with this book in exchange for my honest opinion. Saevus Corax Deals with the Dead is available now.

For those of you who have read books by K.J. Parker before, you know that he has a very specific style. You might not know exactly how the book will go, but you understand that there is a certain tone and style you can reasonably expect. Parker’s one-of-a-kind writing style is what first endeared me to his books. It has a wry, self-deprecating narration that is loads of fun.

Saevus Corax Deals with the Dead has several things to like. First of all, is Saevus’ job. He’s basically a vulture. He and his team pick over battlefields to scavenge what they can repair and resell. It’s a surprisingly lucrative job and it keeps Saevus moving, which is a big bonus for him, because, while those on the battlefield are quite dead, Saevus’ past just won’t stay buried.

At the beginning of the book, Saevus promises the reader to be completely honest, even if (when) that makes him look like a jerk. The wonderful thing about Parker’s characters, though, is that they are rarely honest with themselves. This transfers over into a delightful and healthy distrust of the story being told. I love an unreliable narrator when they’re well written, and Saevus is extremely well written.

However.

I didn’t love Saevus Corax Deals with the Dead. It isn’t a carbon copy of other Parker books by any means, but it is similar enough that I found myself comparing them. Both fortunately and unfortunately, depending on how you look at it, I liked How to Rule an Empire and Get Away with It, and Sixteen Ways to Defend a Walled City quite a bit more.

Is Saevus Corax Deals with the Dead worth reading? Absolutely. It’s a massively enjoyable book. But if you only ever read one book by K.J. Parker (which would be a real shame because he’s a great author), this isn’t the book I’d suggest first.

Recommended with a caveat: don’t start your K.J. Parker experience here.

Saevus Corax and his crew scavenge battlefields, and it seems that there are plenty of battles. In this picaresque story, Saevus winds up getting in the middle of an impending war.

I enjoyed the first 2 books of The Siege trilogy by this author. This new trilogy follows the same pattern as the previous books. An unlikely protagonist winds up getting involved in a war and has to act out of character. In fact, the two trilogies are too similar for me in structure, plot and tone. I don’t like to keep reading the same thing over and over. I already have the next 2 books in this trilogy, but I’m not really looking forward to them. The scavenger part of the book was a little gross, but at least it was different. There is some humor to this book, and Saevus is an interesting character. I listened to the audiobook, and Ben Onwukwe did a wonderful job with the narration. Nevertheless, I was never fully engaged with this book. 3.5 stars

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.

Prior to picking up Sixteen Ways to Defend a Walled City, I had never read any of K.J. Parker’s (aka Tom Holt) books, but that book totally worked for me! The character's voice was snarky and full of wry humor which perfectly counterbalanced the plot, which was a city besieged with no way out. So imagine my delight when I picked up Saevus Corax Deals with the Dead and found a book with another snarky character full of gallows humor.
We first meet Saevus Corax as he’s cleaning up a battlefield - some might call folks like that scavengers, but for him and his crew of five hundred it’s just business. They have rival businessmen they must face, quotas to meet, and profits to turn. Someone recognizes our shifty main character for who he really is and that someone suddenly becomes a corpse - woops, doc couldn’t save him after the battle. Who is the narrator of this tale, exactly?
Saevus Corax, who we rarely hear called by his name (any of them), is narrating this tale in the form of a memoir. He’s recording the true story of the Battle of Sirupat, which we haven’t gotten to quite yet, and is determined to make himself out to be a horrible villain. He’s moderately evil, but his main focus is self preservation because he really likes being alive. This point is proven time and time again throughout the book and despite the repetition (or perhaps because of it) I remained amused.

“Yes, you can be a real piece of work sometimes. But if you’re trying to make yourself out as some kind of unspeakable monster that needs to be put down for the sake of humanity, you’ve got delusions of grandeur.”

The plot is chock full of stuff happening, and “stuff” was a particular word choice. Saevus is always in the midst of some event or another, whether that be a pitched sea battle or an assassination attempt, and largely you spend the book wondering where this all might be going and what the point of it is. I found that I didn’t much mind the meandering thanks to the humorous bent of the story, but I do think it could put off some readers. I had a good time reading this, and honestly, that was enough for me!

4.5 Stars

This is my fourth novel by KJ Parker after The Folding Knife, The Company and The Hammer. Those three standalones are fairly contained where as we travel to many places along with our protagonist in this one. Though, other places and wars were discussed in those books, focus was mostly on protagonist's ambitions and motivations.
But we got to know many details about the world in this book. From different religions to institutions which control the economy of the world. I had a fantastic time getting to know those details. Pacing was little off in the second half but Parker's humour and character work was as usual, brilliant. I cannot wait to continue the series.

Thanks to Netgalley and Orbit for proving an e-ARC.

I requested this one because it might be an upcoming title I would like to review on my Youtube Channel. However, after reading the first several chapters I have determined that this book does not suit my tastes. So I decided to DNF this one.

Give me a cheeky writing style any day.

Look, I don't know what to tell you, other than it was a well plot out political fantasy, with some weird idiosyncrasies, and a cheeky writing style. If you like that sort of thing, then you will like this series. I am really surprised that I read this fully without needing the audiobook, so you know it's good. It does lag in parts, but the ending and the revelations through the book make it all worth it.

I will definitely be checking out the rest of the series. And I'm interested to see what he gets himself into next.

Thank you to Netgalley and Orbit for an e-copy.

Thank you NetGalley and Orbit for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Saevus Corax is the leader of a crew for hire that cleans up battlefields and likes to smooth talk his way out of sticky situations. He also has numerous secrets that he did not ever intend to allow to see the light of day, but nothing’s really coming up Saevus in this series opener.

I’ve really enjoyed the two novella from KJ Parker I’ve read (Prosper’s Demon and Pulling the Wings Off Angels), and Saevus Corax Deals with the Dead is definitely a KJ Parker book. I did like this, though I think that Parker’s humor is best suited for shorter fiction; while it’s fun and zippy in the novellas from him I’ve read, it felt a lot more tedious here. It definitely reads as if Deadpool was dropped into a medieval(ish??) setting and started salvaging battlefields for profit, which I genuinely think makes a fun movie or shorter work of fiction. Saevus is a fun narrator, and I liked the way Parker framed this, but for a full-length novel I found that I want some more emotional depth other than being a sardonic little shit. These chapters also felt absurdly long, which is mostly a matter of personal preference, but it definitely made this feel longer than it really was.

I did enjoy watching Saevus get himself into sticky situations and then try to dig his way out of them, and I do think that he’s a clever character with an interesting perspective. This also felt familiar in a way that I can’t really describe other than “ah, yes, a KJ Parker book,” even though I’ve only read two, but I think that his narrators tend to sound similar and the things he wants to explore doesn’t really change from book to book. I did enjoy the variety of twists in this, and while I am not the type of person to anticipate twists to begin with, I can usually pick up on clues and hints. I really didn’t see any of them coming in Saevus Corax Deals With the Dead, and I think that Saevus’ narrative voice helped make this feel fun and interesting instead of “wait, what, why???” While I wish women had a bigger role, I did quite like the two women that get screen time here; they were very fun and I hope they make more appearances in the sequels.

Overall, I did like this and I think Parker is a very funny writer. I definitely prefer his shorter works, and there are times where I thought this dragged, but I’ll still pick up the next two books in this series just to see what sticky situations Saevus Corax gets himself into.

KJ Parker writes another solid, humorous, medieval military fiction tale set in Parkerland. Saevus is a lot like the personality and intellect of Tyrion Lannister stuck in a world which verges on being a medieval Monty Python set.

Saevus Corax is a fun, first-person retrospective tale about a man who is looking out for himself. And if it happens that looking out for himself also helps his friends and those around him, so be it. Throughout this story, Saevus recollects his times and troubles as a battlefield recovery specialist. But his troubles don't stop there. For each obstacle, Saevus has a plan.

I enjoyed a lot about this book... the witty humor. The clever schemes and maneuvering. And the solid medieval military fantasy writing. I do enjoy how the logistics of battles really shine in Parker's writing. I look forward to seeing what other tales Saevus has yet to tell us about.

There is no magic or dragons. No wand waving saves the day, just knowledge of people and history along with self-deprecating, dry humor. Parker's protagonists can seem somewhat interchangeable, so if you have read The Siege trilogy, you'll feel right at home. There can be a bit of telling and not showing. But that can come with a fictional setting in a made-up world.

Overall, I enjoy KJ Parker's writing and storytelling abilities. Saevus Corax is a fun book with plenty of twists and turns, which reads like a Monty Python story, but the protagonist is actually clever.

The premise drew me in. An unreliable narrator who, along with his crew, salvages armor, weapons, and heirlooms from soldiers after a battle and burns the bodies.

But, the narrative style left me feeling disconnected from the story. We would hear threats like “you’ll be turned over to your brother and father” that were supposed to be scary. And then in the next scene we’d be brought back to a memory and have it explained to us.

Ultimately, I put the book down a little over 1/3 of the way through and don’t intend on finishing.

1/5 Stars (DNF @ 21%)

TL;DR - Simultaneously too much and not enough, and all of it boring. I was expecting actual fantasy, but what I got was endless explanations of battles and military gear and politics, and I did not have a good time.

Big thanks to Orbit and NetGalley for providing the ARC for this book in exchange for an honest review!

‘Saevus Corax Deals With the Dead’ by K. J. Parker is the story of the titular character, except that’s not his real name. He’s in the business of cleaning up after wars, stripping and burning bodies and selling whatever he finds on the battlefield to the highest bidder. Someone sets him up to take the fall for a series of crimes, and he has to figure out who and why while evading the authorities. I stopped at 21% of they way in, so if it gets much more complex than that, I can’t recount it to you.

I just could not get into this book. It started out strong, with what seemed like an interesting protagonist in an interesting line of work, but that only carries so far. The humor of Seavus’ narration seemed charming at the beginning, but it quickly became grating and then eye-rolling, until I just couldn’t stand it anymore. He has some dark past that seems to be catching up with him, but he was so bland as a character that I really couldn’t make myself care about him or that past.

On top of that, the plot is very slow, and bogged down by copious descriptions of military tactics and equipment and all sorts of mundane details that mean nothing to me and do nothing to advance the plot. 21% of the way in and basically nothing has happened, and it was a struggle for me to get to that far.

There’s no fantasy in the portion I got through, at least, not any magic or beasties or anything like that. From the name, I was hoping for something with necromancy or death magic or something of the like, but it’s perfectly mundane up to the point where I stopped, which is not what I expected when requesting this ARC.

The world-building was very confusing to me. From what I can gather, this book is tied to a lot of the author’s other books and takes place in presumably the same universe, and from what I can glean from reviews of his related books, the world is only similar to ours, not actually the real world, except that it uses a whole heap of specific historical terms from our world in combination with made-up (as far as I can tell) names that seems to draw from real-world sources. Add to that a lot of anachronisms in speech and no clear real-world parallel for me to anchor to, and the sum totals me being incredibly confused and frustrated, enough so that I had to call it quits before I went insane.

Final Thoughts:

If all of the above is your thing - slow pace, an overabundance of military stuff, pseudo-historical worldbuilding, snarky narration, etc - then you might really like this book. Unfortunately for me, none of that is up my alley, so I really did not enjoy what I was able to read of this book.