Omg talk about a roller coaster read wow this book kept me on the edge of my seat threw out I just couldn't put it down this writer keeps you hooked and once your hooked your not letting go I found this book thrilling the characters were fantastic and well thought out and the little clues all the way threw keep you guessing until the end this book stays with you long after you close the book this book is well worth the read I promise you wont be disappointed

This was a completely unexpected delight! The blurb sounded interesting, but I didn't expect to love it this much - the characters are the absolute strength of this novel, each one of them managing a unique voice. The Mapmaker has stolen my heart - and the setting itself just begs for an RPG. Truly, I'd love a sequel just dedicated to exploring it!
Highly recommended for anyone who likes their dystopias actually original, and needs a little heart to shine through the bleak.

So, where to begin with this one? Well let's discuss our main character 'Wild Alan' for a start. He's your classic 'love to hate' hero who makes a series of poor choices throughout the book and rarely changes for the better. I've not seen Breaking Bad but from what I've gathered it's that descent into immorality while still trying to be a tolerable (if not likeable) main character. Alan certainly manages to make a lot of poor choices in this book. What I think this book could have done better is to have made him a bit more likeable at the start of the book so the contrast was greater, or to have told his backstory through flashbacks so you get reminded of his potential to be a decent human being? Instead you're left wondering why you should support this fairly unpleasant person and it just means you don't follow his journey as attentively as you might otherwise.

There are other characters, however, that I was incredibly interested in. We have the mapmaker Bloody Nora (whose story is largely where the 'magical' elements to this story converge) who was badass and amazing, there's Spider who is a tattoo artist and general awesome individual, there's a whole band of unlikely heroes who are all far more interesting than Alan himself. Maybe if this had been a bit more like Six of Crows in that each character is explored and explained a bit more rather than focussing on one character I would have been more interested.

I can't deny this is a cool setting. There's the contrast between the sinister safety and cleanliness of the Pyramid and the danger (but freedom) of the Discard. The main thing that interested me about the Discard was it's many forms. We had industrial elements alongside organic features, there's the threat of the swamp below. It had something a little reminiscent of Beyond the Deepwoods which is one of my favourite Middle Grade Series. In fact, if Chris Riddell could have illustrated this book I would have been all for it.

My main problem with this book is not in the world building but with the storyline. Once I had worked out that I wasn't really rooting for Alan in this scenario I stopped being concerned with what happened to him and, in a story where he is the main character you begin to lose interest entirely. But the story itself is a little odd. I think because Fletcher is trying to build up the mystery of what is happening in the pyramid and in Gleam as a whole for later books you're just left floundering wondering why on earth anything operates the way it does. Is this the future? Is it an alternative universe? Why can some people wield magic but only in a very specific way? Who are the bad guys in a world where pretty much everyone has to be a terrible human being to survive?

I will say that the writing, not the storytelling but the writing itself, was lovely to read. It's very evocative, the more disgusting parts actually made my skin crawl and the descriptions of the discard did make me feel like I was really there, so if you're looking to experience a creepy new setting then maybe this will work for you?

It may be that a reread is necessary to fully appreciate what was going on in this book. It may be that the sequel Idle Hands which releases at the end of July will start to explain things that this book did not. It may be that I'm just not bright enough to grasp the genius of this story. Either way, this book just wasn't for me.

My rating: 3/5 stars. (I'd give it 2 but I did enjoy the concept)

By the way, I received a digital advanced review copy of Gleam from the publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review, all opinions are my own.

This is an extraordinary book that offers both complexity and richness with a simple and clearly identifiable storyline. That it is the first in a series bodes well for the lucky reader who enters this world.

Characterisation is particularly well done in the peripheral characters. This is interesting as it means the central character is a continued anomaly. He has a simple purposeful raison d'etre but this seems to be constantly at odds with his actions. To solve his need he moves further away from his goal and his actions are characterised through negatives with which he is constantly surrounded.

There is fascinating world building which grows in its complexity with each stage of the journey. There are hints of magic but most beings and features are sufficiently bizarre to hold the attention.

There is a tendency throughout to explore a particular scene in great detail but then jump without clear transitions. It is accepted that this is a reflection of the lead characters perceptions, but things could have been smoother.

The ending of the story resolves at least one of the threads through the book but leaves it wide open for another tale.

I would certainly recommend this book for its world-building and characterisation, time will tell once the remainder of the story is told as to whether it reaches such heights