Thomas Senlin, the headmaster of a small town school, and his new wife, Marya, are honeymooning at the Tower of Babel. Unfortunately, they get separated from one another in the crush of fellow tourists and citizens. Senlin is determined to find his wife, but first he'll have to survive the city and the Tower if he doesn't want to be chewed up and spit back out. One thing is for sure, if he ever wants to see Marya again he's going to have to do much more than just survive - he'll have to endure everything from theaters, madhouses, flying airships, and assassination attempts.

I'm so lucky to have had the chance to read this brilliantly imaginative and unique series opener. Bancroft's novel caught and hooked me right from the start. The novel really delivers with only a few minor issues from me. First things first, the world building of Senlin Ascends is stunning. The world of the Tower is so vivid that it practically jumps off the page. As far as I'm concerned the Tower is its own character. I loved getting to know it and it's unknown number of ringdoms filled with geniuses, tyrants, and people just trying to scrape by. By the way, a ringdom is a kingdom of each level of the Tower - think of the stacked layers of a cake.

Secondly, in regards to the characters of the novel, I really appreciated Senlin's journey. He goes from being a fairly grating yet intriguing, to possibly one of my favorite characters of recent memory. He's really put through the wringer and I'd say that he comes out a much better person on the other side. I found myself easily able to connect with him. I can't really say the same for Marya though, except for the few chapters we get from her perspective because there she started to feel like more of a fully formed character as she comes into her own.

Finally, I want to mention the pacing of the novel. The story is pushing 450 pages. Fair warning, but I thought could be trimmed down a little bit. As much as I was engrossed in the beginning while learning so much about the world and the ending, there were a few points in the middle that started to drag and I caught myself nearly zoning out, especially in regards to later Parlor scenes.

Overall, I highly recommend Senlin Ascends by Josiah Bancroft. It's a fantastic debut fantasy series opener that is incredibly unique, and also brutal. I couldn't resist this brand of alternate history fantasy. If you like High-Rise by J.G. Ballard or The Great Library series by Rachel Caine, I have a feeling that you'll be hooked on Senlin Ascends. I can't wait to continue this series with Arm of the Sphinx.

This is an adventure story, quest and wonderfully inventive fantasy written in a very charming style. I loved the world the author created. It is the first in a series (maybe it's a trilogy but I don't know for sure) that was originally self published but has been picked up by Orbit.

Thomas Senlin is a headmaster from the small fishing village of Isaugh who takes his new wife Marya to visit the Tower of Babel in the nation of Ur. The Tower is an immense structure and tourist destination. It is the lighthouse of civilization built on many different levels, each of which has its own characteristics, attractions, rules and dangers. Each chapter of the book starts with a cheerful quote from a guidebook to the Tower until Tom loses the book. Then each chapter begins with a quote from Tom's own book "Every Man's Tower, One Man's Travails". Tom had a great many travails. Sometimes it even felt like travail overload. "First, [the Tower] turned luxury into necessity, and then the Tower conspired to revoke all claims to happiness, dignity, and liberty."

Before visiting the Tower, Tom and Marya had to pass through a congested and colorful marketplace. "A little troop of red-breasted soldiers slouched by on palominos, parting a family in checkered headscarves on camelback. The trumpet of elephants sounded over the clack of the train, and here and there in the hot winds high above them, airships lazed, drifting inexorably toward the Tower of Babel." Unfortunately, Tom and Marya become separated there and Tom is robbed of almost all of their possessions. For the rest of the book Tom is desperately trying to find his missing wife. He has to become a lot more brave, creative and fierce than he ever was as a headmaster. During his quest he encounters a lot of residents of the Tower including Adam (the one eyed thief who is intensely loyal to his sister Voleta who has been forced to entertain at a brothel until she can be sold to a prospective husband), Edith (the pirate with a mechanical arm and possibly a dangerous secret) and Iren (the illiterate amazon). There are a lot more characters and I encourage you to meet them yourself. At the end of this book, Tom was still working his way up the levels of the Tower, so this definitely isn't a complete story. This book was amusing, engaging and very imaginative. I can't wait to start book 2.

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

This was an adventure that was at once familiar and inventive in a lot of different ways. I don't know that I've ever read anything quite like it, but it's still a combination of a lot of familiar (but not often found together) elements.

It's the story of Thomas Senlin who, on his honeymoon, takes his young wife to the Tower of Babel (which both is and is not the Biblical structure, sharing some of its mythology and geography while also inventing its own); Senlin had long been enamored with a heavily mythologized version of the Tower and finds quickly that image shattered as his wife disappears and he finds himself struggling through suffocating crowds, masses of thieves, and vast, mind-boggling conspiracies to try to get her back.

The setup, reminiscent of TAKEN, proceeds through a dreamlike journey reminiscent of Dante's DIVINE COMEDY or Bunyan's PILGRIM'S PROGRESS, but in the steampunk era and with prose reminiscent of F. Scott Fitzgerald or Somerset Maughaum.

Bancroft weaves a mesmerizing story with plenty of twists that is both deep enough to for serious, repeated study but also engrossing enough to be a quick read (I opened the Kindle edition I received from NetGalley on Christmas Eve and finished the epilogue on Boxing Day). His worldbuilding is superb, and there is a rich social structure that reveals slowly as the narrative peels away the Tower's mythos in Senlin's eyes. All of this comes through in beautifully descriptive prose that makes the Tower enchanting, intriguing, and terrifying (sometimes, all three at the same time).

I'm excited to see where the narrative progresses in the series next entries; Bancroft's protagonist changes so much over the course of this book but leaves the door wide open for further trials and transformations.

Extremely fascinating read and a world I havent# encountered before. I loved the descriptions and over all plot. Senlin is such a fun character to read a bout he is so shy and does things by the rules. The premise was really interesting and I really wanted to know whether he will find his wife or not. It kept me development! going and I really enjoyed reading the book. I recommend it to everyone who loves stories with an intricate world-building and great character developmnt.

3.5 stars

Senlin Ascends is a surprising book in that it's quite good, so it's strange that it's only now being published. It has an engrossing writing style that entraps you in the story, so even though certain parts of it were slow, I wanted to keep reading to see how words were used. It reminds me of an extremely eloquent fairy tale. Senlin Ascends follows Thomas Senlin, a headmaster from a small town, as he searches for his wife whom he lost at the beginning of his honeymoon. He must make his way towards their original destination within the Tower of Babel in order to try find her. A decent portion of the book deals with him trying to get to their destination, which made it a bit of a slog as it seemed obvious that she wasn't there. Senlin is a good character, being likable but imperfect, smart but not too quickly. The best part for me though was the side characters. Ogier, the commissioner, Finn Goll, among others, all made this book more interesting because being with Senlin alone was slow. The world building is phenomenal, engaging and informative, but with surprises waiting. This is an indie gem that you should happily try to get your hands on now that it is being published. While I agree it has problems with pacing, it warrants a full read through because of its great characters, writing, and world building.



A digital copy of this book was provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

There are many bad things that can happen on one’s honeymoon, but probably the worst thing that can happen is to lose one’s spouse within an hour of arriving at one’s destination. Even though he is armed with a guidebook and years of reading, this is precisely what happens to Thomas Senlin when he and his wife arrive at the Tower of Babel in Josiah Bancroft’s Senlin Ascends. After Marya Senlin goes missing in the market on their way to their accommodations, Thomas vows to find her no matter how long it takes or what he has to do.

Based on the biblical Tower of Babel, the Tower in Senlin’s world never came down. As far as anyone knows, there are still people building new layers. The guidebooks all say that there is no experience like the Tower anywhere else in the world. It’s the perfect place to honeymoon. Unfortunately for the Senlins, their probably begin almost as soon as they arrive. There are so many people at the base of the tower that they have to force their way through a free form mob. Then they get separated at the market. Then Thomas gets robbed by a man he thinks might help him. Then he has to figure out what happened to Marya and follow her trail. Once he works out where she might have gone, Thomas has to make his way through the bizarre customs and governments of the different layers of the Tower to get to her.

Senlin Ascends riffs on Victorian travelogues and adventure stories (Thomas himself is a bit Victorian), with a dash of Pilgrim’s Progress. Because the Tower of Babel is at the heart of this book, it’s hard not to read parts of this book allegorically. Thomas not only travels upward but he becomes a better man. But, unlike Bunyan’s hero, Thomas becomes less naive and more ruthless on his path. As the novel progresses, the adventure takes over. By the end, Senlin Ascends is a rip-roaring yarn with sky pirates, conspiracies, and unstoppable assassins.

The only thing I’ll say about the end of this book is that it ends on a cliffhanger, which I hate. The good news is that the next book in the series, The Arm of the Sphinx, will be published shortly after Senlin Ascends. I just have to know if Thomas will be reunited with Marya—and what happened to her after Thomas lost her trail. Other than the cliffhanger issue, I really enjoyed this book. It’s highly original even with all the riffing, and Thomas’ journey and growth as a character is brilliantly handled. This book is just so damned much fun!

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley, for review consideration. It will be released 16 January 2018.

Senlin Ascends by Josiah Bancroft was exciting, well written, and all around captivating fun! The characters were astoundingly actualized, showing, as they evolved, all levels of humbling, raw humanity. The plot was exhilarating, fuel packed and transformative. The richly built Babel-verse was a dynamic treat and an extraordinary thrill to navigate. Easy to get into. Thrilling to the very end. Senlin Ascends is a fantastic, masterful, buoyant read! I'm so glad that there's more to come! Excellent! Excellent!

Steampunk usually has a Victorian England-ish setting and rests on a premise like “this is what the world would be like if Babbage had actually built the clockwork/steam computers he invented.” This steampunkish book goes much farther back for our point of divergence…apparently in this world God never stopped the construction of the Tower of Babel (Genesis 11) and it has become the pillar (or possibly sinkhole) of culture and civilization.

In this world we meet Senlin, a young idealistic schoolmaster reminiscent of Voltaire’s Candide in his optimism and naivete (with a side order of smug fussiness). He arrives at the Tower with his new wife and his trusty Everyman’s Guide to the Tower of Babel (a book almost but not entirely unlike The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy). The honeymoon quickly descends into a Kafkaesque nightmare as he is separated from his wife and begins working his way up the Tower in hopes of finding her.

For the sake of spoilers, I won’t tell any more of the plot or setting since exploring the surreal hodgepodge world of the Tower with it’s stacked “ringdoms” is part of the fun. Let’s just say that as Senlin ascends the tower, his idealistic vision of the Tower as a shining beacon of culture and his bright-eyed trust in humanity go in the other direction.

For all that, I didn’t find this to be a grindingly depressing book. The author has a light, slightly sarcastic touch and has you rooting for Senlin as he becomes a sadder, wiser man. The book does not offer much resolution to the main plot (there appears to be plenty more Tower to ascend), but I enjoyed the journey enough that I’m not even mad…I’m glad there’s much more to come of this fascinating world. This quirky book just might make my top five list for the year!

An astounding work of imagination aptly supported by a terrific narrative. Senlin Ascends is the first of four planned books in the Tower of Babel series. The Tower of Babel is an ancient biblical story about a tower intended to reach heaven and which explains all the different languages in the world. Bancroft takes this ancient tale and kind of tweaks it and embellishes it more than a little bit.

Still set in the land of Ur with ancient cities like Sumer, the story is one where the tower with walks one quarter mile thick was built, but it is also a world of steam trains,airships, cybertronic arms,and other things. It is a series of interconnected fantasy worlds where imagination runs utterly wild. You can feel distant echoes of Douglas Adams with his hapless journey and a golden guidebook, Burroughs’ Barsoom with its mighty airships and sword battles, and Alice in Wonderland rabbit holes where each level is revealed as you climb to the next one.

But what makes this story roar is not it’s ancient steampunk fantasy worlds, but it’s narrative with the odd anti-hero, a schoolmaster who loses his wife on their honeymoon to explore the world’s greatest and most astounding wonder. And, all the questions raised by the journey. What’s real and what’s not? Who’s a friend and who’s just playing you? Is there anyone you can trust? Who’s running this diabolical show?

I found that the writing was superb. It just captures you and won’t let go.

Sadly all the planned volumes in this series have not yet been written. Get to it, Mr. Author.

Thanks to the publisher for providing a copy for review.

Senlin Ascends is... oh my. How do I describe this wild ride of a book? Fan-freakin-tastic. That's how I describe it. It's steampunk on adrenaline and trust me, you won't hate yourself for diving in. You won't be able to stop reading it.

Usually, a book with a cover this cool is overcompensating, but this was not the case. A great read!

<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17554595-senlin-ascends" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img border="0" alt="Senlin Ascends (The Books of Babel, #1)" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1362535545m/17554595.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17554595-senlin-ascends">Senlin Ascends</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6978502.Josiah_Bancroft">Josiah Bancroft</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2177099801">5 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
This is an amazing piece of work, and honestly..I don't remember how I came across it. But as the crud goes around my house and town and I am deep in a sinus med fueled delirium. I pick up this book.<br /><br />Beautiful language, amazing world and incredibly readable, even though I was a bit in a fever dream (hah) I was sucked in and was not going to leave.<br /><br />Pick this up, this is WORTH your time, (I'm still sick..so I make less sense than usual)
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/279564-kdawg91">View all my reviews</a>

Wildly Imaginative, and Oddly Compelling

I guess any book that calls up comparisons to Kafka, (a vast faceless bureaucracy with undisclosed rules), and Douglas Adams, (a wildly inaccurate Tower Guide very reminiscent of the Hitchhiker's Guide), deserves the reader's attention. This book has a slight early steampunk feel that gets stronger as Senlin proceeds, but that is appropriate not only for the story but as a description of the book itself. It often feels cobbled together from lots of different pieces, bits, ideas, notions, plots, moods and styles, and the result is elegant and fascinating, although sometimes a bit clunky.

Since this is the first in a four book series I imagine that the plot will continue to develop beyond Senlin's search for his missing wife. That's probably a good idea, but for me the plot wasn't all that important. On the one hand this is a travel/adventure novel. On the other hand, and more rewardingly, all of that travel and adventure allows for a multitude of set pieces. Some just run a paragraph or two, some extend for a few pages, and some command multiple chapters. These pieces reflect what Senlin sees, feels, and experiences in the Tower and are wildly inventive and colorfully and convincingly described. The effect, as I noted, is attractive and compelling, and makes for a fine and satisfying entertainment. An excellent find.

(Please note that I received a free ecopy of this book without a review requirement, or any influence regarding review content should I choose to post a review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)

Senlin Ascends is a definite proof that an indie work can be on par or superior compared to most published books in the market today.

I’m just going to say it right off the bat, the matter of fact is, not a lot of readers will spend their time reading indie works. It’s almost always a risky bet to dive into an indie book, most people don’t want to give it a try most of the time for a good reason, whether from their bad covers, cliché stories, myriad of typos and grammatical errors, my point is, sometimes the harsh truth is that some indie books stayed indie for a reason, or just in the worse case, bad luck. Excluding the luck factor, Senlin Ascends, Josiah Bancroft’s debut and the first book in ‘The Books of Babel’ series is the exact opposite from all these points I mentioned. Orbit books have picked up this series and it will be re-released in January 2018, I strongly suggest you get it or even better, as soon as you can if it’s still available now.

The plot started out very simple. Thomas Senlin, a timid, kind-hearted and sensible teacher is on a honeymoon with his newlywed wife, Marya to stay on the 3rd level of the majestic and literally gigantic Tower of Babel. Before they even got the chance to start their honeymoon properly, Marya was lost in the hectic and chaotic market and now, Senlin will have to explore the tower (which turns out to be of course, not what he expected) on a wild goose chase to find his missing wife.

Yes, this is the main plot but don’t let it fool you into thinking this is a simple story. The plot has almost every factor that will make any fantasy book intriguing. Friendship, philosophical, adventure, heists, books, hope, despair and even (I can’t believe I’m saying this) a tiny section of well-written romance, this means the reader will most likely something they can relate to here. The plot kept on unfolding with each part, which in my opinion is like three continuous novellas that were combined into one to form a bigger story.

“We shouldn't have to go around congratulating each other for behaving with basic human dignity.”

The characters are also very well written. Thomas Senlin’s character development is amazing, his growth from the first part, where he was timid, sensible, innocent, to the man he must become to achieve his goal is gradual and realistic. He'll use all his wit and become a man of action rather than his usual stay true to his usual calm demeanor. However, another thing to be praised of is that every side character, Marya, Edith, Adam, Iren did receive the same treatment by receiving plenty of backgrounds information, circumstances, personalities and developments that will actually make them not just a simple side character to be excluded.

“It is easier to accept who you’ve become than to recollect who you were.”

One of the main highlight of the book without a doubt lies in its world-building. I’m going to spare you a lot of details here for your own good, you must experience every ringdom for yourself.

The world is immersive, atmospheric, and combined with a unique, beautiful and well-polished prose, the Tower of Babel is a place you want and should dive into if you want an amazing and unique experience. Plus, I’m also a sucker for Skyships and sky pirates. I’ve played a lot of video games around steampunk, skyship, let’s say 'Bioshock Infinite' example. So far there are only one or two novels I read that utilized this feature wonderfully and this became another addition to that list.

Why not a full 5 stars with all the praises? Here’s the thing. My minor problem with the book is because of the hype it gets. Senlin Ascends is honestly the most hyped indie book I've ever known in my whole life and I won’t lie, this caused my expectation of the book to increase and it disappoints me a bit because, despite all the greatness of the book, I actually found some part less thrilling than it was supposed to be. This is honestly an “it’s not you, it’s me” situation so you might want to take my con with the book with a grain of salt.

The hype is definitely there for a good reason. There’s no doubt that luck is required to get a signed deal, but I’m of the mindset that in life, in everything you do, luck can be always be improved. With hard work, perseverance, patience, something great will not be lost in the world forever and that’s exactly what happened to 'Senlin Ascends'. This book was published in 2013! Yes, 2013! It took 4 years for a publishing company to finally pick up this gem. SPFBO happened, Mark Lawrence (huge thanks to him seriously) and Emily May spread awareness for this book, if Josiah gave up writing after releasing the sequel, 'Arms of the Sphinx' in 2015, he won’t ever be signed. Once you know you create something great with all your efforts, persevere and never give up, it's always easier said than done but that's how it is. Now, Josiah Bancroft has been signed by Orbit, and I’ll say that it’s totally well deserved.

I'm going to conclude my review by stating that Senlin Ascends is a stunning fantasy steampunk debut. I may have fallen into the hype a bit and it slightly lowered my rating of the book but there’s no doubt that this is a magnificent book that any lover of fantasy or steampunk must try to read, for right now, this is one of the most unique novels I've ever read.

This highly praised indie book series has recently been picked up by Orbit! After that news, and seeing the first two beautifully sitting on my shelf for far too long, I decided I wanted to experience this self published series before the year was over, but now I just want all the books immediately, because Senlin Ascends is a literary masterpiece.

“The Tower of Babel is most famous for the silk fineries and marvelous airships it produces, but visitors will discover other intangible exports. Whimsy, adventure, and romance are the Tower’s real trade”

Senlin Ascends is unlike anything I've ever read before. The basic premise seems easy enough: A headmaster that works at a school in a very small and far away village, has newly married a girl who compliments him perfectly. Senlin is a man of planning, habit, and always following the rules, while his new bride, Marya, follows her own beat completely and just wants to see the world. Senlin is also obsessed with a mysterious tower that is far, far away from him and Marya's village. So, what better place for them to honeymoon than the tower that he's been obsessing over his whole life. I mean, Senlin has a guidebook, and he always follows the rules, what could go wrong?

“the Tower is a tar pit. Once you put a toe in her, you’re caught forever. No one leaves. No one goes home.”

Yet, we soon find out that inside the Tower of Babel there are completely different worlds living and dwelling inside each level, or maybe I should say functioning inside each level. And, yes, I said Tower of Babel, like the bible story you probably grew up hearing at least once about why we speak so many different languages. Basically, after the Great Flood happened, a bunch of people came together and agreed to build a tower that would touch Heaven itself. God, realizing what they are attempting, scatters them all around the world and makes them all speak different languages, hence our world today. Yet, obviously, the higher in the tower you are the closer you are to God and Heaven.

Also, unbeknownst to me both times, this is the second Tower of Babel inspired story I've read this month, because I also read Nyxia (The Nyxia Triad, #1) by Scott Reintgen . So now I'm lowkey sitting at my computer like, "Is God trying to tell me something?"

Anyways, this is a glorious painting done by Peter Bruegel, that I found because of my wonderful friend Mike's review, that is a very close interpretation to how I pictured the Tower in this book:

And here is the Tower that the amazingly talented author, Josiah Bancroft, made that shows us around and inside a few of the levels known to man:

(I looked at this constantly once Petrik showed it to me!)

Okay, so now you guys know sort of what the gist of the Tower is and sort of what it looks like, but I'm sure you're reading this review to find out about the story. Oh, my friends, this story is a treat to any book lover who happens to stumble upon this tale. It's mystery after mystery, surprise after surprise, whimsical new steampunk world after whimsical new steampunk world.

“Not a solitary soul will help you here. The good souls don’t have the means or mind for it, and the bad souls will only bleed you dry.”

As Senlin is ascending the Tower, this book will constantly lead you to believe something, and you will, with your whole heart, but it will end up being so completely different. And the book will do this over and over again, but it will never feel forced or gimmicky, but it will always surprise you. I'm not sure any author I've ever read has been capable of doing that before, and, again, this is a debut novel by a self published author. (Which is why we need to support indie authors and find more hidden gems like this little masterpiece.)

And the writing is so fantastic. It's entrancing and addicting, while also being one of the most immersive works I've ever read. Especially the baths, like, I'm still halfway convinced that I was there in my own little pinecone like shelf, watching everything play out through the streets of that city. This story reads like you're in a lucid dream that you're not sure you want to wake up from. Yet, it still feels like you're seeing everything through somewhat of a haze. Again, this tale is glorious and unlike anything I've ever read in my many years of reading.

“It is easier to accept who you’ve become than to recollect who you were.”

And Senlin as a character was wonderful to read about, too. Seeing the Tower shape him into what he needs to be, is worth its own review. I mean, the Tower changes everyone, but Senlin always stays true to his caring self that loves to learn and to teach others and it makes him flourish. Senlin's journey is nothing short of beautiful. I also loved the Tower itself, and how it is so much bigger than anyone realizes. I loved Senlin's theory and I can't wait to ascend the next levels with him.

“The Tower is only as tall as the man that climbs”

The side characters that Senlin meets along his journey are also nothing short of exquisite. Iren, Goll, Tarrou, Edith, Adam, Ogier, they were all such wonderful additions that truly shaped this story into something remarkable that leaves me with a loss for words. I could read side story after side story about each of these individuals and their time spent in the Tower.

At this point, I also believe that Josiah Bancroft could very well just be a genius for crafting this complex tale that is so entrancing yet easy to follow. The only negative thing I can really say is that this book does end, and I mean it ends somewhat abruptly, and if you don't have the next book, Arm of the Sphinx, on hand, you are probably going to cry. If you're looking for a fast paced adventure, with a completely addicting story, with some of the most beautiful prose I've ever read, that is unlike anything you've ever read, please give Senlin Ascends a try.