This book is such a clever, darkly funny gem. K. J. Parker just has this way of making you think while keeping you completely entertained, and this story is no exception. It’s wickedly smart, filled with dry wit and biting commentary on power, truth, and how history gets shaped by those in control. The characters are fantastic, intelligent, and cynical.
The writing is masterful, it’s concise yet layered with meaning. Every sentence feels purposeful, and the story never lags. The dark fantasy setting is gritty and unforgiving, but the way Parker infuses it with irony makes it feel strangely hopeful in its own twisted way. It’s one of those stories that makes you question the nature of truth while thoroughly enjoying every moment of its chaos. The balance between grim reality and biting humor is perfect, and it left me thinking long after I finished. A definite must-read for those who love dark fantasy with brains and bite.

Witty, sly, knowingly charming, this sharp fantasy novella is a darkly amusing romp in a single tart bite. Everything I always want in a SFF novella - a clever idea, brilliantly executed.

Thank you to the publisher for the advance review copy!

Thank you Netgalley! Actually a 3.5.

This is an extremely interesting premise and the prose is beautiful. The author definitely went into this knowing the story he wanted to tell and, especially in regard to the ending, the message he wanted to send. For such a short novella, I was very impressed by the world building it was able to get across.

What I really found lacking was the actual…meat of the story. It can be hard to write a really good novella, but I do think this is a story that COULD have been told and felt fully fleshed out within 150 pages. When you’re working with that kind of page count, you really have to make everything count, and I don’t feel like that was accomplished here. I felt no real attachment to the characters, I realized by the end of it I didn’t even know the main character’s name; the first half of the book felt like it was the set up to a novel, with the latter half then remembering it’s a novella and making it all feel like a sprint to the finish line. It’s a shame because the story and the message are both genuinely compelling.

Thank you for allowing me to read this small excerpt of the book. It is not on Goodreads yet as the book doesn’t exist there. I will wait to review on Goodreads until full book is read. From what I have read so far it is interesting.

The premise of this story is that a group of scholars are given an impossible task by their king. They must accurately recreate an old city in order to justify the king trying to take over more land. The narrator of the story is the linguist among the group of scholars.

This one is a bit hard to review since it is a fairly short novella. Overall, the story was enjoyable and I would recommend that if someone is curious, that they give it a try.

A group of scholars must construct a fake anxiety city for a tyranical king and if they fail to do so... they'll face death. This was definitely an interesting story, especially with how it ended. It's a short and fast read and definitely covers a unique storyline. I do think it's an easy one to get into and that if you like a bit of fantasy read then I'd give it a go.

Release Date: Sep 2, 2025

Publication/Blog: Ash and Books (ash-and-books.tumblr.com)

*Thanks Netgalley and Tor Publishing Group | Tordotcom for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*