Villiren: a city of sin that is being torn apart from the inside. Hybrid creatures shamble through shadows and barely human gangs fight turf wars f...
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Jul 22, 2010
Aidan
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This review was originally published on A Dribble of Ink
The New Weird. It’s that strange little literary movement that, according to Mark Charan Newton, is dead. And yet, he’s flying that mantle high, telling anyone who’ll listen that City of Ruin, the second volume of his Legends of the Red Sun series, has been let of its leash by virtue of a four book publishing deal; it’s going to be weirder, more true to Newton’s original vision of the sun-deprived Boreal Archipelago. Nights of V More...
The New Weird. It’s that strange little literary movement that, according to Mark Charan Newton, is dead. And yet, he’s flying that mantle high, telling anyone who’ll listen that City of Ruin, the second volume of his Legends of the Red Sun series, has been let of its leash by virtue of a four book publishing deal; it’s going to be weirder, more true to Newton’s original vision of the sun-deprived Boreal Archipelago. Nights of V More...
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Dec 23, 2011
Pauline
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This is one of those rare books where the second book in the series is far better than the first. When I was browsig the shelves at the now defunct Borders, I picked up City of Ruin instead of The Nights of Villjamur not realizing it was a series. After realizing it when I got home, I went back and got the first one.
City of Ruin picks up right where Nights of Villjamur left off. This time, our merry cast of detectives are relocated to Villiren, a city that is rife with racial and gang More...
City of Ruin picks up right where Nights of Villjamur left off. This time, our merry cast of detectives are relocated to Villiren, a city that is rife with racial and gang More...
Feb 20, 2011
Jason
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5Stars.. It is a rare find to have a second novel eclipse that of the first, but that is exactly what Mark Charan Newton has done with the City of Ruin.
I love the New Weird and when it is done well by the greats like China Mieville and Jeff Vandermeer, it can be the most memorable of the fantasy genre. Mark Charan Newton has now put himself along the masters and added his own unique twists to it, kind of funny since he himself feels that the genre is dead. This book starts out ver More...
I love the New Weird and when it is done well by the greats like China Mieville and Jeff Vandermeer, it can be the most memorable of the fantasy genre. Mark Charan Newton has now put himself along the masters and added his own unique twists to it, kind of funny since he himself feels that the genre is dead. This book starts out ver More...
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Aug 20, 2011
Neil
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Book two of "Legends of the Red Sun" features a new city; Villiren and it makes Villjamur look like a utopia. An invasion is immenent and the first half of the book does a good job of making us question whether the city deserves to be saved. The second half is like a fantasy version of" Black Hawk Down" or "Saving Private Ryan" which despite having many "WTF?" action/monster scenes is still grounded with the devastating and often banal loss of life. This v
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Jun 23, 2010
Adrian
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I'd enjoyed Nights of Villjamur but had issues with it. A very good debut novel and a book I'm happy to recommend to people despite my slight issues with dialogue. I was looking forward to City of Ruin. If Newton could build and improve on Nights, then City of Ruin could prove to be a very good book. At Eastercon, there was a group of us chatting about various novels and giving our honest opinion on them, outside the earshot of writers (although to be honest, no-one said anything there, that
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Jan 25, 2012
SSirppi
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Well, this has a pretty cover. Mark Newton's City of Ruin is the second book of Legends of the Red Sun. I reviewed the first book, Nights of Villjamur, couple of days ago and gave it 3. I hoped that that the second book would have gotten rid of couple of annoying factors, but while it did so it also added a considerable number of new ones. City of Ruin is about the same length as it's prdecessor, 467 pages.
The storytelling is better than in the first book and at the beginning I felt More...
The storytelling is better than in the first book and at the beginning I felt More...
Oct 18, 2011
Adam
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Newton’s Nights of Villjamur was a somber moody success, almost like a fantasy novel that read like a Scandinavian crime novel. The second entry is louder, more packed with grotesquerie and invention, and more emotional. Gang wars, bizarre technology, dystopian politics, inter-dimensional war, weird ancient technology, mutant animal/human hybrids, religious fanaticism, homophobia, and vampires are packed in with the somber mood retained from the first book, in this wonderful revitalization of th
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Sep 29, 2011
Sarah
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City of Ruin is the second in Mark Charan Newton's Legends of the Red Sun series, with the first being Nights of Villjamur. I had trouble initially reading Nights of Villjamur as I found myself having trouble staying interested. This problem went away in City of Ruin, as I thought the plot drew me in much faster. However, one quibble I had with the book hampered my ability to enjoy it fully.
Many reviews have mentioned the bigotry this book addresses. I admire Mark Charan Newton's wil More...
Many reviews have mentioned the bigotry this book addresses. I admire Mark Charan Newton's wil More...
May 04, 2011
Kathryn
rated it:
And back we go to Mark Charan Newton's twisted, corrupt and strange world...
City of Ruin is pretty much a direct sequel to Nights of Villjamur, taking place a very short time after the previous novel's final events, and it once again revolves around Investigator Jeryd and Commander Brynd. As can be expected, it's a rather dark, gruesome novel with hints of Stephen King poking around (Especially in terms of the sexual sections of the book).
However, whereas Nights of Villjamur More...
City of Ruin is pretty much a direct sequel to Nights of Villjamur, taking place a very short time after the previous novel's final events, and it once again revolves around Investigator Jeryd and Commander Brynd. As can be expected, it's a rather dark, gruesome novel with hints of Stephen King poking around (Especially in terms of the sexual sections of the book).
However, whereas Nights of Villjamur More...
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Jan 21, 2012
Ryan
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People: An elite military commander who is albino and secretly gay, a rumel (reptilian humanoid) detective hiding out in a new city, on the trail of a killer, a half vampire gang lord having marriage trouble, his wife a cultist (user of ancient technology), a suspicious second in command conferring with a priest who condemns homosexuality, a psychopathic doctor who creates human/animal hybrids, a giant spider, crustacean warriors intent on attacking the city, a princess on the run from the evil
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Nov 23, 2010
Ole
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The second book in a series can be a tricky one, but Newton pulls it of with his effort. We pick up the story a short while after the events of Nights of Villjamur. All the main characters have relocated, and most of them is now to be found in the city of Villiren.
Newton doesn't waste any time here. By the end of the first chapter we are already re-introduced to some of the main characters from book one, and have gotten our first glimpse of their new situation.
Again most More...
Newton doesn't waste any time here. By the end of the first chapter we are already re-introduced to some of the main characters from book one, and have gotten our first glimpse of their new situation.
Again most More...
Jul 30, 2010
Mike
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The ice age that loomed over Nights of Villjamur has begun and with it a new, and unprecedented threat has arrived at the empire’s edges. Dispatched to the crumbling city of Villiren Commander Brynd, the albino leader of the elite Night Guard, must unite the Jamur military with the desperate, destitute, and shady citizens of the titular City of Ruins in order to stave off the coming invasion. As if things weren’t bad enough something stalks the people of Villiren and it is up to the hardworkin
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Oct 05, 2010
Milena
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Newton is not afraid of trying out new things, or doing old things in a different way. Fantasy that's as far away from Tolkien's idylls of the village idiots as it's possible to be, and still remain in a sorta-mediaeval, sorta-monsters and sorta-magic domain.
Aug 08, 2011
Andrew
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Mark continues to take us further within his strange world where humans meet with other races. Some protagonists stay the same but the focus moves. Again its a city but this time a new, more dangerous and definitely weird city.
Throughout the book the treat of off world invaders is constantly present and thankfully Mark lets most of the working out how to combat this threat come from the city inhabitants and their perserverence.
The book focuses on the struggles of individuals and their More...
Throughout the book the treat of off world invaders is constantly present and thankfully Mark lets most of the working out how to combat this threat come from the city inhabitants and their perserverence.
The book focuses on the struggles of individuals and their More...
Aug 07, 2010
Stephen
rated it:
4.5 to 5.0 stars. This is a fantastic sequel to the excellent Nights of Villjamur. Mr. Newton's world of Villjamur gets bigger and stranger, the fantasy/science fiction elements get even more interesting (reminding me at times of Jack Vance and China Mieville, which is high praise indeed), and the story explodes exponentially. All of the components that were great in the first book are even better here, including some really well thought out ideas and characters.I can not wait for the next insta
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Jun 01, 2011
I suppose I should get the first book of this series. This looks pretty interesting though - Can't wait to read it!!
Feb 07, 2012
Liviu
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Read final draft, currently reading first final version before last edits and it's just great; the author let's it go here to the max and the novel goes much deepr into sense of wonder; the great characters from Villjamur are back and several new ones appear; there is everything from romance (of several types for that matter), to intrigue, mysteries and of course brutal battles since the title is apt for sure
Will add more as time goes but with this novel Mr. Newton shows that Nights More...
Will add more as time goes but with this novel Mr. Newton shows that Nights More...
Mar 31, 2011
Daniel
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Very good, lots of anti-homophobia, anti-misogyny, anti-xenophobia.
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Oct 11, 2010
Sarah
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Apr 05, 2011
ChristinaJL
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This is a great book and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I rank it as one my all-time favourite reads. MarkCN has again written about strong male and female characters, who are complex and interesting. I like the way he brings in ideas from other genres to mix with fantasy. He has created a very imaginative, multi-layered world full of different histories, societies and all sorts of creatures. I am really looking forward to the next book!!!
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Sep 18, 2011
Jennifer
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A great and captivating read. I didn't have time to read through the first book, so it did make it a little harder to jump in....but eventually I had enough backstory and an investment in the now....that I was hooked.
I look forward to reading the first book, and then this one again to catch the things I know I missed...all while waiting for the next installment.
I look forward to reading the first book, and then this one again to catch the things I know I missed...all while waiting for the next installment.
May 22, 2010
edifanob
rated it:
I own a electronic copy.
A great, great read.
Full review in progress
A great, great read.
Full review in progress
Sep 30, 2011
This was a very good book. While I normally do not like fantasy. The way this book was written has made me reconsider.City of Ruin
Nov 03, 2010
Cara
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Second in the Legends of the Red Sun series.
Read the full review here: http://speculativebookreview.blogspot.co...
Read the full review here: http://speculativebookreview.blogspot.co...
Jan 25, 2012
Christoph
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No idea why the mobile app didn't mark the book as finished after a 100% progress..
Feb 10, 2012
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