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The City Stained Red

(Bring Down Heaven #1)

Sam Sykes

3.70 · Rating details · 2,278 ratings · 345 reviews

A long-exiled living god arises.
A city begins to break apart at the seams.

Lenk and his battle-scarred companions have come to Cier'Djaal in search of Miron Evanhands, a wealthy priest who contracted them to eradicate demons --- and then vanished before paying for the job.

But hunting Miron down might be tougher than even these weary adventurers can handle as two unstoppable ...more

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Kindle Edition, 628 pages

Published October 28th 2014 by Orbit (first published April 17th 2014)

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Aug 28, 2014 Robin Hobb rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I read this book as an Advance Reading Copy. I promise that I never review books that I have not read.

When I first began reading SF and fantasy, back in the Dark Ages when I was a mere slip of a girl, one of the things I most loved about the genre was that often the tales simply engulfed the reader from page one, with no explanation of where one was or what mores to expect. I loved that sensation of sudden immersion and knowing that I knew nothing but had to trust the author to reveal as the tal ...more

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Jun 17, 2018 Terence rated it it was ok

Lenk and his crew were hired to fight for a priest named Miron Evenhands. When the time comes for them to collect their pay, Miron vanishes. In their attempt to find the priest and get their money, Lenk and his crew encounter more than they bargained for.

The City Stained Red literally revolves around Lenk's crew not getting paid. While not getting paid for your work would be devastating for a normal person it seems far too dull a reason for the characters to wade into conflict. When the fighting ...more

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Oct 30, 2014 Marc Aplin rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

If you’ve read Tome of the Undergates you will know roughly what to expect when you pick up a book by Sam Sykes. You take a step away from today’s ‘gritty’ fantasy, that type of fantasy that looks to be ‘like real life, but different’ – i.e. low magic, a couple of beasts that aren’t too far removed from creatures that did indeed exist, and fantasy-upped storylines based on historical occurrences. Where you find yourself is somewhere closer to the fantasy novels of the 1980s/1990s, with character ...more

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Oct 18, 2013 Mogsy (MMOGC) rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: arcs-and-galleys, fantasy, review-copy, epic

3.5 of 5 stars http://bibliosanctum.com/2015/02/06/b...

The City Stained Red is the start of Sam Sykes’ new series called Bring Down Heaven and it takes place in the same “universe” as his Aeon’s Gate trilogy. Happily, you do not have to have read the latter before tackling the former. In fact, I wasn’t even aware that the two series were linked until it was bought up to me by a fellow reviewer. I don’t doubt, however, that if you’ve read Aeon’s Gate you will find this novel’s world and history a 3.5 of 5 stars http://bibliosanctum.com/2015/02/06/b...

The City Stained Red is the start of Sam Sykes’ new series called Bring Down Heaven and it takes place in the same “universe” as his Aeon’s Gate trilogy. Happily, you do not have to have read the latter before tackling the former. In fact, I wasn’t even aware that the two series were linked until it was bought up to me by a fellow reviewer. I don’t doubt, however, that if you’ve read Aeon’s Gate you will find this novel’s world and history all the more powerful and enriching.

The book opens with an introduction to a mercenary named Lenk, and the list of his fellow adventurers looks conspicuously like a party straight out of a role-playing game. There’s Kataria the elf-like archer, Asper the priestess of healing, Dreadaeleon the young wizard, Denaos the rogue with a shadowy past, and Gariath the beastly dragon-man brawler. Together, they arrive at the city of Cier’Djaal to track down a man named Miron, a client who hired them to do a job and then stiffed them out of their pay. The group has chosen a hell of time to arrive though, as two opposing armies bear down on the capital desiring only blood and war. As demons emerge from the depths to harry Lenk and his team, a banished god also takes advantage of the turmoil to rise again.

This was a good book, though it did have the occasional hiccup. To its credit, the book started out by putting its best foot forward, with Sykes winning me over with his clever writing style and delightfully dry wit. Despite the fantasy archetypes, his characters have unique personalities and voices, and I particularly liked Lenk’s sardonic and self-deprecating attitude. Sykes also ensures that his readers get plenty enough time with everyone in the group, devoting time to each character with their own perspective chapters as we move through the story. Lenk, Kataria, Asper, Denaos, Dreadaeleon and Gariath all have backstories that make them interesting, and their personal struggles give them depth, elevating each beyond simply “stock character” status.

I hit my first speed bump around the quarter-way mark when I felt the story lose some of its momentum, and it took me a moment to figure out why. After all, at this point we were still going full steam ahead with all the conflict and wicked fight scenes. Then I realized that might be part of the problem. There is such a thing as too much action, and I felt perhaps the story could have found a better balance. After what felt like a string of chapters featuring non-stop battling, I stopped to wonder where the plot was going. I was sure that it was heading towards a certain direction, but at the same time it seemed to be stalling out from all the fighting.

Also, while I appreciated a deeper look into each character, the format of shifting from one perspective to the next hindered the pacing to an extent. It might not have been so noticeable if it had been only two or three characters, but the downside of cycling through six points of view is that you risk breaking up the flow of the story. Individually, the characters were also written well and I was able to connect with them, but the relationship dynamics between them were harder for me to grasp. It was especially tough to relate to Lenk’s feelings for Kataria. The fact that he has strong feelings towards her is made obvious through the text, but even though Sykes is good at expressing a wide range of Lenk’s emotions, when it comes to love and passion it is still a tad bit shaky.

Fortunately, the story regained its traction once it got moving again, which I was glad to see. I enjoyed the rest of the book, though it’s also true I was unable to throw myself back into with the same energy and enthusiasm I experienced at the book’s beginning. Still, the good parts – most notably the beginning and the end – stand out and make this one a memorable read. What other foul and evil things can befall our adventurers in this awful, awful city I can’t even imagine, but I’m sure Sykes has more in store for us in the next installment. I’m looking forward to finding out. ...more

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Aug 28, 2014 Matthew rated it really liked it · review of another edition

What words even begin to describe Sam Sykes... enigma... charlatan... mystical hobgoblin? I could go on, but thankfully Sykes is also a bloody good writer, and in The City Stained Red he has produced an entertaining and subversive tale that the bards (or reviewers, if your feeling modern today) shall speak of for an age.

I loved many things about The City Stained Red. As an avid follower of Sykes on twitter (your life is not complete if you haven't chuckled at Sam's wit and charm at least once a ...more

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Jul 16, 2015 Mark Medina rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy

Start of a new series following the characters from Aeon's gate. A definite step up from the first trilogy. Sykes' writing has got better. The book felt less padded, but the world had more depth. Less random, more tightly plot focused, but still with a good mixture of action and dark humour. You don't need to have read the previous books, but it does help. More demon fighting and good interaction between characters. Will now read the next book. ...more

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Jan 02, 2015 Nathan rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: author-male, read-2015, rated-4-star, high-fantasy

Fantasy Review Barn

“There is a point at which a man ceases to use his men to secure his own fortune and starts using it to secure the fortunes of others…usually, for himself.”

It can be considered a good sign if only a few pages into a book I am looking around for someone to read passages to. Be it for humor or depth of thought I like to share what I am reading. Usually no one cares, but occasionally a quote is so good it elicits a chuckle from others even without context. The City Stained Red gave me a good vibe almost immediately.

A mercenary group who follows an adventurer named Lenk chases their mysterious benefactor to a new city in order to get payment…and hits a dead end. Lenk has an image in his head of putting down the sword and starting over; but he needs that last paycheck. Perhaps naively he assumes this is a path that will work for his companions. But pretty dreams are no match for reality. Behind the silk based riches Cier’ Djaal is a city on the edge. Not only is it being eyed as a prize by a couple of stronger foreign powers (held in check by each other more than anyone in the city itself), there is internal tension threatening as well. As is the pattern in an adventurer’s life avoiding these troubles is going to prove impossible.

The City Stained Red is a continuation of the Aeon’s Gate series. But it doesn’t require previous books to be read. The various back stories are woven in smoothly, letting a new reader to the series catch up but never felling overly redundant to someone who has read Sykes before (even if it was several years ago in my case). Be warned though, this book is a commitment. Expect no resolutions here; this is most definitely the start of what appears to be a truly epic series.

Sykes impresses with the way he blends here. A very serious and fairly dark tale is blended with great wit and wordplay. I dare say The City Stained Red contains some of the most entertaining dialog I have read recently, made even better by how natural it feels to the characters. Also blended in this tale is a great mix of the familiar with the completely unique. Yes, there is a D&D party feel to Lenk’s group with the soldier, the mage, the healer and the muscle all present. But each of them seems to different than their stereotypical archetype that I didn’t really consider it until a ways in. And outside of the familiar creatures are some completely unique ones. The traders who use random paintings as a mask are probably my favorite but a sentient group that made me think of the Cheshire Cat are a close second.

There ought to be a formula that takes into account a book’s length vs how long it really feels. In this case the story flew by; never felling like the epic brick of a book it really is. There is rarely a dull moment through that doesn’t come only from no-stop action. There are no wasted pages. When not in heavy action mode we are learning about the city, or expanding on a characters’ background, or enjoying some of that great wordplay mentioned earlier.

With such a large cast it would be easy to lose a character or two but each felt necessary. The ensamble cast goes their various ways and I was happy to follow each of them. A massive collection of identity crises would be the best way to describe it; Lenk’s determination to leave the life behind they had all lived together forces each of them to reevaluate everything. A dragonman wondering about his loyalty, a healer who has a surprisingly relaxed approach to violence, an enigma whose past is suddenly snapped back to the present are all compelling paths. But it is the relationship between Lenk and Kataria that shines. Neither can ever live the life the other can do due to racial differences (Kataria’s ork-like people are looked upon with much distrust in human society. It is one of the most human relationships I can imagine; bad communication, misunderstandings, and lots of mistakes but still unmistakably a kind of love.

Not a lot of negative to point out. While I love the epic nature it was a rough story to jump into; lots of names, places, and past deeds to start learning. The ensemble cast each had their part to play it jumping between them sometimes hurt the flow. I am also used to each volume of a tale to have at least a little bit of a resolution. Not so here. Disappointment that I don’t know how the story ends probably shouldn’t count against the book though.

4 Stars

Copy for review provided by publisher. ...more

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Nov 28, 2016 Kylie rated it really liked it · review of another edition

The characters are what made the book for me. A killer with an unknown and mysterious past, an elf-like creature who can no longer hear her own kind, another human with things to hide, a priestess with a demonic left arm, a wizard boy desperately trying to prove himself, an a dragonman who is the last of his kind. If that at all sounds intriguing, I would suggest picking it up.

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Dec 16, 2014 Kevin Lombard rated it did not like it

I went into this with an open mind and an understanding that there were going to be some things I would be slow in catching up on given that I hadn't read the Aeon Trilogy but I'd read reviews that indicated it wasn't necessary. Even given this, it wasn't very long before I knew I'd struggle mightily finding a rhythm with this one. The early chapters were disjointed and episodic and didn't flow logically into the overall storyline until about halfway through the 600 pages. The reader was taken f I went into this with an open mind and an understanding that there were going to be some things I would be slow in catching up on given that I hadn't read the Aeon Trilogy but I'd read reviews that indicated it wasn't necessary. Even given this, it wasn't very long before I knew I'd struggle mightily finding a rhythm with this one. The early chapters were disjointed and episodic and didn't flow logically into the overall storyline until about halfway through the 600 pages. The reader was taken from conflict to conflict to conflict chapter after chapter after chapter with no idea why or what the characters are working towards. The characters often complain in both internal and external monologue about wanting to change their path in life yet make absolutely no change in the manner in which they approach conflict, resorting to the same violence first approach that had failed them so often in the past and in which they openly want to leave behind.

I found my momentum being constantly interrupted by the overuse of clumsy, and often hard to understand metaphor. The use of humor and sarcasm by some of the characters felt misplaced and made me feel like I was slipping between the fantasy reality of the story and into common pop culture vernacular. Action scenes, and there are many, were often confusing and hard to follow, and had too many "fade to black" moments where the POV character is rendered unconscious or goes into ostrich mode and the conflict simply ends from the reader's perspective and it's left up to the next POV character to explain how the situation in the previous chapter ended, through a retelling rather than a conclusion to an action scene.

Add to all of this the introduction of one of my least favorite, lazy man's plot devices at the 80% mark, the false accusation. The whole city thinks I've committed a crime when I haven't but I put myself needlessly into a position to be reasonably accused of doing so. Ugh. I almost quit. But I can't get much worse right? Right?

Then comes the sudden, unexpected, unexplained introduction of the supernatural on a massive scale. Giant rock golems and fire bombs dropped from people flying giant birds.

The best thing I can say about this one is that I'm done with it. Perhaps I would have gotten more from it had I read the Aeon trilogy first, but if this is what Sam's writing is like in his 4th volume I can't imagine it was better in his earlier works. Sorry Sam. Not a fan. ...more

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Oct 25, 2014 Blodeuedd Finland rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy

I do like a messed up city, you know, the kind of city where you would never want to live, heck you would not even want to visit. It makes for a good story and a good setting.

In this city things are brewing. It has grown fat on it's on people. Some are rich, some have nothing. Spiders roam everywhere because they are the source of money. There are soldiers from many places, and tensions are high. No one wants to ignite it, but everyone wants the be the ones left standing. And if that wasn't enou ...more

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Oct 29, 2014 James Schmidt rated it really liked it · review of another edition

This was a fun, action packed book! I enjoyed the story and the characters! I am definitely in for the next books in this series! Also if you don't follow Mr. Sykes on twitter you should, Very entertaining, just like his writing! ...more

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Jun 10, 2014 Colleen Magee-uhlik rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites

Recently, a friend of mine criticized a popular superhero tv show as being boring because it was, according to him, "about perfect people repeating the same plots over and over." That stood out to me, because it got me thinking about the kinds of people we like to read about or watch on our screens, and the kind of stories we like to see them live out. I came to the conclusion that we like imperfect people. Because they're so FUN to interact with. And because where do we ever find perfect people Recently, a friend of mine criticized a popular superhero tv show as being boring because it was, according to him, "about perfect people repeating the same plots over and over." That stood out to me, because it got me thinking about the kinds of people we like to read about or watch on our screens, and the kind of stories we like to see them live out. I came to the conclusion that we like imperfect people. Because they're so FUN to interact with. And because where do we ever find perfect people in our lives? Nowhere, but we're surrounded by plenty of imperfections, both in ourselves and in those around us. In his book A City Stained Red and the precluding series The Aeons' Gate trilogy, Sam Sykes has perfected the art of writing about imperfect characters in a perfect way.

Sykes's characters have the distinctive quality of being so imperfect as to be on the edge of unlikable, but such is Sykes's talent that he keeps readers on the edge of their seats and wanting to know more, even making these flawed heroes relatable to the audience. Each one has unique flaw(s)-be it arrogance, unchecked aggression, a lack of social connection and empathy, or a god complex. Or all of the above. And none of them are presented as flawed characters that need to be "fixed." They don't endure the hero's journey and come out on the other side as better, stronger persons. They don't need to. Sykes writes them in such a way that the reader is interested in their growth (and occasional lack thereof) without the plot necessitating a complete reversal in characters. Lenk and his friends don't grow into "perfect people"-they stay nice and imperfect throughout their journey and they're a hell of a lot more interesting for it.

A consistent theme of this book is bad decisions. Like, really bad decisions. As in "OH MY GOD LENK DON'T DO THAT THING AW HELL NO YOU DID THE THING AND NOW EVERYTHING IS GOING TO HELL IN A HANDBASKET REAL DARN QUICK ALL BECAUSE YOU DID THE THING." And then you're onto the next chapter and saying "OH MY GOD DREAD DON'T DO THAT THING..." and it's basically a rollercoaster wreck of you wanting to cover your eyes but not being able to look away. See, Sykes writes his characters in a way so that they DO do the thing. And usually, doing the thing was a Very Bad Decision. But they did the thing and now they have to live with the consequences of doing the thing. And those consequences, and how the character chooses to deal with them, is what makes this book so freaking good. Because that's life, right? It's us going through our lives making good decisions and bad decisions and dealing with the consequences that come our way because of our choices. Sykes reflects this in upholding the tenet of "Actions speak louder than words." We as readers aren't TOLD what the character is like, we are SHOWN what they are like through the choices they make and how they react to those choices and the way they interact with the world and the characters around them. And it's that kind of writing and that kind of characterization that sets Sykes apart from other fantasy writers and makes me classify him as one of the greats of modern fantasy, along with Pat Rothfuss, Kevin Hearne, Brandon Sanderson, Scott Lynch, and Tamora Pierce. With 6 main characters, all of whom have a tendency to make Very Bad Decisions, the novel is wonderfully thrilling ride of one clusterfuck after another.

Another strength of this novel lies in Sykes's worldbuilding. It's richly woven world with a complex tapestry of details such that it is completely believable and totally alluring. The landscapes are exciting and inventive, the languages new and smoothly incorporated, but it is the people and creatures that populate the world that stand out to me. They pop out both for their creativeness and their realness and the way they just work in the world. They are so smoothly written to seem as if they belong their-for indeed they do, as it is their world and it belongs to them. There's just enough detailed worldbuilding to create a believable world but not so much as to distract the reader from the plot or cause them to overthink it. Sykes is the master of balance in prose-enough imperfections in characters to make them interesting, not so much as to make them unapproachable; enough magic to keep a fantasy nerd happy and make the world new and exciting; not so much as to make magicbuilding the focus of the story; enough good things to give the reader a break from panic attacks, but enough bad things to keep them coming back for more.

It should also be noted that this book is freaking hilarious and had me laughing out loud many times. By the end of the book, I had also sobbed a couple times, so dammit, it's an emotional rollercoaster. But that's the best kind of book. This is an amazing read and I highly recommend to anyone with a nose. It's fun that you don't want to miss out on and Sykes's talent will be sure to shine brightly with his future works. ...more

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Mar 04, 2018 Mary marked it as dnf · review of another edition

Is there a plot? It was just one action sequence after another through page 137. Worldbuilding? Why would we need that?

I tried. Twice.

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Jan 19, 2016 Brandon rated it it was ok · review of another edition

1/19/16
I wanted to do a little something different with my review, so I'm going to review this book as I read it. I've only read; thus far; 7 chapters in THE CITY STAINED RED, and there was enough for me to comment on that I had to put something down.

The book so far is a nice little read, but I do have to agree with some of the previous reviewers. Right out of the gate (no pun intended for the first chapter), we are introduced to a group of "adventurers" (as they call themselves), which is compr ...more

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Nov 09, 2014 Mia rated it really liked it

THE CITY STAINED RED is the first book in a new series called BRING DOWN HEAVEN, set in the same world as the AEONS' GATE series. I have now read two books by Mr. Sam Sykes. I enjoyed TOME OF THE UNDERGATES, AEONS GATE book one, a humorous and fun tale showcasing Mr. Sykes' obvious love for the genre and the themes and characters upon which it was built. Ultimately, however, I felt no urgency to pick up the next books and have yet to read them.

I was intrigued though by THE CITY STAINED RED. It t ...more

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Jun 04, 2017 Alice rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy

This was like, playing D&D without having to make any decisions or interact socially. I'm lazy and antisocial so this book was a perfect fit for me!

I found the two female main characters really well rounded, and they were my favourites out of the group. <3 Aster is such a derp, and Kataria is now my street harassment retaliation goals. I blame Sam if I get arrested.

The parallel between the insanity of the capitalism and the stupid war in Cier'Djaal was scarily familiar to today's political clima ...more

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Jul 12, 2018 Becky rated it liked it · review of another edition

Review incoming.

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Feb 01, 2017 Kari Rhiannon (Moon Magister Reviews) rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, elves, favorites, high-fantasy, magic-systems, gods, monsters, sorcerers, demons, dark

5 Stars

‘Your employers should consult those who make the corpses. We merely clean up after them. Death is our business, Captain. Business is always good in Cier’Djaal.’

Sam Sykes has to be the first author whose book I've picked up solely based on personality. I used to devour high fantasy, to the point where it was almost all I read, but that did lead to the conundrum where everything I read felt a little…the same? I read a lot of science fiction, young adult, some classics, even a little con ...more

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Nov 05, 2014 Lisa rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy

Review from Tenacious Reader: http://www.tenaciousreader.com/2015/0...

I’m going to come right out and say, this is not quite how I would typically write a review. My reviews are usually filled with my reaction to the book, but this one has more reaction and less detail than normal. So, you’ve been forewarned.

When I started this book I was quite taken and was expecting a very quick read because initially it was. This book has a ton of action and some fun characters that seemed to be in the middl Review from Tenacious Reader: http://www.tenaciousreader.com/2015/0...

I’m going to come right out and say, this is not quite how I would typically write a review. My reviews are usually filled with my reaction to the book, but this one has more reaction and less detail than normal. So, you’ve been forewarned.

When I started this book I was quite taken and was expecting a very quick read because initially it was. This book has a ton of action and some fun characters that seemed to be in the middle of “something” but you really didn’t know what. I had no idea this is a follow up series to Aeon’s Gates. Perhaps that is a “Shame on me” for not doing my homework. But I’ll be honest, I kind of wished I had known that.

Initially I felt like the style of this book was similar to The Black Company or Malazan where there reader is just dumped in the middle of events and expected to pick up the story as it is told. I liked those books, I enjoy being a go-with-the-flow type of reader. But then I started recognizing a couple of key phrases. I may not have read Sykes’ first series, but I was familiar with the titles. So when I saw “Tome of the Undergates” and “Aeon’s Gates” and in a way where they were referred to in relation to past events, I quickly realized I was not reading a completely fresh new series, but a continuation of the old one. Readers of the first series would not feel like they were “dumped” into the story because they would know exactly what was going on. Now, in all fairness, I did pick up on the characters and understand the group dynamic. One of the strengths of this book is the fun group dynamic. I also don’t think it took me long at all to get up to speed.

As for the book, there are some fun characters, and did I mention there is serious amounts of action? There are spiders that sustain the City with their silk production. Huge/towering spiders! They are revered and guarded because without them, the city would be nothing. I enjoyed that, as well as the atmosphere of the City which was rather dark.

I did find the middle of the book slowed down for me and it took a while to regain my interest. Honestly, I never felt as engaged with the book as I did in the very beginning, which is a little disappointing. But keep in mind, I felt it started out incredibly strong. So, don’t read this and think it’s a bad book, it’s just maybe not quite as good as I had hoped.

When it comes down to it, this is a decent read, my opinion of it may be a bit middle of the road. For fans of the first series, I would imagine you want to continue. For new readers, you can definitely start with this one, just realize if you want to read the first series after this, you will have some idea of the future of the characters.

...more

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Apr 25, 2014 Kaleb rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: epic-high-fantasy, 2014-reads

This book was freaking fantastic! Sam Sykes has crafted a unique, refreshing epic fantasy book with engaging characters, a well-drawn world, and a complex plot. There was never a dull moment in the book and I can honestly say Sam Sykes deserves much more recognition for his work. The man has this bizarre talent of making the reader feel both elated and sad at the same time while still managing to keep you interested throughout the entire story. It was so good, I actually took the time to read it ...more

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Jan 09, 2017 Rana rated it liked it · review of another edition

As with most higher fantasy, it takes a bit of time to get the names straight and figure out what's going on. But when things start to come together, it really gets good. I'll definitely be continuing with the series. ...more

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Jun 18, 2015 G.R. Matthews rated it really liked it · review of another edition

I enjoyed the sarcasm, the humour, the blunt talk and the action that begins at the beginning and then doesn't let up till the end. ...more

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Mar 15, 2019 THE BIBLIOPHILE (Rituranjan) rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Gritty and grim, and, I bet it has echoes of Mark Lawrence and Abercrombie to some extent in context to the mood and morale of the story and its dubious grey characters. It is also bloodier, filled with dry humour and angst on part of some of the unlikely cast that supports the weight of the story. The pacing was uneven in some places, but, Sam Sykes writes with vigour and wit which kept me turning the pages. What Sykes excelled in is creating the atmosphere of tension, and uncertainty that esca Gritty and grim, and, I bet it has echoes of Mark Lawrence and Abercrombie to some extent in context to the mood and morale of the story and its dubious grey characters. It is also bloodier, filled with dry humour and angst on part of some of the unlikely cast that supports the weight of the story. The pacing was uneven in some places, but, Sam Sykes writes with vigour and wit which kept me turning the pages. What Sykes excelled in is creating the atmosphere of tension, and uncertainty that escalates into a violent conflict towards the end. I was expecting some epic setting, but, Sykes did a well job in keeping the action limited to a city, which reminded me little of The Lies of Locke Lamora.

The setting was completely believable. Sykes gives a very vivid picture of the urban life in all its filth, greed, and murderous glory. Cier Djall felt decrepit and claustrophobic, and real. I wouldn't go there for any reason, be it money or silk. And, Sykes develop his plot on this very basis. A group of bickering adventurers come to the city in search of a man who owes them money, and the troubles start following them wherever they go. Sykes brings in a plethora of elements in regards to the setting - there are various races from all over the world trampling in the dirt and muck of the urban civilization for livelihood and money, there are also various religious sects with their own dose of fanaticism, there is organised crime that controls the city's underworld, and the wealthy merchants that control the silk business and coin of the city. The most important element here is religion, and it is from this aspect that the conflict of the entire novel is based upon, other than the motivations of the characters. I think it will be easy to understand the mythology and the worldbuilding better, if the reader has read Sykes previous series An Affinity for Steel: The Aeon's Gate Omnibus, which introduces the characters and their varied adventures.

The characters are complex, and has their own dark and disturbed backgrounds. They are all dynamic and each have their own volatile personality traits. Lenk is a relentless killer, and wishes to put down his sword. He is tired of the mindless killing and wishes to settle down for a normal life. Kataria is a shict (elf-like race, vicious and fearsome) who is conflicted towards her feelings for Lenk. She and her race is despised by the humans, and is hence angry all the time. Asper is a priestess who excels in healing, but, she has a deadly power of her own which she tries to hide. She is kind, but has steel in her and doesn't shy from a fight. Denaos is a former assassin and a thief, and has his own bloody secrets. Draedelon is a child-wizard, an extremely powerful arrogant asshole, selfish who annoys the shit out of others. Gariath is a dragonman, a beatly fighting-machine who cares only about blood and killing. Sykes gives all his characters a distinctive individuality and voice that adds depth to the motivations surrounding the events of the story. The complex relationships between Lenk and his crew is what keeps the story going, giving credibility to the motivations of the characters surrounding the events and circumstances.

There is a lot of action, deaths, and killings in the novel. There are demons. Sykes shifts in multiple perspectives in the narrative, in regards to the principal characters. It broadens the view, but also somewhat slackened the pace. The novel gives an uncompromising view of the essential brutality in human civilization, the lust for life, and also the decrepit hopelessness surrounding it. Lenk is the epitome and catalyst of it, caught unawares in the harshness of a cosmic irony. On a personal level, I in places read the story and characters living in it with a cold detachment, and also warmed to them in some places where I got the chance to see the emotional turmoil, and self-conflict within them. The story I think is more individual than epic, and, I'm eager to see where Sykes takes it. ...more

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Apr 15, 2021 kartik narayanan rated it it was ok · review of another edition

This is an incomprehensible meandering mess which is about 10 times longer than it ought to be. I read the full book since it is authored by Sam Sykes. But naw, skip it.

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Feb 16, 2019 Jeff rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy

City Stained Red is a fun adventure with strong characters and exciting action sequences. I would have liked to see a little more depth in the world-building and a richer plot, but this story definitely hooked me early and never let go.

One of my favorite attributes was the differing viewpoint characters. They all had unique perspectives and a distinct feel. Sykes also did a great job developing characters that you care about and want to continue onward in their journey

Recommend this book for fa ...more

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Jul 20, 2015 Kyle Warner rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fantasy, dark-fantasy, adventure, epic, body-horror, epic-fantasy, heroic-fantasy, high-fantasy, dragons, wizards

The City Stained Red might be the first book I’ve read based solely on the author’s social media presence. And that’s not to say that I doubted the book’s quality (I didn’t) or that it didn’t sound interesting (it did). But just that Sam Sykes is one of my favorite personalities on Twitter and it made me curious to read one of his books, even if that book’s genre isn’t my #1 thing (more like a #5). Somehow coming across as both the lunatic and the wise man, Sykes offers wisdom on creative storyt The City Stained Red might be the first book I’ve read based solely on the author’s social media presence. And that’s not to say that I doubted the book’s quality (I didn’t) or that it didn’t sound interesting (it did). But just that Sam Sykes is one of my favorite personalities on Twitter and it made me curious to read one of his books, even if that book’s genre isn’t my #1 thing (more like a #5). Somehow coming across as both the lunatic and the wise man, Sykes offers wisdom on creative storytelling and also ponders whether or not manatees have strong opinions on anime. I love reading his latest bits of inspired madness. So, I bought his book.

The City Stained Red is my kind of a fantasy novel. Instead of focusing on kings, manners at the table, the ranks of knights, and all the other stuff that the royals and their militaries are involved with, this book follows a small group of adventurers, a profession that’s not well regarded in-world.

The adventurers are led by Lenk, a skilled swordsman who wishes to set aside his blade even though destiny keeps calling for further bloodshed. Lenk is joined by his kinda-sorta girlfriend Kataria, a shict (think: elf) who wants to remain with Lenk but only on her terms. They’re aided by the rogue Denaos, a man with a mysterious past and many discarded names. The priestess and healer Asper hopes to be the level-headed member of the group, though she deals with a secret worse than all the others. The most powerful among them is the young wizard Dreadaeleon, but he’s so immature he’s basically a child entrusted with a gun. And filling out the gang in the bruiser role is Gariath the dragonman, who’s basically a bad mood made flesh.

The adventurers arrive in the socially and culturally divided city of Cier'Djaal hoping to collect gold for services rendered. Just getting into the city proves to be a problem at the start, as non-humans (“oids”) are not welcome through the gates. Then, the man who’s supposed to pay them essentially vanishes into thin air, and the gang of adventurers accidentally stumble into the middle of a small-scale holy war. The city of Cier'Djaal is a powderkeg just waiting to explode, so when you introduce a group like Lenk’s gang into the mix… Boom Goes the Dynamite. Hundreds of city folk die, demons crawl out of people’s throats, dragonmen throw down, giant spiders walk down the road like big ol’ cows, and there’s more than a couple moments of sexy fun time to enjoy. Sykes calls it “hot fantasy trash.” I call it 600 pages of fun and madness.

The City Stained Red, like a lot of genre fiction, has a lot on its mind. Each character gets an arc and there’s a great deal of drama and character development. The world-building is rich and detailed, owing little to the giants of the genre (in my opinion, at least) by successfully doing its own thing. And Sykes clearly has something to say about religion and the blood that’s shed in the name of faith and god (any god). The book lets the reader make their own deductions on what to make of the themes, but there’s some deep thoughts lurking beneath the giant spiders and demonic throat coughs.

Mostly though, it’s a fun book. Sykes’ sense of humor that he shows online comes through on the page. His characters deal with dark happenings but there’s always a twinkle of comedy in there somewhere, often with a witty comeback or one-liner. Never is it too goofy that it feels odd to laugh on one page and then recoil in horror on the next, though. Thematic substance is all balanced nicely, and nothing really feels out of place.

The City Stained Red is that rare book where I enjoyed spending time with basically every major character because they were all interesting in some way. Even the one who I didn’t like (the boy wizard is a punk), still featured in some of the book’s finest chapters. The way the character team dynamics work reminded me a bit of a videogame RPG. The characters interact, go off on side quests, report back, and so on. I was reminded of Mass Effect, despite the fact that this was set in a city that owes its economy to giant spiders and was not in fact set in space.

Also: The City Stained Red stars one of my new favorite characters: Gariath the dragonman is the coolest, funniest, meanest badass I’ve read in a long, long while. I would read a book all about Gariath complaining about humans, fighting crime, crushing heads, and saving the world, you know, if he feels like it. Seriously cool character with a surprising amount of depth beneath his hard exterior.

More books need dragonmen.
...more

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Oct 21, 2017 Dylan Clark rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites, scifi-fantasy, queer-characters-or-themes, read-in-2017, read-in-2018

I hadn't heard of Sam Sykes until I stumbled upon his Twitter. Seeing his humor, commentary, and totally serious writing advice, I followed him and I've enjoyed every bit of it. But as with stumbling across any author for the first time, I felt intimidated to figure out which book of his to start with--until one serendipitous day when I saw a tweet of his advising new readers to start with The City Stained Red.

Just before seeing this tweet, I had decided to turn my back on a fantasy series a lot I hadn't heard of Sam Sykes until I stumbled upon his Twitter. Seeing his humor, commentary, and totally serious writing advice, I followed him and I've enjoyed every bit of it. But as with stumbling across any author for the first time, I felt intimidated to figure out which book of his to start with--until one serendipitous day when I saw a tweet of his advising new readers to start with The City Stained Red.

Just before seeing this tweet, I had decided to turn my back on a fantasy series a lot of friends had recommended to me. I felt bothered, and I couldn't quite shake why. It wasn't that I hated or despised the series, but they definitely did not harmonize with me as a reader or as a writer.

Then I started The City Stained Red.

Very early on, roughly 20% of the way through, I tweeted "After deciding not to finish a fantasy novel and a sci fi novel, I decided to hunker down with a new fantasy novel and I'm so in love. It's like when you move away and you try new restaurants and things taste okay but not the way you remember things tasting as a kid. And then one day you find yourself in your hometown, and that restaurant you always went to with your mom is still open, so you drop by. And suddenly...you're home. The sights, the smells, the sounds...All of it is rich and fulfilling. You remember why you loved it, and why you still do. That's what this book has been. A refresher. A reminder. This book has the elements that made me originally fall in love with fantasy. And not just fantasy. It has the things that made me realize I wanted to be a storyteller. God, this book is so delightful and wonderful."

Throughout the rest of the book, this feeling of returning home never left. From the start, I loved the characters and the setting (I mean, who doesn't love streetside curry served in a city breeding cults with horse-sized spiders spinning silk on a giant spire, am I right??).

Most of the tropes that I expected to occur were turned on their heads and served to me in natural, refreshing ways that I haven't seen in a long time. The tropes that stayed were still so well-written that it didn't bother me in the slightest. Sykes delivers on subtle promises he makes with various characters--one such deliverance made me literally holler in excitement. Not to mention that the way Sykes treats magic is astounding and powerfully provocative. There's something in his descriptions of Dreadaeleon that really impressed me throughout the novel.

For fear of reducing into long-winded, unnecessary stumbling and fumbling of words and reasons why I love and adore this book as much as I do, I'll leave it here. And, in Sam Sykes's own, famous words--Buy his book! ...more

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Jul 06, 2018 Claire rated it it was ok · review of another edition

My DND group read this for our book club; I recommended it based on the reviews saying it reads like a DND romp-- which it does, sort of. It's also messy and slow-moving plotwise and riddled with basic craft errors any professional editor should have taken a machete to, like, three drafts ago. (Headhopping!!!!! unnecessary filtering!!!!! WHY WAS THERE HEADHOPPING IN THIS PUBLISHED BOOK.) Five of us read this and NONE of us came up with net positive feelings (there was MUCH angry group chat yelli My DND group read this for our book club; I recommended it based on the reviews saying it reads like a DND romp-- which it does, sort of. It's also messy and slow-moving plotwise and riddled with basic craft errors any professional editor should have taken a machete to, like, three drafts ago. (Headhopping!!!!! unnecessary filtering!!!!! WHY WAS THERE HEADHOPPING IN THIS PUBLISHED BOOK.) Five of us read this and NONE of us came up with net positive feelings (there was MUCH angry group chat yelling) and I am now in book-nominating purgatory until further notice.

The first 2/3rds of the book feel like pure set-up for events that ultimately are only MORE set up for the next books, the 6 POVs, particularly when all six characters spend half the book completely separated, slow us down massively (and suffer from a bad case of sameiness in voice, the three human male characters in particular), and Sam Sykes' brand of wit is likeable but applied with haphazard abandon, often breaking POV or convoluting prose to squeeze in nuggets of cleverness that we don't REALLY need. The characters are fairly consistent and interesting with the unfortunate exception of Lenk, whose main struggle (to retire from adventuring and start a peaceful life despite an unnatural proclivity for bloodshed) fails to develop over the course of the book; his angst (and hard-to-root-for relationship with Kataria) wears very thin after act 1 and his status as ostensible "main" character drags us down hard. Narrative beats misfire or fail to pay off, almost every chapter starts off as a ponderous drag, and the proliferation of NPCs (which is most certainly what they are) is a little exhausting to keep track of across six POVs having separate escapades.

There are good elements here-- a couple inventive creatures, a vividly-drawn city at war, decent action, some clever dialogue, and Kataria, Asper, and Gariath as characters grappling with the core of their identities and their place in a violent world, but the overall story is so underwhelming and undercut by basic craft errors that I honestly can't rate this any higher. We had to triple-check that this was this author's FOURTH book-- it feels like a first. ...more

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Nov 08, 2014 Lisa rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Sam Sykes talked me into buying his book on Twitter, with his very entertaining "Buy my book," twitter campaign. I'd never picked up one of his books before and, quite frankly, had no idea who he was when I started following him on Twitter. All that to say, I had no idea what I was getting into when I bought this book, other than that it was fantasy and that its author is entertaining on Twitter. Purchasing it was an experiment, and I have to say I have enjoyed the results.

As promised by Sykes, Sam Sykes talked me into buying his book on Twitter, with his very entertaining "Buy my book," twitter campaign. I'd never picked up one of his books before and, quite frankly, had no idea who he was when I started following him on Twitter. All that to say, I had no idea what I was getting into when I bought this book, other than that it was fantasy and that its author is entertaining on Twitter. Purchasing it was an experiment, and I have to say I have enjoyed the results.

As promised by Sykes, I didn't need to read the prior three books to enjoy and understand the current book. That said, the characters clearly have back story together, which I now find myself thinking I would like to go back and read. The characters were consistent, and we saw character development as the plot progressed. I did find myself occasionally thinking, "How have these characters gotten to this point?" in response to some of their behaviors. A lot of those questions were clarified as the book progressed.The plot was quick-paced and kept me interested throughout. I had a hard time putting it down when it was necessary to get back to real world demands. I enjoyed the book, and it got me to sit down a read a book at a time when I have been predominantly listening to audiobooks due to trying to manage a busy schedule and demanding work load. It's a bit of a feat that this book kept me coming back to it despite other distractions.

The catch is, I'm not sure I would recommend it to people who don't love reading fantasy, simply because the book is deeply based in fantasy and the divide might be too much to bridge for some those who don't mind some fantasy but have a hard time getting into completely new worlds. That said, the book parallels and draws attention to many real life issues of corruption, greed, poverty, death, racism, and power imbalances, as good fantasy does. I would highly recommend it to action/adventure fantasy lovers. Also, follow Sam Sykes on Twitter...you will be entertained. ...more

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Oct 29, 2014 Greg (adds 2 TBR list daily) Hersom rated it it was amazing

From the title and premise of this book I expected to like it but I was surprised by how much I liked it.
Lenk and his band of adventurers have come to largest city and trading center of their world, chasing money due. For Lenk, this is to be his last job and he hopes to put up his sword forever. For the others, coming to the city of Cier'Djaal all means something different for each of them. However, as we know how laid plans go; it's all up for grabs when the all the factions in control go to w ...more

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About Sam Sykes

Sam Sykes

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Sam Sykes is the author of Tome Of The Undergates, a vast and sprawling story of adventure, demons, madness and carnage. Suspected by many to be at least tangentially related to most causes of human suffering, Sam Sykes is also a force to be reckoned with beyond literature.

At 25, Sykes is one of the younger authors to have arrived on the stage of literary fantasy. Tome Of The Undergates is his fir ...more

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Bring Down Heaven (3 books)

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Seven Blades in Black (The Grave of Empires, #1)

Tome of the Undergates (Aeons' Gate, #1)

Ten Arrows of Iron (The Grave of Empires, #2)

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Quotes from The City Stained Red

“See, to appreciate a woman you have to appreciate a woman’s right to change. And to appreciate a woman’s right to change, you have to realize that she’ll do it with maddening frequency, usually just to confuse you so that you’ll never see her coming when she decides to rip your throat out and drink your blood.” — 16 likes

“Half-drunken poetry is the most honest kind of poetry. Too slurred to be eloquent, not slurred enough to be witless.” — 9 likes

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