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One Man
One Cursed City. Two Dead Gods. Ten Thousand Murderers and Thieves. One Orphaned Girl.
As a child, Kyrioc was groomed to be the head of one of the most powerful noble families in Koh-Salash, a city built inside the skeletons of two murdered gods. Kyrioc himself dreamed of becoming head of the High Watch, the highest political position in the land.
Those dreams have turned to dust.
Presumed dead after a disastrous overseas quest, Kyrioc now lives in a downcity slum under a false name, hiding behind the bars of a pawnshop window. Riliska, a nine-year-old pickpocket who sells stolen trinkets to his shop, is the closest thing he has to a friend.
When a criminal gang kills Riliska's mother and kidnaps the little girl, Kyrioc goes hunting for her.
He doesn't care about the forbidden magic the gangs are fighting over--the severed ear of a glitterkind, a creature whose flesh contains astonishing healing powers. He doesn't care about the bloody, escalating gang violence. He doesn't care about the schemes of power-hungry nobles.
In a raging city on the verge of civil war, Kyrioc only wants to save his friend. He will risk anything for her, even awakening the powers that murdered the gods so long ago.
As a child, Kyrioc was groomed to be the head of one of the most powerful noble families in Koh-Salash, a city built inside the skeletons of two murdered gods. Kyrioc himself dreamed of becoming head of the High Watch, the highest political position in the land.
Those dreams have turned to dust.
Presumed dead after a disastrous overseas quest, Kyrioc now lives in a downcity slum under a false name, hiding behind the bars of a pawnshop window. Riliska, a nine-year-old pickpocket who sells stolen trinkets to his shop, is the closest thing he has to a friend.
When a criminal gang kills Riliska's mother and kidnaps the little girl, Kyrioc goes hunting for her.
He doesn't care about the forbidden magic the gangs are fighting over--the severed ear of a glitterkind, a creature whose flesh contains astonishing healing powers. He doesn't care about the bloody, escalating gang violence. He doesn't care about the schemes of power-hungry nobles.
In a raging city on the verge of civil war, Kyrioc only wants to save his friend. He will risk anything for her, even awakening the powers that murdered the gods so long ago.
386 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 26, 2019
183 people are currently reading
368 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 75 reviews
November 27, 2019
Starts off fast and doesn't let up
Complex world, fast-moving story. My children ate cereal for dinner so that I could finish it. I hope it's the first of a series.
Complex world, fast-moving story. My children ate cereal for dinner so that I could finish it. I hope it's the first of a series.
December 1, 2019
A Fantastically weird thrill-ride!
Harry Connolly knocks it out of the park with this new stand-alone fantasy novel. A setting reminiscent of Gladstone's Craft Sequence and China Meiville's fantastic surrealism, the story itself has its roots in crime noir, with grotty criminal cabals and insightful dectectives, corrupt bureaucrats and a mysterious figure bent to a bloody mission.
Connolly does an especially good job of breathing life into his weird setting without resorting to info-dump, allowing the reader to discover and explore his world built in the corpses of dead gods naturally. My one complaint is that as a singular novel, I won't get to learn any more about it!
Harry Connolly knocks it out of the park with this new stand-alone fantasy novel. A setting reminiscent of Gladstone's Craft Sequence and China Meiville's fantastic surrealism, the story itself has its roots in crime noir, with grotty criminal cabals and insightful dectectives, corrupt bureaucrats and a mysterious figure bent to a bloody mission.
Connolly does an especially good job of breathing life into his weird setting without resorting to info-dump, allowing the reader to discover and explore his world built in the corpses of dead gods naturally. My one complaint is that as a singular novel, I won't get to learn any more about it!
December 9, 2019
Hell of a ride
When I got through the first third of one man I wrote a review after I got through more then half I deleted because it turned out to be a very different book then I was expecting.
Set in a fantasy world where humans, more or less, rule but
is populated by other kinds Bloodkind, shadow kind ext
The two that have the most bearing on the story are the Godkind now deceased but whose remnants are scattered throughout the world with the remains of two of them used to build the city the story is set and who can still grant gifts of sort, the other is the
Glitterkind whose body parts and substance can be used in a form of medical magic and whose ownership is highly regulated
And controlled by the noble families, when kyrioc a pawnbroker and a former son of one of the most powerful noble families the Safroy who is hiding from a dark and shameful past finds himself pulled into a conspiracy involving illegal medical magic and a body harvesting operation he finds himself on a collusion course with the people involved after they kidnap his only friend Riliska a nine year old pick pocket and getting her back will take kyrioc drawing on everything he thought he had left behind.
So Harry Connolly is the writer of the twenty palaces series a series I adore, and the Great Way a epic fantasy series that while it was well written I just couldn’t connect too, the first third of one man felt like a mix of the two series imaginative world building a couple of interesting characters, balanced out with titles and names that I found really irritating ( mainly because they were A) dramatically overlong and B) weren’t explained till much later in the story) and plenty of other characters that weren’t amounting past there stereotype Damaged Hero, Hardbitten Detective ext and most damning I didn’t buy the central relationship between riliska, the nine year old pickpocket and Kyrioc her friend and local pawnbroker with a mysterious past, I would have rated a high 3.5 to 4 stars if things continued as they were they didn’t.
What changed? Things got darker and while the first third flirted with some noir elements the rest of the book embraced it fully bringing along a good dose of horror for the ride, also strangely I found separating Rilaske and Kyrioc made there relationship much more believable her calling him good sir and him feeling guilty about not doing more for her I just found it irrating not endearing but later when she is a POV character and it’s clear how much danger she is as well as being far more sympathetic and Kyrioc becomes a far more focused character in trying to find her rather then wallowing in guilt then the story takes on some real urgency.
The magic system is imaginative as is the world building with lots of hints dropped about more that could be explored the pacing is excellent, there is casual inclusiness in the story same sex pairings are often mentioned without being the focus and again there’s enough hints dropped that marriage is probably done a bit different here.
Most of the stories weaknesses are at the start save that one of the main characters at the start of the book , Culzaik, gets sidelined for a lot of the middle only to abruptly appear at the end which I found a bit jarring that and I wish they had called the book Broken man which would have fitted better.
As for comparisons world building I can see why people use the craft and China mieville comparison but in tone and everything else One man is very different so I would say a more apt comparison would be the Gutter Prayer another excellent read or
Daniel polanskys Low town series which had that gritty and grimy noir feel in a fantasy setting for what it’s worth I would rate One man higher then low town, yes it has its hiccups but this is a superior read with a dark and gritty feel that sucks you in with characters that, in the end, you care deeply about well worth the purchase.
When I got through the first third of one man I wrote a review after I got through more then half I deleted because it turned out to be a very different book then I was expecting.
Set in a fantasy world where humans, more or less, rule but
is populated by other kinds Bloodkind, shadow kind ext
The two that have the most bearing on the story are the Godkind now deceased but whose remnants are scattered throughout the world with the remains of two of them used to build the city the story is set and who can still grant gifts of sort, the other is the
Glitterkind whose body parts and substance can be used in a form of medical magic and whose ownership is highly regulated
And controlled by the noble families, when kyrioc a pawnbroker and a former son of one of the most powerful noble families the Safroy who is hiding from a dark and shameful past finds himself pulled into a conspiracy involving illegal medical magic and a body harvesting operation he finds himself on a collusion course with the people involved after they kidnap his only friend Riliska a nine year old pick pocket and getting her back will take kyrioc drawing on everything he thought he had left behind.
So Harry Connolly is the writer of the twenty palaces series a series I adore, and the Great Way a epic fantasy series that while it was well written I just couldn’t connect too, the first third of one man felt like a mix of the two series imaginative world building a couple of interesting characters, balanced out with titles and names that I found really irritating ( mainly because they were A) dramatically overlong and B) weren’t explained till much later in the story) and plenty of other characters that weren’t amounting past there stereotype Damaged Hero, Hardbitten Detective ext and most damning I didn’t buy the central relationship between riliska, the nine year old pickpocket and Kyrioc her friend and local pawnbroker with a mysterious past, I would have rated a high 3.5 to 4 stars if things continued as they were they didn’t.
What changed? Things got darker and while the first third flirted with some noir elements the rest of the book embraced it fully bringing along a good dose of horror for the ride, also strangely I found separating Rilaske and Kyrioc made there relationship much more believable her calling him good sir and him feeling guilty about not doing more for her I just found it irrating not endearing but later when she is a POV character and it’s clear how much danger she is as well as being far more sympathetic and Kyrioc becomes a far more focused character in trying to find her rather then wallowing in guilt then the story takes on some real urgency.
The magic system is imaginative as is the world building with lots of hints dropped about more that could be explored the pacing is excellent, there is casual inclusiness in the story same sex pairings are often mentioned without being the focus and again there’s enough hints dropped that marriage is probably done a bit different here.
Most of the stories weaknesses are at the start save that one of the main characters at the start of the book , Culzaik, gets sidelined for a lot of the middle only to abruptly appear at the end which I found a bit jarring that and I wish they had called the book Broken man which would have fitted better.
As for comparisons world building I can see why people use the craft and China mieville comparison but in tone and everything else One man is very different so I would say a more apt comparison would be the Gutter Prayer another excellent read or
Daniel polanskys Low town series which had that gritty and grimy noir feel in a fantasy setting for what it’s worth I would rate One man higher then low town, yes it has its hiccups but this is a superior read with a dark and gritty feel that sucks you in with characters that, in the end, you care deeply about well worth the purchase.
January 22, 2020
I really liked this story. The world building is awesome and I hope there are more City of Fallen Gods novels.
Connolly wanted to tell a story that didn't involve the fate of the world. One Man is the story of one man trying to rescue his neighbor. In the process we get to see all levels of society, plots, magic, crime, constables, politics, and monsters. I believe we can file this under the ripping yarn category.
Connolly wanted to tell a story that didn't involve the fate of the world. One Man is the story of one man trying to rescue his neighbor. In the process we get to see all levels of society, plots, magic, crime, constables, politics, and monsters. I believe we can file this under the ripping yarn category.
December 16, 2019
Hace mucho que quería leer una novela de policías con ambientación fantástica. Echo de menos la saga de los guardias de Pratchett y pienso que es un subgénero que tiene mucho potencial pero se suele aprovechar poco.
Esta novela lo hace; es fundamentalmente una novela policíaca con sus detectives, su investigación, sus matones y sus gangsters. También es muchas novelas en una y se podrían haber desgranado fácilmente en una trilogía abultada sin mucha dificultad.
Es también una novela de fantasía más al uso en la que se ponen las bases de un potencial conflicto con los dioses, en el momento de la narración muertos pero con la capacidad de recuperarse y tal vez finalmente regresar. El protagonista es el punto que une estas dos grandes tramas y alrededor de quien se entretejen (y es una de las pocas ocasiones en la que creo que estoy utilizando el verbo entretejer con toda la intención sin que sea un lugar común de reseña) una serie de acontecimientos que van a poner patas arriba la ciudad de Koh-Salash.
Me ha gustado, tiene sus defectos como toda novela pero la he disfrutado bastante y es un subgénero que no encuentro casi nunca así que cinco estrellas.
Esta novela lo hace; es fundamentalmente una novela policíaca con sus detectives, su investigación, sus matones y sus gangsters. También es muchas novelas en una y se podrían haber desgranado fácilmente en una trilogía abultada sin mucha dificultad.
Es también una novela de fantasía más al uso en la que se ponen las bases de un potencial conflicto con los dioses, en el momento de la narración muertos pero con la capacidad de recuperarse y tal vez finalmente regresar. El protagonista es el punto que une estas dos grandes tramas y alrededor de quien se entretejen (y es una de las pocas ocasiones en la que creo que estoy utilizando el verbo entretejer con toda la intención sin que sea un lugar común de reseña) una serie de acontecimientos que van a poner patas arriba la ciudad de Koh-Salash.
Me ha gustado, tiene sus defectos como toda novela pero la he disfrutado bastante y es un subgénero que no encuentro casi nunca así que cinco estrellas.
October 18, 2020
This book book is brilliant. One man who is not himself mean in the mean streets of a fantasy city. It is a weird city and he is a little weird. World building is spot on and you feel it makes sense and follows its own logical rules.
Tough action sequences, with a twisted narrative based on characters you believe in and understand making confused decisions based on limited information.
Good laconic writing brings the fantastical setting to life. Gangster bad guys have human drives even while they rely on magic. Good guys have flaws. It is a bit Grimdark. Joe Abercrombie and Mark Lawrence fans will eat this up. But it has enough High Fantasy elements for your Sanderson fans to enjoy.
When it comes down to it, this is just such a fun book. Old fashioned in its relentless pace and two fisted fight scenes combined with heroes you root for. Modern in its setting and complexity (although it reminds me of Dashiell Hammett who was a bit morally complex back in the 1930s in detective fiction and Conan the Barbarian and Fafhrd and the Grey Mouser books that took that wry subversion into fantasy decades ago.)
One of those books you envy those about to read it fresh. Oh, oh, I want a sequel.
Tough action sequences, with a twisted narrative based on characters you believe in and understand making confused decisions based on limited information.
Good laconic writing brings the fantastical setting to life. Gangster bad guys have human drives even while they rely on magic. Good guys have flaws. It is a bit Grimdark. Joe Abercrombie and Mark Lawrence fans will eat this up. But it has enough High Fantasy elements for your Sanderson fans to enjoy.
When it comes down to it, this is just such a fun book. Old fashioned in its relentless pace and two fisted fight scenes combined with heroes you root for. Modern in its setting and complexity (although it reminds me of Dashiell Hammett who was a bit morally complex back in the 1930s in detective fiction and Conan the Barbarian and Fafhrd and the Grey Mouser books that took that wry subversion into fantasy decades ago.)
One of those books you envy those about to read it fresh. Oh, oh, I want a sequel.
January 21, 2020
One Man is a fast moving fantasy gangster novel. Kyrioc used to be a noble heir, but after a disastrous quest to prove his worth, he's been disfigured, and lives under an assumed name in a slum. When his neighbor stumbles into a criminal deal, and her daughter gets kidnapped, Kyrioc has to get her back by killing everyone who stands in his path.
This is a world of weird magic, with a city built among the skeletons of gigantic dead gods, and usual gifts. And it's fine enough. Lots of action, lots of cool bits. But it doesn't have the verve of great books in this genre, the gonzo new weird of Perdido Street Station, the high-octane magic of Gladstone's Craft series, the characterization of The Lies of Locke Lamora, or even the gritty noir attitude of Low Town.
One Man/ is complicated rather than complex, using multiple points of view to disguise what's a pretty simple variant of the Taken basic plot, where a killer has to go back in to save an innocent. Good enough if you're looking for new fantasy, but nothing that elevates it to great.
This is a world of weird magic, with a city built among the skeletons of gigantic dead gods, and usual gifts. And it's fine enough. Lots of action, lots of cool bits. But it doesn't have the verve of great books in this genre, the gonzo new weird of Perdido Street Station, the high-octane magic of Gladstone's Craft series, the characterization of The Lies of Locke Lamora, or even the gritty noir attitude of Low Town.
One Man/ is complicated rather than complex, using multiple points of view to disguise what's a pretty simple variant of the Taken basic plot, where a killer has to go back in to save an innocent. Good enough if you're looking for new fantasy, but nothing that elevates it to great.
December 12, 2019
Showcases Connolly’s best
This is one of Connolly’s best books, and has the hallmarks of it — a hero with the world against him, in a setting of fascinating magic. It’s a tightly told story, but still has the time to examine what’s important to us and who that makes us. I wanted it to last much longer than it did.
This is one of Connolly’s best books, and has the hallmarks of it — a hero with the world against him, in a setting of fascinating magic. It’s a tightly told story, but still has the time to examine what’s important to us and who that makes us. I wanted it to last much longer than it did.
March 3, 2020
Fantasy John Wick?
July 15, 2020
This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader.
---
I'd preordered this last year and somehow kept not reading it—largely between tours, pub dates, library due dates, and whatnot, it kept being pushed back. I don't know if anyone ever reads the column to the right, but this has been listed "On Deck" for most of 2020. But finally, finally, I made some room in my schedule, and boy, am I glad I did. Even if that above line tells you just how dark things are going to get.
What's One Man About??
Sure, attending your own funeral is something that's been done by a range of characters from Tom Sawyer to Percy Jackson, but that's still a gripping opening line. Kyrionik is now calling himself Kyrioc, child of No One. He's living in obscurity after a calamity struck an expedition he was on years before, leaving him assumed dead. Born to one of the city's leading families, potentially destined to highest office, he's now living in an impoverished neighborhood working (and living) in a pawnshop. He's sort of befriended a little girl, Riliska, who lives in the same building as the pawnshop with her mother. He's a quiet, obviously injured, loner that no one knows anything about. He's called The Broken Man by his neighbors—and their assumption is pretty much right about that.
Riliska's mother, Rulenya, is a mess. She's bouncing from job to job, and man to man, unable (or unwilling) to keep either because she's far more interested in feeding her addiction. She's not that interested in being a mother and shows almost no interest in or affection for her daughter (who adores her mother, of course). Exhibit A is the fact that she calls Riliska (to her face!) The Long Hangover, "a headache she's had for years." Riliska's a pickpocket and shoplifter, who sells what she steals to Kyrioc—who will frequently give her more than it's worth so she can buy food.
Rulenya steals something from a high-ranking criminal during an exchange. After a day or two of searching, they find her, kidnapping both mother and child. Kyrioc goes off on a search for Riliska—and won't let anything stand in his way. Criminals. Magical creatures. Gangs. Constables. Bureaucrats. More criminals. What no one realizes about the Broken Man is that he's a world-class fighter, a one-man army, like John Wick or Jack Reacher with a magical secret. By the time they realize this, it's too late for anyone.
What Rulenya, Kyrioc, and Riliska don't realize (although Rulena has a little bit of a clue) is that her robbery is in the middle of a giant web of organized criminal activity, a power struggle amongst the gangs of the city, and a couple of overlapping investigations into that organized crime. The robbery sets off events that bring the city to the brink of a War between the gangs with the constables trying to pick them all off. Throw in the wild card of one nearly unstoppable man on a mission to save a little girl (although no one believes that's what he's up to)—and what will happen next is anybody's guess.
It's exciting, it's thrilling, is impossible to predict—it's very much not the kind of story you're used to reading in a Fantasy setting. But it works. It works so, so well.
The Strengths of the Novel
The city of Koh-Salash is constructed within the bones of a dead god. Over the centuries, various layers of the city have been built, taking advantage of the bones—and the characteristics of some of them. I love this idea. I'd have loved it more if I hadn't seen it in Michael R. Underwood's Shield and Crocus in 2014. I'm also pretty sure that I've seen a reference to at least one other fantasy novel using the same kind of city. This is not a rhetorical question: is this a Fantasy trope that I've missed? Are there dozens of books out there with this kind of setting and I've only run into two (and a possible reference to a third)? Both Underwood and Connolly used the god skeletons differently and creatively (I'd argue Connolly took more advantage of it)—so I' not complaining in any sense about this. It just struck me as strange that two widely different works had similar settings.*
* Oddly enough, both had a very contemporary-style story set in a Fantasy world.
The city is just part of the fantastic world-building (no pun intended). There's an epic history of the world, a geopolitical structure, and a rich magic system at work. Connolly keeps most of that to himself, only giving the reader enough to understand what's going on in this story, with the occasional tease to make you want to know more. Even the little bit of slang that you pick up is pretty creative, I was so glad to see that Connolly had made the effort to do that.
Make no mistake—this is a dark novel. There's one character who can largely function as comic relief—and a few lighter moments, some hints of hope. But by and large, this is a man on a suicide mission, not sure he'll accomplish his goal, but who is sure he'll take a lot of people down with him. Of those he faces, some just know they'll die because of their lifestyle—that someone will "take the point" to them—some are resigned to a hopeless life, and some who look forward to death because it will release them from the choices they've made. All in all, you're not going to find optimists in Koh-Salash.
This has one of the best and most consistently interesting casts of characters that I've read this year—I started to say that I only really got invested in two, maybe three, characters (Kyrioc, Riliska, and maybe Kyrioc's younger brother). But as I thought about it some more, I realized that wasn't true—maybe I was more invested in them, but there are several others that I cared about—and there's a looming threat to the city as a whole that bothered me more than I'd think it would after so brief a time. Connolly's provided really well-rounded and developed characters—broken, fallible, smart—but not smart enough that they can't make a mistake—with wildly divergent (and frequently contradictory) interests and desires. In fact, if we get other City of Fallen Gods novels, I have a list of characters I'd like him to focus on.
A Caveat or Two
There were a couple of things I couldn't quite get excited about. Both of whom are very possibly just me. First of all, are the character names—some are just garden-variety Fantasy names, but others were just obnoxious (the name in the quotation above is a mild example of this). There seemed to be a well-thought-out naming convention based on social class and family—but I just had the hardest time connecting names with characters for the longest time, and spent a lot of time flipping back in the text to decide who the name was associated with. Yes, I eventually became acclimatized, but simpler (and more pronounceable) names would've helped.
The second was the pacing—I think this one is very likely all about my energy level as I read this, and is probably actually well-done. So this isn't a critique, it's a "know what you're getting into." Connolly spends so much time setting up his dominoes that I grew impatient. The story is really so intricate, with so many moving parts, that after a very strong opening, things slow down so he can make sure the reader gets the full lay of the land. It was all really interesting, and well worth the effort, but I felt like I was wading through molasses. That said, once the dominoes started falling? All that went out the window, everything had been so well set up that I had no trouble following it all and remained on the edge of my seat.
So what did I think about One Man?
It's simplistic to say this, but One Man feels like Connolly took the strengths of his Epic Fantasy novels and the strengths of his Urban Fantasy novels and combined them into this novel. That's more accurate than it should be, and it's good enough for my purposes here. There's a rich world, well-conceived and well-realized here. The characters are so strong, so well done. And a story that we're all familiar enough with but told in a way that's fresh enough that you can appreciate both the way it's familiar and surprising. There's really little to complain about and much to commend about One Man. It's set up in such a way that Connolly could come back to the city if he wants, or he can leave it as a very satisfying stand-alone. Either way, I strongly recommend this to your attention.
---
The death of a single child is like the end of the world.
I'd preordered this last year and somehow kept not reading it—largely between tours, pub dates, library due dates, and whatnot, it kept being pushed back. I don't know if anyone ever reads the column to the right, but this has been listed "On Deck" for most of 2020. But finally, finally, I made some room in my schedule, and boy, am I glad I did. Even if that above line tells you just how dark things are going to get.
What's One Man About??
On the day after the summer solstice in the year 403 of the New Calendar, Kyrionik ward-Safroy defe-Safroy admir-Safroy hold-Safroy attended his own funeral.
Sure, attending your own funeral is something that's been done by a range of characters from Tom Sawyer to Percy Jackson, but that's still a gripping opening line. Kyrionik is now calling himself Kyrioc, child of No One. He's living in obscurity after a calamity struck an expedition he was on years before, leaving him assumed dead. Born to one of the city's leading families, potentially destined to highest office, he's now living in an impoverished neighborhood working (and living) in a pawnshop. He's sort of befriended a little girl, Riliska, who lives in the same building as the pawnshop with her mother. He's a quiet, obviously injured, loner that no one knows anything about. He's called The Broken Man by his neighbors—and their assumption is pretty much right about that.
Riliska's mother, Rulenya, is a mess. She's bouncing from job to job, and man to man, unable (or unwilling) to keep either because she's far more interested in feeding her addiction. She's not that interested in being a mother and shows almost no interest in or affection for her daughter (who adores her mother, of course). Exhibit A is the fact that she calls Riliska (to her face!) The Long Hangover, "a headache she's had for years." Riliska's a pickpocket and shoplifter, who sells what she steals to Kyrioc—who will frequently give her more than it's worth so she can buy food.
Rulenya steals something from a high-ranking criminal during an exchange. After a day or two of searching, they find her, kidnapping both mother and child. Kyrioc goes off on a search for Riliska—and won't let anything stand in his way. Criminals. Magical creatures. Gangs. Constables. Bureaucrats. More criminals. What no one realizes about the Broken Man is that he's a world-class fighter, a one-man army, like John Wick or Jack Reacher with a magical secret. By the time they realize this, it's too late for anyone.
What Rulenya, Kyrioc, and Riliska don't realize (although Rulena has a little bit of a clue) is that her robbery is in the middle of a giant web of organized criminal activity, a power struggle amongst the gangs of the city, and a couple of overlapping investigations into that organized crime. The robbery sets off events that bring the city to the brink of a War between the gangs with the constables trying to pick them all off. Throw in the wild card of one nearly unstoppable man on a mission to save a little girl (although no one believes that's what he's up to)—and what will happen next is anybody's guess.
It's exciting, it's thrilling, is impossible to predict—it's very much not the kind of story you're used to reading in a Fantasy setting. But it works. It works so, so well.
The Strengths of the Novel
The city of Koh-Salash is constructed within the bones of a dead god. Over the centuries, various layers of the city have been built, taking advantage of the bones—and the characteristics of some of them. I love this idea. I'd have loved it more if I hadn't seen it in Michael R. Underwood's Shield and Crocus in 2014. I'm also pretty sure that I've seen a reference to at least one other fantasy novel using the same kind of city. This is not a rhetorical question: is this a Fantasy trope that I've missed? Are there dozens of books out there with this kind of setting and I've only run into two (and a possible reference to a third)? Both Underwood and Connolly used the god skeletons differently and creatively (I'd argue Connolly took more advantage of it)—so I' not complaining in any sense about this. It just struck me as strange that two widely different works had similar settings.*
* Oddly enough, both had a very contemporary-style story set in a Fantasy world.
The city is just part of the fantastic world-building (no pun intended). There's an epic history of the world, a geopolitical structure, and a rich magic system at work. Connolly keeps most of that to himself, only giving the reader enough to understand what's going on in this story, with the occasional tease to make you want to know more. Even the little bit of slang that you pick up is pretty creative, I was so glad to see that Connolly had made the effort to do that.
Make no mistake—this is a dark novel. There's one character who can largely function as comic relief—and a few lighter moments, some hints of hope. But by and large, this is a man on a suicide mission, not sure he'll accomplish his goal, but who is sure he'll take a lot of people down with him. Of those he faces, some just know they'll die because of their lifestyle—that someone will "take the point" to them—some are resigned to a hopeless life, and some who look forward to death because it will release them from the choices they've made. All in all, you're not going to find optimists in Koh-Salash.
This has one of the best and most consistently interesting casts of characters that I've read this year—I started to say that I only really got invested in two, maybe three, characters (Kyrioc, Riliska, and maybe Kyrioc's younger brother). But as I thought about it some more, I realized that wasn't true—maybe I was more invested in them, but there are several others that I cared about—and there's a looming threat to the city as a whole that bothered me more than I'd think it would after so brief a time. Connolly's provided really well-rounded and developed characters—broken, fallible, smart—but not smart enough that they can't make a mistake—with wildly divergent (and frequently contradictory) interests and desires. In fact, if we get other City of Fallen Gods novels, I have a list of characters I'd like him to focus on.
A Caveat or Two
There were a couple of things I couldn't quite get excited about. Both of whom are very possibly just me. First of all, are the character names—some are just garden-variety Fantasy names, but others were just obnoxious (the name in the quotation above is a mild example of this). There seemed to be a well-thought-out naming convention based on social class and family—but I just had the hardest time connecting names with characters for the longest time, and spent a lot of time flipping back in the text to decide who the name was associated with. Yes, I eventually became acclimatized, but simpler (and more pronounceable) names would've helped.
The second was the pacing—I think this one is very likely all about my energy level as I read this, and is probably actually well-done. So this isn't a critique, it's a "know what you're getting into." Connolly spends so much time setting up his dominoes that I grew impatient. The story is really so intricate, with so many moving parts, that after a very strong opening, things slow down so he can make sure the reader gets the full lay of the land. It was all really interesting, and well worth the effort, but I felt like I was wading through molasses. That said, once the dominoes started falling? All that went out the window, everything had been so well set up that I had no trouble following it all and remained on the edge of my seat.
So what did I think about One Man?
They were in a little storeroom or front office, with a counter and shelves full of wooden dolls with skull- like faces and outstretched arms, as though the tiny figure of Death was asking for a hug.
In Kyrioc’s experience, when death came, it was often very, very small: A breaking stair, the vapor from a cough, the edge of a knife like the one he was holding. A tiny figure was exactly the right size for Death, as far as he was concerned.
It's simplistic to say this, but One Man feels like Connolly took the strengths of his Epic Fantasy novels and the strengths of his Urban Fantasy novels and combined them into this novel. That's more accurate than it should be, and it's good enough for my purposes here. There's a rich world, well-conceived and well-realized here. The characters are so strong, so well done. And a story that we're all familiar enough with but told in a way that's fresh enough that you can appreciate both the way it's familiar and surprising. There's really little to complain about and much to commend about One Man. It's set up in such a way that Connolly could come back to the city if he wants, or he can leave it as a very satisfying stand-alone. Either way, I strongly recommend this to your attention.
November 23, 2022
There are no greater stakes than the life of one child. This fantasy book shouldn't have worked: the stakes are small, the setting complex and alien, the plot twisting, the cast of characters large, the backstory shrouded in mystery, but Connolly freaking pulls it off masterfully, delivering a vast yet intimate tale about the worth of people.
You learn enough of the world, mostly through context with some exposition, to know what's going on, get to know the cast of characters well enough to like or loathe them, get enough backstory to know why things are the way they are, all without drowning the reader in prose while still keeping you engaged. Don't let the fantasy trappings fool you, this is a very human story about lost, broken people trying to connect despite their brokenness. Also, don't let the literary trappings fool you, this is a great fantasy story about a world full of wondrous creatures, dead gods, and costly magic.
Connolly himself says this is the best thing he's ever written, and while the other books of his I've read were good, this was fantastic indeed. I can't wait to read more stories set in this world.
You learn enough of the world, mostly through context with some exposition, to know what's going on, get to know the cast of characters well enough to like or loathe them, get enough backstory to know why things are the way they are, all without drowning the reader in prose while still keeping you engaged. Don't let the fantasy trappings fool you, this is a very human story about lost, broken people trying to connect despite their brokenness. Also, don't let the literary trappings fool you, this is a great fantasy story about a world full of wondrous creatures, dead gods, and costly magic.
Connolly himself says this is the best thing he's ever written, and while the other books of his I've read were good, this was fantastic indeed. I can't wait to read more stories set in this world.
March 1, 2020
One Man is a fantastic story set in a city resting in the bones of a fallen god. The story of Kyrioc, a young noble sent to make his mark in the world; is told in flashbacks throughout the story. Now known as the Broken Man, he runs a pawn shop in the city he swore he would return to. With nothing to live for but the completion of an oath, he finds himself once again in the role of revenge-taker, as his only friend is taken.
What really sets this story apart is the world that has been built. A tale of Nobles plotting without a care for those considered beneath them. Criminals brazenly killing and destroying lives. And a few good constables trying to do something positive in a world of corruption.
A very enjoyable book that is quite unlike other books in the fantasy genre. An absolute must read!
What really sets this story apart is the world that has been built. A tale of Nobles plotting without a care for those considered beneath them. Criminals brazenly killing and destroying lives. And a few good constables trying to do something positive in a world of corruption.
A very enjoyable book that is quite unlike other books in the fantasy genre. An absolute must read!
January 31, 2021
When Connolly's contract wasn't renewed after the third Twenty Palaces novel was published, I was one of those fans of the series that railed against the nasty publishers for letting down fans of that series. I totally sided with an author who I believed had been wronged. He self-published a prequel to the series which was good but not great. (And more recently a novella that was as good as the novels), but everything of his that I've read that *wasn't* Twenty Palaces has been mediocre. A Key, An Egg, an Unfortunate Remark was really quite awful. The Great Way trilogy, something that I regret supporting the funding of, was mediocre fantasy, and that brings me to this book.
The initial hook of a man being discovered at his own funeral was a good way to begin, but then it just sort of coasts after that. Finding out that the entire plot was lifted from a classic Korean crime film just makes it all the more disappointing. I usually can blow through a book in a few days at most, but this one took me nearly two weeks to get through. There were times I just opened up my kindle app and looked for a second and decided to try to sleep instead. There were characters that were set up to be major players in the plot (the main character's younger brother, for example) who ended up doing next to nothing. There were villains who seemed full of just plain dumb luck, and the last few chapters, when everything was supposed to pay off were a rushed blur that seemed to only pause long enough to hit predictable plot points.
The initial hook of a man being discovered at his own funeral was a good way to begin, but then it just sort of coasts after that. Finding out that the entire plot was lifted from a classic Korean crime film just makes it all the more disappointing. I usually can blow through a book in a few days at most, but this one took me nearly two weeks to get through. There were times I just opened up my kindle app and looked for a second and decided to try to sleep instead. There were characters that were set up to be major players in the plot (the main character's younger brother, for example) who ended up doing next to nothing. There were villains who seemed full of just plain dumb luck, and the last few chapters, when everything was supposed to pay off were a rushed blur that seemed to only pause long enough to hit predictable plot points.
May 23, 2020
Please can we have a sequel to this fantastic book? While the book has a satisfying story arc, there is still so much more I want to see from these characters.
I loved this book - the setting, intelligent characters, magic, nonstop action, and twisty plot kept me riveted. I have a fondness for stories that take place in a single magical city and badass assassin-like characters, so this was right down my alley. Happily, while the book has many dark and violent moments, there are enough good characters and hopeful moments that it avoids being grimdark.
I will say it took several chapters before I was hooked. At first the POV switching was really fast, and a bit confusing, but that slowed down after the initial setup so that the story focuses on a few key characters. I typically prefer single POV stories, and I loved this, so give it a chance.
I also wasn't sure that I liked Kyrioc at first, but I quickly revised my opinion. I would have loved to get more of his back story and see his relationship with his family explored. He has distinct Oliver Queen vibes to me (complete with an evil island back story), so Arrow fans should enjoy this too!
I loved this book - the setting, intelligent characters, magic, nonstop action, and twisty plot kept me riveted. I have a fondness for stories that take place in a single magical city and badass assassin-like characters, so this was right down my alley. Happily, while the book has many dark and violent moments, there are enough good characters and hopeful moments that it avoids being grimdark.
I will say it took several chapters before I was hooked. At first the POV switching was really fast, and a bit confusing, but that slowed down after the initial setup so that the story focuses on a few key characters. I typically prefer single POV stories, and I loved this, so give it a chance.
I also wasn't sure that I liked Kyrioc at first, but I quickly revised my opinion. I would have loved to get more of his back story and see his relationship with his family explored. He has distinct Oliver Queen vibes to me (complete with an evil island back story), so Arrow fans should enjoy this too!
November 5, 2020
The middle 70% of this book is my favorite noir/fantasy blend bar none. The protagonist, an emotionally wounded veteran who reluctantly attempts to protect an innocent child because at his core he can't ignore her, is spot on. The various police who wind their paths between justice, politics, and ambition were solid. Different characters will occasionally describe the same thing with different words so you have to keep on your toes. The setting of a city nestled inside and slowly mining the magic bones of a ancient titanic god was evocative and fabulous.
Now the caveats.
The beginning of the book introduces a lot of unclear world building jargon, multiple timelines, and many different point-of-view character chapters without enough markers to indicate which are primary threads and which are secondary or even tertiary. It took me a long time to make a mental map of what was actually important.
The endings tried to accomplish something like a half dozen different goals which at best diluted each other, and I felt some of the endings didn't follow smoothly (or at all) from their set up.
Now the caveats.
The beginning of the book introduces a lot of unclear world building jargon, multiple timelines, and many different point-of-view character chapters without enough markers to indicate which are primary threads and which are secondary or even tertiary. It took me a long time to make a mental map of what was actually important.
The endings tried to accomplish something like a half dozen different goals which at best diluted each other, and I felt some of the endings didn't follow smoothly (or at all) from their set up.
December 27, 2024
This could have been a five star novel but every time the narrative built up a head of steam, it shifted to a different POV or dove into a flash-back. It reminded me of Peter Falk in Princess bride, reading to his grandson, "She doesn't get eaten by the eels at this time"... "You looked nervous." Personally, I like riding the wave of high emotion, and don't appreciate the forced respite.
Now, Kyrioc is one of the better protagonists in fantasy. He's broken, hopeless, and suicidal... but he can't stop caring for those in need. He's also got a hidden power that could wipe out the city. What's not to like?
The world-building is truly original, despite the author withholding much from the reader. Is it just me or is there a metaphor here, casting light on the unjust American health system? If you can pay, you get the best care in the world, if you can't pay... no cares are given.
While it took a while to draw me in, the ending was perfect. It's been five years since this novel was released so I'm not optimistic about a sequel. We can hope.
Now, Kyrioc is one of the better protagonists in fantasy. He's broken, hopeless, and suicidal... but he can't stop caring for those in need. He's also got a hidden power that could wipe out the city. What's not to like?
The world-building is truly original, despite the author withholding much from the reader. Is it just me or is there a metaphor here, casting light on the unjust American health system? If you can pay, you get the best care in the world, if you can't pay... no cares are given.
While it took a while to draw me in, the ending was perfect. It's been five years since this novel was released so I'm not optimistic about a sequel. We can hope.
December 4, 2019
What an awesome book! Having read a lot of books, a lot of fantasy (and almost everything by Harry Connolly), I still was surprised by this. This review will be spoiler-free.
One Man ist not a simple story, but it is a straightforward one. It has interesting, well rounded characters and a story that captivated me from start to finish. Connolly managed to create a fascinating new world I immediately wanted to know more about (and want to game in as well). It has a very well crafted balance between an interesting setting that suggests a large and interesting world and a very personal story of the protagonist who only has one "small" goal. Without going into spoilers, I can only say it is on par with many more successful writers and anyone who likes Brian McClellan, Brent Weeks, James Islington or Anthony Ryan should give this a go!
One Man ist not a simple story, but it is a straightforward one. It has interesting, well rounded characters and a story that captivated me from start to finish. Connolly managed to create a fascinating new world I immediately wanted to know more about (and want to game in as well). It has a very well crafted balance between an interesting setting that suggests a large and interesting world and a very personal story of the protagonist who only has one "small" goal. Without going into spoilers, I can only say it is on par with many more successful writers and anyone who likes Brian McClellan, Brent Weeks, James Islington or Anthony Ryan should give this a go!
December 18, 2019
Reminded me of a film I can't remember the name of - was about some ex-special forces type who has to protect a young girl from a gangster syndicate. It probably has a similar body count although a much better, deeper story ...
It's a nicely built world, with good characters and original ideas and is well written, though I had an occasional nagging feeling that parts of it didn't really make sense, or at least needed more explanation than they got (and I don't mean that in a Malazan pick-it-up-as-you-go sort of way, more that some things needed a litle more detail), though the fact that the story had me wanting to know the details is probably a good thing!
The story is very dark; life is cheap (for the poor) and characters die left right and centre in often unpleasant fashions (including children), so possibly avoid if that sort of thing is likely to bother you.
The sub-title suggests it might be part of a series, and though this story stands alone, the world is definitely worth revisting.
It's a nicely built world, with good characters and original ideas and is well written, though I had an occasional nagging feeling that parts of it didn't really make sense, or at least needed more explanation than they got (and I don't mean that in a Malazan pick-it-up-as-you-go sort of way, more that some things needed a litle more detail), though the fact that the story had me wanting to know the details is probably a good thing!
The story is very dark; life is cheap (for the poor) and characters die left right and centre in often unpleasant fashions (including children), so possibly avoid if that sort of thing is likely to bother you.
The sub-title suggests it might be part of a series, and though this story stands alone, the world is definitely worth revisting.
December 12, 2019
Solid, neat world filled with tropes applied cleverly
I enjoyed this book quite a bit. It was well written and the characters were fairly deep and well distinguished. The world and magic system was mysterious, real feeling and dang interesting. Connolly wove a cool story with a ton of tropes woven together without being too hamfisted, although brooding dark antihero wore thin at times.
I particularly enjoyed the blend of heist and hero's journey and police procedural stuff.
I could have done with fewer perspectives but that may just be my personal thing.
I would read more books about Killer of Devils. I found him a bit more interesting than Kyrioc all things considered, although he grew on me.
I enjoyed this book quite a bit. It was well written and the characters were fairly deep and well distinguished. The world and magic system was mysterious, real feeling and dang interesting. Connolly wove a cool story with a ton of tropes woven together without being too hamfisted, although brooding dark antihero wore thin at times.
I particularly enjoyed the blend of heist and hero's journey and police procedural stuff.
I could have done with fewer perspectives but that may just be my personal thing.
I would read more books about Killer of Devils. I found him a bit more interesting than Kyrioc all things considered, although he grew on me.
January 6, 2020
Great payoff
One Man takes a few chapters to get rolling - I admit that I was initially put off by the various proper nouns and didn't entirely understand the setting - but once we are introduced to the main characters and their motivations things hum along nicely.
Good attention is paid to people's ignorance and assumptions about one another. There's no idiot plot here, but characters do make mistakes based on faulty assumptions, and no one is right all the time.
The characters on the 'good' side of things spend a lot of time nurturing and mentoring the next generation. The more chaotic characters worry only about themselves and their own status.
Worth your time. Check it out.
One Man takes a few chapters to get rolling - I admit that I was initially put off by the various proper nouns and didn't entirely understand the setting - but once we are introduced to the main characters and their motivations things hum along nicely.
Good attention is paid to people's ignorance and assumptions about one another. There's no idiot plot here, but characters do make mistakes based on faulty assumptions, and no one is right all the time.
The characters on the 'good' side of things spend a lot of time nurturing and mentoring the next generation. The more chaotic characters worry only about themselves and their own status.
Worth your time. Check it out.
Read
January 27, 2020Fantasy Under World Crime Story Meets a Different Trope
The best fantasy setting mob crime novels I've read lately have been The Way of Shadows and The Lies of Locke Lamora, but whereas those rely heavily on the coming of age trope, this one barely includes any of the protagonist's early story as some flashbacks.
Instead, I would say this one is a Western plopped down in a fantasy mob crime setting. Mysterious bad ass whos tragic past makes him not want to associate with anyone, instead comes to care about someone who he then has to saddle up and kick ass to save.
Harry Connolly yet again told an excellent story that kept me up late.
The best fantasy setting mob crime novels I've read lately have been The Way of Shadows and The Lies of Locke Lamora, but whereas those rely heavily on the coming of age trope, this one barely includes any of the protagonist's early story as some flashbacks.
Instead, I would say this one is a Western plopped down in a fantasy mob crime setting. Mysterious bad ass whos tragic past makes him not want to associate with anyone, instead comes to care about someone who he then has to saddle up and kick ass to save.
Harry Connolly yet again told an excellent story that kept me up late.
February 9, 2020
Have you ever read a fantasy story and wished that the pacing was faster, the writing was better and the main character was more like John Wick? Well buddy, have I got a story for you.
Set in a fascinating fantasy land, Harry Connolly's latest story follows one disgraced and in hiding noble heir's quest to rescue a little girl who befriended him after he returned home from a coming of age ceremony gone horribly wrong. The world is fresh and new and reveals itself slowly over the course of the novel, the writing is crisp and packs a hard punch and the characters are believable.
Strongest possible recommendation for anyone who likes their fantasy urban and gritty.
Set in a fascinating fantasy land, Harry Connolly's latest story follows one disgraced and in hiding noble heir's quest to rescue a little girl who befriended him after he returned home from a coming of age ceremony gone horribly wrong. The world is fresh and new and reveals itself slowly over the course of the novel, the writing is crisp and packs a hard punch and the characters are believable.
Strongest possible recommendation for anyone who likes their fantasy urban and gritty.
February 26, 2020
Fair warning to anyone who wants to read this, it does have its dark patches (not Abercrombie dark, thank goodness) but noir dark. Everyone is flawed and has their own agenda and only a very few of them are trying to be better people or build a better world, but at least a few of them have those thoughts.
The world building is fascinating and I hope there will be more books in the series just to see how the world works as only a small amount is revealed here (and in very small slices). The characters are well drawn, even if many are unsympathetic, and the city's politics which force them together in direct and indirect ways, make sense.
The world building is fascinating and I hope there will be more books in the series just to see how the world works as only a small amount is revealed here (and in very small slices). The characters are well drawn, even if many are unsympathetic, and the city's politics which force them together in direct and indirect ways, make sense.
June 19, 2020
I am 1 hour and 35 minutes in to the audio book and I still haven't a freaking clue as too what all these 4 and 5 star reviews are talking about. For one thing the start of the book is so slow and strange I have no idea why I should care. Author keeps hinting at the MC has some kind of PTSD from trauma in his past. The world building? What world building? After an hour and 35 min there should have been something right? Nope nothing. Haven't a clue. I picked it up mainly because this is my second favorite narrator and the Title seemed interesting and so did the blurb. I can only say damn disappointed. Feels like I was listening to a different book than everyone else.
August 19, 2020
Rock solid read- One Man was the first book by Harry Connolly that I’ve read.
Enjoyable- with several key points of view though most center on Kyrionic, lost heir of the Safroy family.
Drawing a vivid picture of Glitterkind, fallen gods, summoned protectors- it was a gripping read.
My largest complaint would surround a certain ‘power reveal’ late in The book. Bordering on literal Deus ex Machina, and while ceding it’s entirely possible I missed the notes, foreshadowing to the reveal appeared to be missing.
With that said, it was fun, and ‘uplifting’ (at root) and- hopefully- the author has more books planned for the world he’s created.
Enjoyable- with several key points of view though most center on Kyrionic, lost heir of the Safroy family.
Drawing a vivid picture of Glitterkind, fallen gods, summoned protectors- it was a gripping read.
My largest complaint would surround a certain ‘power reveal’ late in The book. Bordering on literal Deus ex Machina, and while ceding it’s entirely possible I missed the notes, foreshadowing to the reveal appeared to be missing.
With that said, it was fun, and ‘uplifting’ (at root) and- hopefully- the author has more books planned for the world he’s created.
December 27, 2019
A hopeful take on dark fantasy
The story and the world building were great, but as I've come to expect from Connolly's books, the characters are amazing. They feel fleshed out, the protagonists all have a dark side and even characters that you want to dislike have their reasons for their actions.
Also, although I would happily read more about this world of these characters, I appreciate that the story was self-contained and didn't feel like just the first chapter in a series.
The story and the world building were great, but as I've come to expect from Connolly's books, the characters are amazing. They feel fleshed out, the protagonists all have a dark side and even characters that you want to dislike have their reasons for their actions.
Also, although I would happily read more about this world of these characters, I appreciate that the story was self-contained and didn't feel like just the first chapter in a series.
March 25, 2020
A slow start to a strong marathon.
I will start by saying that I am a fan of Connolly's 20 Palaces series so I had high hopes for this book. It starts out slow as we learn about this world and get adjusted to its naming conventions. It also bounces around time a bit early on so that made the start a little harder to get into. But once this story finds its legs it runs. The world is interesting, the characters are fleshed out, and the stakes are believable. This Connolly at his best and it was worth what I paid for this book several times over.
I will start by saying that I am a fan of Connolly's 20 Palaces series so I had high hopes for this book. It starts out slow as we learn about this world and get adjusted to its naming conventions. It also bounces around time a bit early on so that made the start a little harder to get into. But once this story finds its legs it runs. The world is interesting, the characters are fleshed out, and the stakes are believable. This Connolly at his best and it was worth what I paid for this book several times over.
July 6, 2021
Strong world building and interesting characters
the world is very interesting and contains many secrets I'd love to see explored more, and many of the characters have deep personalities and compelling motivations. For example, I loved to hate the main antagonist.
I found it a little slow in the beginning, however but once it got going, I couldn't stop. I'd love to see a sequel, especially since the ending seemed made for it (it doesn't feel unfinished, but it did feel like many characters are in places for new adventures)
the world is very interesting and contains many secrets I'd love to see explored more, and many of the characters have deep personalities and compelling motivations. For example, I loved to hate the main antagonist.
I found it a little slow in the beginning, however but once it got going, I couldn't stop. I'd love to see a sequel, especially since the ending seemed made for it (it doesn't feel unfinished, but it did feel like many characters are in places for new adventures)
October 29, 2023
"One Man: A City of Fallen Gods Novel" transports readers to a world distinct from the "Twenty Palaces" series, yet it is equally captivating and enthralling. The narrative resonated with me on a deeper level, and I sincerely hope that this is not the last we see of this universe. There are countless tales yet to be unveiled in this richly imagined setting, ripe for exploration in both full-length novels and novellas alike. The concept of fallen gods and the ramifications of their existence are intriguing, leaving me eager for more.
December 21, 2019
It took about a 1/4 of the book until it hit its stride and got past the world-building and city politics. Then we get to see the author shine at what he's so good at: Action and surprise twists. Once the book takes off, it takes OFF. I stayed up until 4am to finish it.
One thing I love about Connolly is that he is so good at creating real adversity and villains that don't rely on tired tropes to be evil. Also, weird ass magic stuff.
One thing I love about Connolly is that he is so good at creating real adversity and villains that don't rely on tired tropes to be evil. Also, weird ass magic stuff.
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