The Stone Knife (The Songs of the Drowned, #1) by Anna Stephens

Oct 08, 2020 Petrik rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: arcs-and-review-copies, favorites

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ARC provided by the publisher—Harper Voyager—in exchange for an honest review.

This was amazing. Great characters, lethal actions, and so much bloodbath; a vampire reading this book would probably find their thirst satiated.

This is one of the biggest surprises of the year for me; I am thoroughly impressed by what Stephens has crafted here. Her debut, Godblind, was a good grimdark novel that I liked, but The Stone Knif ...more

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Oct 02, 2020 Bethan Hindmarch rated it it was amazing

Anna Stephens is back with a brand new trilogy for us, and I have been so excited for it for ages. I loved her Godblind trilogy, so I pre-ordered The Stone Knife back in April ready for the November release – but when Stephens offered me an ARC for review, I jumped at the chance!

The Stone Knife, book one of The Songs of the Drowned, takes place in a whole new world that is inspired by ancient Central American civilisations. It is the story of the Tokob tribe as they try to survive in the face o Anna Stephens is back with a brand new trilogy for us, and I have been so excited for it for ages. I loved her Godblind trilogy, so I pre-ordered The Stone Knife back in April ready for the November release – but when Stephens offered me an ARC for review, I jumped at the chance!

The Stone Knife, book one of The Songs of the Drowned, takes place in a whole new world that is inspired by ancient Central American civilisations. It is the story of the Tokob tribe as they try to survive in the face of a relentless enemy hell-bent on colonising their world, and the monsters that live in their water-sources and sing people to their bloody deaths. It is also the story of the Pechaqueh as they try to bring the magic of their leader’s Song to the tribes around them, whilst those tribes murder their gods… As one should come to expect from Stephens’ writing, things are never black or white.

The opening to this story of siren-like song magic lulls you in – it’s exposition, but it doesn’t feel like a dump as it’s a tale being woven. Natural additions of the voice’s world filter through with no background information, which gives the narrative a sense of authenticity, that this voice is rooted in its place and sings with authority. Just when we feel at peace within this tale, the voice takes a sharp juxtapositional twist in tone and it’s a strong indication of the character’s personality. And what a character she’ll turn out to be; Xessa quickly insinuated herself into my heart and is now up there with the likes of Tara and Fell Noon as one of my all-time favourite characters. Stephens brings her monsters into play promptly, we certainly do not have to wait long for the trilogy’s eponymous creatures. And they are CREEPY. And violent.

‘Mottled brown and green like the riverbed, thin ribbons of hair on its head like weed, it stretched a clawed hand towards Xessa…’
I found myself immediately convinced of their threat. Our protagonist appears adept and experienced, and yet proves to be human and vulnerable. It is a dark and dangerous opening to a story, setting the scene for what seems a desperate, eat-or-be-eaten world. It’s softened by our protagonist’s canine companion, and her reflections on her society of historians and teachers, of people with specific and individual roles to play. And so in just a few short pages, Stephens introduces us to her new world in a succinct and impactful manner.

Water was life and breath and plenty, and water was death and pain and fear, held in a balance like day and night, sun and moon. Xessa was a thief, stealing from the balance without offering anything in return except her sweat, her fear, her blood. One day, perhaps, her life.
As with the Godblind trilogy, Stephens treats us to more multiple points of views in this new trilogy – seven in total, and from either side of the conflict. Stephens is relentless in her ability to tell every side of the story and blur the distinctions between the ‘good guys’ and the ‘bad guys’, certainly more so here than with Godblind. The first three chapters, excluding the brief opener, are all from the same tribe, so when we enter into the perspective of someone who up until that point we’d been told was the enemy, I found myself thinking ah, classic Stephens… There is no right or wrong. No good or bad. We simply have people existing as themselves in their world, firm in their belief that they are in the right, that they follow the true faith. Context, as ever, is key and that is a gift for us, a step removed. This is such an accurate portrayal of humanity – that of the ‘bad guys’ not seeing themselves as being the ‘bad guys’ – and one that seems safe to say is Stephens modus operandi.

Speaking of representation, I had expected to come across diversity in The Stone Knife, knowing its importance to Stephens. However, I wasn’t prepared for just how perfectly Stephens embraces it here. Xessa is deaf, and Stephens shows us so many little ways in which the character processes details instead that it comes across as a very different perspective, already showing me things I would not normally have considered.

Xessa eased herself onto her feet to approach the river when a double thump like a heartbeat shivered up through the soles of her bare feet… The dog jumped again, landing back feet, front feet… his throat rippling as he barked and barked.
Treated with equal subtlety and nuance, Stephens’ approach to gender and sexuality is seamless – there are no labels used. We don’t get told the sex of a person until personal pronouns are used; no awkward, assumption-based statements like “the female warrior”. Likewise with sexuality, there is quite simply the person the character loves or is attracted to – no mention of whether they are ‘gay’, or ‘lesbian’ or ‘bisexual’, or ‘straight’. No mention of only being interested in the one or the other. No judgement. It felt so natural to read characters in this way, so refreshing. We can imagine worlds bursting with magic and fantastic creatures, or worlds lightyears away from our own, and I felt like finally I am reading a world in which love is love.

I guess what’s important to take from everything I’ve said so far is that Stephens has created a world which feels so real. So obviously a secondary, fantasy world, and yet so obviously authentic and grounded. Stephens’ writing style of threading her worldbuilding through references that are unfamiliar but obvious in their context makes for a subtle means of creating an utterly believable world.

There are a number of similarities between this world and story and that of the Godblind trilogy. Stephens’ magic system is again heavily linked to belief, faith, and ancestors. Magic is gifted through gods and spirits. As well as this, Stephens’ writing still has that visceral quality that became something of a hallmark in Godblind. You can expect violence and gore from The Stone Knife, but again, it doesn’t overpower the story. The characters are very much what drives this story, and although there may be pain awaiting them, and plenty of twists, there is still hope and love that abounds.

These similarities make this story recognisably Stephens’ handiwork, and yet this story is a clear progression of her growth and evolution as a writer. The Stone Knife is a story that you will lose yourself in, breathless in its heady depths. So many times I found myself scared to read on, fearful for what Stephens, a notorious heart-breaker, would do to these new, innocent, utterly relatable characters. So many moments, despite knowing this author’s treachery, I found myself reeling from a new revelation. This is a powerful, dark, and beautiful song, that’s left me open-armed and ready for the next. ...more

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Feb 12, 2020 Ash | Wild Heart Reads rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fantasy, lgbtqia, grimdark-fantasy, adult-fiction, queer-side-characters, bi-bi-bi, gaaaaaaaayyyyy

Anna Stephens brings a whole new world to life with bloody glory in The Stone Knife. The Empire of Songs has slowly been advancing its reach over Ixachipan through bloody conquest. It will not stop under every single person is under the Song. They worship the holy Setat, sacrificing untold numbers to keep their gods appeased. But for the Tokob and Yaloh these creatures are not holy, they are the Drowned and to hear their song is to meet death. Terrifying monsters that infest rivers, killing with Anna Stephens brings a whole new world to life with bloody glory in The Stone Knife. The Empire of Songs has slowly been advancing its reach over Ixachipan through bloody conquest. It will not stop under every single person is under the Song. They worship the holy Setat, sacrificing untold numbers to keep their gods appeased. But for the Tokob and Yaloh these creatures are not holy, they are the Drowned and to hear their song is to meet death. Terrifying monsters that infest rivers, killing without discretion. With the Empire of Songs marching on them and the Drowned growing more numerous every day, the Tokob and Yaloh fight a desperate battle for survival.

Something indefinable had changed, and she didn't think it would ever go back to the way it was again.

The Stone Knife follows seven perspectives; Xessa - an eja, Lilla - a Fang leading a Paw of Tokob warriors, Tayan - a Tokob shaman, Enet, Spear of the City, Pilos - High Feather and commander of the Melody, Illandeh - a Xentib refugee and finally The Singer, who's will shapes the Song. I would not be intimidated by the number of pov characters in The Stone Knife. Anna is fantastic at multi-pov stories, not just in terms of being able to forge distinct characters but also in terms of being able to weave together a story that is seamless and stays engaging throughout. Even when you hate a particular character you still cannot put the book down.

One of my favourite elements about The Stone Knife is that it features a queernorm society and it's done fantastically. As Anna and I spoke on in my interview with her, though it's getting better, grimdark fantasy can still be very allocishet and heteronormative or what rep is there is just used as cannon fodder. In The Stone Knife, there are numerous queer characters; a lot of the mcs, side characters and minor characters. Casual use of 'all genders' rather than the alternative. Tayan and Lilla are an established married gay couple and their love for each other is just so heart-wrenching. The Stone Knife also gives us some wonderful deaf representation through Xessa. Xessa is deaf but for her and other eja this is never presented as a hindrance, more than anything it makes them an incredible asset in the fight against the Drowned. Sign language is used and Xessa has the goodest boy Ossa by her side. I am partially deaf, not deaf, however it was fantastic to see this representation on the page in an epic fantasy.

Anna writes fantastic villains. They are hateful people and more than a few of them in The Stone Knife brought out some murderous tendencies but you cannot fault Anna's ability to craft a villain. I wouldn't even necessarily call them villains because it's too simplistic. These people, much like some in real life, are so devoted to their beliefs and so utterly sure of the righteousness of their path that they see themselves as the heroes and saviours. They don't see the bloodshed and pain they unleash on others as a bad thing, they truly believe they are bringing salvation to these people by bringing them under the song. You have a character like Pilos, who's on the side of the oppressor and believes he can bring peace through war and there are moment when you catch yourself thinking that compared to say Enet, he's not so awful and he has moments of apparent kindness, where you think could he be redeemed? Then in his next chapter he does something awful and it's jarring in a way. It makes you think about the ways in which we can be conditioned to accept a lesser evil and think 'this person's isn't so bad'. But just because an enemy respects your courage, it doesn't negate the fact he will still kill you for what he believes in. What I am saying is for all you will hate them, Anna does not write 2D villains, they are infuriating as they are brilliantly written.

The Stone Knife is relentless. It is intense and brutal and all sorts fucked up but my gods is is brilliant. I made the mistake of drinking a hot chocolate while I was reading one time and I'd caution against food or drink because some of it will turn your stomach 😅 It is not for the faint-hearted but I definitely recommend it if you are looking for a fantastic grimdark fantasy. There's queernorm societies, multiple queer characters, deaf characters and the bestest doggo. If you loved Godblind, you'll love The Stone Knife. I wasn't sure if there was more room in my heart for characters that will stab you straight in the feels after Godblind but Anna has done it again with this (Tayan I love you).

In the gloom, Xessa smiled like a lord of the Underworld. Like a fucking Drowned, all teeth and malice and hunger.

Content Warnings: slavery, child death, animal death, extreme violence, gore, human sacrifice.

*I received a review copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own* ...more

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Oct 06, 2020 charlotte, (½ of readsrainbow) rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: adult-lit, lgbt, f-lgbt, m-lgbt, uk-and-ireland, review-copies, 2-point-5, disabilities-disorders-illnesses, magic-and-fantasy, i-put-the-b-in-lgbt

They said that the Drowned were the souls of the dead, angry that the living still walked beneath the sun, still breathed the air and ate the good food of the land.

On my blog.

Actual rating 2.5

Rep: gay mcs, deaf mc, bi mc

CWs: gore, torture, violence, human sacrifice, animal death, child death, cannibalism

Galley provided by publisher

Usually, I think I’m pretty good at picking books I know I’ll like. Or rather, I don’t pick books I know I’ll actively dislike. So, I thought, with The Stone K ...more

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Feb 02, 2021 Maja Ingrid rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy

Oh Anna, you certainly know how to please my heart with brutal gore and death. This book was such a strong start to her new series. Stephens has grown so much as a writer since the first book in the Godblind series (which was a weak start but grew to be one of my fave series). And if the start is this good I can't wait to see what the next book in this series will bring me.

5 stars because I haven't had a 5 star book since December. I had some fears in the middle of the book it would only be 3 s ...more

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Nov 25, 2020 S A M | The Book in Hand rated it it was amazing

Shelves: new-young-adult-fantasy, romance, netgalley-arcs, low-fantasy, five-star-reads

Good Afternoon Bookish Folk!

Today I am really happy to be sharing with you my review of Anna Stephens ‘The Stone knife‘ and on its day of publication no less!

YAYY!! Happy Publication Day!

Firstly, I would like to thank HarperVoyager for approving my NetGalley copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Here are a few things you can expect from :

Gods and mysterious monsters;
Love, loyally and family;
Bloody battles;
Political intrigue;
Darker scenes and swift melodic brutality; and
Mesoamerican ...more

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Feb 01, 2021 Kitvaria Sarene rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fantasy-all-subgenres, fantasy-women-in-sff, fantasy-grim-dark-bloody

Once again Stephens manages to write an utterly brilliant and we'll rounded book.

As with her first trilogy, this is definitely on the grim and bloody side of things. And again the divers cast that felt so very real to me was my main draw.

The Stone Knife is inspired by Aztec culture and has a wide and mysterious world to be explored. I loved to see more and more of the setting, and especially how the two different nations were done.
I for one definitely had one side I rooted for, but what I enjo ...more

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Oct 04, 2020 Rowena Andrews rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fantasy

ANNA STEPHENS IS BACK! This is the first in a brand-new trilogy, in a brand-new world, and I loved every single moment of this book from the very first word until the last.
The Stone Knife, as might be expected to anyone familiar with Stephens’ first trilogy, is brutal, although not so much in the ‘grimdark’ way that Godblind was often characterised as being. But, still brutal and bloody, and written with such vividness that you can’t help but have a visceral reaction to what is happening on th ANNA STEPHENS IS BACK! This is the first in a brand-new trilogy, in a brand-new world, and I loved every single moment of this book from the very first word until the last.
The Stone Knife, as might be expected to anyone familiar with Stephens’ first trilogy, is brutal, although not so much in the ‘grimdark’ way that Godblind was often characterised as being. But, still brutal and bloody, and written with such vividness that you can’t help but have a visceral reaction to what is happening on the pages. Not for the faint at heart, but it is so beautifully executed that it has you reeling even as you need to keep reading, need more of the intensity. The best thing is that it never overwhelms the plot or the characters, even as it is an essential part of the narrative, and it has different notes – there are the moments of loud, chaotic violence and brutality, and then there are the quieter moments that have you holding your breath, and praying that the characters will survive.
Because, the characters – and there are multiple POV characters – are so well-realised and individual, that you can’t help but become heavily invested in each and every one of them (as well as all the secondary characters) and I am absolutely terrified for what might happen to them in future books. Xessa was an almost instant favourite, and remains up there and will most likely be one of my favourites for the entire series, while Lilla and Tayan completely stole my heart, but there was not one single character that I wasn’t invested in. Every one of the characters, regardless of which side of the ‘conflict’ they are on, have their own voices and motivations, and what I have always loved about Stephens’ characterisation, is that there is never any black and white between the sides. Every character is a person, complex and living within their own world, their view of the world around them and their actions and faith, all shaped by context and interactions with other characters, and not only does that make for a much richer world, but it also breathes life into them and the narrative and feels so wonderfully, painfully human even when we are different from them and even when they are at their core unlikeable characters.
I don’t want to call it representation because here it is so much part of the world, that you couldn’t imagine the characters or the book without it, but it is excellent. Xessa, one of the main POV characters is deaf, and it is univocally part of her character, and it is there in the little details – from feeling vibrations to being partnered with a dog – realistically depicted in a fantastical world, and it is just one facet of who she is just as it shapes her, and is an integral part of the world, of her society, and that is how it should be. Similarly, gender and sexuality are just there, part of the world, as natural as breathing – people are just who they are, love who they love – and I need to read more books where it feels like this.
The world-building was spectacular and intricate, and while it took me a little while to acclimatise to this very different world, it was so refreshing and well-written that it was worth that patience because this is a world I want to live in more and more (even with the terrifying monsters). Inspired by Central American Civilisations, this world was new and had such breadth and depth from the start, that you can’t help but be pulled in even while trying to find your feet, and there is such a variety of faith and cultures and experiences, while still leaving that tantalising feeling of so much more to come. The threat of the ‘Drowned’ was imminent and palpable from the very beginning, and they are deliciously creepy, and it was fascinating to see them so irrevocably entangled with the characters and cultures, a threat that had to be adapted to rather than outright avoided.
The Stone Knife feels like the song that is so integral to the plot, it weaves around you from the beginning, and it feels like the book has a voice of its own that wraps around your heart. There is a lot of information, an entire world to be built, and yet there is never any feeling of there being info dumps or being strong-armed into the world because the story is woven around us word by word, page by page, character voice by character voice. The multiple POVs builds into this, offering us so many different viewpoints and experiences, built up with longer chapters and slightly slower pacing before the blood starts to cover the pages.
This was one of my most anticipated reads for this year, and now probably my favourite read of 2020. Brutal, beautiful, and I have already lost my heart to this new cast of characters and will live in fear and love for them until the end of this series. I cannot recommend The Stone Knife highly enough; it has everything I want from my fantasy and more (with added bloodshed).

https://beneathathousandskies.com/202... ...more

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Oct 29, 2020 Peter rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fantasy, grimdark

Absolutely fantastic! Anna Stephens is back and better than ever! What a fantastic book this is, a new world and a brilliant new story have emerged. This was one of my major anticipated reads of this year and it has delivered on every level!

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Nov 02, 2020 Rebecca | Velvet Opus marked it as upcoming-arcs

I love a good fantasy and this 600+ page fantasy is described as "a fantasy epic of freedom and empire, gods and monsters, love, loyalty, honour, and betrayal", plus it has LGBT representation. Thanks to the publisher for a review copy! ...more

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Apr 19, 2020 Eren marked it as to-read

“Un-Follow Me Now, This Is Gonna Be the Only Thing I Tweet About For The Next Week. Ive Wanted This For Years Fuck. What The Fuck.”

—Tyler the Creator

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Jan 19, 2021 K.S. Marsden rated it really liked it

Shelves: netgalley

The Empire of Songs has been assimilating the surrounding clans for generations. Now the last two clans must fight for their freedom.

I received a free copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

The story is split between several of the characters.
The last free clans are in danger. The Pechacan (the Empire) has stolen their homelands, and forced them to the edge of civilisation.
On one side, the Empire's army nips at their heels, building roads and pyramids that relay their song, buildin The Empire of Songs has been assimilating the surrounding clans for generations. Now the last two clans must fight for their freedom.

I received a free copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

The story is split between several of the characters.
The last free clans are in danger. The Pechacan (the Empire) has stolen their homelands, and forced them to the edge of civilisation.
On one side, the Empire's army nips at their heels, building roads and pyramids that relay their song, building their strength for a final push.
On the other, as the wet season rolls in, the danger from the Drowned increases. These are water-predators. They are humanoid, but more beast than human. They are violent, focussed on the kill, and have the ability to hypnotise their prey with song.
Setting up the pipes and pumps to provide the village with water is a very dangerous job. The Eja train for this, and are honoured to sacrifice their lives for this important task.
I really enjoyed following Xessa. She was born deaf - which in her community is a gift, not a disability. She is one of the best, she fights monsters every day, and keeps going back out there.

A last-ditch attempt at a peace treaty introduces the Empire, as the peace-weavers head the the very heart of the city.
On the surface, everything looks idyllic. Everyone is entranced by the Song, they are all connected by it, and can't live without it. The city provides advancements, comforts, and riches that are beyond the clans' simple lives.
When you look closer the cracks appear. The Empire enslave and brainwash the clans they capture, to serve them in any way they see fit. To be sold as a slave, or to be sacrificed to the gods.

They all worship the Singer, the leader of the Empire, a man so powerful that he transcends humanity and is viewed almost as a deity.
After a lifetime as being treated like a god, the Singer is a dangerous man. He is spoilt, and his mood quick to darken, with terrible results.
Around him, his Council are all rich and powerful people, driven by their own interests rather than what is best for the city and their citizens.

I really enjoyed the world-building, and I thought it was a very original take on the fantasy-fight-against-oppression; with the song infecting the masses. The Drowned are also suitably scary monsters, and how they are viewed differently by the free clans and the Empire.

The story and tensions are slow-building, a little bit too slow sometimes; but it was all worth it in the end.
There are very high stakes, and violence throughout.

I really enjoyed this introduction to the series, and look forward to the next installment. ...more

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Oct 19, 2020 Jo rated it it was amazing

The Stone Knife has a lot of heart, and is as brutally bloody as the fantasy scene has come to expect from Anna Stephens’s works. The Stone Knife, however, also raises her personal bar to new heights as she explores colonialism with her own blood-soaked take. Never has music sounded more terrifying in The Stone Knife, where colonisation is as unapologetically bloody as it is devious. It is indisputably one of the most impressively insidious entries in the fantasy genre I’ve read in 2020. A viole ...more

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Jan 06, 2021 Alicia Wanstall-Burke rated it really liked it

Exceptional world building, striking out beyond the cliched borders of traditional fantasy, where dark eddies of intrigue and Stephen’s unique brand of brutal storytelling set a strong foundation for another epic series.

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Nov 14, 2020 Sifa Poulton rated it it was ok

I received an eARC from the publishers through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. It has not affected my opinions.

My main issue with this book was the sheer length. It was just so long and felt like it really lacked focus. I kept wondering what I was supposed to be rooting to happen, and waiting for something to happen that would grab me. Instead, the book just dragged on. I feel like the book could have been 200 pages shorter and thus more engaging. Once it fell to the inevitable battl ...more

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Nov 28, 2020 Xerxes rated it it was amazing

My express and gratiude to Jamie at Harpervoyager for allowing me to access an ARC via Netgalley in exchange for a honest review. My thoughts only.

The entire continent of Ixachipan became an ever torment mass of fire, fighting and blood. I watched, as an observor, witnessing the events of a fight that would soon engulf everyone. Wars fought for the purpose of religion. Conflicts started because empires must expand. The cost of innocent lives. War is brutal. And a religion that demands sacrifice My express and gratiude to Jamie at Harpervoyager for allowing me to access an ARC via Netgalley in exchange for a honest review. My thoughts only.

The entire continent of Ixachipan became an ever torment mass of fire, fighting and blood. I watched, as an observor, witnessing the events of a fight that would soon engulf everyone. Wars fought for the purpose of religion. Conflicts started because empires must expand. The cost of innocent lives. War is brutal. And a religion that demands sacrifice to our esteemed Singer and the Song is no less than a evil cult from what I have seen of the Singing City and the Pecha. I like how Anna has described a city of perfection in this novel, and you will witness its unravelling in front of you. You will witness fighting in the Sky City, witness ambushes you have never seen before, and blood will run through this novel.

And never have I felt so much sadness in one book. The shackles of royalty create a growing dark feeling within the Singer himself. That is the only clue I will give. He is a character that you will despise, but somewhat sympathise. Because the most truly evil people weren’t evil in the first place. Circumstances, events and time presented itself. You may say that the reason the Gods don’t appear anymore in this world, is because of humanity’s free will. Everything is a consequence of human will. If this structure of a story was put in a sci-fi and historical fiction, it would fit very well.

That said, I did feel the pacing of the novel could have been a bit faster. I would have had wanted more native style words of swearing. That would have added a little more immersion in my opinion. The Empire of Songs is a perfect example of what happens when a cult is developed around one figure called the Singer, and that Godhood slowly reveals the madness that the people living in the Empire of Songs are witness too. It is not a perfect empire. It is not an honourable empire. Eventually, all the benefits for their slaves will go to waste at some point. The Empire has a fanatical ability to believe that spreading the Song will bring peace. The people of Tokoban and Yalotan want to be left in peace, but their Council is very arrogant. Very arrogant indeed not to realise the impending threat that the Empire of Song is doing.

And to the characters of this story, I think they are mature enough to understand that they live in a world that is inherently grim-dark to an extent. Mesoamerican society however is intrepreted from the viewpoint of Monks and not very favourable viewpoints come often. However, there was a Spanish Monk named Bartolomé de las Casas, who arrived in New Spain at the time when the Aztec Empire had ceased to exist. It was he that opposed the colonisers brutal efforts of commiting atrocities over the local natives of Mexica. An entire story can be written on this hero himself. He owned slaves and then seeing the atrocities that Cortes’s administrators were inflicting, he freed them. He was ahead of his time and it brought the wrath of the Church on him.

Bartolomé often argued in favour of the Native Peoples that were now under Spanish rule, and during a debate in 1550, Juan Ginés de Sepúlveda, a theologian, philsopher, and an active opponent of anti-slavery, argued that the Indians were less than human and they needed the full might of Spanish civilization to master and subjugate them. In this book, you will see a lot of this when it comes to the Empire of Songs believing that they are superior.

Back to this tale however, Las Casas argued that the Indians were free, fully human, and that subjugation was not only unjustifiable, it was immoral and against the word of God. Las Casas would go on to fight 50 years to stop the atrocities inflicted on indigenous peoples, trying to persuade the Spanish Court to adopt the human policy of colonization, and he opposed those priests who sought to destroy the indigenous people’s native books. I have no doubt there were many other prudent administrators, soliders, priests that supported Las Casas in this endeavour and hence we still have the preservation of Aztec and Mayan manuscripts and Anna did a lot of research when it comes to the worldbuilding of this culture.

We don’t have enough viewpoints from the Mesoamericans because the Spanish did order their holy texts to be burned. Temples raised to the ground. The Romans destroyed Carthage and razed it to the ground. Often, we get a viewpoint that has to be intrepreted from the winner’s point of view. The loser’s viewpoint is harder to study. Does no one remember the valiant efforts of the Gauls against Julius Ceasar? Who is celebrated more, tell me. Julius Ceasar or his Gallic enemies? Julius Ceasar of course. The reason I bring this to attention is the fact that Anna has done a very good attempt at creating an authenthic immersive world that is very free of this bias. The themes of colonalism is rife and the theme of subjugation is ever present in this novel.

And there is the prescence of good vs evil. Of good and evil co-operating with each other. The character I began to symapthise with was the Singer. A man that has a tragic crisis in terms of identity. I don’t wish to spoil what happens. Enet was truly, the most despicable character that I hated. She’s a true politician at heart, and a wretched soul. You will discover the reasons why. Xessa was a true dragon at her heart. Along with her lover, Toxte. Tayan and Lilla are the central characters and I really liked their viewpoints. Tayan because his mystical viewpoint as a Shaman allowed more exploration into the Drowned and who they were. I felt the story detracted from this very exciting character arc, as it had to focus on other viewpoints. In book 2, I would like to see more of this happening. As for Pilos, he’s a man fighting for the wrong side. He is! The fool should realise that the Empire of Songs is crumbling and it will do no good for him! None! None whatsoever! And there’s an enormous cast of characters that you will come to love and despise.

For many years, I have wanted a fantasy novel that was set in Mesoamerica. It seems HarperVoyager and the Gods listened to my prayers. This is truly part of a epic novel. It has the hero’s journey to an extent. But it is more than that. It is about the freedom of people from tryanny. The freedom of a free life crushed by tyrannical rule by those who think they are doing right. Often, we think ourselves as heroes. Never for once, do we see ourselves as villains. Human nature is fickle. That’s what I felt from this story. Is humanity so fragile that it cannot stop to think for a second that war is pointless? That love, loss, suffering and grief are the same? That’s what made me think in this novel. Tragic stories but a hint of hope as well.

This was an excellent novel. I give it a 10/10 and I cannot wait to see what happens in book 2!

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Dec 28, 2020 FantasyBookNerd rated it it was amazing

The Stone Knife is a visceral and epic tale of Empire, that is set in an original world that tells a tale of heroism, love, betrayal and resistance.

The story takes place in the forest land of Ixachipan and revolves around the people of Tokoban and the Yolotlan and their struggle to remain free from being enslaved by the Pechacan, The Empire of song.

For Generations, the Pechecan have slowly been absorbing every free tribe, enslaving the people that they conquer and expanding the influence of the ...more

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Oct 11, 2020 Peter Baran rated it really liked it

This is an impressive bit of world building, and once I got into it, quite a compulsive start to a big canvas tale of empires, colonialism and tyranny. The setting feels broadly based on Mexican / South American cultural furnishings, we have pyramids, we have consolidation of empires over tribes and water gods who can entrap with a song. The story bounces between a number of characters (possibly too many) between the encroaching Empire and one of the few tribes left free. The aim of the Empire i This is an impressive bit of world building, and once I got into it, quite a compulsive start to a big canvas tale of empires, colonialism and tyranny. The setting feels broadly based on Mexican / South American cultural furnishings, we have pyramids, we have consolidation of empires over tribes and water gods who can entrap with a song. The story bounces between a number of characters (possibly too many) between the encroaching Empire and one of the few tribes left free. The aim of the Empire is the bring everyone in the world under the power of "The Song" - a subtle mood altering communal piece of much spread across the entirety of its land (via handwavy pyramids). The book tries, at least in part, to make its Empire look as attractive as the free life - the free tribe has a pretty miserable lot having to deal with swamp monsters regularly. But The Singer - the spiritual leader of the Empire - slowly gets corrupted so that even if you thing having an enitre population swayed by a mood altering song was a good thing, you might question it when the song gets corrupted with violence.

Stephens has built a pretty grim world here, and yet it is one that sadly feels surprisingly relevant with the political machinations going on behind the scenes. The book really clicked for me when the peace negotiations start about a third in, where one side negotiates in good faith, the other (with the power) with contempt. Latterly in the book our scheming adviser start to question exactly what she has done, trapped in a cycle that she knows now will doom them all. This is a chunky book and we do get into the heads of a lot of protagonists, Love is held as firm driver for much action here, and the desperation of love during warfare leads to a lot of the more weighty sequences in the book.

The Stone Knife has a novel, well drawn setting and has the depth and robustness in its characters to be not just a solidly told story but feel like it is actually about something. It is however very much the first part of a longer tale, and while where it ends feels like a natural break in the story, there is nothing that resembles a conclusion. And whilst there are hints of where it might be going, there are also hints that it will continue on a dark path before anything gets better. Its good but not for the feint at heart.

[NetGalley ARC] ...more

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Nov 15, 2020 Eloise Smith rated it did not like it

Shelves: fantasy, arcs, not-for-me, dnf

I'm sorry, I had to DNF this one. I've struggled to read it for the past couple of days and today at 41% I had to give up. The book is told in chapters of different characters. I can't think of the number off the top of my head, however I think so far I've read about 5. This book is complicated and needs a lot of concentration. I couldn't tell you the number of characters there are, there are so many. I expect it may just be me, I haven't read a book this detailed before and I struggled with the ...more

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Oct 25, 2020 Alison rated it really liked it

Thanks to NetGalley and HarperVoyager for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
4.5 stars.
I read Godblind when it came out and really liked it so I jumped at the chance to read this, and I have to say that I think I enjoyed this even more!
I loved the world building, seeing the two warring civilisations that seem to be almost two sides to the same coin but also quite different. I also loved having POV characters from both sides of the conflict, as it gave loads of really interesting grey areas ...more

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Nov 07, 2020 Katrina Evans rated it it was amazing

This book is amazing and anyone that says otherwise can go jump in the river ;)

I loved the setting, the Aztec / Central America vibe is so different from the norm - it's fun, vibrant and fresh.

The plot is complex and there are a lot of layers to it, take it a little bit slower and engage your braincells and the nuance really shines through.

The characters are really where this book sings though - they are first and foremost real people and everyone of them has reasons for doing what they do. By ...more

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Jan 08, 2021 Graham Dauncey rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: signed-editions, sprayed-edges, first-editions, numbered-editions, gsff

I am always on the look out for innovative and different takes on fantasy, and The Stone Knife definitely fits that bill. Here we are transported to a fantasy version of pre-Columbian Mesoamerica, a fascinating and rarely explored conceit within the fantasy genre. In this world, a vast empire (The Empire of Song) is poised to complete its conquest of all known lands by conquering the last two allied independent states. The empire is ruled over by The Singer who spreads his influence by way of a ...more

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Jan 21, 2021 Maria Gulliford rated it it was amazing

All of the stars. I loved this book and have taken too many jntk my heart (will I never learn?) so am now anxious for the next installation. A feature that returns from the previous trilogy is perspectives from both sides of the war, which is both brilliant and difficult as I have two favourites with diametrically opposed aims.

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Sep 30, 2020 Priya Saini rated it it was amazing

So thankful for the advance copy from Harper Voyager.

This book needs to reach more and more people. It's everything a fantasy fiction with a sapphic relationship must have. ...more

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Dec 11, 2020 Peter McLean rated it it was amazing

A blood-drenched, Aztec-inspired mesoamerican fantasy epic begins. This thing is just glorious. Under the song!

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Nov 14, 2020 Mark Redman rated it really liked it

Shelves: fantasy

For generations, the forests of Ixachipan have echoed with the clash of weapons, as a nation after nation has fallen to the Empire of Songs – and to the unending, magical music that binds its people together. Now, only two free tribes remain.

The Empire is not their only enemy. Monstrous, scaled predators lurk in rivers and streams, with deadly music of their own.

As battle looms, fighters on both sides must decide how far they will go for their beliefs and for the ones they love – a veteran gener ...more

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Jan 10, 2021 Dale Thompson rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

The Stone KnifeThe Stone Knife

Anna Stephens

My First review and first book of 2021, and what a book it was. Anna Stephens was an author I found with no prior knowledge, a rare look at paperbacks when Waterstones don’t have any new hardbacks and I was so impressed, the next two books were eagerly devoured and when I heard of Anna's new series this was an instant buy. I’m just sad it had to wait on the shelf so long before I could read it.

The Stone Knife, book one of The Songs of the Drowned, is The Stone KnifeThe Stone Knife

Anna Stephens

My First review and first book of 2021, and what a book it was. Anna Stephens was an author I found with no prior knowledge, a rare look at paperbacks when Waterstones don’t have any new hardbacks and I was so impressed, the next two books were eagerly devoured and when I heard of Anna's new series this was an instant buy. I’m just sad it had to wait on the shelf so long before I could read it.

The Stone Knife, book one of The Songs of the Drowned, is set in a new world inspired by Mayan/Aztec culture. The Story revolves around the Tokob and Yalotlan tribes who desperately cling to their very survival, fighting a war on two fronts. The first, the unstoppable Pechaqueh who march to the beat of their blessed song magic, who are bent on ruling the whole region of Ixachipan and bringing back their World Spirit to the land of the living. The second, terrifying monsters who dwell in any water source, using their deadly siren song to lure in anyone who steps to close so they can gorge on their flesh.
Anna uses seven characters to bring us this narrative, and this normally isn’t something I would enjoy. Being the simple man I am I personally prefer single character narratives, I get hooked into who I like and end up feeling animosity to the characters I don’t. However, Stephens does something I find exceedingly rare which is writing seven unique and incredible characters that I loved and didn’t want to be parted from. This was a real game changer for me because ending a chapter didn’t give me that feeling of sadness that I think most people can relate to, realising they must wait for their favourites chapter to come back around (Wheel of time is a perfect example of this for me, sadly). There also isn’t a clear main character in my opinion, which I think is a strange one, every person we read the perspective of feels important and necessary which is something I really enjoyed.

Xessa is the first character we meet (Kinda?), across her opening chapters she comes across as who we would guess as the heroine of our story, strong and unbreakable, fearless and fierce. This would make her share the same story arc as most fantasy novels, what Anna does instead however is makes this character human, very human. We get to see her flaws, her weaknesses and her fears and her fight through these emotions, and not in the same way we see the hero struggle in most books or films (Such as Superman’s constant struggle with just how strong and manly he is). Anna gave us a character we thought would be the hero and went “no” and instead we got someone just holding on like everyone else and the immersion this brings to the story is incredible. This is something that flowed over into every other character and something incredibly enjoyable. Plot protection is real, but in this book I was ready for any of these characters to die at a moments notice. If it isn’t clear, the reason I adored this book so much is down to Anna's amazing ability to write the people that bring us through this story. Not a single conversation in this book cold or robotic, the humanity and connection you felt to these characters was solidified with an almost perfect writing of emotions, touches between characters were something you could imagine seeing, were natural, not forced, and this is something I think the best authors can struggle with. This was also a massive bonus when we got to a sex scene that wasn’t cringey, overextended or unnecessary. It’s a real pleasure and I think a rarity to find a fantasy author who can write characters as relatable as Anna Stephens can.

Anna's character building was the star of this book for me, drawing me in a way that most books don’t manage, but nowhere else did I find anything lacking. We had a fleshed-out world that fell into place as the story was told, knowledge was given very naturally as it was needed, I didn’t have to go back and reread in case I had missed a key part of the story. It also kept a strong mystery to the book as we didn’t have any solid information to go off from the beginning, the song even towards the end of the book is an unknown, there’s extraordinarily little we know about the Drowned because the characters don’t have that knowledge, we find out with them and again that’s another detail that real immerses us in this story and world.

I like a book with a lot of action and if you’ve read the Godblind trilogy then you Anna delivers on this, combat was fluid, fast and natural, exciting to read about and had you tense when it happened. She also strongly came back with her lack of fear of the gore and gruesome, bringing that heavy grimdark feeling to the story as sometimes you want to read with your hands over your eyes just so you don’t see what’s happening. I read another review about how a reader felt nothing happened, about how they felt like there wasn’t a “oh shit” moment and if you can honestly tell me that’s true than I think we were reading different books. First books in trilogies are normally the slowest ones, we get the world building and the character introduction and then we will get some story points that drive on what will happen over the rest of the series. There’s a chapter halfway through the book that had me gripped in a way I cannot remember very often (When you get to it you will know what I mean) and after that Anna didn’t let go, the rest of the book was nonstop, our end set piece being incredibly tense and entertaining to read. I would also like to point out I’m normally real good at guessing what’s going to happen in a book, were the story will take us next, Anna threw me all over the place and I didn’t have a damn clue what was going to happen, every time I had a grip on the story it would be a “Nah mate, think again”.

This book did remind me quite heavily of Anna's previous Godblind trilogy. I mean that should be enough to sell it, who needs to write a review hey? We have a completely new setting but something that resembled the same story. Anna's previous story heavily relied on a lot of what we find in The Stone Knife, Religion and belief continue to be a massive factor in her story telling, but I really believe we see a massive growth in her writing and her talent shines through to new levels. If you loved Godblind you will love this too (I bet money on it).

So, to round out it, tl; dr – This is an excellent first book in Anna Stephens newest series, amazing characters, and a riveting world. I’m so so excited to see what happens in the next one, it will be at the top of my upcoming list so please let’s not wait too long.
Thanks for reading. ...more

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Jan 21, 2021 Phil rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Anna Stephens' first novel in the Songs of the Drowned is not short on action, bloodshed, romance, and mystery. While I am sure this has happened to me before, I cannot recall a book in which I felt totally disconnected and struggled to get through at the start like I did this book, but ultimately became rapt and completely wrapped up into the narrative as the story unfolds.

It took me a while to figure out why I did not enjoy this book through the first 100-150 pages. The best I can describe it Anna Stephens' first novel in the Songs of the Drowned is not short on action, bloodshed, romance, and mystery. While I am sure this has happened to me before, I cannot recall a book in which I felt totally disconnected and struggled to get through at the start like I did this book, but ultimately became rapt and completely wrapped up into the narrative as the story unfolds.

It took me a while to figure out why I did not enjoy this book through the first 100-150 pages. The best I can describe it is imagine starting to watch HBO's Game of Thrones on Season 3, episode 5 (or some other similar show in some other random midpoint). Much like GoT, this story started off with action and wasn't boring - unlike some fantasy novels that are a chore at the beginning, this one started off fast and continued it. But much like starting a series in the mid-point, I did not feel at all connected with the story or the characters. I felt like an outsider and like I was not welcome when I met these characters and learned about various terms and locations. To use the GoT example, I had no reason to feel anything for the Starks and to hate the Lannisters. I would have no idea what the Wall is or the people beyond it - or who the ruling line was with dragons or any odd other things that drew people into this story. To me, The Stone Knife started its narrative at a point in which the prose felt too familiar with everything - and when the reader was just learning about things. The characters were fungible and I did not have any lasting attachment or reason to feel any emotions when they were imperiled.

Of course, as I continued reading (I was close to putting this down to read something else) I really got into the story. I think this is the first novel that I've read that has a Latin America feel to it. In my mind, I was following a civilization like the Inca or Maya (the movie Apocalypto was what played in my head reading this) which was a nice change from the traditional medieval western Europe trope of many fantasy novels.

In some respects, this story probably contains some harsh historical accuracies - this story starts with the last two surviving tribes joining together to stand against an empire that has taken over the rest of the land. This empire worships as gods the "Drowned" - terrible human-like monsters who live in the freshwater sources and prey on humans. The Drowned can use their vocal chords to entrance its victims so that they willingly go to their deaths. The empire's leader similarly has control over the "Song" which is broadcast through the entire empire and its people become dependent on hearing and living with it.

The story contains several different narrative foci. We have several from one of the surviving tribe - a warrior, a shaman, and an Eja (special warriors trained to fight the Drowned) - and several from the empire - the leader of its military, a high politician and the Singer's (the leader of the empire) main advisor. We also have some other voices who I will not mention so as not to spoil things. It is a good mix to see perspectives from all sides. The people of the Empire truly believe that by conquering the rest of the land, they will instill peace - the Song is without question 'beautiful' and as it broadcasts peace and happiness the people echo it through their actions. The people of the Empire want to show all the glory of the song. Of course, on the other hand, people not in the empire have no desire to be enslaved and forced into a culture not their own, on a land not their own, worshiping gods not their own.

The plot narrative drives towards the inevitable battle between the surviving tribes and the empire - along with other important side quests embarked on by various characters. By the end, Stephens has wrapped up the first part of this series while leaving interesting topics open - and also answering at least one big mystery about the Singer and the line's "ascension".

Final Verdict: 4.3 out of 5

As indicated above, I really was not enjoying this book at the start. I have discounted it slightly in my final verdict because, I must admit, I had some uniquely personal issues going on during that time that could have affected my mindset and made any book I was reading difficult. That said, once I became familiar with the people and the terms, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It is always interesting to me in my mind when there are multiple dimensions to the 'villains'. Here, the Empire is considered, generally speaking, to be evil but once we get to know the characters we understand why they do what they do.

Ultimately, Stephens has a lot of potential in this series. I am slightly concerned about the direction of the series. I believe there are two more books planned. Based on where book one ends, I can see how book 2 and 3 could go and I do not think they would be as interesting as the first installment. Here's hoping that I am wrong, however. ...more

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Nov 23, 2020 Becky'sBookBlog rated it really liked it

I received a copy of this book for review from the publisher via Netgalley and can confirm all thoughts and opinions are my own.

I had little expectations going into this book. Having never read anything by Anna Stephens before I wasn’t prepared for the sheer brutality, the wonderfully diverse well built characters and a world that is almost written into being. I don’t think it will come across as too much of a surprise to say I loved it. Told from multiple perspectives both from The Tokob and Th I received a copy of this book for review from the publisher via Netgalley and can confirm all thoughts and opinions are my own.

I had little expectations going into this book. Having never read anything by Anna Stephens before I wasn’t prepared for the sheer brutality, the wonderfully diverse well built characters and a world that is almost written into being. I don’t think it will come across as too much of a surprise to say I loved it. Told from multiple perspectives both from The Tokob and The Empire of Songs, Stephen’s weaves together a plot so intricate you struggle to differentiate between friend and foe. She writes brilliant diverse & well fleshed out characters. There are ones you will love & ones you will love to hate but each perspective plays a vital part in the story, even if it isn’t obvious from the beginning:

Xessa is an eja, an elite band of Tokoban warriors whose job is is to deal with the drowned, Human like beings that live in the water and seduce people to their death through their song. Xessa’s deafness makes her uniquely suited to the task and along with her eja partner, Toxte and her loyal dog Ossa she spends her days ensuring water for the Sky City. She leads a relatively simple life surrounded by her loved ones, but would do anything to protect those she loves.

Lilla is a Fang, a leader of a Tokoban paw of warriors. His job as of late has been trawling the jungle looking for Yalotlan refugees and ending the lives of any rogue Empire warriors that venture too far. He longs for the war to be over so he can spend time with his husband and other loved ones. He is both brutal on the battlefield and caring at home, but he will need to rely on his brutality in the war to come.

Tayan, a Tokob Shamen and husband to Lilla. His job is to converse with the Gods and when they tell him to take a Peace Weaving company to The Empire of Songs he knows how vital a job it is. He is unprepared for the scheming of the Empire’s people, nor for how the Song will effect him. When he realises the Empire has no intention of Peace he races back to those he loves hoping he isn’t too late, only to find more unrest in Tokob itself, unrest that may be their undoing.

Enet, courtesan & High Octave to the Singer. She is a prime position to affect the Singers mood, thoughts and decisions. She is a schemer to the bone, using her influence to reduce her enemies in the council one by one, until one day she does something that she cannot take back, something that effects the song as well as the Singer, and something that has far reaching consequences.

Pilos, The High Eagle. He is the leader of the Singer’s warriors, and simply wants to see the Empire his Singers wishes come to fruition. He is more than aware of Enet’s scheming, and hopes that one day she digs herself too deep a hole to climb out of. He see’s those not under the Song as lesser, and uses all of his strength and persuasion to convince them to join.

Illandeh, a Yalotlan refugee in Tokob. Her’s is a perspective we don’t really hear from until around 40% of the way through but her actions lead to me shouting WTF loud enough for my sister to feel the need to come check on me.

The Singer, the ruler of the Empire of Song. It is his Song the people hear and feel. His Song that ensures all under the Song are complaint, his might that will bring all of Ixachipan together, ensuring peace across the continent. But when one day his Song changes, his needs become insatiable and his Song seeds unrest amongst those in the Empire.

Man this book is brutal! Stephens writing is incredibly descriptive… even in the parts you might not want it to be. Her depictions of fights, both on the battlefield and off were astounding and at some points a little creepy. It took me a while to get into the swing of the story. She writes some long chapters and the different tribes/magic etc took a little to get used to. But once I got to around 20% I was hooked. The world building is sublime & the magic system is so unique and brilliantly written.

The Stone Knife has it all, brilliantly developed and diverse characters, plot twists that will have you shouting out loud, romance, political intrigue and dogs! This months reading has been filled with Epic Fantasy and I am incredible eager to get my hands on the sequel. ...more

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Dec 30, 2020 The Chronicler rated it it was amazing

The Stone Knife was a compelling read in a richly imagined world with an eclectic cast of characters who, in the main, were multi-layered and very gripping. Anna Stephens introduces us to a world at war, a proud people fighting against a seemingly undefeatable invader. It is shocking and dramatic from minute one and the pace and horror of war never really lets up.

Of course we must talk about the Drowned - I don't think I've ever read such a brilliantly imagined monster race, or one so terrifying The Stone Knife was a compelling read in a richly imagined world with an eclectic cast of characters who, in the main, were multi-layered and very gripping. Anna Stephens introduces us to a world at war, a proud people fighting against a seemingly undefeatable invader. It is shocking and dramatic from minute one and the pace and horror of war never really lets up.

Of course we must talk about the Drowned - I don't think I've ever read such a brilliantly imagined monster race, or one so terrifying. And yet the different ways they are regarded - one side thinks their gods, the other thinks they're monsters - really hammers home the incredible worldbuilding of the story. I feel as if we barely scratch the surface of the world despite so much happening and so much being revealed. That's an incredible skill and I'm really struggling to think of recent books where the world is so well developed. Stephens creates a place that is undeniably fantasy and yet infuses it with so much humanity that you can't help but draw parallels to our world.

That really is emphasised by the cast of characters. One side are literal slave owners and yet most are undeniably human, rather than evil. The Empire is fuelled by religious belief and the idea that their way is best. They are invaders and the Tolkob are defenders, desperately trying to hold onto their lands. They are a noble people, one that I definitely found myself favouring over others. And yet, they themselves admit at the start of the book that they could have stopped the Empire sooner. And I found a few of their comments on refugees and those fleeing the Empire pretty distasteful. In the end, it comes down to a kind of nationalism, of trying to save and better your own people, Stephens really emphasises this well.

However, I have to say that characters like Xessa, Tayan, Lilla and Toxte really tugged on my heartstrings. Their relationships were so touching and watching their transformations was incredibly rewarding. Amidst the carnage of the rest of the book, it was those quiet moments that drew a smile from me. Of course the real star was Ossa. Dogs are the best and I think Stephens uses them better than anyone else. If we're not counting wolves from a certain assassin series...

With that out of the way, we have to examine the Empire. Such a destructive, self-righteous people whose devotion to their religion allows them to justify the massacre and enslavement of the rest of the continent. I could devote an essay to the Empire and so, for brevity, I will just say it exemplifies the worst of religion. Of faith. When you decide that your belief is superior and so must be forcibly pushed onto everyone else. Some of the Empire's characters are likeable or have redeeming qualities and yet they treat slaves as their right and their emphasis on blood and purity is gross.

I know nothing about Central American history and maybe there's a parallel but I definitely got Nazi Germany vibes from the Empire. The belief in the Singer as this messianic figure who can do no wrong. The 'kind' sacrificing of the weak and disabled and the belief in purity. They are a horrible people in truth and yet there is an honour amid the Melody, for example, that you cannot help but appreciate.

It's funny. When I started this review I intended it to be a short one with a few comments mostly praising the book. Because it really deserves it. It's probably my last book of the year and it's definitely the most immersive, otherworldly thing I've read this year. It's just so different. So fresh. Unique. And the story itself is multi-layered, winding and completely unpredictable.

Anna Stephens has created a world that will haunt you. That will leave you staring at the ceiling at 3am thinking about. The Stone Knife is dark, thrilling, even horrifying at times. And it is bloody brilliant.

Five stars. ...more

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