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The City of a Thousand Faces
by
A sweeping historical fantasy saga based on the hit podcast Tumanbay
Tumanbay: the most magnificent city on earth. The beating heart of a vast empire. A city of dreams - where those who arrived as slaves now reside in the seat of power.
But the wheel of fate is never still: from the gilded rooftops to the dark catacombs, there are secrets waiting to be uncovered.
For Gregor, ...more
Tumanbay: the most magnificent city on earth. The beating heart of a vast empire. A city of dreams - where those who arrived as slaves now reside in the seat of power.
But the wheel of fate is never still: from the gilded rooftops to the dark catacombs, there are secrets waiting to be uncovered.
For Gregor, ...more
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If I said to you the words ‘Arabian Nights’ what images does that conjure up to you? If, like me, you are thinking desert sands, minarets, casbahs, sultans, Sinbad, or even Aladdin, then this may be one for you.
The background to this story is a little complicated. Walker Dryden is actually the pseudonym of two writers, John Scott Dryden and Mike Walker. They are both award winning writers and have written plays for radio and audio in the past. The City of A Thousand Faces was written originally ...more
The background to this story is a little complicated. Walker Dryden is actually the pseudonym of two writers, John Scott Dryden and Mike Walker. They are both award winning writers and have written plays for radio and audio in the past. The City of A Thousand Faces was written originally ...more
An Arabian themed historical fantasy. Multiple POVs with very short chapters. The highlight was the world. It's rare to see this style of world. I loved the intricate details when exploring the city. Otherwise none of the characters were that engaging. The plot was fun with a bit of adventure however I feel like many have created stories very similar. It was heavier on the political side of things than the action. Think game of thrones but just a simpler style. I love fantasy but this sort of ve
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Its interesting but Tumanbay the podcast is better. I enjoyed listening to it more than reading the same plot.
Thank you to Will and Gollancz for sending me an ARC of this amazing gem. All thoughts are my opinion.
This is WHAT I WANT TO SEE MORE OF IN FANTASY. Being really honest, this was a book that is so easy to read I was engrossed in this. Amazing writing. Amazing dialogue. Amazing description. Amazing. Amazing. Amazing. Amazing. That’s all I can say. It’s an historical fantasy podcast that in my opinion has elements of alternate history. All I can think is…where can I find more historical fantasy no ...more
This is WHAT I WANT TO SEE MORE OF IN FANTASY. Being really honest, this was a book that is so easy to read I was engrossed in this. Amazing writing. Amazing dialogue. Amazing description. Amazing. Amazing. Amazing. Amazing. That’s all I can say. It’s an historical fantasy podcast that in my opinion has elements of alternate history. All I can think is…where can I find more historical fantasy no ...more
I don’t know where to start with what I love about this book because it’s so rich and engaging in every aspect. It’s a fabulously engrossing story set against the lavish and fascinating backdrop of the opulent city above juxtaposed against a dead city below.
But, for me, the best part is its nuanced characters, who mirror the darkness and light of the setting. They’re far from perfect and yet somehow still loveable (like Gregor, the vicious palace guard who’s constantly managing his own insecuri ...more
But, for me, the best part is its nuanced characters, who mirror the darkness and light of the setting. They’re far from perfect and yet somehow still loveable (like Gregor, the vicious palace guard who’s constantly managing his own insecuri ...more
"A sweeping historical fantasy saga based on the hit podcast Tumanbay"... I'd never heard of it until I saw this book listed on NetGalley, but I knew it was a book I didn't want to miss. I was right to want to read it so badly - I loved it! The writing and imagery are flawless, taking you right into the heart of the story and characters. While I was reading, this was MY world, and you can't ask for more than that from a fantasy novel. The plot is superb, keeping you guessing all the time with lo
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This is better than the podcast!!
I love Tumanbay!! When I found out this book existed I bought it straightaway. It took me awhile to finish it, but not because it's boring... Life and all that. Anyway, if you like the podcast, you'll appreciate this book! It really fleshed out the world and characters in a way that the audio version could not. It filled in some gaps and helped explained some things I didn't understand from Series 1. Endnotes if you haven't listened to the podcast, the book is v ...more
I love Tumanbay!! When I found out this book existed I bought it straightaway. It took me awhile to finish it, but not because it's boring... Life and all that. Anyway, if you like the podcast, you'll appreciate this book! It really fleshed out the world and characters in a way that the audio version could not. It filled in some gaps and helped explained some things I didn't understand from Series 1. Endnotes if you haven't listened to the podcast, the book is v ...more
This is a very well crafted book. I am a critical reader who dislikes usual stereotypes portrayed in historical fiction but this author gives his female characters power and intelligence. The plot keeps you turning page after page. The text takes the reader into another world of color and belief and thankfully there are no detailed scenes of horror.
The book is composed of sections describing the thought and life of different characters .
Easy to read and hard to put down
The book is composed of sections describing the thought and life of different characters .
Easy to read and hard to put down
Cant speak for myself just yet, but I got this for my dad for a fathers day gift and he's not a big reader, but he polished this thing off in a couple of weeks. Absolutely loved it! Game of Thrones esque said in the arabian/egyptian world he said, super keen for a sequel if they write one, ends on a cliffhanger. He said the ending left him surprised but a little anti climactic.
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As a huge fan of the original podcast, this is tbe first novel adaptation (which ostensibly covers the entire first season of the radio series) in a thrilling epic of an ancient, corrupt empire and its ensemble of characters who are all fighting to survive. Cannot recommend these enough and cannot wait for the next installment of the books.
This is an intriguing read and follows the dramatized podcast exactly.
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