Release Date: 24/09/13
Publisher: Angry Robot
SYNOPSIS:
Altapasaeda, capital of the Castoval, is under siege by its own King - and Easie Damasco is trapped within the city's besieged walls. Only Mounteban has a solution to offer. Far to the north, rebels have set a bastard prince up as a figurehead. If our heroes could kidnap this warlord-in-the-making, he might be used as a bargaining chip to end the war on both fronts. Yet again, Damasco finds himself roped into a desperate scheme to preserve the Castoval, and events only grow more complicated as Damasco discovers that he and the disgruntled, rebellious teenage Prince have more in common than either of them would like to admit.
REVIEW:
I’m a huge fan of the antihero as you’re never sure which way things are going to go, after all, a man with no real scruples coupled with a lot of temptation really does have the world at his feet and more than likely gives the author a few nightmares as he fights against some of the plotlines.
Yet for all that, Easie is back here for his third outing and as such really does give me a story to get my teeth into. I love the humour, I love the twists that David brings and above all else I love the way that the protagonist interweaves his way through the problems to do his damnedest to fulfil his own requirements whilst staying alive. Its refreshing, it has a whole cartload of catastrophe and yet, it’s so much of a chaotic mishmash that you really can’t put the book down as you wait to see what happens next. It’s magical. Great stuff.
Release Date: 04/10/12
SYNOPSIS:
Meet Easie Damasco: Thief, swindler and lately, reluctant hero. But whatever good intentions Damasco may have are about to be tested to their limits, as the most valuable - and dangerous - object in the land comes within his light-fingered grasp. Add in some suicidally stubborn giants, an old enemy with dreams of empire and the deadliest killers in two kingdoms on his heels, and Damasco's chances of staying honest - or even just surviving - are getting slimmer by the hour.
REVIEW:
Easie Damasco returns with Saltlick and is in just as much trouble as he was in his last outing, Giant Thief. As with the original it’s definitely something a little quirky and the antihero protagonist is a pure joy to hang around as he seeks avenues to further not only his own goals but to save his own hide with any advantage he can get.
It’s a fun romp in a dark fantasy world and when you add to this great prose, top notch prose and combat to keep you glued, all in this is a great second book for the reader to enjoy. Finally add to the mix a deeper series overall arc playing out underneath the plot for this title and all in the reader is in for a treat. Great stuff.
Release Date: 02/02/12
SYNOPSIS:
Meet Easie Damasco, rogue, thieving swine and total charmer. Yet even the wicked can't rest when a vicious warlord and the force of enslaved giants he commands invade their homeland. Even then, Damasco might get away in one piece - if he'd only stop at stealing a giant and keep his hands off the warlord's treasure. Damasco's spent his whole life on the run, living by his wits. But can even he outwit an enemy who'll stop at absolutely nothing to regain the priceless artificact he's stolen from the warlord?
REVIEW:
To be honest I wasn’t sure what to expect from this title as when the lead character is the anti-protagonist, all bets are off as to what will unfurl and their reaction to them. That’s what makes this type of character so exciting for Fantasy Readers although to be honest the one thing that you have to watch is the sheer glut of them coming out of the woodwork in more recent times.
What David’s character of Easie does is grab you by the throat from the start and drags you along on his hair brained schemes as he seeks not only to outwit those in hot pursuit of him, but also old friends who are after the bounty. It’s clever, it has a wonderful sense of brain (Easie) and brawn (provided by Saltlick the Giant) as the whole tale wends its merry way through your brain.
It’s satisfying, it has some almost comical moments and when you add to the mix the authors no holds barred attitude, it’s a story that sets up for a series remarkably well. Great stuff.
