Status
Available
Call number
Series
Genres
Collection
Publication
Tor (2011), Paperback, 384 pages
Description
"Ildrecca is a dangerous city if you don't know what you're doing. It takes a canny hand and a wary eye to run these streets and survive. Fortunately, Drothe has both. He has been a member of the Kin for years, rubbing elbows with thieves and murderers from the dirtiest of alleys to the finest of neighborhoods. Working for a crime lord, he finds and takes care of trouble inside his boss's organization--while smuggling relics on the side. But when Drothe's boss orders him to track down whoever is leaning on his organization's people, he stumbles upon a much bigger mystery. There's a book, a relic any number of deadly people seem to be looking for--a book the just might bring down emperors and shatter the criminal underworld. A book now inconveniently in Drothe's hands..."--P. [4] of cover.… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member fyrefly98
Summary: Drothe is a lifelong member of the Kin, as the criminal underworld of the city of Ildrecca like to call themselves. Specifically, he's a Nose: his job is to listen to the streets, synthesize rumors, and find out what's really going on in all the spheres of Kin activity. He also has an
Review: Among Thieves was one of those books that has all the right elements, with no obvious reason I why wouldn't enjoy it, and yet it just never quite clicked for me. I don't have a particular affinity for criminal-underworld fantasy novels, but I've got nothing against them, either, and Scott Lynch's novels are some of the best books I've read in recent years. Unfortunately, Among Thieves, while similar to Lynch's novels in the broad strokes of setting and plot, was missing some of the wit and charm and spark that make the Gentleman Bastard books so good. I also noticed that Hulick tended to do his world building piecemeal, scattering mini info-dump lectures on the history of the empire and its religion throughout the action, rather than allowing the details of his world to be incorporated gradually.
This book was a slow start for me, taking me four days to clear the first hundred pages. Things picked up after that, though, and I did eventually wind up liking the story. Hulick's good at writing the scheming and plotting and double-crossing necessary in a novel with a criminal narrator. It's a clever plot, with enough twists and turns and surprises to hold my interest once it was captured. Hulick's also good at writing action scenes, and this book's got plenty of sword fights, street brawls, and assassination attempts to keep things moving along.
So, overall, this book had a lot of good elements, and no glaring flaws that I can point to. But something about it just didn't work for me; it didn't reach out and grab my imagination the way I want my fantasy novels to do. I'm not sorry I read it, but it's also not destined to become a favorite. 3.5 out of 5 stars.
Recommendation: I didn't love it, but just because it didn't click for me doesn't mean it won't for you. If the idea of non-standard quest fantasy or the honor-among-thieves story appeals to you, then Among Thieves is well worth a try. (As is The Lies of Locke Lamora. Just sayin'.)
Show More
active sideline in smuggling imperial relics, which typically turns a tidy profit without interfering with his other work. But suddenly his boss is on his case to investigate growing tensions in the slums of the Ten Ways, assassins armed with potent magic seem to be coming out of the woodwork, and all of the whispers start to be about a book that's more than any ordinary relic, a book that's intensely powerful and immensely dangerous... a book that Drothe just might have in his possession.Review: Among Thieves was one of those books that has all the right elements, with no obvious reason I why wouldn't enjoy it, and yet it just never quite clicked for me. I don't have a particular affinity for criminal-underworld fantasy novels, but I've got nothing against them, either, and Scott Lynch's novels are some of the best books I've read in recent years. Unfortunately, Among Thieves, while similar to Lynch's novels in the broad strokes of setting and plot, was missing some of the wit and charm and spark that make the Gentleman Bastard books so good. I also noticed that Hulick tended to do his world building piecemeal, scattering mini info-dump lectures on the history of the empire and its religion throughout the action, rather than allowing the details of his world to be incorporated gradually.
This book was a slow start for me, taking me four days to clear the first hundred pages. Things picked up after that, though, and I did eventually wind up liking the story. Hulick's good at writing the scheming and plotting and double-crossing necessary in a novel with a criminal narrator. It's a clever plot, with enough twists and turns and surprises to hold my interest once it was captured. Hulick's also good at writing action scenes, and this book's got plenty of sword fights, street brawls, and assassination attempts to keep things moving along.
So, overall, this book had a lot of good elements, and no glaring flaws that I can point to. But something about it just didn't work for me; it didn't reach out and grab my imagination the way I want my fantasy novels to do. I'm not sorry I read it, but it's also not destined to become a favorite. 3.5 out of 5 stars.
Recommendation: I didn't love it, but just because it didn't click for me doesn't mean it won't for you. If the idea of non-standard quest fantasy or the honor-among-thieves story appeals to you, then Among Thieves is well worth a try. (As is The Lies of Locke Lamora. Just sayin'.)
Show Less
LibraryThing member corglacier7
I was happy to receive this book through ER because of the endorsement from Brent Weeks, who's been one of my favorite recent finds. Hulick's writing reminds me a lot of Weeks: the shades of grey on the moral spectrum, the less-than-shining heroes, the sly humor and occasional earthiness of the
I'm already looking forward to the next book in the series, if one happens.
Show More
characters. Overall it paints a pretty fascinating world with realistic characters. If you like the "swords-and-sorcery" type feel of traditional fantasy but with an edge, this might be a book for you.I'm already looking forward to the next book in the series, if one happens.
Show Less
LibraryThing member MorHavok
As a person who has read more than my fair share of speculative literature I have been an increasingly demanding reviewer. At a younger age I would have enjoyed this book much more than I did now. The story was interesting enough, with decent character and world building, but was lacking in some
Show More
regards. The ending felt very contrived and forced to me. The final showdown by the protagonist was definitely not in character for him. The twist and turns of the storyline also seemed somewhat bland, although somewhat entertaining. There are a lot of books I would recommend before this one, which isn't meant to be a knock on this book, but more the general difficulty with reviewing books in this genre now. There are just so many books, and it takes a truly exceptional piece that really stand out against the crowd. Among Thieves is serviceable, but does not stand out. Show Less
LibraryThing member ow1goddess
This is the first ER book I've received that I can honestly say I enjoyed, and finished voluntarily.
If you think you might like this book because it seems similar to other books you've liked, you are probably right. Drothe is a smart-assed, gray-hat-wearing first-person protagonist who gets in over
The downsides, i.e. why it didn't get five stars from me: First of all, there isn't much that's new here, and the world doesn't really come alive for me. The eternally reincarnating emperor is a cool idea, and I loved the crazy cypher, but it was odd that almost every detail he mentions about Ildrecca and the world around it has some direct involvement in the plot. It kind of makes it seem like the world doesn't really extend much beyond Drothe and the people he interacts with. I also felt that a lot of the establishing information is awkwardly presented at the beginning of the book, as Drothe will pause in the middle of something to ponder a few hundred years of history, but thankfully this soon stops as the action heats up and it isn't that bad. It's also frustrating that a few secondary characters just vanish right before the climax and are not wrapped up at all at the end, with the reader left not knowing if one in particular even lived. Some background is also missing that the reader might like to have, like how he met Degan, what happened to his brother-in-law, why his stepfather had the weird magical darkvision in the first place, or even why Drothe is a history buff. I think this might be a projected series, so maybe some of this (in particular the death of the brother-in-law) will be in future installments, but the unresolved subplots felt a bit sloppy rather than intentional, not like "tune in next time to find out whether that guy survived" but more"oh crap I forgot you might care about that guy".
My biggest problem, though I didn't deduct any stars because it's my personal preference, was I didn't like how it ended. Perhaps, if there are future books, they will be from Degan's or Christiana's point of view, which would be interesting, but the way things ended up makes me less likely to check in on Drothe, since a crucial part of why I found his story engaging will either not be there or will be so far altered that it won't be nearly as fun. Overall, though, I would still recommend this to anyone who likes fantasy adventure and good guys who aren't necessarily good.
If you think you might like this book because it seems similar to other books you've liked, you are probably right. Drothe is a smart-assed, gray-hat-wearing first-person protagonist who gets in over
Show More
his head but pulls through, partially through his own skill but largely because his friends help him out; in many ways, he reminds me of Harry Dresden, Vlad Taltos, or Cal Leandros (mostly Vlad, though he isn't quite as funny). Among Thieves feels comfortably familiar without being derivative, and Hulick does a nice job of keeping the action moving. The mystery is also well done- the clues were well spaced and it was nice to have the main character mostly figure it out on his own without someone breaking it down for him. I loved the character of Degan as well and liked the way the author both established their relationship and then added complications to it. I was profoundly grateful that there are several females in the supporting cast, and not one of them wants to sleep with Drothe. I really did enjoy reading this. It was a fun, caper-type novel, with lots of swordplay, loyalty and betrayal, and an engaging puzzle to figure out along with the narrator, so I would recommend it to anyone who likes this sort of thing; it was definitely a good match for me.The downsides, i.e. why it didn't get five stars from me: First of all, there isn't much that's new here, and the world doesn't really come alive for me. The eternally reincarnating emperor is a cool idea, and I loved the crazy cypher, but it was odd that almost every detail he mentions about Ildrecca and the world around it has some direct involvement in the plot. It kind of makes it seem like the world doesn't really extend much beyond Drothe and the people he interacts with. I also felt that a lot of the establishing information is awkwardly presented at the beginning of the book, as Drothe will pause in the middle of something to ponder a few hundred years of history, but thankfully this soon stops as the action heats up and it isn't that bad. It's also frustrating that a few secondary characters just vanish right before the climax and are not wrapped up at all at the end, with the reader left not knowing if one in particular even lived. Some background is also missing that the reader might like to have, like how he met Degan, what happened to his brother-in-law, why his stepfather had the weird magical darkvision in the first place, or even why Drothe is a history buff. I think this might be a projected series, so maybe some of this (in particular the death of the brother-in-law) will be in future installments, but the unresolved subplots felt a bit sloppy rather than intentional, not like "tune in next time to find out whether that guy survived" but more"oh crap I forgot you might care about that guy".
My biggest problem, though I didn't deduct any stars because it's my personal preference, was I didn't like how it ended. Perhaps, if there are future books, they will be from Degan's or Christiana's point of view, which would be interesting, but the way things ended up makes me less likely to check in on Drothe, since a crucial part of why I found his story engaging will either not be there or will be so far altered that it won't be nearly as fun. Overall, though, I would still recommend this to anyone who likes fantasy adventure and good guys who aren't necessarily good.
Show Less
LibraryThing member Tiberiusbox
Among Thieves will always have the distinction of being the first book I read after finishing up Steven Erikson's Malazan series. Being my favorite fantasy series, and really enjoying the way The Crippled God was written, I was afraid that whatever I read after that would be something I did not
Among Thieves follows a straightforward enough formula when it comes to the genre. You have your relatable anti-hero, Drothe, who meets a varied cast of characters, most of which do not display the overplayed good/evil dynamic. There are multiple shades of grey displayed over the course of the story. There is sword (and rapier) play, and it is here you can see the research and practice done to properly describe these battles. You almost feel as if you're there, holding the weapon yourself.
I enjoyed the overall story arc, generally enjoyed the pacing of the book, and really found myself growing attached to the main characters as the story progressed. If there is anything I could really complain about, it would be how the story ends. Not so much the content, but how quickly everything is wrapped up. Maybe I'm just used to these longer books where arcs are carried out and slowly brought to a conclusion, but it seemed here that you had a number of things going on, and ti was all finished in a couple dozen pages.
Overall I enjoyed the book. It was set up well for a few more books in the series, and it is certainly a story that I would like to see expanded on and continued. Were I to read this book sometime in the future, I do not know if it would get 4.5 stars, but as I said earlier I was not expecting to enjoy any book that I was going to read now. So being pleasantly surprised results in a higher score. If you enjoy a fun page turner, Among Thieves is a good one to pick up.
Show More
enjoy. Nevertheless, having received this book through the LT Early Reviewer program, I dove in with as much of an open mind I could manage. The bottom line is that I am glad I did.Among Thieves follows a straightforward enough formula when it comes to the genre. You have your relatable anti-hero, Drothe, who meets a varied cast of characters, most of which do not display the overplayed good/evil dynamic. There are multiple shades of grey displayed over the course of the story. There is sword (and rapier) play, and it is here you can see the research and practice done to properly describe these battles. You almost feel as if you're there, holding the weapon yourself.
I enjoyed the overall story arc, generally enjoyed the pacing of the book, and really found myself growing attached to the main characters as the story progressed. If there is anything I could really complain about, it would be how the story ends. Not so much the content, but how quickly everything is wrapped up. Maybe I'm just used to these longer books where arcs are carried out and slowly brought to a conclusion, but it seemed here that you had a number of things going on, and ti was all finished in a couple dozen pages.
Overall I enjoyed the book. It was set up well for a few more books in the series, and it is certainly a story that I would like to see expanded on and continued. Were I to read this book sometime in the future, I do not know if it would get 4.5 stars, but as I said earlier I was not expecting to enjoy any book that I was going to read now. So being pleasantly surprised results in a higher score. If you enjoy a fun page turner, Among Thieves is a good one to pick up.
Show Less
LibraryThing member ljbryant
I loved, loved, loved this book. The story was fast-paced, the anti-hero was actually likable, the settings were well-drawn and quite real, and, as others have said, the fight scenes were very well done. While the majority of the bad guys (pretty much everyone in the book) were definitely not very
The only negative I have for this book is that there aren't already more in what I hope is going to be a series.
Show More
nice, this story is full of shades of grey. No one seems to have truly good or evil motives. This adds an overall depth to the story that I quite enjoyed.The only negative I have for this book is that there aren't already more in what I hope is going to be a series.
Show Less
LibraryThing member saltypepper
I got this through the early reviewer program. I was excited because it sounded like something I'd like. Criminal underworld, intrigue, thrills, heists, double crosses, it should have been right up my alley, but after about 120 pages I put it down.
I don't know if it was a case of reading it at the
I will probably give it another try in a few months, but somehow the very interesting parts never quite came together into a satisfying whole for me.
I don't know if it was a case of reading it at the
Show More
wrong time or what, but I couldn't finish it. It reminded me very much of Steven Brust's Vlad Taltos series with a bit of Scott Lynch's Locke Lamora books and Brent Weeks' Night Angel books sprinkled in for good measure. I will probably give it another try in a few months, but somehow the very interesting parts never quite came together into a satisfying whole for me.
Show Less
LibraryThing member CharlieCascino
I have to begin by saying that I liked this book.
I didn't love it and I didn't hate it.
It is full of things I love in a fantasy novel: intrigue, a mystery to solve, questions to answer, a world both unique in its imagination, yet accessible to the reader, a few interesting characters, a fast
There isn't really anything in it that I can put my finger on and say "I didn't like that.", because what was there was good, just not as good as it could have been. Or, rather, not as good as I wanted it to be.
I wanted to know more about the history of the city, the relationships between the noble classes, the role of the emperor, education (or lack thereof). I wanted to know more about Drothe and his personal history, more of his relationship with his sister, instead of "she's tried to kill me."
There are bits and pieces of all these things mentioned in the novel, but just not enough to give a really clear picture of where the characters are in relationship to eachother and in their relationships with the rest of this world. For me, its those little details that turn a good novel into a truely wonderful novel, and its those things that are lacking in this one.
I enjoyed the fast pace of the novel, but I think that in the race to get to the end, those details were lost by the wayside.
I know that this is Douglas Hulick's debut, and I am very curious to see if, when he writes the sequel, he will color his world with these little details. He has the potential, and I really hope he realizes it.
I didn't love it and I didn't hate it.
It is full of things I love in a fantasy novel: intrigue, a mystery to solve, questions to answer, a world both unique in its imagination, yet accessible to the reader, a few interesting characters, a fast
Show More
pace.There isn't really anything in it that I can put my finger on and say "I didn't like that.", because what was there was good, just not as good as it could have been. Or, rather, not as good as I wanted it to be.
I wanted to know more about the history of the city, the relationships between the noble classes, the role of the emperor, education (or lack thereof). I wanted to know more about Drothe and his personal history, more of his relationship with his sister, instead of "she's tried to kill me."
There are bits and pieces of all these things mentioned in the novel, but just not enough to give a really clear picture of where the characters are in relationship to eachother and in their relationships with the rest of this world. For me, its those little details that turn a good novel into a truely wonderful novel, and its those things that are lacking in this one.
I enjoyed the fast pace of the novel, but I think that in the race to get to the end, those details were lost by the wayside.
I know that this is Douglas Hulick's debut, and I am very curious to see if, when he writes the sequel, he will color his world with these little details. He has the potential, and I really hope he realizes it.
Show Less
LibraryThing member majkia
I received this as an ER book. Among Thieves was an engrossing and fun read.
Hulick creates a complex and well-formed world and then concentrates on the affairs of the Kin, a guild of thieves. Drothe is a 'nose' someone who collects information and passes that information on to the various gang
There's mystery and mayhem, and twists and turns galore, as Drothe tries to figure out why suddenly there seems to be a target painted on his back. Just what particular bit of intel is it that is so dangerous he has Dark Princes, Upright Men and, apparently, the Emperor's enforcers on his tail?
Well written, well paced and recommended!
Hulick creates a complex and well-formed world and then concentrates on the affairs of the Kin, a guild of thieves. Drothe is a 'nose' someone who collects information and passes that information on to the various gang
Show More
bosses. It's a dangerous profession, especially when you stick that nose into something you don't understand.There's mystery and mayhem, and twists and turns galore, as Drothe tries to figure out why suddenly there seems to be a target painted on his back. Just what particular bit of intel is it that is so dangerous he has Dark Princes, Upright Men and, apparently, the Emperor's enforcers on his tail?
Well written, well paced and recommended!
Show Less
LibraryThing member Wickedmick
Good book. Great first novel and hopefully there are more books coming with the same characters. The book grabs your attention from the very beginning with great dialoge and content. The characters are well written with many twists. The history of the world/town is lacking but can be pieced
Show More
together hroughout the book. Show Less
LibraryThing member etoiline
Some authors have trouble writing anti-heros, but Douglas Hulick does a very good job with Drothe (although did anyone else have the Kvothe/Drothe confusion? I read WISE MAN'S FEAR just before AMONG THIEVES). I'd heard a little about this book from reading the Wyrdsmith's blog (of which the author
My only big gripe is the ending--it ties together a little too neatly, and even though the MC is surprised, I wasn't. It's a nice ending, and sets up the next book in the series well. I guess I'm just used to several big-name fat fantasies that either end in a cliffhanger or leave quite a few things hanging, so maybe it's just that this book's ending breaks a trend. Regardless, I'll be looking forward to another tale of the Kin.
Show More
is a part) and I was intrigued, and then I read a few good reviews, so I was chuffed to receive an ARC from LibraryThing. The pacing is spot-on here, with hardly a wasted action. I tore through the book in two days, so obviously I enjoyed the plot. Little details make the world plausible, and the characters are realistically flawed. Among dark fantasy like this, it's interesting to see how far the author will go with gore, torture, etc--some of them don't get it, but Hulick does. I very much hope he simply did his research and didn't have experience to back up his words, but some of the violence will turn people off. There were some times when I wondered if someone could truly pull off feats like those in the book while being so injured, but the writing made it believable.My only big gripe is the ending--it ties together a little too neatly, and even though the MC is surprised, I wasn't. It's a nice ending, and sets up the next book in the series well. I guess I'm just used to several big-name fat fantasies that either end in a cliffhanger or leave quite a few things hanging, so maybe it's just that this book's ending breaks a trend. Regardless, I'll be looking forward to another tale of the Kin.
Show Less
LibraryThing member spotzzzgirl
I very much enjoyed this book, and am definitely looking forward to Drothe's continuing adventures in the sequel(s). Drothe is a convincing anti-hero, a member of the criminal underworld with enough honor and loyalty to keep him sympathetic to readers, and the multiple layers of oaths, double- and
There's definitely plenty of ground to cover in the sequels, as the world building and tidbits about the Empire, religion, other nations, and even Ildrecca itself only gave away little dribs and drabs in the novel, so there is definitely a ton more that Douglas Hulick can share with readers before exhausting the storytelling potential of the world and character.
I'd think anyone who enjoys Steven Brust's Vlad Taltos series would enjoy Douglas Hulick's Kin novels.
Show More
triple- crosses keep you guessing about the possible outcomes, and therefore don't lend to too much predictability.There's definitely plenty of ground to cover in the sequels, as the world building and tidbits about the Empire, religion, other nations, and even Ildrecca itself only gave away little dribs and drabs in the novel, so there is definitely a ton more that Douglas Hulick can share with readers before exhausting the storytelling potential of the world and character.
I'd think anyone who enjoys Steven Brust's Vlad Taltos series would enjoy Douglas Hulick's Kin novels.
Show Less
LibraryThing member SockMonkeyGirl
I liked this book, but I didn't love it. Drothe is a well-written anti-hero. The plot was intricate and well thought out. The world was original and nicely presented. There was nothing wrong with the book; it just didn't grab me. I found the beginning a bit slow after the initial shock scene. It
Show More
picked up towards end, but never really hooked me. I think Among Thieves stands up well in the recent spate of works like Rachel Aarons, Scott Lynch and others, but it wasn't a stand out for me. Show Less
LibraryThing member bgknighton
An ER book: I truly enjoyed this book and am looking forward to the next one! Drothe is a conflicted hero - not quite an antihero - who remains true to his own ethics and morals. I am not sure I would want to be close to him, since so many interesting things happen around him.... It does bog down a
Show More
little about the 3/4's mark but otherwise moves along at a smart pace. The world of Ildrecca needs some fleshing out, but there is only so much you can do in a first book. I hope that Hulick intends to do that, fill in the background on some of the more interesting side characters, and develop the culture more, I am looking forward to reading more on this world. Show Less
LibraryThing member lalawe
A fun entry in the subgenre of "fantasy starring thieves".
I found the beginning slow and nearly put it down - starting out with the protagonist torturing and then killing someone didn't exactly make it easy to sympathize with Drothe - but I'm glad I kept reading. The pacing evened out after the
The world building was interesting, and I liked how little tidbits dropped earlier in the story turned out to be important later in the story. After the initial few chapters, I began to understand Drothe and maybe even like him. I definitely liked some of the supporting characters - Degan and Kells - though some of the lesser ones were pretty cardboard-y.
The end of the book definitely sets the stage for more books in the future - I'll definitely be picking up the next book of Drothe's adventures.
I found the beginning slow and nearly put it down - starting out with the protagonist torturing and then killing someone didn't exactly make it easy to sympathize with Drothe - but I'm glad I kept reading. The pacing evened out after the
Show More
first few chapters, and I actually made myself late to work this morning because I *had* to finish the last two chapters. The plot, overall, was good, and it was interesting trying to think of how Drothe would get himself out of whatever situation he'd gotten himself into.The world building was interesting, and I liked how little tidbits dropped earlier in the story turned out to be important later in the story. After the initial few chapters, I began to understand Drothe and maybe even like him. I definitely liked some of the supporting characters - Degan and Kells - though some of the lesser ones were pretty cardboard-y.
The end of the book definitely sets the stage for more books in the future - I'll definitely be picking up the next book of Drothe's adventures.
Show Less
LibraryThing member thewalkinggirl
I have to admit, I almost didn't make it past the torture scene on the first few pages -- I was afraid that this book would be like those torture-porn novels that drove me away from the fantasy genre for a little over a decade. Fortunately, while there are plenty of street fight scenes and
Drothe, as is established when he participates in the above-mentioned torture scene, is not a hero full of sweetness and light. He's actually more of an anti-hero, not quite to the degree of Moorcock's Elric, but I could see him going there. Despite this, he has a lot of charisma and is more sympathetic as the story goes on than I had expected.
I enjoyed the characters: no one is completely good, but neither are they completely evil. I also appreciated that Drothe (so far) has not followed the fantasy clichés of: being the hidden orphaned child of a king, possessing secret super-magical skills, or having a prophecy based on some coming ascension to power. He also usually does not fall into the annoying trope of having impulse control problems that his special powers protect him from the consequences of. (Although the pattern of not sleeping for 36-72 hours would explain why he's not as quick on the uptake as one would expect for a spy of his caliber -- and I'll be highly disappointed if this characteristic is present in the next book; it got annoying fast.)
The writing is very skilled. While the story is a bit darker than I normally read, the author's control of language and skill in interweaving action scenes with expositionary world-building made this a very engaging read.
Depending on how the next book in the series goes, I could see Hulick becoming a big name in the genre.
This review is based on an ARC received via LibraryThing's Early Reviewers program.
Show More
occasional other violence, the sadism is pretty much limited to the first chapter.Drothe, as is established when he participates in the above-mentioned torture scene, is not a hero full of sweetness and light. He's actually more of an anti-hero, not quite to the degree of Moorcock's Elric, but I could see him going there. Despite this, he has a lot of charisma and is more sympathetic as the story goes on than I had expected.
I enjoyed the characters: no one is completely good, but neither are they completely evil. I also appreciated that Drothe (so far) has not followed the fantasy clichés of: being the hidden orphaned child of a king, possessing secret super-magical skills, or having a prophecy based on some coming ascension to power. He also usually does not fall into the annoying trope of having impulse control problems that his special powers protect him from the consequences of. (Although the pattern of not sleeping for 36-72 hours would explain why he's not as quick on the uptake as one would expect for a spy of his caliber -- and I'll be highly disappointed if this characteristic is present in the next book; it got annoying fast.)
The writing is very skilled. While the story is a bit darker than I normally read, the author's control of language and skill in interweaving action scenes with expositionary world-building made this a very engaging read.
Depending on how the next book in the series goes, I could see Hulick becoming a big name in the genre.
This review is based on an ARC received via LibraryThing's Early Reviewers program.
Show Less
LibraryThing member mattdocmartin
Finally!!!! I have been a part of the Early Reviewers program for a while, and have felt bad for the poor reviews most books I received have gotten. This, however, was a delight to read and made it all worthwhile. Drothe (your "hero") is very human, mostly ordinary, and becomes easy to like after a
The cover states "fans of Rothfuss and Weeks will enjoy", which I found to be a bold claim. While it is not quite as good as "The Name of the Wind", it is a VERY solid and enjoyable read and I recommend it fully.
Show More
bit of a grim start. He falls into situations and realizes he is in way over his head, but uses his connections to assist and try to keep ahead of the bad(der) guys after him. The cover states "fans of Rothfuss and Weeks will enjoy", which I found to be a bold claim. While it is not quite as good as "The Name of the Wind", it is a VERY solid and enjoyable read and I recommend it fully.
Show Less
LibraryThing member cammykitty
Rich, dark world with well drawn characters that are always at cross purposes, but tied together somehow. I can't wait for the next book.
LibraryThing member stefferoo
Not bad for a debut fantasy novel! All in all, I was glad I picked this up at a time I was looking for a new author to read and was particularly interested in delving more into the "thieves" fantasy sub-category. However, I choose to give this book 3.5 stars, namely because of several factors:
1.
2. Convoluted storyline. Too many things going on at once and too many characters to keep track of made this book very difficult to follow, especially in the beginning when catching and keeping your reader's attention is so crucial. Granted, all the numerous plot lines fall into place towards the end, but that still seems like a lot to ask of your readers, in my opinion.
3. Just a few other little minor observations I made while reading, such as awkward dialogue moments or writing techniques that leaped out of the page at me and reminded me that I was reading a book by a new author.
However, even without its polish, Among Thieves delivered a great story that was full of action and interesting twists and turns. At times, I even found myself wishing the book would slow down a little -- Douglas Hulick takes the idea of "something interesting must happen in every chapter" to the max.
If you asked me whether or not I will ever read something else in the future by this author, I would say most likely yes. As a fantasy author, I think Mr. Hulick has great potential. He has already shown that he can spin a good yarn; with more time and experience, I think he can deliver some amazing stories.
1.
Show More
Narration in the first person perspective. Sometimes this works great; sometimes it doesn't. In the case of Among Thieves, I think the decision to use it was perhaps a tad ambitious. We as the readers only see what Drothe sees, know what Drothe knows. Normally, I'd enjoy this; when I'm relying solely on a protagonist to give me the play-by-play, it also starts to make me feel like I'm living out his adventures with him. But it can also prove extremely awkward when it comes to the revealing of plot twists by the character.2. Convoluted storyline. Too many things going on at once and too many characters to keep track of made this book very difficult to follow, especially in the beginning when catching and keeping your reader's attention is so crucial. Granted, all the numerous plot lines fall into place towards the end, but that still seems like a lot to ask of your readers, in my opinion.
3. Just a few other little minor observations I made while reading, such as awkward dialogue moments or writing techniques that leaped out of the page at me and reminded me that I was reading a book by a new author.
However, even without its polish, Among Thieves delivered a great story that was full of action and interesting twists and turns. At times, I even found myself wishing the book would slow down a little -- Douglas Hulick takes the idea of "something interesting must happen in every chapter" to the max.
If you asked me whether or not I will ever read something else in the future by this author, I would say most likely yes. As a fantasy author, I think Mr. Hulick has great potential. He has already shown that he can spin a good yarn; with more time and experience, I think he can deliver some amazing stories.
Show Less
LibraryThing member JR.Raluces
Another debut novel, and another interesting & entertaining book that will leave you salivating to read the sequel (once it comes out!).
Dougles Hulick delivers a sharp, witty, fast paced fantasy novel based upon the criminal fraternity of a city, the dark underbelly of society.
The main character
There is a shadowy war being fought out, that Drothe soon finds himself caught up in the middle of whilst performing tasks for his boss. He has to use all his skill, contacts, wits and stregths to to stay alive and accomplish what he needs to. The book is filled with mystery, intrigue and plenty of twists that will keep you hooked from start to finish. The fight scenes are extremely well written, due I assume to Hulick's background in the 17th Century Italian Rapier combat arts.
There are a wealth of characters within the book, from all backgrounds and all different memebers of the kin, however, this is where I feel the book slightly lets itself down (if at all). In that these characters are not explored upon, not enough depth or context are provided for some, and this potential for development of these characters is massive, and one I'm hoping will be included as the series continues. Although ultimately, the story is about Drothe, a character you can't help but like. He reminds me in some ways of Jimmy the Hand from the Raymond E Feist novels set after MAgician, and the character and book also has similarities to The Lies of Locke Lamora (a favourite of mine) by Scott Lynch.
A dark fanatasy about the criminal underbelly of a city about thieves - I was always going to enjoy this, and most certainly did. Highly recommmend! Looking forward to the next one !
Dougles Hulick delivers a sharp, witty, fast paced fantasy novel based upon the criminal fraternity of a city, the dark underbelly of society.
The main character
Show More
Drothe is an informant, known commonly as a Nose in the book, who is cunning, quick witted, capable and intelligent. He lies, steals, cheats and kills as he feels he needs to, however, mixed with these ruthless characteristics are a sense of honour, and a care for others other than just himself. This, along with the 1st person narrative the book is told in, makes Drothe a very likeable character, a hero in some instances, despite being a major player in the criminal world. There is a shadowy war being fought out, that Drothe soon finds himself caught up in the middle of whilst performing tasks for his boss. He has to use all his skill, contacts, wits and stregths to to stay alive and accomplish what he needs to. The book is filled with mystery, intrigue and plenty of twists that will keep you hooked from start to finish. The fight scenes are extremely well written, due I assume to Hulick's background in the 17th Century Italian Rapier combat arts.
There are a wealth of characters within the book, from all backgrounds and all different memebers of the kin, however, this is where I feel the book slightly lets itself down (if at all). In that these characters are not explored upon, not enough depth or context are provided for some, and this potential for development of these characters is massive, and one I'm hoping will be included as the series continues. Although ultimately, the story is about Drothe, a character you can't help but like. He reminds me in some ways of Jimmy the Hand from the Raymond E Feist novels set after MAgician, and the character and book also has similarities to The Lies of Locke Lamora (a favourite of mine) by Scott Lynch.
A dark fanatasy about the criminal underbelly of a city about thieves - I was always going to enjoy this, and most certainly did. Highly recommmend! Looking forward to the next one !
Show Less
LibraryThing member DWWilkin
It is better than average, and could have been better still.
The problem that brings the book down is the hero and the author. (Naturally the author, he wrote it, and in the notes we find out what brings the book down.)
He is a fencer. (Probably an SCA Fencer) and while that should not generally be a
But our hero is a thief. One of the Kin. And these Kin have territories and our hero seems to be the intelligent lieutenant of a mob boss of a territory. He is countered by the unintelligent lieutenant.
Our hero though starts to get involved as a pawn who thinks he should be and is a rook, in a very intricate plot of a handful of senior top level mob bosses who if they play too hard, the Empire has a history of squelching them.
So we have our hero, he is two rungs down from the players, and professes to have no ambitions, yet we don't really see his organization and how he makes his money. We understand him and are told that he is a Nose and that he uses Ears. Ears here things, and Noses sniff them out. Yet when we have our introduction to this system, our Hero the Nose is directly asking of one of his informants, what is going on. Thus he is acting like an Ear to my mind.
Our hero also has a private protective organization, but no sub organization within his own group. That doesn't make much sense.
The plot, is convoluted and the world is rather interesting, a few rungs below the interest of Scott Lynch and Locke Lamora, though the writer here claims to have been working on his novel longer then Lynch.
Again though, the fighting gets in the way of the entire story. Several writers have been members of the Reenactment groups and can bring their fights to a novel. They can last for pages and they can be good entertainment. Some of Hulick's work is good in that respect. But then, snore, here comes another fight, again, and it will last for too many pages. And then again, and again. Can not our hero, Drothe (reminds me of Rothfuss and Kvothe) use his brains and not have to fight, again. We want our heroes to act smart when they are spending all the time between these far too many fights talking smart.
If Hulick pays attention, what he is doing for a series might do better in future outings. If all he does is want to talk about his fighting career in his reenactment group, then the book is 100 pages too long.
The problem that brings the book down is the hero and the author. (Naturally the author, he wrote it, and in the notes we find out what brings the book down.)
He is a fencer. (Probably an SCA Fencer) and while that should not generally be a
Show More
problem, there are sword fights. A lot of sword fights, and they do go on. Right, I get that.But our hero is a thief. One of the Kin. And these Kin have territories and our hero seems to be the intelligent lieutenant of a mob boss of a territory. He is countered by the unintelligent lieutenant.
Our hero though starts to get involved as a pawn who thinks he should be and is a rook, in a very intricate plot of a handful of senior top level mob bosses who if they play too hard, the Empire has a history of squelching them.
So we have our hero, he is two rungs down from the players, and professes to have no ambitions, yet we don't really see his organization and how he makes his money. We understand him and are told that he is a Nose and that he uses Ears. Ears here things, and Noses sniff them out. Yet when we have our introduction to this system, our Hero the Nose is directly asking of one of his informants, what is going on. Thus he is acting like an Ear to my mind.
Our hero also has a private protective organization, but no sub organization within his own group. That doesn't make much sense.
The plot, is convoluted and the world is rather interesting, a few rungs below the interest of Scott Lynch and Locke Lamora, though the writer here claims to have been working on his novel longer then Lynch.
Again though, the fighting gets in the way of the entire story. Several writers have been members of the Reenactment groups and can bring their fights to a novel. They can last for pages and they can be good entertainment. Some of Hulick's work is good in that respect. But then, snore, here comes another fight, again, and it will last for too many pages. And then again, and again. Can not our hero, Drothe (reminds me of Rothfuss and Kvothe) use his brains and not have to fight, again. We want our heroes to act smart when they are spending all the time between these far too many fights talking smart.
If Hulick pays attention, what he is doing for a series might do better in future outings. If all he does is want to talk about his fighting career in his reenactment group, then the book is 100 pages too long.
Show Less
LibraryThing member wyvernfriend
Not a bad read, but it didn't blow me away.
To be honest the opening torture scene almost put me off reading it at all (which was not helped by being a little loopy with a chest infection, antibiotics and painkillers!), and I started it a few weeks before going back and trying again. I'm glad I did
Drothe works for the underworld for years as an investigator or Nose, his skills are extensive in this and he has a solid reputation for getting the job done. As he looks into one mystery he finds another and this other might just get him killed because it drags him into Imperial politics and magic.
It just didn't flow for me, and by the end I didn't much care if the main character lived or died, I didn't feel a build of empathy for him that I'd expect in a first person book. Still worth getting past the first 50 pages to get to the end.
To be honest the opening torture scene almost put me off reading it at all (which was not helped by being a little loopy with a chest infection, antibiotics and painkillers!), and I started it a few weeks before going back and trying again. I'm glad I did
Show More
but while I might read the sequel(s) I'm not rushing out to find them.Drothe works for the underworld for years as an investigator or Nose, his skills are extensive in this and he has a solid reputation for getting the job done. As he looks into one mystery he finds another and this other might just get him killed because it drags him into Imperial politics and magic.
It just didn't flow for me, and by the end I didn't much care if the main character lived or died, I didn't feel a build of empathy for him that I'd expect in a first person book. Still worth getting past the first 50 pages to get to the end.
Show Less
LibraryThing member msjessie
I was pleasantly surprised to win Hulick's Among Thieves in the Good Reads First Reads giveaway. I usually win random books I've never heard of prior to winning them (though the books are excellent, most of the time), but this was one I'd heard of before and was already in my t-b-r pile. I dove
I was told by a friend that Among Thieves reminded her of Scott Lynch and his truly spectacular The Lies of Locke Lamora and I can clearly see why. There are shades of Locke Lamora in Drothe, but only that, shades. I was reminded more of Joe Abercrombie's Logen Ninefingers from his bloody and funny The First Law trilogy, perhaps. Both Drothe and Locke are clever, manipulative thieves; Logen and he are murderous and sarcastic men used to command. Either way, Drothe is a singular character, one that you're never sure what he's going to do or how you will feel about it. He is clever, he is desperate and he is amusing. He's also a dangerous, murderous member of the underground. He's not snow-white as a protagonist and that makes him a more interesting and thus more fun to read about for 400 pages.
Hulick's writing is clever, descriptive and best of all, very engaging. It's delightfully free of unnecessary details or developments. The battle scenes (especially the fencing/swordfighting), as well as those between Drothe and his closest thing to a friend Bronze Degan, are what truly stands out about this novel. They all felt real, and vivid, as does the city of Ildrecca. The book continues to improve on its faults as the novel progresses. Douglas Hulick has created a thriving world, a unique Empire, wityh an interesting theology, a different magic system, culture and a thriving underworld wheeling beneath it all.
The book was exciting, interesting and thankfully, wasn't too predictable for fantasy fare. It doesn't get bogged down in decades-old fantasy cliches or characters. It's a darker fantasy, with an ambiguously disciplined main character. There's very little reliance on magic to solve all Drothe's problems, which creates a more resourceful and clever finale. I was reluctant to finish as fast as I did. The magic system presented in the novel is fairly straightforward, but is unlike others in fantasy I've read and it was a pleasure to read a new idea on "glimmer", as it's called here.
Another high point for me was the culture of the thieves in this book. It felt real, and obviously different from the regular citizens' in the city. The authentic-seeming thieves cant that Hulick created has a lot to do with this. Instead of forcing a lot of random colloquialisms on his audience immediately, Hulick slowly employs more and more of the cant until the reader can read a sentence peppered with the slang with ease.
I highly enjoyed this first novel in Hulick's work, and I look forward to picking up the rest of this series as he publishes them, and learns to polish his work as he goes. I can't say that it was the best fantasy novel I've read so far this year, but it was fun to read and easy to do so.
Show More
right in, and my big picture take on it as a whole: I enjoyed it and wouldn't be averse to continuing this series as it is published.I was told by a friend that Among Thieves reminded her of Scott Lynch and his truly spectacular The Lies of Locke Lamora and I can clearly see why. There are shades of Locke Lamora in Drothe, but only that, shades. I was reminded more of Joe Abercrombie's Logen Ninefingers from his bloody and funny The First Law trilogy, perhaps. Both Drothe and Locke are clever, manipulative thieves; Logen and he are murderous and sarcastic men used to command. Either way, Drothe is a singular character, one that you're never sure what he's going to do or how you will feel about it. He is clever, he is desperate and he is amusing. He's also a dangerous, murderous member of the underground. He's not snow-white as a protagonist and that makes him a more interesting and thus more fun to read about for 400 pages.
Hulick's writing is clever, descriptive and best of all, very engaging. It's delightfully free of unnecessary details or developments. The battle scenes (especially the fencing/swordfighting), as well as those between Drothe and his closest thing to a friend Bronze Degan, are what truly stands out about this novel. They all felt real, and vivid, as does the city of Ildrecca. The book continues to improve on its faults as the novel progresses. Douglas Hulick has created a thriving world, a unique Empire, wityh an interesting theology, a different magic system, culture and a thriving underworld wheeling beneath it all.
The book was exciting, interesting and thankfully, wasn't too predictable for fantasy fare. It doesn't get bogged down in decades-old fantasy cliches or characters. It's a darker fantasy, with an ambiguously disciplined main character. There's very little reliance on magic to solve all Drothe's problems, which creates a more resourceful and clever finale. I was reluctant to finish as fast as I did. The magic system presented in the novel is fairly straightforward, but is unlike others in fantasy I've read and it was a pleasure to read a new idea on "glimmer", as it's called here.
Another high point for me was the culture of the thieves in this book. It felt real, and obviously different from the regular citizens' in the city. The authentic-seeming thieves cant that Hulick created has a lot to do with this. Instead of forcing a lot of random colloquialisms on his audience immediately, Hulick slowly employs more and more of the cant until the reader can read a sentence peppered with the slang with ease.
I highly enjoyed this first novel in Hulick's work, and I look forward to picking up the rest of this series as he publishes them, and learns to polish his work as he goes. I can't say that it was the best fantasy novel I've read so far this year, but it was fun to read and easy to do so.
Show Less
LibraryThing member mossjon
Probably closer to a 3.5 (mostly because I didn't completely connect with the characters) but I'll balance that with a 4.5 for excellent sword fight scenes and nearly non-stop action and intrigue. Reminded me of watching the series 24 sort of mashed up with the mini-series Pillars of the Earth
Show More
through the lens of underworld organized crime and a dash of dark magic. Hard to put down and stayed up late to finish. Show Less
LibraryThing member wagner.sarah35
A fun romp through a world of intrigue, insane emperors, devious thieves, and shadow princes. Drothe finds himself in over his head when he joins the hunt for a mysterious book that just might have the power to bring down an empire. Fast-paced, this book makes for a fun read. I will definitely be
Show More
interested in reading more of this author's work! Show Less
Awards
David Gemmell Legend Award (Shortlist — 2012)
The Kitschies (Finalist — 2011)
Grand Prix de l'Imaginaire (Shortlist — 2013)
Language
Original publication date
2011-04-05
ISBN
0330536206 / 9780330536202
Local notes
Tales of the Kin, 1
DDC/MDS
| Fic SF Hulick |