The Steel Remains (original 2008; edition 2010)

I don't read much fantasy, science fiction or mysteries are more my style of light reading, but Richard K. Morgan's novels have all impressed me. His first fantasy novel is a noir take on a standard fantasy plot, with some interesting additions, like a gay protagonist, a lesbian protagonist and some doubt about whether magic is simply technology so advanced that it might as well be magic. I'm looking forward to the next book in the projected trilogy. ( )

Not horrible in any way but not suited to audio. I consistently had to rewind to figure out what was going on. Big cast of characters with few distinguishing traits made it quite terrible for an audiobook. But very well read and I loved the main character. May try switching to print to see if that helps. ( )

This book is really quite remarkable. I can't make up my mind if Morgan is deliberately trying to subvert fantasy tropes or if he's as unfamiliar with the genre as I am, but whatever the intention, it works for me. The novel is brutal, visceral, with dark flashes of pure horror and black humour. I'm not going to go into plot or character detail here - plenty of reviews you can read that if you want to - except to say that the plot is adequate, but it's the forceful characterisation that drives it all. The characters are more than just flawed - they're people with bad histories, bad attitudes, pretty bad futures. And yet despite all their flaws, I really got to care for them. Especially the grimly gay and damaged ex-war hero Ringil. And I know it bothered a lot of reviewers, but really, you don't even notice that just about every sentence contains a variation on the word 'fuck' after a while. ( )

I wasn't terribly excited to read this, it hadn't come up on my radar much and what I had heard had been very mixed. I'm so glad I took the risk though because I freaking loved this book.

It's brutal, dark, and 'gritty', which is fast becoming par for the course in fantasy writing, unlike may lesser books Morgan's darkness seems to have a point to it.

Must give props to the ending as well even though Morgan totally cheated to get me there I was really impressed that he had me absolutely terrified for the lives of the main characters even though I knew there was a sequel coming

As I read I kept being strangely, almost reminded of [a:David Eddings|8732|David Eddings|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1223870462p2/8732.jpg], which I know is bizarre but hear me out. What I think it is is that when you read fantasy as a kid it can seem so sexy and violent and nerve-wrecking and swashbuckling and just plain fantastical, but when you return to those books as an experience (jaded) reader they can seem quite tame. What Morgan's managed to do, and what I salute him for, is to convey to my adult-self that heady feeling, that rush of blood that fantasy always felt like when I first discovered it. ( )

Mar13:

Characters: Loved them all basically. Bad guys weren't even that bad.

Plot: Very very solid. Loved the partially uncovered back story.

Style: Right with my tastes. Smart, gritty action. ( )