Gaie Sebold

This is a fantasy romp featuring the titular Babylon Steel, a brothel madam/swordmistress who lives on the chaotic and varied Scalentine, a tiny plane which is fed by a number of mysterious portals disgorging numerous strange refugees and other travellers. Babylon herself has been one such refugees, but having settled down in Scalentine she will find that she and her crew at the Red Lantern will be drawn into the search for a missing girl which will culminate in a confrontation between her and the mysterious past she's left behind.

I was part of the original workshop for the initial draft, but even then it was clear it was something special. The writing is great - Gaie has a light, lucid prose style and the city shows a fantastic and playful inventiveness. Babylon is a tough but likeable heroine ably supported by a well-drawn supporting cast, and all in all, it's a wonderful fun read. Highly recommended.… (more)

Wow, what a great story. I really enjoyed this book. After reading some YA fantasy lately it was definitely time for some grown-up's fantasy and this really fit the bill.

The only thing i'm unhappy about is that i'm utterly skint until i get paid on Tuesday so i can't buy the second book until then, but rest assured, as soon as i wake up my computer on Tuesday morning i'll be on Amazon buying it.

Great writing, great story, great book, what more can a reader ask for?

If you like fantasy that isn't afraid of getting it's hands dirty then i'm sure you'll like this. If, on the other hand, you like the nice fluffy fantasy stuff then just don't look.… (more)

This book follows on perfectly from 'Babylon Steel', with all the usual characters we were introduced to in that book. And it's much the same kind of fantasy stuff that really isn't for children as there's a fair amount of sex and some quite graphic descriptions of interspecies relationships - Babylon is a whore house madam after all is said an done.

I have to say, Gaie has created a really interesting universe with The Planes and there's obviously a much bigger story going on in the background concerning the rifts between The Planes, which i seriously hope Gaie is going to slowly uncover in further books in this series.

Please, please, please, Gaie, get writing more about Babylon and Co'.

So if you're not offended by adult stuff mixed in with your fantasy stories the 'Babylon Steel' series is definitely a place to visit on your reading list. Enjoy!… (more)

I read Gaie's first two books, Babylon Steel and Dangerous Gifts, quite a while ago now and thoroughly enjoyed them, so it was good to come back and enjoy some more of Gaie's writing.

Other than the lack of brothels and sex (can't have everything we like), this book is certainly just as enjoyable, well written, with great characters, and certainly a must read for anyone who has enjoyed Gaie's earlier books.… (more)