Plot Synopsis
Fetch Philips is a ‘man for hire’ in the dark, dingy Sunder City. The world has experienced a life-shattering event called the ‘Coda’, where all magic from the world vanished. Magical creatures have had to deal with their new mortality, old magical technology has stopped working, and previously powerful organisations have withered to irrelevance. Human technology has had to be adopted by the world, and humans themselves have become one of the most powerful races as one of the few non-magical creatures that exist in the world. After being called in on a case regarding a missing person, Fetch is embroiled in a mystery that leads to a startling series of discoveries.
Review
The Last Smile in Sunder City was a joy to read. The world that Luke Arnold has created is a pleasure to unfurl, and Fetch Philips’ position in it is well fleshed out and believable. Sunder City is well developed throughout the story, and its own character shines through in the washed out, cynical population that inhabits it. Arnold’s dialog is charming and a perfect fit for the noir genre, while not feeling too hammed up. Fetch is aggressive, snarky, and generally unpleasant – but as his story unfolds your sympathy for him grows and his stubbornness gains its own unique charm. Each other character in the story is distinct and have all stuck with me with their varied nature and personalities. Their stories are just as magnetic as Fetch’s and are well considered, giving a robust backbone to their actions. The Last Smile in Sunder City is a wonderful first instalment to this fantasy series; it’s surprising to find out that this is Arnold’s debut novel, with its mature writing and (mostly) well-paced action. There were one or two times where Fetch’s backstory was developed for what felt like a touch too long, but the story immediately picks back up, staying fast paced and interesting for several chapters and I was drawn back in each time with renewed vigour. I’m excited to read the next instalments in the series, with the second book, Dead in a Ditch released late last year.
Final Thoughts
I would highly recommend this book; having jumped straight on Amazon to purchase Dead in a Ditch as soon as I finished I can certainly say it was compelling and had me wanting more!
The book is available in English, German, and Spanish.
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The Last Smile in Sunder City (EN)
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Luke Arnold is an actor and has voiced the Audible version of The Last Smile in Sunder City. He’s injected a lot of character and love into his performance, so if that’s your preferred method of consuming books please consider using the below affiliate link to get a free 30-day subscription to Audible (you get to keep one free audiobook even if you cancel, and if you have Prime you get to keep two):