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Friday, October 4, 2019

ARC Review- The City of Locked Doors by Keegan and Tristen Kozinski











Four hundred years ago a plague befell the world. It warped the bodies of all organic things and drove both man and beast rabid during the night. Law and order vanished in a matter of days, along with most of the human race.
Years passed and from this madness rose the Tyrants, a brutal god-like sect of individuals who could enforce their will on the surviving dregs of humanity. With their tyranny, they brought order back into the world and established settlements. A convoluted semblance of civilization began aided by the magic of Necromancy, to raise those butchered in the night, and Hemomancy, to heal their injuries.
In Umbras, domain of the Tyrant Lock-And-Key, all humans are imprisoned at night where they cannot harm others or the city. Beyond that however, Lock-And-Key does little to interfere with the lives of her subjects. They live and bide with a tentative happiness in the enforced peace her presence brings, until, in the dark of one night, a stranger comes to Umbras



First off let me say this book was refreshing as the main character was an anti-hero villain sort. I love a bad guy.

This book can come across as a little intimidating as the first thing the reader see’s is a page with the definition of terms that will be used in the book. I admit I had to keep going back to it to remind myself what things were, which was a little annoying. It is also creative.

This is a revenge story with a lot going on. It is dark and thrilling while also being very descriptive, in parts too much, and quite refreshing.
Overall a unique tale, complex and I found the characters fairly developed. Noir is an unsympathetic character who is hard to relate to and I really like that. I think it’s a myth that in every novel you will find a character you relate to. One must know how to enjoy a book without this.

The story takes a little to get going, but once it does it really moves.

This book felt like the start of a good RPG video game- this is a compliment.

Within the pages of The City of Locked Doors, I found wit, darkness, and sophistication. I will admit that the prose threw me at times, and I am a little tired of the standoffish ominous male archetype.


Overall a solid 3 stars and I would recommend it.