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City of Last Chances

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City of Last Chances

By: Adrian Tchaikovsky
Narrated by: David Thorpe
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Summary

Arthur C. Clarke winner and Sunday Times bestseller Adrian Tchaikovsky's triumphant return to fantasy with a darkly inventive portrait of a city under occupation and on the verge of revolution.

There has always been a darkness to Ilmar, but never more so than now. The city chafes under the heavy hand of the Palleseen occupation, the choke-hold of its criminal underworld, the boot of its factory owners, the weight of its wretched poor and the burden of its ancient curse.

What will be the spark that lights the conflagration?

Despite the city's refugees, wanderers, murderers, madmen, fanatics and thieves, the catalyst, as always, will be the Anchorwood–that dark grove of trees, that primeval remnant, that portal, when the moon is full, to strange and distant shores.

Ilmar, some say, is the worst place in the world and the gateway to a thousand worse places.

Ilmar, City of Long Shadows.

City of Bad Decisions.

City of Last Chances.

©2022 Adrian Tchaikovsky (P)2022 Head of Zeus Action & Adventure Epic Epic Fantasy Fantasy Fiction Crime Paranormal
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Most relevant
I loved the theme and the main characters, but there was just too many points of view with needless descriptions. It felt like trying to set up a larger series by getting everything explained all at once. It resulted in quite disjointed narrative and by half way I couldn’t wait for it to be finished. It does pick up at the end but the whole second third of the book could be abbreviated.
The voice acting was very good and consistent though

A slog

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I absolutely loved this book, it was dark but hopeful, grim but humourous. I hardly knew what was going to happen next and even when I did I was still somehow surprised by it! The narrator also did an excellent job and was a true pleasure to listen to, a good range of voices and great intonation. I want more books like this!

An amazing book!

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This novel starts like a collection of short stories. It takes many hours to draw the various bits together, and by the time the Plot sort of comes together I had forgotten what happened in the earlier parts which were somehow supposed to inform what was then happening... It took a very long time to go anywhere and then seemingly a very long time to wrap up. Or rather not wrap up.
Also why are most of the characters Scottish? This was a confusing choice, a little more vocal differentiation would have been enjoyable. Lots of characters and factions but lots of.the same voice... perhaps it would be more enjoyable to read rather than listen to.
There also seem to be some issues with production which make for a clunky listen.
This is the second book from this author I've listened to and I can't say I'll be rushing to read any more!

Could have been shorter...

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Loved this book. Wonderful characters in a thoroughly believable world. I'll be reading this again some day soon. Hope there's a follow-up.

Marvellous

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Not particularly a page turner. Lots of characters to begin with, and I only ended up finding 2 interesting. It's a massive time investment when things only start to get halfway. There was so much more the author could've done with the Priest and Ruslav.

Unnecessarily long

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