The God Tattoo: Untold Tales from the Twilight Reign by Tom Lloyd (The Twilight Reign)

9/10

The history of the Land may remember the slaughter at Moorview or the horror of Scree's fall, but there were other casualties of the secret war against Azaer - more tales surrounding those bloody years that went unrecorded. In the shadow of memorials to the glorious dead, these ghosts lie quiet and forgotten by all but a few.

A companion collection to the Twilight Reign quintet, these eleven stories shine a rather different light on the Land. Look past the armies and politics of the Seven Tribes and you will find smaller moments that shaped the course of history in their own way. But even forgotten secrets can kill. Even shadows can have claws.

Prior to reading, I was unfamiliar with the Twilight Reign series, yet this in no way impeded my enjoyment of the stories contained in this collection.

These are expertly crafted and masterfully executed stories, each coming with a neat, unexpected twist or sting in the tail. Encompassing all ages of life, Lloyd’s characters are rich, diverse, and importantly, convincing. They all display familiar traits, wants and needs. These are fallible people who fear and mistrust, capable of jealousy, rage and violence as well as reasoning, diplomacy and tact.

The stories are cleverly interwoven, with recurring characters, unexpected developments, action, mystery and politics. The vivid city of Narkang takes centre stage, promising intrigue and a hidden history, as well as danger lurking in its shadowy streets.

I thoroughly enjoyed this collection, finishing it in two separate sittings. I am certain this will please existing fans, whilst adding new converts – this is fantasy storytelling at its finest.

The God Tattoo: Untold Tales from the Twilight Reign by Tom Lloyd
Published 2013 by Gollancz
ISBN: 978-0575131248

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