Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience.

"Seven Blades in Black" by Sam Sykes is a thrilling and captivating epic fantasy novel that will leave you breathless. The book follows the journey of Sal the Cacophony, a mage with a thirst for vengeance against the powerful mages who betrayed her. As she travels across a desolate wasteland, Sal is forced to confront her own past and her own demons, while facing impossible odds and dangerous enemies at every turn.

Sykes' writing is both poetic and visceral, with a keen sense of character and a vividly imagined world. The magic system is complex and fascinating, with a detailed history and mythology that adds depth and richness to the story. The action scenes are expertly choreographed, with a sense of momentum and tension that keeps the reader engaged from start to finish.

What sets "Seven Blades in Black" apart is Sykes' skill at creating complex and flawed characters. Sal is a captivating protagonist, with a sharp tongue and a fierce determination that makes her impossible not to root for. The supporting cast is equally compelling, with each character bringing a unique perspective and motivation to the story.

Overall, "Seven Blades in Black" is an outstanding fantasy novel that combines action, magic, and compelling characters into a truly unforgettable story. Highly recommended for fans of epic fantasy and anyone looking for a thrilling and immersive read.

I only got part way through this book before putting it down. Sadly it didn't grip me enough to finish even though I did like the quirkiness, the blades with personality and some of the characters.

This is a wonderful fantasy with a well built world, great characters and a thoroughly enjoyable storyline.

The characters interact with ease and great wit and although it feels repetitive in places it never the less held me in it's grip for the entire story

Due to the allegations of harassment against this author, I've chosen not to read and review this book. Many thanks to the publisher for approving me for a copy!

This book started well but unfortunately I lost interest in it and ended up not picking it back up. The writing style also didn't fully gel with me

Seven Blades in Black is really awesome. Full of magic and monsters and burning cities, while also being heartening and deeply personal, and with a main character stuffed full of hidden depths and a twisty backstory and a thirst for vengeance. The ending was a satisfying conclusion in itself, but also leaves the reader wanting to know what's next.

This book is a definite case of 'it's not you, it's me'. I went in fairly blind, and I think that might have been a mistake. I find Sam Sykes hilarious on Twitter, so I was excited to try his new book, especially since it has had rave reviews from many reviewers I love. But, here's a (non-exhaustive!) list of things I don't like in fantasy:

- guns;
- post-medieval tech in general;
- overly cynical protagonists who only seem interested in drinking and being sarcastic;
- morally grey characters where it's mostly expressed in being sardonic and swearing a lot;
- the kind of dry humour where the narration constantly comments on how dreadful everything is, but in a wryly amused way;
- military systems;
- an abundance of mud.

All of which Seven Blades in Black is filled with, so look, this is not the book for me, clearly. That is no comment on the quality of it at all, and I think fans of grimdark, especially Joe Abercrombie's books, will have a whale of a time. It's a DNF from me, but still a recommendation if you like this style of gritty, snarky fantasy!

This is a big, chunky book.

And I loved it.

All of it.

I loved Sal the Cacophony. I loved her snark, her attitude, her relentless drive to cross all the names off her list. I loved her gun (the aforementioned Cacophony) which fires magic bullets. She’s scarred, emotionally and physically but refuses to let that get in the way of her quest. She’s splendidly cynical and world-weary, and often very very funny.

“…most Vagrants showing up where you live will ruin your day. Not me, of course. A girl like me tends to ruin your whole week.”

Sal the Cacophony
Sykes clearly loves a lot of genre stuff – this is almost like an episode of Final Fantasy writ large (even featuring Congeniality – a large, grumpy bird creature not entirely dissimilar to FF’s chocobo) – blade guns, hulking mechs, bloody awesome magics (and often very bloody).

It’s so JRPG it hurts. But in a good way.

And there’s a sword called Jeff. Who doesn’t want to read a story featuring a sword called Jeff?

I loved the worldbuilding, the magic system, the sheer joy of the writing on display here.

We follow the story as Sal tells it in flashback to her executioner as a sort of confession. And what a story it is. It’s fast and furious, funny and tender, bloody and brutal. We travel across the world of the Scar as Sal tracks down the Mages on her list, determined to end them before they end her. It’s a story of revenge against the people who took something from her.

And Sykes does a magnificent job with that list – each one is splendidly different and unique. And each boss battle (as they seem to be) ratchets up the tension and peril by yet another notch, until the glorious finale.

Supporting characters are just as good – Liette, Sal’s mad scientist friend is wonderful – I’d love to see more of her in future.

Sam Sykes' prose *swaggers*. That's the most important thing to know about this book and for many people, the biggest selling point. Sykes' writing rivals Abercrombie's finest when it comes to portraying the sardonic and cynical. It brings Sal the Cacophony, its protagonist and first person narrator, to vivid more than life.

SSBiB's strength is also however its achilles heel. Because we're always with that strong voice, it can get wearing. Because Sal's personality is so prevalent, readers aren't able to gloss over if they don't like her. And after a while, I realise I didn't. It didn't matter to me whether Sal succeeded or not. So this is a book I won't be finishing.

That doesn't mean nobody else will enjoy it. Lots of people will, and that Abercrombie comparison is a good measuring stick for whether you're one of them. And I'm certainly interested in trying Sykes' work again; maybe on a different day I'd have taken to Sal.

I liked the opening portion of this novel and found the premise really interesting but my interest waned the further i got into the book. The characters whilst interesting on the surface did not seem very layered when compared to similar fantasy books. I had such high hopes as i've read so many great fantasy books in recent months but this just wasn't for me.

I have never read anything by Sam Sykes before and must admit I am pleasantly surprised. I did find it difficult to read in the first few pages but soon got over than.

I am a sucker for a book with a lovable a-hole as the main character and Sal is certainly that. The first few chapters did feel like a bit of nothing but I am glad I stuck with it, not only for the sake of the narrative but to read about Sal's interaction with other characters. The book often had me laughing out loud.

Not my typical fantasy read, but I did enjoy it.

Oh how do you objectively review a book that you devoured whole heartedly with glee? I have actually read this book twice. I received an ARC and was blown away, struggling to assess my thoughts and write this review, I then listened to the Audiobook (which in itself is fantastic) and this allowed me to finally get some thoughts down.

This is a complete delight. A sassy, action packed, laugh out loud romp though a deep and detailed world, both complex and lighthearted. It is fantastically female dominated with strong powerful women on all sides of warring nations.

The narration is fantastic! We follow the jail cell confessions of Sal the Cacophony, a vagrant mage, to her jailor, the ambitious Governor-Militant Tretta Stern. What makes this special is how the narrative changes as the time spent telling her tale to Tretta, staving off her execution. She starts of cocky, confident and teasing but as she delves into her deeds. Then as she follows her story to its conclusion she mellows, gets darker and becomes more of a reliable narrator as she shows the emotional impact of her deeds. This is punctured with Scenes in the prison between Tretta and Sal, some very humourous, some with more leavity and some from the perspective of Tretta exploring her ambition and what she is hoping to get from hearing Sal’s story in full.

This complexity is bolstered by the sheer deapth of the worldbuilding and I am pretty sure we are only just scratching the surface. The magic systems were extensive, with links to music, weather, spirits etc. The video game influence is apparent with the different “classes”, from mages, to soldiers (from many different camps) to Freemakers (an engineer/scientific class) and mystics/spy characters. All have interlinked backgrounds to societies, governmental machinations that run through the background of the tale, building both the history and the future for this series. I get the impression we are only just scratching the surface.

This story itself twists and turns, through Sal’s attempt at romance, her quest for vengeance, her reluctance at accepting help and even more at being heroic. Sykes kept me guessing. I had hypothesise of how the ending may go, while I was right in some respects I couldn’t have even though of others and the ending managed to leave a creepy chill that made me want the next book immediately.

This was exactly what I would have expected from Sam Sykes, who I have followed on twitter for a long time and he is a joy...as is this novel. It tells the story of Sal the Cacophony, a Vagrant mage who prowls the wastelands and border cities looking for the seven names she needs to cross off her list, with a sword named Jeff and a gun with a personality. Firstly, the world building on display here is breathtaking. We really get a sense of the grime and grit of each location along with demonstrations of the political and military systems at play. Secondly, the tone of the narrative is pitch perfect. Sal is snarky and sarcastic and yet Sykes knows exactly when to cut through that to the emotional core of the character that makes her completely human and believable. The plot is fantastic - straightforward with a framing device that has been used quite often, but Sykes uses it very well. All in all, I just utterly loved this book and will now be immediately inhaling all of Sam's backlist.
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Sal the Cacophony is a rogue mage, a Vagrant who prowls her world looking for, and causing, trouble. She has a list of names tucked away, a gun only she can control (or is it controlling her?) and a woman she wants to love but mostly runs from instead.

The book starts with Sal captured. About to be executed, in fact. The fact that everything that comes out of her mouth is cocksure and abrasive is really not helping. The only thing is on her side is the story she has to tell, and the knowledge that goes alongside it.

The world of Seven Blades in Black is dangerous and convincing. It's full of ravaged freeholds, soldiers and powerful sorcerers. Sal's got a unique, BIG, voice and knows how to tell the readers (and her captor) a story. You'll either love or (possibly) hate her, but she's a real presence on the page either way.

It's a long book and did take me a few sittings to get through, but it's worth the time.

Sentía curiosidad por leer algo de Sam Sykes por una razón tan pedestre como lo entretenido que es seguirle en Twitter. Desde que junto a Chuck Wendig crearon este hilo, pensé que sus novelas al menos tendrían que ser divertidas. Así que comencé Seven Blades in Black con alguna que otra esperanza.

Lo primero que llama la atención es la fortísima personalidad de la protagonista, Sal the Cacophony, una renegada con una misión de venganza. Y menuda venganza, algo capaz de hacer sonar todas las «alertas Montecristo» para aquellos que gustan de este tipo de historias.
La novela está estructurada a base de flashbacks que van variando el marco temporal para que vayamos descubriendo el pasado de Sal desde la celda en la que espera su ejecución. En este sentido, Sam Sykes dosifica la información de manera muy acertada para que sigamos leyendo con interés cada una de las revelaciones que va dejando caer.
También es cierto que a pesar de tratarse de una historia de violencia y sacrificios muy dura, los toques de humor que me atrayeron hacia el autor en primer lugar siguen estando presentes. Parece que es su marchamo de calidad. Porque ya me diréis si no a quién se le ocurriría tener una lucha a muerte entre magos muy poderosos mientras hablan educadamente sobre la ópera.
Sin embargo, la novela también tiene defectos. Se me ha hecho pesada por momentos, con Sal deambulando de un lado a otro para encontrar a sus futuras víctimas y muchas veces avanzando a base de casualidades. Tampoco sé si es totalmente creíble la relación de amor-odio que tiene la protagonista, aunque en este caso puede que Liette simplemente no pueda dejar atrás una relación tóxica como pocas.
La primera aproximación a la obra de Sam Sykes me ha dejado con curiosidad por leer algo más, pero tampoco con la necesidad de coger inmediatamente una nueva novela suya, así que dejaré reposar esta curiosidad hasta otro momento en el futuro.

This story follows Sal the Cacophony, a vagrant who is waiting to be executed by the Rebellion. With her last words she decides to tell the story of the events that lead up to her capture. This book has a very Western feel to it which I enjoyed. It is also quite a dark fantasy, with a lot of violence and can be quite graphic at times. I love the characters in this they are sarcastic and cynical and Sal was definitely my favourite. There is also a f/f relationship in this which I was loving. My only complaint with this is that it could have been shorter as the middle drags on a little.

I gave this 4 out of 5 stars.

I realised something when I read this one. I am not sure if this is the genre for me. I enjoyed it far more immensely than I anticipated but it would not be my first choice while picking up a fantasy. However the writing is really good and there is more than just the usual high stakes fantastical plot to the story and that made the book into the 3.75 starred read that it was.

The book starts with Sal the Cacophony awaiting her execution and telling the officer in charge as to how she actually ended up in that situation. The story she tells is filled with outlaw magic practitioners and gunmen and Sal just wandering around trying to find the people on her list and getting her revenge on them.

She tells the officer that she left behind burning villages and dead men, she tells the story of what turned her onto the path of destruction and murder and how she had to make up a list of people to kill. She is proud in boasting about her recent kills off of her list. Does that remind you of someone? *coughAryacough*

However it’s not just the kills that make the book but the people she kills are so interesting and so fun that when they are killed off, you are sorry to let them go. Yes, you can sort of see why she chose to go in that direction but frankly, after a while, I was frankly just reading to know more about the interesting characters she was hoping to kill off. On the way of revenge, she does end up doing some good things. She’s not a blind killing machine though she wishes she were.

The strongest part of the book are the characters. From the main character to every side character, this one had one of the strongest side characters I have seen. I was actually a bit more interested in them than Sal at times and that made this book for me. My most favourite side character would have to be the magic user who was so fond of opera that he moaned about the lack of it mid fight, he was also pretty powerful and one of the rare ones who followed the etiquettes of magical duelling.

The humour of the book surprised me and that was one of the brighter parts of the book. There were quite a few bits that I wished were better. For one, the book dragged a bit in the middle-ish part? There was just a lot of Sal just wandering around and perhaps doing the same things, then killing someone and getting to the next wandering around. That got old, fast. Then there’s Sal herself. She has a good base but at times, I think, I was a bit annoyed by her? For a strong and almost real-ish character, she could annoy me a lot. Perhaps that’s part of the whole real-ish part but I couldn’t really find myself becoming fonder of her.

Overall, it’s a fun-filled, full of adventure ride which takes you on a giant, really mean bird as Sal’s steed and a lovely sword called Jeff and a magical gun, what more could you want?

Seven Blades in Black is the start of a new fantasy series from Sam Sykes, who has form in the area of smart, character focused fantasy. Well, this book takes that form, and turns it up to eleven.

Sal the Cacophany is a bounty hunter, and a killer, and a woman with quite a lot on her mind. Mostly where to get the next drink from, and who, in her personal list of targets, to hunt down next.
Sal is also a fast hand with a gun, which is just as well, because her enemies – of which there are a great, great many – are powerful, magical, fierce, and deadly. Which, given she’s a woman with a gun and a bad attitude, means she has to be at least twice as quick as they are, just to stay alive.

Sal is an absolute wonder, and a horror. She’s obviously intelligent, masking behind a quietly folksy demeanour a determination and focus that could cut through steel like warm butter. But at the same time, there’s a lot that’s human in there. Sal is seeking revenge, and she has a list of people whom she has to kill to put things right. Quite what that revenge is for? Well, it’ll come out over the course of the text. What also comes out is Sal’s humanity. Sure, as we find ourselves observing a weapon of a woman, with a gun that fires shells with some very interesting properties, and a willingness to do almost anything to get the job done – we thing we know that woman. Sal the Cacophany, who bestrides her world as a rumour, a quiet voice, a silence in your skull. A myth, and a killer. But she’s also a woman who is able to feel friendship, to feel love, to feel connection to everything around her. The story gives her room to express that pain in the present, to let us feel for a woman living with some of her choices, and maybe making new, possibly worse ones. But another strand of the narrative takes us into her past, shows us a woman shaping herself, and the choices that brought her where she is now – in a wasteland, tracking down a cabal of lunatic wizards, one by one.
This is Sal’s story, and I won’t spoil it by telling it her. But I will say this.. Sal the Cacophany is a fractured, lethal bundle of smarting-off and fragile razor edges. A person who thinks they have nothing to lose, and is willing to give up on having anything else to feel like they can make that loss end.

It’s not all doom, gloom and revenge though. Did I mention the folksy charm? Sal has a wonderful voice, which is just as well, as the framing device lets her tell her own story. It has a slow drawl to it, and an immediacy and honesty of emotion and motive which leaves her feeling unflinching and real. But in that story, Sal is also her façade – a woman with a brain, not afraid to use it, willing to take any advantage, and unwilling to apologise for being herself. Also she’s fun. The refusal to bow in the face fo fear, sure. The almost anti-nobility of purpose, sure. But In between, there are the human moments – a cracked joke, a hug, a burgeoning friendship – which kept me turning pages, and which keep Sal grounded in her world.

Sal is a lot of fun to watch, running around, casting aspersions on the baddies, and trying to kill them. She does, no doubt, kick arse. And the action, when it comes, is frenetic and kinetic. But because of the human links, because of the way that the author has made Sal come alive, along with her friends, her loves and her losses – because of those human stakes, we care about the woman spitting epithets in the face of a magical storm, we care about the woman trying to drop the hammer on those she wants to see dead. We even care about those enemies, when they get up close and personal. This is a book which will give you all the intrigue and explosions you could wish for, but it’s Sal’s book, a book about people, and about the way they feel.

I mean, also it’s about mages blowing the living crap out of each other. And about politics. And about lost love and lost innocence and lost illusions, and about the crafting of emotional armour and about the lies we tell ourselves to stay sane, to stay alive. Sure, it’s all of those things. But at its heart is Sal the Cacophany, whose humanity makes it all work, and makes us care.
Sal lives in a broken world, a world where mages were once kings of everything they saw before them. A world where their servants rose up to overthrow their masters. And where those servants aligned themselves with powers and morals which might be even worse. While Sal is the individual face of loss and the cost of struggle, and of the necessity, sometimes, that drives us forward – around her, a war is playing out. It’s a hopeless, total war, whose only result seems to be the slow, grinding destruction of everything in grudges and blood. But as a backdrop, it’s a very compelling one. There’s a universe at play here, and we only see fragments of it – the alchemists who live for knowledge and construct devices and desires of their own devising. The blind priests and their hounds looking for wizards. The bargain every mage makes for his power, and the cost they pay. The rumbling mechanisms of the revolution, and the ethical dilemmas that people who don’t make decisions have to decide if they can live with.

It’s a vividly broken world, sure enough. One with the dry dust feel of a western, with Sal the Cacophany, legend, mage-killer, slouching along within it, with a magical six-iron on her hip, and a rather nice hat. It’s a world which you’ll live and breathe, as Sal kicks in doors, fights for herself, fights for others. As she tosses the dice between her revenge and the connections she’s made, the love she feels. As she tries to save the world and herself, one bullet at a time.

So what is it? It’s a fast-paced, arse-kicking magical western, with bullets that spit fire, and demons that will break your soul. It’s the story of wizards and revolutions, ad the way that conflicts spiralling out of control will affect those who just want to stay alive, and those who don’t know the cost of the choices they’ll be asked to make until it’s too late. It’s Sal’s story, a human story of life and love, possible redemption and possible revenge. It’s a compelling page turner which will keep your eyes on the page wanting to know what happens next.

It’s really rather a good book, is what I’m saying. I, for one, look forward to hearing more. In the meantime, I recommend you give Seven Blades in Black a try.

I loved this book and it's quite a long time since I found a book so full of humour and so exciting.
It's hard to review a book when you think that everything was nearly perfect: the world building, the characters, the fast pace that makes you read as fast as you can.
I loved this book and will surely read other books by this author hoping they're as good as this one.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.