Member Review

Intrigued by the description I requested this ARC not realising it was part of a trilogy. It was indeed a serendipitous request as quickly found after buying and devouring the first two books, Widow's Welcome and Stitcher & the Mute.
The trilogy - Tales of Fenest centre around Nora Goderheim a city detective from a disgraced family.whose role places her in the heart of the capital Fenest. Nora is an excellent detective and the mood of the inital stroy is gritty noir and blends fantasy, politics and police procedural.
The Union, composed of six realms Perlish, Wayward, Casker, Lowlander, Torn and Rustan, is in the midst of elections which occur every five years. Stories are central to the lives of all in the union and the decision on which realm rules is guaged by the stories told with votes placed by the Audience.
We are introduced to Nora after the death of the Wayward storyteller and this leads her deeper into the politics of Fenest - something she has avoided since her parents disgrace.
Each book includes two election stories from the Realms which were fascinating in themselves and I found myself allocating them a black or a white stone much as the Audience votes are cast. Each story provides an insight into each Realm, relflecting their ethos, customs and thoughts.
In Farewell to the Liar the last book of the trilolgy Nora has been forced out of the police and commits herself to her estranged sisters Ruth to ensure that the Wayward story is told. This book ties up story threads, we learn more about the Tear and the calamity the Union is facing but with a roadmap for hope.
I urge you to read and immerse yourself in this trilogy - a fantastic find for me particularly in the post lockdown period.
My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for access to this ARC, all comments are my own.