I am always impressed by Mr Tchaikovsky's ability to spin engrossing science fiction and fantasy stories. However, I haven't been able to get into his 'epic' long series' ( Final Architecture and Shadows of the Apt). This one read more like a standalone, which was good, but it felt long — covering many characters, not all of whom played significant roles in the story BUT there's something here that kept me deep in my couch turning the pages.

I just couldn't quite get into this book. I don't know if what was going on in my life while I was trying to read it or the fault of the writing itself. But it's unbearably slow and the large cast of fantasy characters made it difficult to keep them straight. It was a slog.

Adrian Tchaikovsky reimagines the genre in a head-hopping, city-sprawling epic fantasy novel with amazing worldbuilding, unforgettable characters, and darkly comedic wit.

Thank you to NetGalley for the readers copy in exchange for a (late) review.
Unfortunately this was a case of the right book at the wrong time. My brain was not ready (or capable) of world building/character introductions for an epic high fantasy at the time.
This was going to be my first Tchaikovsky but I might start with one of his Sci-fi books first and then come back.

This has been on my TBR for so long and I have no reason for picking it up sooner having loved previous books by Adrian Tchaikovsky. I actually got the audiobook version of this and really loved the narrator who was easy to listen to and created drama and tension.

This is a multi pov complex World with lots of political intrigue and focuses on the brink of rebellion from Pallseen occupation. There is a huge criminal world with demons, thugs, forgotten gods and lots of fantasy elements. I found the demons from the Kings dungeon and their order so interesting.

Overall this was a great epic fantasy which I would recommend in audio form. I was given the ebook code in exchange for an honest review.

This is my first book by Adrian, but I’ve heard nothing but good things!

Like any high fantasy book, there’s a list of characters a mile long which I sometimes struggled with. Whilst I liked the premise of different chapters by different people, it didn’t work for me in practice.

Firstly can we take a moment to appreciate the stunning cover for this book? It's amazing. I have read a few books by this author in the past, some I've really enjoyed and others not so much. Happily, I think this one is my favourite from him so far. I loved the way the narrative was constructed, switching from person to person in each chapter, giving a real feel of an ensemble cast of characters. The plot itself was easy to follow and compelling and I am eager to see what the next book in the series will bring. I don't think this will appeal to everyone, but I certainly enjoyed it immensely.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I enjoy this author’s science fiction, but I struggle with his fantasy novels. This one was too much work for me. Each chapter was in the pov of a different character, which is ok in itself, but for me they were not coalescing into a coherent plot. I gave up. I also have a copy of book 2; but the thought of another 600 pages of this makes me want to cry. I received a free copy of this book from the publisher., but I actually bought the audio book.

I need to say upfront that I loved this book. I say this because I don't know if my review will sound like I loved this book.

City of Last Chances requires a focus that I did not anticipate. Now, this could have been my headspace and not the book, but after discussing this book with several readers, I have learned that I am not alone in that thought. It took me 13 days to read this, which is a long time, at least for me, even at 500 pages. Every time I picked it up, I thoroughly enjoyed myself, but I never wanted to pick it up. Do you see why I said I loved this book upfront?

This book is mayhem, but beautifully written mayhem. The structure of City of Last Chances is somewhat intriguing, but it may cause issues for many readers. The beginning is told in small, almost vignette-style stories. Once I figured this out, it made for an easier reading experience. It all comes together at about 60%, but it requires work at first.

The characters, while overwhelming in number, are fantastic, and I enjoyed several of the POVs, but I didn't feel that many of them were fully fleshed out. I loved Yasnic and the City itself.

So, you might be wondering what I did like. Adrian Tchaikovsky writes beautifully, always. The setting was fantastic. The Reproach was such a great setting - I need more. A novella, a short story, something. Even when I had no clue what was going on, I was intrigued while in it. The actual story, while messy, was timely and thematically worked for me. The worldbuilding was damn near genius, but it won't be for everyone. It requires patience. I have heard the next book in the series is more linear, so it gives me hope I won't struggle as much.

City of Last Chances is absolutely worth it if you have the patience for a slow-burn, multi-layered fantasy.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

NOT A BAD BOOK.

Quite the contrary, it was a really captivating book. The worldbuilding was astonishing—super detailed, super immersive, and definitely my favorite part of the book. That being said, I couldn’t really tell what the storyline was; this also could be because I hadn’t read enough (see below), though, so this isn’t a major concern.

Unfortunately, I started this book when I was really busy in school, so I DNF-ed it. Maybe someday I’ll read again.

Wow. This is a complex and slow read, but in my opinion the build up is totally worth it. The world building in here is done so well that I'll actually be confused if Tchaikovsky doesn't set more books in this universe. The characters go through major arcs, I don't think they'd believe you if you told them at the start!! And I adored the commentary on how groups attempting to overcome colonisation may have the same overall goal, but different endings in mind, as well as different methods! Definitely here for more fantasy by this authors and I might have to try out his sci-fi works too!-

This book was an absolute delight to read. I loved every second of it. It was my first Tchaikovsky book and I will for sure be reading more of his works.

I was kindly provided an ARC to review through NetGalley with thanks to the publishers.

I read this book at totally the wrong time. Adrian Tchaikovsky is an excellent writer and I'm sure this is a much greater book than I was able to appreciate. Tips for young players, don't read an intricate fantasy novel just after giving birth. The post-partum brain does this book no favours. There are so many characters and aspects of the city which I could not wrap my head around. It was a fascinating exploration of a city in flux which I'm sure was better appreciated by people without baby brain!

This started really well—fresh premise, engaging characters, tight plot—then suddenly went awry. The plot abruptly becomes very confusing once you hit the 30% mark. Names and places and factions and objects get thrown around without explanation or background. There are politics and rebels and traitors and it quickly becomes impossible to keep track of things.

Excellent book! Tchaikovsky is a genius! The book starts slow as each chapter follows a different pov, but it's telling a rich tapestry of a rebellion in a very complex, interesting city. Once I got into it, I couldn't put it down. Will definitely be recommending wildly.

An interesting take on fantasy, Tchaikovsky creates a 3d display of his fantasy world with every characters point of view, a run down of their history and reaction to events. It was a very in depth way to build an epic fantasy. Unfortunately I don't think it'll be for everyone, there's a lot of information but it is interesting and I would recommend it to epic fantasy readers

As much I have enjoyed Tchaikovsky's other titles, this one did not grab me. The writing was wonderful, but the cast of characters was sprawling and felt disconnected. Every time I became invested in a story line... whoosh.. off into another direction.
Just not the book for me this time.

Sadly this didn't work for me. I had the audiobook and maybe this was part of the problem. But I struggled to tell the difference between any of the characters. Which in turn made me care even less about the story.
The world itself did nothing for me.
I couldn't tell you the plot either.

I tried reading this book twice and I couldn't get past the 20% mark. It was a very slow start and the worldbuilding didn't feel as innovative as other Tchaikovsky works that I have read. I also found the multiple povs to be excessive. If you are going to have that many point of view characters I need to care about them from fairly early on in the book and I just didn't get that. All I cared about was the magical forest with the monsters that eat people and instead we had to follow very mundane every day activities of characters living in this city. I just knew that this book was not going to work for me and that is why I am giving it 2 stars.

For my full thoughts check out my video on Youtube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dol8sevMKkw&t=1070s

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a free eARC in exchange for my honest review*

"City of Last Chances" by Adrian Tchaikovsky is a spellbinding journey into a world where possibilities abound and destinies are intertwined. Tchaikovsky's storytelling mastery shines as he paints a vivid tapestry of a city filled with secrets, magic, and unexpected twists. The book's intricately developed characters and richly imagined setting create an immersive reading experience that transports readers to a realm where anything is possible. Tchaikovsky's ability to blend elements of fantasy and mystery adds depth to the narrative, keeping readers enthralled from beginning to end. "City of Last Chances" is a must-read for fans of speculative fiction, offering a captivating escape into a world where every choice could lead to an entirely new destiny.