The City of Mist and Tears (Mothers of Sorrow #1), by Alex Robins
9 Dec 2024The Book
Synopsis:
A riveting new story set in the acclaimed War of the Twelve universe.
Keselgraad. A city of iron and stone, rising from the mist-shrouded wasteland to pierce the pallid clouds. A colossal man-made mountain stretching a mile high, from the blood-stained alleyways of the Slums to the crystal-studded spire of the Church of the Mother, whose amethyst shards shine brighter than any star.
Keselgraad. Both a haven and a prison. There is no way in. No way out. For the city is under constant assault from an enemy that is as relentless as it is indomitable; a raging sea of churning white that encircles the crumbling walls in its cold embrace. Only the radiance of the Mother can stem the ravenous tide. Only the shield of her faith can keep her citizens safe.
But there is a secret hidden deep within the ancient, decrepit heart of Keselgraad. It is whispered in the darkness of the underground galleries. Scratched into the mud. Etched into the stone.
The crystals are failing.
Their light is dying.
And without their protection, the Mists will be free to enter Keselgraad. To gorge themselves on the flesh of a thousand helpless souls. To drain the life from every last living being; man, woman, and child.Until the city becomes a tomb.
My Review
The City of Mist and Sorrows is the first novel in a new grim fantasy series set in the War of the Twelve universe, Mothers of Sorrow, written by Alex Robins. A story that starts as a murder mystery that soon evolves into a choral play woven around the city and the mystery behind the magic that protects the city from the mists that surround it, putting solid foundations for creating an epic storyline.
Kelsegraad, a city of iron and stone, a tall spire-like human construction that keeps its inhabitants safe from the mists; a prison for its inhabitants, as they cannot go outside. But the magic that keeps the mists outside is failing; the crystals that sustain that magic are working for shorter periods of time and the secret behind refilling them encloses a dangerous reality.
In this setting, Robins throws us three POVs, coming from different strata of Kelsegraad. First, we have Roe, an orphan stuck on the lower levers, just trying to survive; his innate curiosity will eventually lead him to find the relationship between the cause of him being a orphan and the crystals that protect the city. In second, Pine and Selene, part of the city watch; Pine, whose past is also tied to the orphan event, and that eventually will get involved in the mystery of the fading magic, in a really tortuous path. And finally, we have Thane, Keeper of the Peace, the leader of the city and definitely the person behind most of the schemes, acting in the name of the greatest good for Kelsegraad. Three POVs that are woven together into a plot that seems to barely scratch the surface of the series.
The worldbuilding is grim, but really interesting. As the novel is excellently paced, most of it is thrown into the natural flow of the story, revealing a conflict that goes further than the current timeline; we are continuously on the edge of the seat, and the 300 pages feel short as you end wanting more from it.
The City of Mist and Tears is an excellent novel; grim and epic at the same time, introducing you to memorable characters, while also giving some hints to those that loved the WotT universe. I can't wait to continue with the Mothers of Sorrow series, because it promises to be an epic story.
The Author/s
Alex Robins
Alex Robins was born in Norwich, England back when it was still trendy to wear lycra tracksuits and bright pink headbands. Norwich School Library was where he first discovered his love of reading, an old converted undercroft packed to the rafters with books. The first fantasy series he read was The Dragonlance Chronicles by Margaret Weis & Tracey Hickman, quickly followed by The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and David Eddings' The Belgariad.
At the age of twelve Alex moved across the channel to Nantes in France. Speaking very little French, the first few years were difficult and sometimes lonely as he scrambled to get a grip on the intricate grammar and vocabulary of the French language. His taste in books branched out from epic fantasy to science-fiction, mysteries, thrillers, and historical fiction, but he always came back to his favourite fantasy authors when looking to escape the outside world.
After degrees in agronomy, project management, and computer sciences, Alex founded his own company dedicated to online voting. He met his wife during a game of badminton and they spent several years getting trounced in various regional tournaments before getting married. Alex now lives in the sunny Loire Valley in western France, surrounded by imposing castles, sprawling vineyards, and two children. After reading fantasy books for the last thirty years he decided to write one. The Broken Heart of Arelium is his first novel, and the first in the War of the Twelve series.