City of Ruin - Mark Charan Newton

I posted a very early review of this some time ago and promsed to repost it when it came out. I'm not doing that, you can read it here. Instead, having had longer to contemplate and having written a more full review which will be released as an audio review on Escape Pod in June or July I believe, I decided to postan extract from that. For the full thing you will have to keep an eye on Escape Pod.

The second in the Red Sun series moves on from events in Villjamur. After the climactic end of the first book some familiar faces are to be found in Villiren among the new ones. This is still at it’s heart is a noir mystery, with investigator Jeryd cutting through all the other plotlines in ways that do eventually become clear. The political intrigue and skirmishes of the first book give way though to the daily struggle to survive, mundane matters of meat and escape routes and the gangs that run the city.

While the first in the series was a blend of noir and fantasy with maybe just a little sci fi the second is much less straightforward. The strange crab like enemies that came with the snow hint at a much stronger sci fi element to come in the future of the series. The noir is still there along with the fantasy but Mark really let loose a little in City of Ruin and his love of the weird comes out strongly and strangely.

Having touched on issues of race and sexuality in the first novel Newton explains these themes much more in City of Ruin. The commanders sexuality becomes a potential issue for the defense of the city, while the presence of Rumels on the invading forces threatens the previous tolerance of the species within the walls. Although these are issues that Newton wanted to address they are not pushed in for the sake of it, but are integral to the story.

There is an exploration of morality here too, what is acceptable in a time of war, or for love? How far should you go to keep a city running and is it made worse if the motivation is simply greed? For what price would you betray a friend? Newton tempers repulsive behaviour with moments of tenderness or decent motivations manipulating the readers reaction to a character. In a moment an almost moustache twirling villain is shown in a new light and while still in may ways repugnant becomes somewhat sympathetic too.

Now, go read the book, and when it comes out listen to the ful review on Escape pod.