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Seven Blades in Black
Seven Blades in Black | Sam Sykes
Acclaimed author Sam Sykes returns with a brilliant new epic fantasy that introduces to an unforgettable outcast magician caught between two warring empires. Set in the Scar, where the magical, decadent Imperium battles the upstart, technologically-savvy Revolution, SEVEN BLADES OF BLACK follows the exploits of Sal the Cacophony, the most famous and dangerous of all the rogue mages. Among humans, none have power like mages. And among mages, none have will like Sal the Cacophony. Once revered, now vagrant, she walks a wasteland scarred by generations of magical warfare. The Scar, a land torn between powerful empires, is where rogue mages go to disappear, disgraced soldiers go to die and Sal went with a blade, a gun and a list of names she intended to use both on. But vengeance is a flame swift extinguished. Betrayed by those she trusted most, her magic torn from her and awaiting execution, Sal the Cacophony has one last tale to tell before they take her head. All she has left is her name, her story and the weapon she used to carved both. Vengeance is its own reward.
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majkia

odd. very odd. not necessarily a bad thing, tho.

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DawnReaderone
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“Now, it‘s certainly not true for every woman, but the ones I have had the good fortune to know in my life all followed this rule.
If you need a favor, you bring her flowers.
If you need her forgiveness, you bring her jewelry.
And if you need both, you bring her a book.”

This is my favorite quote so far and a book is perfect for every occasion.

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DawnReaderone
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Currently reading this tome. So far I‘m really liking it. Now to just make more time to read.

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GrilledCheeseSamurai
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March is the month for this thicc boi.

StellaDz Have you read his others? Wanting to jump in but not sure which one to start with! 4y
GrilledCheeseSamurai @StellaDz This will be my first ever Sam Sykes novel. It's the start of a brand new series. 😊 4y
vivastory Hope you like it more than I did 4y
GrilledCheeseSamurai @vivastory I hope so too. 😂 4y
JazzFeathers What a cover!!! 4y
62 likes5 comments
review
craftysilicate
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Mehso-so

Let's get the obvious out of the way: this book is too damn long. And most of the additional length is drawn-out fight scenes or unnecessary line breaks that screw up the rhythm, neither of which is my cup of tea.

Despite that, I don't regret reading this book, and I enjoyed it more than I didn't. But I have some thoughts about constant grimness and asshole protags, and while this space is too small, suffice to say I'm not a fan of them.

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craftysilicate
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I have a strong aversion to capitals for shouting in books, but this still made me laugh.

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craftysilicate
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So far this is a pretty quick read for being almost 700 pages, but I'm only about 120 in so I suppose that could change. I'm mostly enjoying it so far. It does this thing that always annoys me where there are excessive paragraph breaks to create beats for comedy or drama that don't really go there but, you know, it happens, I can get over it.

I like "That which is forbidden is mandatory." I love an order obsessed with knowledge.

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craftysilicate
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I haven't had a chance to actually start this book because it's too big to read at work, but man I love this cover design.

vivastory I thought the cover was the best thing about it 4y
craftysilicate @vivastory Seems like it's one of those love-it-or-hate-it books, but at least if I end up hating it I got to have it in my house looking pretty for a while 4y
vivastory Hopefully it works for you! I'll be looking for your review. 4y
6 likes3 comments
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vivastory
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Panpan

So, this is how I spent my week. Several times I came really close to bailing (very rare for me). I thought about setting it aside & coming back to it in a week or so. But the thought of future Scott having to suffer on the behalf of present day Scott made me power through. (YW Scott). According to Goodreads this is only the second book I've read this year that I've rated as low as 2 stars. Best part of the book was the drink.

vivastory More constructive criticism: no character development, jumps from action scene to action scene, the humor falls flat, repetitive prose. 4y
Cinfhen Your book and Starbucks are so beautifully coordinated ❤️🖤 4y
vivastory @Cinfhen Thanks! I actually reused this pic I took last Sunday. The picture & the drink (adult hot chocolate) were the best thing about the book 😂 4y
Cinfhen 😂😂🤣😂 4y
OnlyYoo Lolll 😂 4y
60 likes5 comments
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vivastory
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It's not cold here, thankfully, but that didn't stop me from grabbing a hot chocolate & making it an adult version. I started the tagged book on my Kindle last night, but decided to switch to a print version when I noticed that the library had a copy.

LeahBergen What a nice matchy pic! 😄 4y
silentrequiem Your drink and book match! 4y
vivastory @LeahBergen @silentrequiem I noticed that right when I posted. I felt like I was about to post on bookstagram 😂 4y
61 likes3 comments
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vivastory
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Gotta appreciate a good map!

TiredLibrarian "Not important but great whiskey" ? 4y
52 likes1 comment
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vivastory
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NotCool
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Pickpick

I really enjoyed this. And I usually hate revenge quests. Sal is Han Solo-esque and a very unreliable narrator. But she‘s funny and while she scratches her butt and flirts and is fairly awful, she seems real. Or at least, Sam Sykes does a good job of writing from the POV of a woman that sounds a woman. A woman with a magic gun and bird she rides.

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NotCool
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“Cacophony. Our scriptures are rife with tales of your malevolence.”
Funny how, in all this knowledge about me, not one of them ever mentioned how pretty I was.

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annkuch13
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Pickpick

It took me a while to read this but that has nothing to do with how amazing it is. The worldbuilding is creative, and the magic system is very cool. Plus there's some flintlock fantasy elements. Sykes has such a great sense of humor and excellent sarcastic timing, but he also pulls off deep emotions incredibly well. I went for laughing out loud on one page to intensely sorrowful on the next with beautifully written passages. I highly recommend it!

GrilledCheeseSamurai Great to hear it was good. I'm looking forward to reading it. 🤘 5y
Beholderess That cover is gorgeous 5y
32 likes2 comments
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ReadingSpoon
Bailedbailed

I just can‘t go on anymore. I guess if you like books with more dialogue about how dark and gritty the main character and world is than actual plot then this one‘s for you. I liked Sal the Cacophony as a concept but I kept zoning out during her monologues about how terrible her life is. I hate bailing on a book but this one was just too infuriating to get through.

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annkuch13
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I love when you're in the middle of a floppy paperback book and it stays open by itself. It leaves your hands free for petting kitties!

GrilledCheeseSamurai How'r you liking this so far? Should I be hype? 5y
annkuch13 @GrilledCheeseSamurai It's taking me a while to read because of life stuff, but I'm loving it! I would be hype. Sam Sykes is hilarious but there are also some really beautiful and heartbreaking moments. And the worldbuilding is cool. 5y
GrilledCheeseSamurai @annkuch13 Good to hear. This will be my first Sam Sykes novel. I follow him on Twitter (he's hilarious) but have never actually read anything of his before. 👍 5y
annkuch13 @GrilledCheeseSamurai Same! I haven't gotten around to reading him before but love his Twitter. The premise of this one just really grabbed me and I'm glad it did. 5y
33 likes4 comments
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annkuch13
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Beru is the cutest reading buddy. Except when she gets between you and your book...
#catsoflitsy

HeatherBlue Beautiful!! 5y
Squidapus Oh Squidapus was curious about this one 5y
annkuch13 @Squidapus It's really great so far! 5y
34 likes3 comments
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annkuch13
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I'm really enjoying this one so far. There's also something very comforting about carrying around a chunky fantasy book. Fun fact, this book is almost as big as one of my cats. (Beru's nickname is Tiny Cat. Or Jerkface.)

GrilledCheeseSamurai I have this one too. Hoping for a fall time read! ❤️ 5y
26 likes1 stack add1 comment
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snabar17

I hope more people pick up this book. Sam Sykes has done an excellent job building the story and suspense in this book. I‘m about a third of the way through it and loving it.

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hwestfall
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Pickpick

I loved it! There is a lot of swearing so if that is not your thing I would skip this one. I just made sure the kids were never around when I was listening to the audiobook. I thought the magic was interesting and the story was a lot of fun. It‘s a pick for me.

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nitalibrarian
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#bookmail
New fantasy by Sam Sykes. ❤️ the cover.

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hwestfall
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I am enjoying this audiobook but I can‘t listen to it around the kids. So many f words. I can honestly say this book has the most f words I have ever read. The book is pretty f-ing awesome though 😂

rachelm Adding to the list! 5y
8 likes1 stack add1 comment
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hwestfall
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I bought a book that came out today! I have followed Sam on Twitter for awhile now. He is absolutely hilarious to me. I haven't read any of his other books yet so I am excited to read this one.

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MCYmermaid
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@MystGalaxyBooks booth at #WonderCon ... a WIP.

Lizpixie Ohh, I wish I was there! 5y
43 likes1 comment
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AthenaWins
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Pickpick

Holy shit. What a ride. Sal the Cacophony is out for revenge. She just has a habit of leaving bodies and destruction in her wake. This book perfectly harmonizes beautiful prose, exciting action, fantastic world building, and a character you love to hate and hate to love. 5/5. Awesome book.

45 likes2 stack adds
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AthenaWins

I kind of love when a chapter ends with "Things were about to get interesting."

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AthenaWins
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OMG I love this.

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AthenaWins
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This is quickly becoming my favorite book so far this year. I follow Sam Sykes in Twitter because frankly he's hilarious. But I had never read his books before. And now, I cannot put this one down. I'm so glad I decided to grab this one from NetGalley.

46 likes1 stack add
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AthenaWins

"My mount glanced back at me. If she saw a flaw in my theory, she didn't say anything.
Which made sense.
What with her being a giant fucking bird and all."
??
I love this book already and I'm only 3 chapters in.

wordzie 😁😁❤ 5y
36 likes1 comment
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aeeklund
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Someone‘s been my very loyal snow day buddy. 🥰😸❄️📚

Just found out that my bookstore is closed tomorrow due to the continued Seattle #snowpocalypse, so the impromptu readathon continues!

#miyacatsprite #miyareads #catsoflitsy

BookBabe Aww, what a sweet kitty! 😻 Enjoy your reading time! 5y
38 likes1 comment