First in a trilogy, this magnificently colourful epic of urban fantasy opens up an intricate new world of unforgettable characters and thrilling events, in the best tradition of Gormenghast
Scar Night: Bk. 1
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TRUDI CANAVAN, author of The Black Magician Trilogy and the Age of the Five Trilogy
'A visually rich, satisfyingly dark tale of a city of chains, ancient bloodlust and unshakeable loyalty.'
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
HAL DUNCAN, author of Vellum
'urban fantasy at its best."
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
61 of 62 people found the following review helpful
By Nolene-Patricia Dougan
VINE™ VOICE
Format:Hardcover
Welcome to the world of Deepgate, a city suspended by chains over a vast and mysterious chasm. Only after you have lived your life and died will you find what lies underneath Deepgate at the bottom of the abyss. The religion of Deepgate tells its people that they will find peace when your body is thrown or `sent' to the bottom of the pit where the God Ulcis waits with the noble souls of the dead to greet you. But is this true...? Are the priests or `Presbyters' hiding something? In death do the people of Deepgate find peace when they are cast into the pit? Or for thousands of years has the religion of this chained city been based simply on a myth...? That is what, Rachael, an assassin - known to Deepgate citizens as a Spine - is going to find out whether she likes it or not. Rachael has sworn to protect Dill, a teenage angel descended from a holy bloodline and together driven by a quest to save the city, of Deepgate they must travel deep into the abyss and face Ulcis if they want to succeed in their task. Will the creatures that they have been told are their enemies truly be their adversaries, or will the men they have been taught to respect and admire be their greatest threat...?
Scar Night, is a first novel written by Alan Campbell and also the first volume in the Deepgate Codex and it is a terrific start to what promises to become a thrilling saga. However, you can tell that the author has been heavily influenced by other fantasy classics, such as Gormenghast. Like Gormenghast, if you don't stick with it, Scar Night can be a little bit hard to get into. At the beginning of the book, so many characters are introduced and their role in the city is described in such detail that some readers may get a bit confused or frustrated. However, just stick with it because this is the only criticism I would have of this novel. After you get past this minor hurdle and into the story, the book and characters come alive, and you will empathise with Deepgate's heroes and shudder at the malevolence of Deepgate's villains.
In sum, Scar Night is an excellent first book and will leave you, after a slightly slow start waiting with great anticipation for the next instalment of the saga. The book also has some brilliant one-liners as well, all of which will bring a smile to your face along your trek through a great adventure.
Scar Night, is a first novel written by Alan Campbell and also the first volume in the Deepgate Codex and it is a terrific start to what promises to become a thrilling saga. However, you can tell that the author has been heavily influenced by other fantasy classics, such as Gormenghast. Like Gormenghast, if you don't stick with it, Scar Night can be a little bit hard to get into. At the beginning of the book, so many characters are introduced and their role in the city is described in such detail that some readers may get a bit confused or frustrated. However, just stick with it because this is the only criticism I would have of this novel. After you get past this minor hurdle and into the story, the book and characters come alive, and you will empathise with Deepgate's heroes and shudder at the malevolence of Deepgate's villains.
In sum, Scar Night is an excellent first book and will leave you, after a slightly slow start waiting with great anticipation for the next instalment of the saga. The book also has some brilliant one-liners as well, all of which will bring a smile to your face along your trek through a great adventure.
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful
By Ildrinn
Format:Hardcover
A city in chains hanging over an abyss; a dark, gaslit warren of streets; the ancient, brooding temple of an arcane death-cult... the first thing that strikes you about Scar Night is the setting. This is not your average steam-punk slush; the background descriptions are as beautifully written as anything by Mervyn Peake or Gene Wolfe. Neither is it just a pretty travelogue, however - the next things you notice are the mounting piles of bodies and copious amounts of blood. And that's before you even get to the end of the second page.
For a debut author, this is astonishingly good. You can almost smell the burning tar and the filthy kitchens as the story rattles through the city of Deepgate, following the cast of monsters and misfits in their quests for vengeance, glory, catharsis or just a nice creamy pastry...
The plot is well-paced, though it does stray dangerously close to cliche on occasion. The characters, however, for all that they have fantasy archetypes at their core, are properly developed and have motivations that you can care about; there's some good dialogue, too. This is one author whose next book I will be eagerly awaiting.
For a debut author, this is astonishingly good. You can almost smell the burning tar and the filthy kitchens as the story rattles through the city of Deepgate, following the cast of monsters and misfits in their quests for vengeance, glory, catharsis or just a nice creamy pastry...
The plot is well-paced, though it does stray dangerously close to cliche on occasion. The characters, however, for all that they have fantasy archetypes at their core, are properly developed and have motivations that you can care about; there's some good dialogue, too. This is one author whose next book I will be eagerly awaiting.
24 of 25 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Dark, surreal, gory, monsters, blood, guts, and oh so beautifully written--an absolute vision of fantasy that one rarely finds. I could SMELL the chained city, picture it vividly, I heard the sounds of it: this is the realism of this book. And yes, there are even touches of sarcastic humor that are a delight. No elves, no dragons--I guess the popular term would be urban fantasy. But to me, this one stands alone, in a class by itself. You MUST experience this book.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of the best books i have read in years...
Psycho angels, a city suspended by chains + crazy Spines all surrounded by darkness and fear, a deeply gothic fable written with all the suspence and drama of a top Hollywood film... Read more
Published 19 days ago by Matthew Dyson Lord
5.0 out of 5 stars
Lies, Murder, War
Wow ... this is a fantastic book, and, hopefully, the start of a fantastic trilogy. I am always totally delighted to find a new writer who writes fantasy/sci-fi, or whatever you... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Keen Reader
5.0 out of 5 stars
Peake Practice
The city of Deepgate hangs suspended by chains over the bottomless Abyss. It dispatches its souls to everlasting life by casting them into this pit. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Crookedmouth
5.0 out of 5 stars
Port Talbot on steroids....
If you love dark gritty books with great characters then you will love this book! The story is set in a city called Deepgate which just happens to be suspended by chains over a... Read more
Published 12 months ago by Mr. S. Morris
3.0 out of 5 stars
Ok plot but no character feelings or progress
This review is written just after i finished book 2 (Iron angel) and I'm not planning to finish reading this trilogy.
3 very small stars. Read more
3 very small stars. Read more
Published 16 months ago by Knud Wharton Hammerich
2.0 out of 5 stars
Overrated and I didn't finish
Maybe because I am coming fresh from a couple of really great books recently.. but I was very disappointed in this book.
The concept is great and very intriguing, .. Read more
The concept is great and very intriguing, .. Read more
Published 21 months ago by A. G. Williams
5.0 out of 5 stars
Highly Recommended
Scar Night is the refreshing type of fantasy that has you on edge at times, waiting for the other shoe to drop, especially with some of the characters, and laughing at the plethora... Read more
Published on 25 Aug 2010 by Von
1.0 out of 5 stars
Deephole is more like it
I started this book a few months ago and I've gotten through about a quarter to a third of it...it's grueling. I doubt I can finish this. Read more
Published on 25 Jun 2010 by L. Huynh
4.0 out of 5 stars
An impressive and inventive debut novel
The city of Deepgate is suspended by chains over a vast abyss. At the bottom of the abyss dwells Ulcis, the fallen god, who collects the souls fed to him by the priests of Deepgate... Read more
Published on 4 July 2009 by A. Whitehead
2.0 out of 5 stars
Average read... more of a childrens book
I read this a while ago now and it's just popped up on my screen again while browsing for something else. Read more
Published on 26 Jun 2009 by TVOR
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