BOOOK REVIEW: City of Lies (A Poison War Novel) by Sam Hawke
Courtesy of Times Reads
Rating: 10/10
Who can't relate to those Harry Potter days when magic was the order of the day. Seat-clinging action kept us riveted and we just couldn't take our eyes of the pages of adventure, mystical wars and magic. If you were or still are a Harry Potter fan, you are most likely to pick up this book the next time you need an awesome read.
Though it isn't involving magic, the action, suspense, adventure, love and all other elements of the famous series is very much available in this book as well. Just imagine magic been taken over by the supernatural and the use of poisons to kill each other (yes, I said POISONS, a wonderful and fresh alternative to the usual magic and murder).
Jovan is a proofer, a person who is trained to identify poisons and protect the Chancellor from being poisoned. Tain is his best friend and the heir to the Chancellor's seat should the current Chancellor expire before his time is due. Kalina, Jovan's elder sister, is weak and ill and was not able to take over her supposed role of proofer from Jovan.
Everything seems to be all sunshine until Etan, Jovan's uncle as well as Tashi (a teacher in the art of poisoning), and Chancellor Caslav (Tain's uncle) are poisoned during a lunch meeting. Without being able to identify the poison, Jovan is devastated at his uncle's sudden death and vows to find out who murdered the Chancellor and his uncle.
Tain on the other hand struggles to take control of the Chancellor's seat as he is still young and not as capable as his uncle. At this inopportune moment, a siege takes place. The Earthers who were disrespected by the Silastians want to take revenge and are taking over Tain's city. According to the Earthers, the spirits are displeased and want them to take revenge.
With a smattering of love and a whole lot of friendship and bravery, Jovan, Tain and Kalina find out who was the black sheep behind the poisoning and end the siege at the end. I don't want to reveal much of the ending as it will be a dampener to your reading experience.
What I found interesting in this book was before every chapter begins, there was a description of different types of poisons which were mentioned throughout the book. I wasn't entirely sure whether some of the herbs or poisons mentioned truly existed, but it was fun reading about them nonetheless.
A wonderful read and one which I have missed since my Harry Potter days, I highly recommend this book for those who love fiction with a splash of augmented reality thrown in. Plus, it has a wonderful cover that makes for an excellent display on your bookshelf as well. If this book is transformed into a movie, I bet seats will be fully booked!
