Rowena is a young apothecary clerk who wishes here allies would take her seriously and provide her with more opportunities to prove themselves. She’s also part of an experiment from a great creator who is studying nine individuals to judge the behavior of existence as a whole. These allies are an Alchemist and Anselm Meteron, two men who fourteen years ago completed a mercenary mission that ended up a disaster. The Alchemist is quite protective of Rowena, treating her as a daughter. After an invitation to the ball of a Greatduke, the three find out that they are being asked to complete another mission. On the side are characters such as Reanimation Jane, sought out for her skills of resurrecting or repairing those who have experienced major physical trauma with machine parts and know how. Haadi Gammon, the former head of investigator for the city of Corma, and plant based creatures who wish to bring about the end of human beings. Creatures with eyes in their heels called the Aigamuxa, and the Lanayi, which are basically sentinent murder trees, up the stakes for Rowena and her companions.
The Fall is the second book in Tracy Townsend’s Thieves of Fate series. Readers who have not read book one may find themselves confused in regards to the sheer number of characters and their pasts. I found myself going back and forth wondering how some characters fit into the universe as a whole, and if I was missing a major plot point by skipping book one. For readers who love intricate stories or steampunk style, The Fall is a fun read that will keep you on your toes. If you’re a reader who is looking for more of an easy summer beach read, this may not be the book for you.
The Fall is Book 2 of Thieves of Fate and is available now from Pyr publishing.
