Akiva Reads

by Robert Jackson Bennett

Could have used another edit to get rid of extra adverbs, slightly inconsistent character descriptions (e.g. Orso isn't shown to be anything like as ruthless as his introduction states), and infodumps. Even with those limitations, it's a fast-paced and absorbing fantasy/steampunk heist novel and I read it all in under 48 hours, including staying up til 2:30am to finish it.

Great villain and motive, and a surprising ability by a white guy to write female characters (including queer female characters?!) without sexist tropes.

I wonder about rating this the same as the previous thing I read, which was highly thoughtful and literary, but sometimes books are just really good at being exactly what they are and that's valid.

I'm still mildly annoyed that the key is called "Clef" though. I get it, the bad pun is super entertaining in your first draft, just....