Review: In the Shadow of their Dying by Michael R. Fletcher & Anna Smith Spark
Blurb:
The third best assassin. A second rate mercenary crew. One terrifying demon.
As Sharaam crumbles under siege, a mercenary crew hires an assassin to kill the king. For Tash, it’s a chance at glory—to be the best blade in the dark Sharaam has ever known. For Pitt, it’s a way to get his cutthroat crew past the Tsarii siege and out of this hellhole, maybe even with some gold to their name. For Iananr the Bound One, it's a dream of shadows and human blood.
Review:
Conjured from the delightfully dark imaginations of the grimdark fantasy heavyweights Michael R. Fletcher and Anna Smith Spark, In the Shadow of Their Dying is a novella of blood, betrayal and beauty. Being familiar with the works of both authors, I thought I knew exactly what I was signing up for, only to quickly realise how ill-prepared I was for the sheer insanity contained in its pages. It packs one hell of a punch that could floor even the most hardened veterans of the genre. By the story’s end I felt like I had gone through a few bare-knuckle rounds and needed to sit in reflective silence.
Fletcher’s wit shines throughout the novella. He has a penchant for writing about characters down on their luck but always makes it unique with every new story he writes. Tash is a perfect example of this. His desperation drives him to take on a contract that will most likely kill him, all in the name of a better reputation than the third best assassin in a city on the verge of collapse. And that is the least of his terrible decisions throughout the story. Then there is Pitt and his gang of murderers seeking a way to escape the city before it is sacked and earn a little bit of coin while doing so. While I enjoyed spending time with these horrible people, my favourite murderer by far is Wint with her distinctive appearance, nature, and outlook on events that happen.
Anna Smith Spark is renowned for her beautifully authentic prose. She has the rare ability to instil in readers a sense of empathy for even the most terrifying and villainous of characters and does it here again with the character of Iananr, a bound demon that is willing to drown a city in blood in order to be free. Her chapters are just overflowing with emotions and there were a couple of times where I found myself positively overwhelmed by the sheer rawness and realness on display here. If demons are real, then I would bet that Spark is the closest writer to ever convey their train of thoughts. I do not think I will ever forget Iananr.
In the Shadow of Their Dying is best experienced in one sitting. With that said, it is not for the faint of heart, or the stomach for that matter. Equal parts gruesome and addictive, it brings you down a grimdark rabbit hole that will leave you feeling unsettled and wanting more. Fletcher and Spark are both at the top of their game here and make for one hell of a tag team. If you want to indulge in some disgustingly good grimdark storytelling for a few hours, then I recommend In the Shadow of Their Dying.
