Review: The Hallows H.L. Tinsley
Blurb:
The Hallow serum was once sacred to the Auld Bloods. Used to gain access to their lost ancestral powers, now it is regulated and administered by the powerful Providence Company. Evolved from the echelons of the Auld Church, the company exists to maintain the balance between faith, science and politics.
But keeping the peace between humans and Auld Bloods isn’t easy. Taking Hallow comes at a price. Providence Company Assessor Cam must deal with backstreet bootleggers, burnt-out addicts and floating nuns that won’t stay on the ground.
When a string of Auld Blood deaths appear to have been caused by a corrupted batch of Hallow, Cam begins to suspect all may not be as it seems. Bodies are piling up. Someone is hiding something, and the consequences are becoming monstrous.
A grim noir fantasy with elements of horror and a dash of dark humour, The Hallows is an adult fantasy novel and as such, contains adult themes and language which may be distressing to some readers.
Review:
The Hallows opens in a completely savage way with a drug bust, floating addicts and a stomach-churning comedown. Within the space of a few pages, readers will become familiar with the protagonist, Cam, and his job as an agent of the Providence Company dealing with problems plaguing the streets of Marien. From there, Tinsley does not dawdle about, but immediately hits the gas pedal (shout out to Sister Ramona) and brings readers on a wild trip jam-packed with ancient gods, scientific mysteries, and ruthless politics. It is one hell of a ride to say the least and I was completely hooked throughout.
The world that Tinsley has created here feels so authentic. There is something about Marien that entices readers to want to visit its various districts and learn about its history. From the neon-lit strip of the jazzy Beaker Road to the dangerous Red Market to the research labs of the Providence Company on the holy grounds of the Auld Church, there are so many interesting places to explore, and Tinsley makes each feel natural and necessary to the world. The Providence Company lies at the heart of the city, a church-state duopoly that both serves and rules over the Auld Bloods that call Marien home. The problem is that its power, or rather, illusion of power, is dwindling and with the rise of extremism among both humans and Auld Bloods, it is only a matter of time before there is outright war between the two communities.
Enter Cam and the Garden, one of several teams employed by the Providence Company to root out would-be dissidents and counter the black-market use of Hallow, the drug used by Auld Bloods to awaken the magical abilities in their blood. Cam is a Sixer, a type of Auld Blood whose senses are amplified ten-fold with the use of Hallow. With such a rare gift, Cam is the perfect protagonist to investigate the sudden rise in Hallow overdose deaths. Some of the best moments of the novel are Cam at a crime scene. Tinsley does a fantastic job of maintaining the sense of mystery while drip-feeding clues, giving readers the chance to piece together the case alongside Cam. I was completely intrigued and guessing right up to the final act. If you are a reader with a penchant for crime investigation, Tinsley has you completely covered.
Cam might be able to smoothly navigate a crime scene but the same cannot be said for his complicated relationships with those around him. This is where Tinsley’s writing truly shines. The comradery among Cam’s team is wonderfully realised and Cam’s individual relationship with each felt unique and realistic. The same can also be said for those outside the team, especially with the nuns of the Auld Church, with one in particular who is the source of a lot of Cam’s internal struggles. In all, Tinsley has created an excellent cast of characters, with a brilliant protagonist at their heart.
To conclude, The Hallows is an excellent grimdark noir fantasy. Not only does it scratch that particular genre itch, but it also offers readers a solid story, colourful characters and a wonderfully-realised setting. From what I can gather, this is a standalone novel, but it definitely has the potential to become a fully-fledged series. It feels like there is still so much to explore in Marien and I want to spend more time with the characters that call it home. This is the first book I have read by Tinsley. It sure as hell will not be the last. I highly recommend The Hallows.
