Reviewed by Chris
TITLE: Blyd and Pearce 
AUTHOR: Kim Fielding
PUBLISHER: Dreamspinner Press
LENGTH: 226 pages
RELEASE DATE: July 24, 2018
BLURB:
Born into poverty and orphaned young, Daveth Blyd had one chance for success when his fighting prowess earned him a place in the Tangye city guard—a place he lost to false accusations of theft. Now he scrapes out a living searching for wayward spouses and missing children. When a nobleman offers him a small fortune to find an entertainer who’s stolen a ring, Daveth takes the case.
While Jory Pearce may or may not be a thief, he certainly can’t be trusted. But, enchanted by Jory’s beauty and haunting voice, Daveth soon finds himself caught in the middle of a conspiracy. As he searches desperately for answers, he realizes that he’s also falling for Jory. The two men face river wraiths, assassins, a necromancer, and a talking head that could be Daveth’s salvation on their quest for the truth. But with everyone’s integrity in question and Death eager to dance, Daveth will need more than sorcery to survive.
REVIEW:
I think I’ve forgotten how much I enjoy it when Kim Fielding decides to do fantasy stories. Which I really shouldn’t, because all the ones I have read have turned out really well.
This newest addition to her fantasy catalog is an enthralling romp through the underbelly of the city of Tangye, where death is commonplace and there is very little that can’t be bought. Except maybe Daveth Blyd, a Lowler turned Guard turned Lowler detective for hire. Not that Daveth is adverse to taking coin, but he prefers that the coin he does take not cost him what little honor he has left. So he looks for missing spouses, cheating spouses, children who are lost, and what little jobs can keep him in the luxury he has long become accustomed–a luxury of food in his stomach (most of the time) and a roof over his head (as long as he can scrape together the rent each month). When a nobleman comes knocking, offering more money than he has seen in some time, to find a missing ring–and return both it and the thief to the man–he is cautious…but hungry. He does not plan to truly fall into the shit when he sets his sights on the singer and theif, Jory Pearce, though. And now he is left unsure where to go, or who to trust, when he starts to be haunted by assassins, wizards, and…well, actual ghosts.
I’m seriously not sure what to say about this book other than is was a whole ball of fun. You have back-alley brawls, sword-fights, double-dealing, falling in love with beautiful untruthful men, and a whole lot of intrigue and murder. I can’t say I was bored for a second of it.
Like Daveth you are never sure you can trust anyone, but slowly but surely Jory wins both of you over. He just has one of those personalities that makes you want him to be a good guy, because while him turning traitor would be a wonderful twist, it would also break your heart. And the story is played out in such a way that betrayal is inevitable, but you are never quite sure where it is going to come from. This is much bigger than stolen ring, after all, and as the story unfolds you start to see just how challenging a good ending–let alone a happily ever after–really is. But boy do you want it. It doesn’t come exactly the way you think it will, though–which I actually really loved, for the novelty if nothing else–but the ending is satisfying in a way I hadn’t expected.
There is a lot of really good things to say about this book. Half of them are spoilers, though. Which…dammit. That is annoying. I can say that the pacing was very well done. I didn’t want to set this book down for a second. Which made the fact that I literally had to get off the bus and go into work like three lines before the Big Reveal near the end so painful. I spent nine hours just desperately waiting for the clock to kick over to 5 so I could finish the book, and let me tell you…it was worth it. It left me a tad sad, but also really happy. You’ll understand after you read the story, trust me. It certainly didn’t always go where I was thinking it should, but I think it did go where it needed to. And, hey, if there is ever a chance for a sequel to show what happens after that last chapter, I’d be all over that. But for where it left off for Daveth and Jory? I’m satisfied. For now.
As it stands, I’m happy to have read this. It was a lovely story, that was at times a bit bleak, but always hopeful enough to keep you hoping and keep you reading. If you have read some of Fielding’s other fantasy book, I think this will be right up you alley, but honestly I think this is something to please most fantasy lovers out there.
RATING: 
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