The Blacktongue Thief by Christopher Buehlman follows the misadventures of Kinch Na Shannack, a thief branded with the black tongue, marking him as a debtor of the nefarious thieves guild. Set in an enchanted realm scarred by war, our thief will soon realize that what may have started as a quick assassination job to pay off his debts is spiraling out of control into something much larger and dangerous than he was anticipating.

Christopher Buehlman masterfully hints at the larger workings and dark past of his universe, all while moving the plot forward at a breakneck pace. The Goblin War, a well thought out historical event, is the source of the world's resource scarcity. This is an intriguing plot point caused by a war whose victory deprived humanity of all of its resources, horses, manpower, and weaponry. This taxing war leads to an interesting environment where humanity has declared and defended its title as a dominant species but struggles to survive, set back by its lack of necessary resources.

One of the main things that make this book stand out from the rest of the fantasy genre is its world’s masterful revelation in all of its gritty, grimy glory.

To all those seeking roguish thrills and mystifying adventure, this book is for you. Enjoy the read!

Review by: Tristan

Tristan is an 11th grader, dungeon master, poet, future engineer, avid reader, and lover of fiction, fantasy, and sci-fi.

—Rachael Zak, Young Adult Librarian, Woodland Hills Branch Library