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Tales of Isyr
The Many Shades of Midnight
A plague of monsters. A deadly conspiracy. A truth that will shatter the world.
Isyr. Stronger, brighter, more beautiful than other metals. Once the most desirable thing in Ellasia, now it is priceless, the pure Isyrium needed to produce it mined to exhaustion. What’s left is controlled by the powerful mining syndicates, and such is the demand for their Isyrium that even kings do their bidding. Yet just as the beauty of Isyr hides a deadly secret, so too do the syndicates.
A terrifying enemy is spreading a plague across the land, a sickness that kills or transforms everything it touches. Unable to contain the outbreaks, the King of Lankara begs the aid of the disgraced former Duke of Agrathon, Alyas-Raine Sera, a man who has spent years fighting syndicate expansion and whose resentment over his exile makes him an unpredictable, dangerous ally in the power struggle between the rulers of Ellasia and the mining companies.
Attached to the envoy to recall the duke, the apprentice surgeon Brivar finds his skills and loyalty tested as his service to his new patron uncovers secrets about Isyr and the plague that link it to the mining of Isyrium – and threaten the life of the man it is his duty to safeguard.
In their own separate ways, Alyas and Brivar must take on the might of the syndicates and confront the greed, murder, betrayal and impossible choices of a crisis that has been decades in the making – and the price of their failure could be everyone and everything.
Isyr. Stronger, brighter, more beautiful than other metals. Once the most desirable thing in Ellasia, now it is priceless, the pure Isyrium needed to produce it mined to exhaustion. What’s left is controlled by the powerful mining syndicates, and such is the demand for their Isyrium that even kings do their bidding. Yet just as the beauty of Isyr hides a deadly secret, so too do the syndicates.
A terrifying enemy is spreading a plague across the land, a sickness that kills or transforms everything it touches. Unable to contain the outbreaks, the King of Lankara begs the aid of the disgraced former Duke of Agrathon, Alyas-Raine Sera, a man who has spent years fighting syndicate expansion and whose resentment over his exile makes him an unpredictable, dangerous ally in the power struggle between the rulers of Ellasia and the mining companies.
Attached to the envoy to recall the duke, the apprentice surgeon Brivar finds his skills and loyalty tested as his service to his new patron uncovers secrets about Isyr and the plague that link it to the mining of Isyrium – and threaten the life of the man it is his duty to safeguard.
In their own separate ways, Alyas and Brivar must take on the might of the syndicates and confront the greed, murder, betrayal and impossible choices of a crisis that has been decades in the making – and the price of their failure could be everyone and everything.
352 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 1, 2023
About the author
C.M. Debell
5 books29 followersFantasy fan since forever, coffee-obsessed, cake-loving ex-Londoner, wife, mother, journalist, editor, designer, and cowrie collector.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
April 17, 2023
Read my full review here: https://www.bookwormblues.net/2023/04...
I generally don’t take on books (to edit) that I don’t completely believe in. Sometimes, even with that in mind, a book will come along that will press all the right buttons and somehow manage to thrill both Reader Sarah and Editor Sarah at the same time. Those books are the truly special ones. The ones that I know I’ll be thinking about for a long, long time.
When Debell contacted me about editing, I did a sample edit of this book and I think I wrote her back something like, “I love this so much I’d just about pay you for the opportunity to work on it.” I just knew from that sample that this was something truly special, a book that would echo through the corridors of my soul for a while. Something I fundamentally needed to read.
The Many Shades of Midnight is unlike any other fantasy I’ve really ever read, which is one reason why it worked so well. Set in a well-realized, stunningly developed secondary world, Debell decided to keep everything intimate, so here you get this really interesting marriage of an tight plot meshed with the sense of sprawling worldbuilding that fantasy is so known for. Rather than bogging down her book with the vastness of her creation, she makes the things that matter sit center stage, unavoidable, and leaves other things hinted at, or just present enough to give readers a sense of more without overwhelming them with it.
The decision to do this was wise, because it allows readers to focus on the story more than anything else, and since there’s some intense character work in this book, that focus will pay off as events unfold.
The characters are amazing. I will flat-out say that I don’t think I’ve read a book with such carefully considered characters, character development, and character relationships before. The friendships between the main characters are so deep, so real, I feel like they should stand as an example to other authors who are looking to create realistic platonic character friendships. The emotional notes each of the characters hit is fantastic, their voices are unique throughout, as are how they approach and deal with things.
Quite frankly, these are some of the best characters I’ve ever read, full-stop. There’s so much about them to love. Not only does Debell manage to emotionally invest me in every aspect of her characters, but she also manages to balance that with a plot that is just as gripping. It’s really quite something to watch her operate on these two different levels (internal and external) and weave them both together so effortlessly. This makes the plot an extension of the characters and watching how one impacts the other is… it’s nothing short of pure mastery.
Honestly, this book has some of the best character work I have ever read.
Now, the plot is… stunning, really. One of my favorite things is to read a fantasy book that has themes that resonate profoundly with our real-world struggles and it’s been a while since I’ve seen that done quite so well, or so pointedly, as in this book. Here Debell marries fantasy and environmental issues, climate change and the like, and she does it so very well.
Isyr is a strong metal that Ellasia has built its economy on, but it’s drying up at the mines and a new, strange plague is spreading across the land. An investigation is launched to discover what is causing this strange illness, pitting our protagonists against the government, powerful mining syndicates, and the populous itself. (I really don’t want to go too much into plot details because reading, and figuring it out as you go, is part of the joy.)
Alyas and Brivar come at this from two different perspectives. Alyas has a dark, haunted past and plenty of history that pits him against the forces that be. An exile, and a man who has spent plenty of years fighting mining expansion, he has a certain no nonsense, businesslike manner that seems to always cut to the core of situations.
And there is Brivar, a surgeon’s apprentice who has been tasked with investigating the cause of this plague. Once Alyas and Brivar join forces, nothing will be the same: neither them nor the world they inhabit. Since each of them come at this problem in very different ways, it helps readers get a more nuanced perspective of what’s going on. More, however, it’s incredible to watch their friendship develop. Brivar is a character who instantly stole my heart, showing that gentle does not always mean weak, and Alyas’s emotional depth was truly something to behold.
Brivar, quite honestly, is everything. I’ve never seen such a gentle character in fantasy with such a core of strength he draws from to stay that soft. And his hope balances out Alyas’s brooding perfectly, but it also bonds them in some unexpected ways as well.
As the plot unwinds, Debell keeps things going at a quick pace, somehow knowing when readers will need a moment to collect their thoughts, and when they’ll need action and forward momentum. It was impossible to put this book down, through all its wild twists and turns, through themes that resonate so profoundly with our modern day, through friendships the likes of which fantasy needs more of. Through the quiet moments of (sometimes painful) introspection. This book aches, but it’s a glorious kind of ache. It’s like looking at a master painter at his craft. It’s something you just… let happen to you and once it does, you’ll be so glad it did.
This isn’t a light book by any stretch of the imagination. Dark things happen here, and yet Debell writes with such grace, such empathy. Her prose is fluid, verging on poetic. Her characters are so real they live and breathe off the page, and the environmental themes are something that resonates profoundly with us in this day and age. More, all of this charges straight for an ending that is… to put it frankly, as unexpected as it is gripping.
As you can tell, I loved every part of this book. It’s one of my favorite recent discoveries. It has some of the best character work I’ve ever seen, and themes that profoundly resonate with our own day and age (Also, after I edited this book, I told the author to go watch Glass Onion on Netflix. If you read this book, watch that movie after and I’ll let you guess why I suggested that.)
The Many Shades of Midnight is precisely executed with every aspect of it carefully considered. It’s unlike any fantasy I’ve read yet, and perhaps that’s part of the draw. It’s hard to write a book that stands out so well for its unique qualities in a world where so many books are being released all the time, but Debell managed it. From the flawless writing to the stunning character work and the gripping plot, every part of this book shines.
It’s the kind of story that breathes both on and off the page.
I generally don’t take on books (to edit) that I don’t completely believe in. Sometimes, even with that in mind, a book will come along that will press all the right buttons and somehow manage to thrill both Reader Sarah and Editor Sarah at the same time. Those books are the truly special ones. The ones that I know I’ll be thinking about for a long, long time.
When Debell contacted me about editing, I did a sample edit of this book and I think I wrote her back something like, “I love this so much I’d just about pay you for the opportunity to work on it.” I just knew from that sample that this was something truly special, a book that would echo through the corridors of my soul for a while. Something I fundamentally needed to read.
The Many Shades of Midnight is unlike any other fantasy I’ve really ever read, which is one reason why it worked so well. Set in a well-realized, stunningly developed secondary world, Debell decided to keep everything intimate, so here you get this really interesting marriage of an tight plot meshed with the sense of sprawling worldbuilding that fantasy is so known for. Rather than bogging down her book with the vastness of her creation, she makes the things that matter sit center stage, unavoidable, and leaves other things hinted at, or just present enough to give readers a sense of more without overwhelming them with it.
The decision to do this was wise, because it allows readers to focus on the story more than anything else, and since there’s some intense character work in this book, that focus will pay off as events unfold.
The characters are amazing. I will flat-out say that I don’t think I’ve read a book with such carefully considered characters, character development, and character relationships before. The friendships between the main characters are so deep, so real, I feel like they should stand as an example to other authors who are looking to create realistic platonic character friendships. The emotional notes each of the characters hit is fantastic, their voices are unique throughout, as are how they approach and deal with things.
Quite frankly, these are some of the best characters I’ve ever read, full-stop. There’s so much about them to love. Not only does Debell manage to emotionally invest me in every aspect of her characters, but she also manages to balance that with a plot that is just as gripping. It’s really quite something to watch her operate on these two different levels (internal and external) and weave them both together so effortlessly. This makes the plot an extension of the characters and watching how one impacts the other is… it’s nothing short of pure mastery.
Honestly, this book has some of the best character work I have ever read.
Now, the plot is… stunning, really. One of my favorite things is to read a fantasy book that has themes that resonate profoundly with our real-world struggles and it’s been a while since I’ve seen that done quite so well, or so pointedly, as in this book. Here Debell marries fantasy and environmental issues, climate change and the like, and she does it so very well.
Isyr is a strong metal that Ellasia has built its economy on, but it’s drying up at the mines and a new, strange plague is spreading across the land. An investigation is launched to discover what is causing this strange illness, pitting our protagonists against the government, powerful mining syndicates, and the populous itself. (I really don’t want to go too much into plot details because reading, and figuring it out as you go, is part of the joy.)
Alyas and Brivar come at this from two different perspectives. Alyas has a dark, haunted past and plenty of history that pits him against the forces that be. An exile, and a man who has spent plenty of years fighting mining expansion, he has a certain no nonsense, businesslike manner that seems to always cut to the core of situations.
And there is Brivar, a surgeon’s apprentice who has been tasked with investigating the cause of this plague. Once Alyas and Brivar join forces, nothing will be the same: neither them nor the world they inhabit. Since each of them come at this problem in very different ways, it helps readers get a more nuanced perspective of what’s going on. More, however, it’s incredible to watch their friendship develop. Brivar is a character who instantly stole my heart, showing that gentle does not always mean weak, and Alyas’s emotional depth was truly something to behold.
Brivar, quite honestly, is everything. I’ve never seen such a gentle character in fantasy with such a core of strength he draws from to stay that soft. And his hope balances out Alyas’s brooding perfectly, but it also bonds them in some unexpected ways as well.
As the plot unwinds, Debell keeps things going at a quick pace, somehow knowing when readers will need a moment to collect their thoughts, and when they’ll need action and forward momentum. It was impossible to put this book down, through all its wild twists and turns, through themes that resonate so profoundly with our modern day, through friendships the likes of which fantasy needs more of. Through the quiet moments of (sometimes painful) introspection. This book aches, but it’s a glorious kind of ache. It’s like looking at a master painter at his craft. It’s something you just… let happen to you and once it does, you’ll be so glad it did.
This isn’t a light book by any stretch of the imagination. Dark things happen here, and yet Debell writes with such grace, such empathy. Her prose is fluid, verging on poetic. Her characters are so real they live and breathe off the page, and the environmental themes are something that resonates profoundly with us in this day and age. More, all of this charges straight for an ending that is… to put it frankly, as unexpected as it is gripping.
As you can tell, I loved every part of this book. It’s one of my favorite recent discoveries. It has some of the best character work I’ve ever seen, and themes that profoundly resonate with our own day and age (Also, after I edited this book, I told the author to go watch Glass Onion on Netflix. If you read this book, watch that movie after and I’ll let you guess why I suggested that.)
The Many Shades of Midnight is precisely executed with every aspect of it carefully considered. It’s unlike any fantasy I’ve read yet, and perhaps that’s part of the draw. It’s hard to write a book that stands out so well for its unique qualities in a world where so many books are being released all the time, but Debell managed it. From the flawless writing to the stunning character work and the gripping plot, every part of this book shines.
It’s the kind of story that breathes both on and off the page.
November 16, 2023
Longer review to come, but for now - this book blew me away. Easily one of the best indie fantasies I’ve ever read and certainly at the top of my list of all the books (indie or not) I’ve read this year. Highly recommended.
July 18, 2023
The Many Shades of Midnight is a superb book which will have me pondering its powerful themes, profound messages and complex main character for a long time.
That character is the exiled Duke of Agrathon, Alyas-Raine Sera. He is intriguingly multi-facted. As his story and motivations are peeled away, he captivates, frustrates and entertains. By the book’s end, he’d wrung just about every possible emotion out of me.
What makes this all the more impressive is the fact he isn’t one of the main POVs. We only have a relatively few pages from his perspective but the whole story revolves around him, his decisions and actions.
The main POVs are Brivar, an apprentice surgeon with a religious order, and Esar Cantrell, Alyas’ foster brother, but we get other perspectives, including the duke’s, as we build towards the dramatic finale.
I think Debell must be an author who is very much character-driven. All the characters have agency and are compelling and engaging.
The dialogue and the relationship dynamics between them draw out their personalities. We live and breathe their emotional angst and the well-articulated consequences of the story’s events and political machinations.
The first half of the book is a slow-burn, as Debell commits lots of time in portraying those personalities. The pay-off is all the better for it, as I was fully invested in the characters by the time the pace quickens and tensions rise.
There’s a fantastic blend of low and high stakes for the characters and the world they inhabit, and that also helps to make the story and the people living it feel so deep and real.
Debell’s prose had shades of Guy Gavriel Kay for me and I enjoyed it immensely. The way she crafted the characters and the story was perfect for the messages it tells.
Those messages are blunt in impact but far from it in terms of delivery, and they should resonate with every reader.
The world of Alyas, Esar and Brivar is on the brink of a catastrophe caused by human greed.
The story explores themes of loyalty, love, family, friendship, betrayal, corruption and sacrifice in the battle of good versus wrong, although doing the right thing can involve impossible decisions and have devastating consequences.
We discover the lengths some people will go to put profit and self-interest before terrible costs, and the courage others will show and the sacrifices they will make to protect the people and world they love.
The parallels with our world are clear. The book contains hard-hitting environmental messages for the people who don’t understand, or choose to ignore or under-estimate, the avoidable impacts of their actions on the planet we share.
It asks big questions at a very human level and I don’t think anyone reading this book can fail to be moved by the human elements and environmental consequences it relates.
It’s a powerful plea to the people who hold the keys to change and you can feel the author’s anger and fear.
However, there is also hope, beautifully symbolised in the book through the birth of a child and the desire to ensure it has a better future.
I believe it’s telling us that, as we stand on the brink of our own midnight, there can be a new dawn for the natural world we should treasure.
It’s that kind of message, expertly told in a wonderful book, which makes me certain I’ll never forget the day the blue star-violet flowered and I met the Duke of Agrathon.
That character is the exiled Duke of Agrathon, Alyas-Raine Sera. He is intriguingly multi-facted. As his story and motivations are peeled away, he captivates, frustrates and entertains. By the book’s end, he’d wrung just about every possible emotion out of me.
What makes this all the more impressive is the fact he isn’t one of the main POVs. We only have a relatively few pages from his perspective but the whole story revolves around him, his decisions and actions.
The main POVs are Brivar, an apprentice surgeon with a religious order, and Esar Cantrell, Alyas’ foster brother, but we get other perspectives, including the duke’s, as we build towards the dramatic finale.
I think Debell must be an author who is very much character-driven. All the characters have agency and are compelling and engaging.
The dialogue and the relationship dynamics between them draw out their personalities. We live and breathe their emotional angst and the well-articulated consequences of the story’s events and political machinations.
The first half of the book is a slow-burn, as Debell commits lots of time in portraying those personalities. The pay-off is all the better for it, as I was fully invested in the characters by the time the pace quickens and tensions rise.
There’s a fantastic blend of low and high stakes for the characters and the world they inhabit, and that also helps to make the story and the people living it feel so deep and real.
Debell’s prose had shades of Guy Gavriel Kay for me and I enjoyed it immensely. The way she crafted the characters and the story was perfect for the messages it tells.
Those messages are blunt in impact but far from it in terms of delivery, and they should resonate with every reader.
The world of Alyas, Esar and Brivar is on the brink of a catastrophe caused by human greed.
The story explores themes of loyalty, love, family, friendship, betrayal, corruption and sacrifice in the battle of good versus wrong, although doing the right thing can involve impossible decisions and have devastating consequences.
We discover the lengths some people will go to put profit and self-interest before terrible costs, and the courage others will show and the sacrifices they will make to protect the people and world they love.
The parallels with our world are clear. The book contains hard-hitting environmental messages for the people who don’t understand, or choose to ignore or under-estimate, the avoidable impacts of their actions on the planet we share.
It asks big questions at a very human level and I don’t think anyone reading this book can fail to be moved by the human elements and environmental consequences it relates.
It’s a powerful plea to the people who hold the keys to change and you can feel the author’s anger and fear.
However, there is also hope, beautifully symbolised in the book through the birth of a child and the desire to ensure it has a better future.
I believe it’s telling us that, as we stand on the brink of our own midnight, there can be a new dawn for the natural world we should treasure.
It’s that kind of message, expertly told in a wonderful book, which makes me certain I’ll never forget the day the blue star-violet flowered and I met the Duke of Agrathon.
May 23, 2023
Disclaimer: I recieved a free copy of this book from this author in exchange for a fair and honest review.
This review was originally posted at The Fantasy Review
On the surface, The Many Shades of Midnight is exactly what the blurb promises. A deadly plague is spreading across Ellasia, killing most people and turning others into horrendous monsters. The plague seems to be appearing near the mining operations of the most important substance in the land – Isyr, a rare substance that is as powerful as it is beautiful. King Raffa sends a team to a self-isolated duke Alyas to ask for help on how to stop this deadly disease. This ultimately results in a huge magical conspiracy, involving the crown and the powerful mining syndicates who control the extraction and sale of isyrium.
The first chunk of The Many Shades of Midnight is standard fantasy fare. We are introduced to a medievalesque fantasy world, there are kings, queens, nobles, soldiers, etc., magical creatures, magical weapons, and lots of talking about politics. I’ll be completely honest that the book didn’t initially hook me in this first half. The plot seemed to spin in circles as characters talk-yelled at each other about the plague, isyrium, and the syndicates. I had a hard time connecting to the characters and the story because it seemed to be conversations for the sake of worldbuilding rather than feeling like natural character interactions. Debell dedicated a significant page count to stating what was a pretty simple plot, and nothing was really happening. The beginning of this book is not bad by any means, but I was considering a DNF at a couple of points.
However, everything changes when you move into the second portion of the book. What went from a kind of sloggy, circle spinning narrative turned into one of the most fascinating and beautifully told stories I have read in a long time. Things started to really click into place as the characters stopped talking about the problem and instead actually started solving the problem – because the solutions were often contradictory and rife with conflict. This is what drew me in and turned this book from a considered DNF to one that kept me up at night needing to see what happens next. It is not that the plot gets any more complicated, but the characters deepen to a degree that I couldn’t get them out of my head. They felt real, three-dimensional, and heavily flawed in the best of ways. The characters who had previously did nothing but talk worldbuilding at each other had meaningful conversations, ripe with their own complicated histories and pasts.
The Many Shades of Midnight turned from a standard plot based story to a character based one, and this made all of the difference.
Debell offers us multiple POV characters in her book, and the number only grows as the story progresses. But rather than turning the book in an expansive disaster like many fantasies, Debell uses her POVs to create tightly plotted book that explores all of the different dimensions of the same problem. Alyas wants to do anything to get rid of the plague; Tersa is a young political agitator; Ovisia has the economic interests of the syndicate to watch out for; and Esar just wants to keep the kingdom from crashing down around him. All of these characters are tied to each in these political and economic games, but the are all running away from each other in opposite directions.
As the book accelerates after the halfway point, we see the ropes connecting the characters start to unravel and tear apart. We can see the shaky foundation everyone is standing on start to crumble. It becomes evident pretty early on that know one can win in this conflict, and as the reader we are just waiting for the dust to settle. It becomes a story of not who is going to win, but who is going to lose the least. When dynastic political regimes, economic powerhouses, and the will of the people all clash, there cannot be a victor. And when certain people start to get it in their heads that they should take on the role of some kind of savior (noble in theory but foolish in practice), things can only get worse.
Through the conflict, and through the building dread as we know things are only moving towards utter disaster, we have Brivar, a young doctor who only wants to help the sick. He gets ensnared in the political and economic games of his superiors, and in the process is a wonderfully constructed reader stand-in. While Brivar is an important player in the political machinations within The Many Shades of Midnight, he is also a quiet observer, standing just enough outside of the political hierarchy to reflect on everything swarming around him. While Alysas was definitely the most interesting character in the bunch, I always enjoyed returning to a Brivar chapter to think, breathe, and get a slightly wider, less tunnel-visioned view of what was going on.
All in all, The Many Shades of Midnight is a powerful story about the failures of institutions to protect people. I’m not sure if this book was explicitly influenced by the disaster of the global COVID-19 response (particularly what we had where I live in the U.S.), but the book explores how responses to global ills are never focused on the benefit of the everyday person. They are intimately entangled in the needs of the rich and powerful – to make money, to keep power, and to not shake the boat. Whether this is denying a problem, minimizing a problem, or finding scapegoats in the “Other”, this is a structural problem that cannot easily be solved by one man with a hero complex.
I do think that The Many Shades of Midnight would be massively improved with some major changes to the pacing, mainly by cutting material from the first 1/3 of the book to expand the middle section to allow it to breathe more, but I still highly recommend this book to anyone looking for great character work and using fantastical worlds/situations to comment on the modern world.
Before wrapping up this review, I want to also point out that this is how you do a standalone fantasy story. There is a fully realized world here, but the worldbuilding eventually takes a back seat to the central conflict. I can honestly say that I don’t want any other books with these characters, and not because I didn’t fall in love with them but because Debell completed their arcs. This was their story and nothing else needs to be said. This was a satisfying experience, and that is so rare in speculative fiction.
Concluding Thoughts: Despite a slow first chunk, The Many Shades of Midnight is a beautifully complex character study that has some of the best drawn characters and character interactions I have ever read. Simultaneously a dread inducing tragedy and a commentary on modern politics, I highly recommend this book. As a standalone it is satisfying and complete, while also accomplishing so much in its 350ish pages. This is not only indie fantasy near its best, but speculative fiction in general.
This review was originally posted at The Fantasy Review
On the surface, The Many Shades of Midnight is exactly what the blurb promises. A deadly plague is spreading across Ellasia, killing most people and turning others into horrendous monsters. The plague seems to be appearing near the mining operations of the most important substance in the land – Isyr, a rare substance that is as powerful as it is beautiful. King Raffa sends a team to a self-isolated duke Alyas to ask for help on how to stop this deadly disease. This ultimately results in a huge magical conspiracy, involving the crown and the powerful mining syndicates who control the extraction and sale of isyrium.
The first chunk of The Many Shades of Midnight is standard fantasy fare. We are introduced to a medievalesque fantasy world, there are kings, queens, nobles, soldiers, etc., magical creatures, magical weapons, and lots of talking about politics. I’ll be completely honest that the book didn’t initially hook me in this first half. The plot seemed to spin in circles as characters talk-yelled at each other about the plague, isyrium, and the syndicates. I had a hard time connecting to the characters and the story because it seemed to be conversations for the sake of worldbuilding rather than feeling like natural character interactions. Debell dedicated a significant page count to stating what was a pretty simple plot, and nothing was really happening. The beginning of this book is not bad by any means, but I was considering a DNF at a couple of points.
However, everything changes when you move into the second portion of the book. What went from a kind of sloggy, circle spinning narrative turned into one of the most fascinating and beautifully told stories I have read in a long time. Things started to really click into place as the characters stopped talking about the problem and instead actually started solving the problem – because the solutions were often contradictory and rife with conflict. This is what drew me in and turned this book from a considered DNF to one that kept me up at night needing to see what happens next. It is not that the plot gets any more complicated, but the characters deepen to a degree that I couldn’t get them out of my head. They felt real, three-dimensional, and heavily flawed in the best of ways. The characters who had previously did nothing but talk worldbuilding at each other had meaningful conversations, ripe with their own complicated histories and pasts.
The Many Shades of Midnight turned from a standard plot based story to a character based one, and this made all of the difference.
Debell offers us multiple POV characters in her book, and the number only grows as the story progresses. But rather than turning the book in an expansive disaster like many fantasies, Debell uses her POVs to create tightly plotted book that explores all of the different dimensions of the same problem. Alyas wants to do anything to get rid of the plague; Tersa is a young political agitator; Ovisia has the economic interests of the syndicate to watch out for; and Esar just wants to keep the kingdom from crashing down around him. All of these characters are tied to each in these political and economic games, but the are all running away from each other in opposite directions.
As the book accelerates after the halfway point, we see the ropes connecting the characters start to unravel and tear apart. We can see the shaky foundation everyone is standing on start to crumble. It becomes evident pretty early on that know one can win in this conflict, and as the reader we are just waiting for the dust to settle. It becomes a story of not who is going to win, but who is going to lose the least. When dynastic political regimes, economic powerhouses, and the will of the people all clash, there cannot be a victor. And when certain people start to get it in their heads that they should take on the role of some kind of savior (noble in theory but foolish in practice), things can only get worse.
Through the conflict, and through the building dread as we know things are only moving towards utter disaster, we have Brivar, a young doctor who only wants to help the sick. He gets ensnared in the political and economic games of his superiors, and in the process is a wonderfully constructed reader stand-in. While Brivar is an important player in the political machinations within The Many Shades of Midnight, he is also a quiet observer, standing just enough outside of the political hierarchy to reflect on everything swarming around him. While Alysas was definitely the most interesting character in the bunch, I always enjoyed returning to a Brivar chapter to think, breathe, and get a slightly wider, less tunnel-visioned view of what was going on.
All in all, The Many Shades of Midnight is a powerful story about the failures of institutions to protect people. I’m not sure if this book was explicitly influenced by the disaster of the global COVID-19 response (particularly what we had where I live in the U.S.), but the book explores how responses to global ills are never focused on the benefit of the everyday person. They are intimately entangled in the needs of the rich and powerful – to make money, to keep power, and to not shake the boat. Whether this is denying a problem, minimizing a problem, or finding scapegoats in the “Other”, this is a structural problem that cannot easily be solved by one man with a hero complex.
I do think that The Many Shades of Midnight would be massively improved with some major changes to the pacing, mainly by cutting material from the first 1/3 of the book to expand the middle section to allow it to breathe more, but I still highly recommend this book to anyone looking for great character work and using fantastical worlds/situations to comment on the modern world.
Before wrapping up this review, I want to also point out that this is how you do a standalone fantasy story. There is a fully realized world here, but the worldbuilding eventually takes a back seat to the central conflict. I can honestly say that I don’t want any other books with these characters, and not because I didn’t fall in love with them but because Debell completed their arcs. This was their story and nothing else needs to be said. This was a satisfying experience, and that is so rare in speculative fiction.
Concluding Thoughts: Despite a slow first chunk, The Many Shades of Midnight is a beautifully complex character study that has some of the best drawn characters and character interactions I have ever read. Simultaneously a dread inducing tragedy and a commentary on modern politics, I highly recommend this book. As a standalone it is satisfying and complete, while also accomplishing so much in its 350ish pages. This is not only indie fantasy near its best, but speculative fiction in general.
April 18, 2023
Absolute perfection
How a standalone should be !
This book just makes you feel by the end you're heart just breaks but it's still a satisfying ending that thankfully leaves nothing open
I just wow
How a standalone should be !
This book just makes you feel by the end you're heart just breaks but it's still a satisfying ending that thankfully leaves nothing open
I just wow
May 24, 2023
There is nothing for it.
I need to start this review by gushing, because otherwise no coherent thoughts are going to get through. I was absolutely consumed by this book, days later I’m still thinking about it and going through to look for quotes (I was too focused the first read through) I kept getting swept back into the story. This book is as rare and beautiful as the Isyr itself, and just as devastating in its own way. I freaking loved every second I spent with this book, and my only regret is that I waited so long to read it after having it recommended to me just before it was released, and I can already say with confidence that this is one of my top books for 2023 and one that I am going to come back to again and again.
The Many Shades of Midnight is a masterclass in what a standalone fantasy book should be, giving us a world that feels vast beyond the boundaries of the world that we get to witness, while the story and the characters draw us into a beautifully crafted microcosm that both echoes the wider world that the author paints around us and drops tantalising hints about, but also standing very firmly on it’s home as the heart of the story. Do I want to wander off and visit the places that we hear about in rumours and tales, reports and whispers? Hell yes. Do I want to spend more time with the Lathai and learn more about their culture? Double hell yes. But, did I feel that I needed to? Or that the story needed me too? No. Instead, I felt as though I was caught up in a world where if I could step off the boundaries of the pages, then I would be swept off into the rest of that world and that feeling, that sense that I knew enough to set off and find those places was exactly what I needed to fall in love with the world. If Debell ever chose to play some more in this world, I would be there in a heartbeat. As it is my mind is still caught up in it and likely will be for some time to come.
And while I said this is what a standalone fantasy book should be, really, I feel that is too narrow a definition. It is undoubtedly a fantasy book, and yet it draws in threads from dystopia and apocalyptic stories, as well as elements of environmentalism, as well as guiding us beautifully through a socio-political commentary that can resonate across worlds.
All of which is beautifully, perfectly balanced around a compelling, intimate story of the characters that are the living, breathing soul of this book. Again, this is why The Many Shades of Midnight is so brilliant as a standalone, because in that sprawling, hinted at world, Debell brings us in close to a select few that are at the very centre of events. As much as this book touches on those wider issues,
We have three main POV characters – Brivar, Esar and Mari, with some others later on in the book. I find the choice of these three characters interesting for several reasons, firstly, is the fact that they bring such different views to the story. Brivar is naïve and sheltered, but in many ways also more open to finding answers, and in some ways it felt like the fact that he had been in the Temple and separate from the events in the past that had spawned much of the tension of the present gave him a much clearer view of things. I really like that it was paired with the fact that while he was still an apprentice, he was still skilled – I was particularly struck with his opening chapter where he was able to see the signs of pain in a stranger because of those skills, it made for a strong character who really came into his own throughout the story and in a way it felt like he was the reader’s witness to everything that happened.
Esar was a powerful POV for so many reasons, firstly he was the one who had witness and been part of the events that had seen Alyas exiled in the first place, as well as the circumstances that resulted in the state his brother was in when they met Brivar. He was the one who lived through everything, and had everything to fight for – his brother, his lover…their future. He was the one who connected everyone from his brother, to royalty, to the company and even through to Brivar, and yet in so many ways he was the unsung hero and his personal struggles, with the past, with trying to protect and help his brother and to protect those he cared for were compelling.
Mari added a completely different dimension to the story. It felt a little like she was the man behind the curtain, making the wizard of oz possible, only here she was pulling the curtain back for us to see what lay beneath. She gave us a different perspective on past events, and what had lead to the present, and while her role in so much of it – whether through inaction or choice – was deplorable, Debell gave us a character who was real. One who had been ambitious, one who was able to see where action needed to be taken even if her only way of seeing that done was to whisper and charm and point others in that direction. And by the end, with the choice that she made she had earned by respect despite how much fault lay at her feet.
One of the most fascinating aspects of the character work in this book, is that our main character, is not one of our POV characters. Nor is he a cut and dry protagonist or antagonist, instead I think he falls somewhere between the two as a catalyst, sometimes more one than the other – but then again that depends on what side of the divide you are stood at the time. And that is where I think Debell has pulled a masterstroke of subterfuge with how she presented Alyas as a character, as aside from three chapters, he was never our POV instead all our perceptions of him and his behaviour and motivations came from others.
And this is another reason I find out three POV characters such interesting choices, because on the one hand they were all characters who were or came to be closely entwined with Alyas in one way another – a brother, a complicated mix of childhood friend, almost sister and almost more and a healer who saved his life; and therefore had chance to see him in different ways and at different times, their views all coloured by different experiences and connections. But, it almost felt a little like past (Mari), present (Brivar) and future (Esar – although he as I said was the connection throughout it all).
Alyas with barely any time spent within his head, was the most compelling of all the characters in this book, and Debell created a complicated, multi-layered character all through the perceptions of others and his own actions, and only when it had to be him. When his voice begged to break through and be heard, the catalyst giving voice to change, did we have his POV.
It also meant, that the ending – which blew my mind, even with the puzzle pieces that had slipped into place – was one of the most beautiful executed, devasting twisting conclusion that I’ve ever had the pleasure to read. And it’s all because of how Debell had shaped these characters, giving them voice and life, and using them in turn to make Alyas the heart of the book.
The brilliant character work is not limited to these characters either. Everyone in this world was nuanced, each with their own connections to the main characters or to the events, each with a voice and motivations of their own. Raffa was a character that surprised me though, I had been all geared up to loathe him, and believe me there was plenty to dislike about him and for so many reasons, and yet Debell did not let that be the sum of his character, and the moments with Mari were such beautifully raw, human moments that even as I wanted to slap him, I enjoyed having on the page. Even Ovisia had my respect for how she played the game. I loved those of the company that we really got to know, and one of the Alyas’ Aunt was a formidable force – and possibly my only, tiny grumble is that I would have liked to have seen more of her.
“I lied,” he replied, his voice hard. “A concept you are familiar with.”
Not only was the characterisation excellent throughout, but it was also a brilliant choice of where to focus on, because at its heart – beneath the fantastic elements, political wrangling and social commentary – this was a story about the power of lies, the double-edged slice of truth, and how both action and inaction could be equal in their culpability. There was no black and white, only every shade of grey imaginable. And as a reader we cared, we sought to learn the truth and break through the lies, because of the characters. We wanted the truth of what had happened to Alyas’ father, and why he was exiled because we were invested in him, because Debell through the eyes of others had cast him as a man who wasn’t a hero, but who would stand up and fight, even for those who had betrayed him. We wanted to learn where the corruption came from, because it almost took a character, we were invested in from us, but because we got to see it’s effects on the wider world and how that all came back on these characters. We wanted to see what other truths were hidden behind that curtain that Mari drew back for us, and the answers that Brivar was so driven to find.
And all of that was down to the characters.
“If you succeed, you will ruin him. And your mother. Are you sure that is what you want? You have a comfortable life here.”
“I don’t want a comfortable life if that means others are forced to live uncomfortable ones.”
The Many Shades of Midnight also acknowledges and confronts that those truths, and forcing people to face their responsibility does not necessarily mean that you are the right side, or that such change or challenges can be done without cost. But, at the same time, it asks – is that cost worth it? Is what you could lose, what the world could lose, or what could happen – worth paying for change? Is the future worth it? And at the same time, it offers as many answers as we are confronted with today, when faced with challenges that could very well have come straight from the pages of this book – yes, no and maybe – depending on what you have to lose, what matters, and who is willing and able to step forward and press that red button. Debell explores all of this, and doesn’t shy away from the ugly realities of what some of those outcomes would be, and there is pain and loss, stark and resonant, but there is also hope. Hope that one person can make a difference, that people can and will fight for the future, that a change – no matter how devastating, can alter the outcome.
The ending of this book was powerful and devastating, and yet achingly hopeful. To reach the end and see how Debell had pulled all the threads together, all the little details that had been there in plain sight but alone had been like scraps of a map that hinted at a destination we couldn’t appreciate until we’d made the journey, was breath-taking.
The Many Shades of Midnight has left me with the best and worst book hangover I’ve had for a while, and even writing this review has me itching to reread it again already, even though I don’t think my heart has recovered from the ending. I have not even come close to doing this book justice in this review, and all I can say is that this is absolutely a book that you should be adding to your TBR list. A story that resonates across time and place, with compelling characters, and ultimately a tale that offers a siren song of hope.
I need to start this review by gushing, because otherwise no coherent thoughts are going to get through. I was absolutely consumed by this book, days later I’m still thinking about it and going through to look for quotes (I was too focused the first read through) I kept getting swept back into the story. This book is as rare and beautiful as the Isyr itself, and just as devastating in its own way. I freaking loved every second I spent with this book, and my only regret is that I waited so long to read it after having it recommended to me just before it was released, and I can already say with confidence that this is one of my top books for 2023 and one that I am going to come back to again and again.
The Many Shades of Midnight is a masterclass in what a standalone fantasy book should be, giving us a world that feels vast beyond the boundaries of the world that we get to witness, while the story and the characters draw us into a beautifully crafted microcosm that both echoes the wider world that the author paints around us and drops tantalising hints about, but also standing very firmly on it’s home as the heart of the story. Do I want to wander off and visit the places that we hear about in rumours and tales, reports and whispers? Hell yes. Do I want to spend more time with the Lathai and learn more about their culture? Double hell yes. But, did I feel that I needed to? Or that the story needed me too? No. Instead, I felt as though I was caught up in a world where if I could step off the boundaries of the pages, then I would be swept off into the rest of that world and that feeling, that sense that I knew enough to set off and find those places was exactly what I needed to fall in love with the world. If Debell ever chose to play some more in this world, I would be there in a heartbeat. As it is my mind is still caught up in it and likely will be for some time to come.
And while I said this is what a standalone fantasy book should be, really, I feel that is too narrow a definition. It is undoubtedly a fantasy book, and yet it draws in threads from dystopia and apocalyptic stories, as well as elements of environmentalism, as well as guiding us beautifully through a socio-political commentary that can resonate across worlds.
All of which is beautifully, perfectly balanced around a compelling, intimate story of the characters that are the living, breathing soul of this book. Again, this is why The Many Shades of Midnight is so brilliant as a standalone, because in that sprawling, hinted at world, Debell brings us in close to a select few that are at the very centre of events. As much as this book touches on those wider issues,
We have three main POV characters – Brivar, Esar and Mari, with some others later on in the book. I find the choice of these three characters interesting for several reasons, firstly, is the fact that they bring such different views to the story. Brivar is naïve and sheltered, but in many ways also more open to finding answers, and in some ways it felt like the fact that he had been in the Temple and separate from the events in the past that had spawned much of the tension of the present gave him a much clearer view of things. I really like that it was paired with the fact that while he was still an apprentice, he was still skilled – I was particularly struck with his opening chapter where he was able to see the signs of pain in a stranger because of those skills, it made for a strong character who really came into his own throughout the story and in a way it felt like he was the reader’s witness to everything that happened.
Esar was a powerful POV for so many reasons, firstly he was the one who had witness and been part of the events that had seen Alyas exiled in the first place, as well as the circumstances that resulted in the state his brother was in when they met Brivar. He was the one who lived through everything, and had everything to fight for – his brother, his lover…their future. He was the one who connected everyone from his brother, to royalty, to the company and even through to Brivar, and yet in so many ways he was the unsung hero and his personal struggles, with the past, with trying to protect and help his brother and to protect those he cared for were compelling.
Mari added a completely different dimension to the story. It felt a little like she was the man behind the curtain, making the wizard of oz possible, only here she was pulling the curtain back for us to see what lay beneath. She gave us a different perspective on past events, and what had lead to the present, and while her role in so much of it – whether through inaction or choice – was deplorable, Debell gave us a character who was real. One who had been ambitious, one who was able to see where action needed to be taken even if her only way of seeing that done was to whisper and charm and point others in that direction. And by the end, with the choice that she made she had earned by respect despite how much fault lay at her feet.
One of the most fascinating aspects of the character work in this book, is that our main character, is not one of our POV characters. Nor is he a cut and dry protagonist or antagonist, instead I think he falls somewhere between the two as a catalyst, sometimes more one than the other – but then again that depends on what side of the divide you are stood at the time. And that is where I think Debell has pulled a masterstroke of subterfuge with how she presented Alyas as a character, as aside from three chapters, he was never our POV instead all our perceptions of him and his behaviour and motivations came from others.
And this is another reason I find out three POV characters such interesting choices, because on the one hand they were all characters who were or came to be closely entwined with Alyas in one way another – a brother, a complicated mix of childhood friend, almost sister and almost more and a healer who saved his life; and therefore had chance to see him in different ways and at different times, their views all coloured by different experiences and connections. But, it almost felt a little like past (Mari), present (Brivar) and future (Esar – although he as I said was the connection throughout it all).
Alyas with barely any time spent within his head, was the most compelling of all the characters in this book, and Debell created a complicated, multi-layered character all through the perceptions of others and his own actions, and only when it had to be him. When his voice begged to break through and be heard, the catalyst giving voice to change, did we have his POV.
It also meant, that the ending – which blew my mind, even with the puzzle pieces that had slipped into place – was one of the most beautiful executed, devasting twisting conclusion that I’ve ever had the pleasure to read. And it’s all because of how Debell had shaped these characters, giving them voice and life, and using them in turn to make Alyas the heart of the book.
The brilliant character work is not limited to these characters either. Everyone in this world was nuanced, each with their own connections to the main characters or to the events, each with a voice and motivations of their own. Raffa was a character that surprised me though, I had been all geared up to loathe him, and believe me there was plenty to dislike about him and for so many reasons, and yet Debell did not let that be the sum of his character, and the moments with Mari were such beautifully raw, human moments that even as I wanted to slap him, I enjoyed having on the page. Even Ovisia had my respect for how she played the game. I loved those of the company that we really got to know, and one of the Alyas’ Aunt was a formidable force – and possibly my only, tiny grumble is that I would have liked to have seen more of her.
“I lied,” he replied, his voice hard. “A concept you are familiar with.”
Not only was the characterisation excellent throughout, but it was also a brilliant choice of where to focus on, because at its heart – beneath the fantastic elements, political wrangling and social commentary – this was a story about the power of lies, the double-edged slice of truth, and how both action and inaction could be equal in their culpability. There was no black and white, only every shade of grey imaginable. And as a reader we cared, we sought to learn the truth and break through the lies, because of the characters. We wanted the truth of what had happened to Alyas’ father, and why he was exiled because we were invested in him, because Debell through the eyes of others had cast him as a man who wasn’t a hero, but who would stand up and fight, even for those who had betrayed him. We wanted to learn where the corruption came from, because it almost took a character, we were invested in from us, but because we got to see it’s effects on the wider world and how that all came back on these characters. We wanted to see what other truths were hidden behind that curtain that Mari drew back for us, and the answers that Brivar was so driven to find.
And all of that was down to the characters.
“If you succeed, you will ruin him. And your mother. Are you sure that is what you want? You have a comfortable life here.”
“I don’t want a comfortable life if that means others are forced to live uncomfortable ones.”
The Many Shades of Midnight also acknowledges and confronts that those truths, and forcing people to face their responsibility does not necessarily mean that you are the right side, or that such change or challenges can be done without cost. But, at the same time, it asks – is that cost worth it? Is what you could lose, what the world could lose, or what could happen – worth paying for change? Is the future worth it? And at the same time, it offers as many answers as we are confronted with today, when faced with challenges that could very well have come straight from the pages of this book – yes, no and maybe – depending on what you have to lose, what matters, and who is willing and able to step forward and press that red button. Debell explores all of this, and doesn’t shy away from the ugly realities of what some of those outcomes would be, and there is pain and loss, stark and resonant, but there is also hope. Hope that one person can make a difference, that people can and will fight for the future, that a change – no matter how devastating, can alter the outcome.
The ending of this book was powerful and devastating, and yet achingly hopeful. To reach the end and see how Debell had pulled all the threads together, all the little details that had been there in plain sight but alone had been like scraps of a map that hinted at a destination we couldn’t appreciate until we’d made the journey, was breath-taking.
The Many Shades of Midnight has left me with the best and worst book hangover I’ve had for a while, and even writing this review has me itching to reread it again already, even though I don’t think my heart has recovered from the ending. I have not even come close to doing this book justice in this review, and all I can say is that this is absolutely a book that you should be adding to your TBR list. A story that resonates across time and place, with compelling characters, and ultimately a tale that offers a siren song of hope.
March 13, 2023
Full text review: https://jamreads.com/reviews/the-many...
Interview with the author: https://jamreads.com/interviews/some-...
The Many Shades of Midnight is a really interesting dark fantasy novel, written by C.M. Debell, with a message that could be applied to nowadays situations. Elleria's land is becoming sick, a mysterious disease has appeared; Brivar, a surgeon apprentice is sent to the mountains to retrieve the help of Alyas-Raine sera, an exiled military commander, granting him the pardon and the restitution of his former glory.
But after they discover that the cause of this disease might be related to the Isyrium mines, a new problem appears. Isyrium production is one of the most important sources of the richness of the kingdom, and stopping it will put Alyas against the powerful miner syndicates, which will refuse by any means to acknowledge the fact that Isyrium mining is the cause of the disease that is destroying the kingdom.
With this premise, we have an excellent story that can be interpreted as an analog of what is happening nowadays with climate change; a truth that is refused to be accepted by those that are profiting from it. But in the case of this novel, we will have Alyas-Raine Sera, a man that has been chosen because is not afraid of confronting whoever it is necessary to protect the land where he grew.
And after experiencing the disease himself, he will also have to deal with the secondary effects of the remedy used to keep it controlled. Understanding the real nature of the disease will be also a key piece of solving the mystery.
Debell has created characters that are kinda relatable, and that you want to cheer for. Despite Alyas taking the main spotlight, I have to say that I connected especially with Brivar, as his circumstances are kinda relatable with mine, being Brivar a surgeon apprentice that is having to deal with an unexpected plague, overwhelmed many times.
Writing is another aspect I would like to highlight, prose is really on point, being really enjoyable to read. Descriptions are vivid, transmitting how the characters look like; and feelings are perfectly shown on page.
I certainly loved reading this novel, especially because the plot is really satisfactory, with an ending that feels like a great cherry on top of an excellent narration. If you are looking for a dark fantasy story, but with an interesting message between the lines, I totally recommend giving this book a try, because it won't disappoint you.
Interview with the author: https://jamreads.com/interviews/some-...
The Many Shades of Midnight is a really interesting dark fantasy novel, written by C.M. Debell, with a message that could be applied to nowadays situations. Elleria's land is becoming sick, a mysterious disease has appeared; Brivar, a surgeon apprentice is sent to the mountains to retrieve the help of Alyas-Raine sera, an exiled military commander, granting him the pardon and the restitution of his former glory.
But after they discover that the cause of this disease might be related to the Isyrium mines, a new problem appears. Isyrium production is one of the most important sources of the richness of the kingdom, and stopping it will put Alyas against the powerful miner syndicates, which will refuse by any means to acknowledge the fact that Isyrium mining is the cause of the disease that is destroying the kingdom.
With this premise, we have an excellent story that can be interpreted as an analog of what is happening nowadays with climate change; a truth that is refused to be accepted by those that are profiting from it. But in the case of this novel, we will have Alyas-Raine Sera, a man that has been chosen because is not afraid of confronting whoever it is necessary to protect the land where he grew.
And after experiencing the disease himself, he will also have to deal with the secondary effects of the remedy used to keep it controlled. Understanding the real nature of the disease will be also a key piece of solving the mystery.
Debell has created characters that are kinda relatable, and that you want to cheer for. Despite Alyas taking the main spotlight, I have to say that I connected especially with Brivar, as his circumstances are kinda relatable with mine, being Brivar a surgeon apprentice that is having to deal with an unexpected plague, overwhelmed many times.
Writing is another aspect I would like to highlight, prose is really on point, being really enjoyable to read. Descriptions are vivid, transmitting how the characters look like; and feelings are perfectly shown on page.
I certainly loved reading this novel, especially because the plot is really satisfactory, with an ending that feels like a great cherry on top of an excellent narration. If you are looking for a dark fantasy story, but with an interesting message between the lines, I totally recommend giving this book a try, because it won't disappoint you.
May 23, 2023
In Ellasia, the precious metal Isyr rules all. It is by which great weapons are made by kings, treasures are valued by the wealthy, and rituals are performed by the temple. When its purity is lost, only its impure form Isyrium remains, controlled by mining syndicates to whom even kings become beholden. And all around the borders of the kingdom of Lankara, a mysterious new illness is ravaging and their entire world is threatened.
The Many Shades of Midnight circles around three men. Alyas is a disgraced Duke with a secret, called back by his King to help contain the plague. At his side is Esar, his ever-loyal foster brother who wants for nothing but to save his brother from those who would harm him, even from Alyas himself. When they meet Brivar, an apprentice surgeon from the temple sent to investigate the nature of the plague, these three men will discover a conspiracy so great that destruction is guaranteed whether it is kept secret or brought to light.
This book is dark, gritty, and impossible to put down. The story unfolds beautifully as each piece of the puzzle is revealed, unraveling layer upon layer of an intricate plot that will leave you bracing for the inevitable fall. There’s action, suspense, and endless intrigue that I was constantly on the edge of my seat, breathless with anticipation.
A standalone fantasy, it builds a complex and textured world while telling an intimate story through three compelling men. In Brivar, we see a somewhat naive and idealistic young man who just wants to serve and is taken in by a charismatic man he isn’t sure he can trust. In Alyas, we get a man at the end of his ropes, who carries on his shoulders a responsibility he never wanted. And in Esar, a man full of fraternal love and unquestionable loyalty. There could not have been more perfect characters to show both honor and moral grayness.
The Many Shades of Midnight is one of the best indie fantasies I have ever read and possibly one of my favorite standalone fantasies ever. I cannot recommend this enough.
The Many Shades of Midnight circles around three men. Alyas is a disgraced Duke with a secret, called back by his King to help contain the plague. At his side is Esar, his ever-loyal foster brother who wants for nothing but to save his brother from those who would harm him, even from Alyas himself. When they meet Brivar, an apprentice surgeon from the temple sent to investigate the nature of the plague, these three men will discover a conspiracy so great that destruction is guaranteed whether it is kept secret or brought to light.
This book is dark, gritty, and impossible to put down. The story unfolds beautifully as each piece of the puzzle is revealed, unraveling layer upon layer of an intricate plot that will leave you bracing for the inevitable fall. There’s action, suspense, and endless intrigue that I was constantly on the edge of my seat, breathless with anticipation.
A standalone fantasy, it builds a complex and textured world while telling an intimate story through three compelling men. In Brivar, we see a somewhat naive and idealistic young man who just wants to serve and is taken in by a charismatic man he isn’t sure he can trust. In Alyas, we get a man at the end of his ropes, who carries on his shoulders a responsibility he never wanted. And in Esar, a man full of fraternal love and unquestionable loyalty. There could not have been more perfect characters to show both honor and moral grayness.
The Many Shades of Midnight is one of the best indie fantasies I have ever read and possibly one of my favorite standalone fantasies ever. I cannot recommend this enough.
December 27, 2023
Went in knowing nothing about this book except that it was fantasy horror. That was not completly correct, the horror is mostly in the backround, because the main motiv of this book is how the characters are reacting to the spreading evil.
And in this I liked this a lot. Was it sometimes on the nose with its messages? Yes, but it was neatly woven in so I didn't mind so much.
The writing quality and the characters picked me up and got me pretty fast trough the story.
My only gripe is that it is a stand-alone. 😉
And in this I liked this a lot. Was it sometimes on the nose with its messages? Yes, but it was neatly woven in so I didn't mind so much.
The writing quality and the characters picked me up and got me pretty fast trough the story.
My only gripe is that it is a stand-alone. 😉
January 2, 2024
Overall I thought it was a lot of excellent ideas, but not the best execution.
I loved the main characters, particularly Brivar—in the first section, he was honestly the only reason I kept reading—and the way their arcs were handled. The characters are flawed and are portrayed as such, but are incredibly relatable. The complexity of the cast, their backstories, and their relationships was gripping and made this a fascinating read.
The world-based conflict was also fascinating. While the setting is a rather standard medieval fantasy, the illness the plot is based around is such an interesting topic. I love the way it is set up and developed, though I wish this had been more consistently paced throughout. There were some things I as a reader would have liked to learn more about, particularly the religious side. And as much as I loved the illness, the book is a book about a fantasy disease with a doctor as a main PoV, so I was anticipating delving into that a little more. (This may just be because I was raised by a doctor and am going into medical editing if I can, so take this with a grain of salt.)
This book is very slow to get going, however. The beginning drags due to a combination of several things:
Consistently throughout the book, there are places where events are summarized rather than written out in scenes. In the beginning (and somewhat at the end), these summaries are events that would have been less confusing if written out as scenes, or omitted entirely. There's also places where it's the inverse—scenes that dragged and would have been more effective as summaries. This mostly happens in the beginning, and I was considering DNFing at several points until I hit part two.
After part two, things look up pacing-wise. This section acts on the setup of the first part (which was too long, in my opinion) and starts solving the problem. So the plot takes an incredibly long time to get moving, though once it's moving it's exciting. (I was up late for several nights in a row reading it.) The end felt like it could have been expanded on, and there were some parts that were too fast for me to keep up with, but it wasn't critical.
Some of the thematic elements of the story felt heavy-handed to me. Not exactly overemphasized, but not as well integrated as they could have been. Especially in the third section, honestly where I started feeling like things were rushed. There were also some plot points that felt like they were there for shock value, which rubbed me the wrong way. They certainly increased the stakes and forwarded the plot, but they didn't necessarily sit well with me personally.
Overall I enjoyed it! Would read another book by this author, especially to see if the problems are because of when this book was written (don't know if it's early or late in writing career or is a one-off), but probably not going to be a favourite any time soon
I loved the main characters, particularly Brivar—in the first section, he was honestly the only reason I kept reading—and the way their arcs were handled. The characters are flawed and are portrayed as such, but are incredibly relatable. The complexity of the cast, their backstories, and their relationships was gripping and made this a fascinating read.
The world-based conflict was also fascinating. While the setting is a rather standard medieval fantasy, the illness the plot is based around is such an interesting topic. I love the way it is set up and developed, though I wish this had been more consistently paced throughout. There were some things I as a reader would have liked to learn more about, particularly the religious side. And as much as I loved the illness, the book is a book about a fantasy disease with a doctor as a main PoV, so I was anticipating delving into that a little more. (This may just be because I was raised by a doctor and am going into medical editing if I can, so take this with a grain of salt.)
This book is very slow to get going, however. The beginning drags due to a combination of several things:
Consistently throughout the book, there are places where events are summarized rather than written out in scenes. In the beginning (and somewhat at the end), these summaries are events that would have been less confusing if written out as scenes, or omitted entirely. There's also places where it's the inverse—scenes that dragged and would have been more effective as summaries. This mostly happens in the beginning, and I was considering DNFing at several points until I hit part two.
After part two, things look up pacing-wise. This section acts on the setup of the first part (which was too long, in my opinion) and starts solving the problem. So the plot takes an incredibly long time to get moving, though once it's moving it's exciting. (I was up late for several nights in a row reading it.) The end felt like it could have been expanded on, and there were some parts that were too fast for me to keep up with, but it wasn't critical.
Some of the thematic elements of the story felt heavy-handed to me. Not exactly overemphasized, but not as well integrated as they could have been. Especially in the third section, honestly where I started feeling like things were rushed. There were also some plot points that felt like they were there for shock value, which rubbed me the wrong way. They certainly increased the stakes and forwarded the plot, but they didn't necessarily sit well with me personally.
Overall I enjoyed it! Would read another book by this author, especially to see if the problems are because of when this book was written (don't know if it's early or late in writing career or is a one-off), but probably not going to be a favourite any time soon
April 5, 2023
Stand by while I grab a tissue...😭 Ok, now I'm ready to review it.
This was such a surprise. I bought the kindle version for only 99¢ when it was one of the Daily Deals, and I enjoyed the heck out of it.
The story rotates among several points of view. Each perspective is a separate chapter so it was clear which character I was following along with. The three main, (because there are a couple of other perspectives), points of view are from Brivar, Esar and Mari. Interestingly enough, I wouldn't consider any of them the main character though. The MC is Alyas, a military captain that has been exiled for the past fifteen years. He's more than just a captain, but I'll leave it at that. So the story revolves around his character, more or less, and I found him to be extremely intriguing. Esar is his overprotective foster brother, Mari is his foster sister and current queen, and Brivar is an apprentice surgeon from the temple.
The plot mainly concerns a type of metal called isyr. The land has been exhaustively mined for it, and the economies of this world depend upon the wealth it provides. You can probably see where this is going. Certain factions- actually, most factions- are not opposed to wholesale slaughter when it comes to keeping their grubby greedy hands on isyr. Now a deadly plague has entered the picture, (the origin of which is unknown), and there's a revolution brewing. Things are pretty messy all around.
I found this book to be excellent! It's a character-driven tale and that is exactly in line with my bookish tastes. It was also written very well, when for 99¢ I kind of expected it to be riddled with errors. It wasn't poorly written at all! The dialogue was terrific, particularly between the two brothers. The characters were great. The plot was engaging. I can't really think of anything negative to say about it. I think it's a testament to the great characterization that I was moved to 😭.
This author is brand new to me, and she's written only two other books before this one. I'll be checking those out after this positive experience!
This was such a surprise. I bought the kindle version for only 99¢ when it was one of the Daily Deals, and I enjoyed the heck out of it.
The story rotates among several points of view. Each perspective is a separate chapter so it was clear which character I was following along with. The three main, (because there are a couple of other perspectives), points of view are from Brivar, Esar and Mari. Interestingly enough, I wouldn't consider any of them the main character though. The MC is Alyas, a military captain that has been exiled for the past fifteen years. He's more than just a captain, but I'll leave it at that. So the story revolves around his character, more or less, and I found him to be extremely intriguing. Esar is his overprotective foster brother, Mari is his foster sister and current queen, and Brivar is an apprentice surgeon from the temple.
The plot mainly concerns a type of metal called isyr. The land has been exhaustively mined for it, and the economies of this world depend upon the wealth it provides. You can probably see where this is going. Certain factions- actually, most factions- are not opposed to wholesale slaughter when it comes to keeping their grubby greedy hands on isyr. Now a deadly plague has entered the picture, (the origin of which is unknown), and there's a revolution brewing. Things are pretty messy all around.
I found this book to be excellent! It's a character-driven tale and that is exactly in line with my bookish tastes. It was also written very well, when for 99¢ I kind of expected it to be riddled with errors. It wasn't poorly written at all! The dialogue was terrific, particularly between the two brothers. The characters were great. The plot was engaging. I can't really think of anything negative to say about it. I think it's a testament to the great characterization that I was moved to 😭.
This author is brand new to me, and she's written only two other books before this one. I'll be checking those out after this positive experience!
March 6, 2023
REVIEW:
The Many Shades of Midnight by C. M. Debell is a fascinating tale that had me hooked since first chapter. It starts with little things like the fact that one of the main character is a surgeon and ends with little things about how people are willing to step up when no one else is. How corrupt the corruption runs and how much people are willing to ignore for the sake of their own power, their money and the way of life.
The story which begins innocently with the exile coming home back, slowly turned into a web of politics that I didn't see coming. It surprised me in a good way how the small-small things came to be related. Be it the fact how the disease began to spread or be it how the disease was cured or the realization about the hows and whys. It was simply astounding to fit the pieces and let the puzzle form.
The politics aspect of the book was simply amazing. It was fun to read, engaging, not a wide-wide scope but definitely something fun to read.
The Many Shades of Midnight is a standalone and that surprised me, because in all honestly the story had the plot to become more. In a way, it's a good thing because I honestly didn't have the patience to wait for the sequel. It's just I would have loved to know more. And that is probably my only complain. I would have loved some more details about the characters.
Though the best part about The Many Shades of Midnight is the ending. In all honesty, I loved how things panned out. The plans, the secrets, the pain, everything was just perfect. I love how much emphasis was given on what should be done and yet how no one was brave enough to take that step. It starts with doing the things that people will hate you for but the fact that it needs to be done.
Overall, The Shades of Midnight was an amazing book that I found myself fortunate to get a chance to read. I would recommend it to everyone, especially those who would like some mysteries wrapped in a Fantasy world.
The Many Shades of Midnight by C. M. Debell is a fascinating tale that had me hooked since first chapter. It starts with little things like the fact that one of the main character is a surgeon and ends with little things about how people are willing to step up when no one else is. How corrupt the corruption runs and how much people are willing to ignore for the sake of their own power, their money and the way of life.
The story which begins innocently with the exile coming home back, slowly turned into a web of politics that I didn't see coming. It surprised me in a good way how the small-small things came to be related. Be it the fact how the disease began to spread or be it how the disease was cured or the realization about the hows and whys. It was simply astounding to fit the pieces and let the puzzle form.
The politics aspect of the book was simply amazing. It was fun to read, engaging, not a wide-wide scope but definitely something fun to read.
The Many Shades of Midnight is a standalone and that surprised me, because in all honestly the story had the plot to become more. In a way, it's a good thing because I honestly didn't have the patience to wait for the sequel. It's just I would have loved to know more. And that is probably my only complain. I would have loved some more details about the characters.
Though the best part about The Many Shades of Midnight is the ending. In all honesty, I loved how things panned out. The plans, the secrets, the pain, everything was just perfect. I love how much emphasis was given on what should be done and yet how no one was brave enough to take that step. It starts with doing the things that people will hate you for but the fact that it needs to be done.
Overall, The Shades of Midnight was an amazing book that I found myself fortunate to get a chance to read. I would recommend it to everyone, especially those who would like some mysteries wrapped in a Fantasy world.
May 19, 2023
The Many Shades of Midnight is a plot driven dark fantasy. This novel is so deep with its descriptions and how it cleverly leads to one thing and another. I enjoyed how this novel felt like it had hidden meanings and how real this fantasy world felt. Corruption and disease and the politics making this an interesting read. The more chapters you read the deeper you delve into this dark world. The characters are richly described, relateable and with the fantasy world so vividly created it really brought this story together.
Many Shades of Midnight is a standalone novel and with that ending, I felt it was quite satisfying.
Many Shades of Midnight is a standalone novel and with that ending, I felt it was quite satisfying.
July 10, 2023
3.5/5 stars.
The Many Shades of Midnight has a great introduction. The first 50 pages are completely excellent, the introduction to the world, the action scenes, getting to know the characters, and learning about the politics.
Then it devolves into a very political book. Which is not really my type. Action scenes are long apart, and I didn't feel connected to the characters as much as I would have hoped. It often sins in being repetitive with the prose.
The foundation is great, but the building is a bit shabby.
Definitely going to check C.M. Debell's next books/novels, so much potential.
Great book, and recommended!
The Many Shades of Midnight has a great introduction. The first 50 pages are completely excellent, the introduction to the world, the action scenes, getting to know the characters, and learning about the politics.
Then it devolves into a very political book. Which is not really my type. Action scenes are long apart, and I didn't feel connected to the characters as much as I would have hoped. It often sins in being repetitive with the prose.
The foundation is great, but the building is a bit shabby.
Definitely going to check C.M. Debell's next books/novels, so much potential.
Great book, and recommended!
February 27, 2023
Took my breath away!
One of the few books that I can honestly say that at the end I had to take deep breaths to slow my heart rate and repeated , "Holy f**king sh*t" about 10 times. Then I had to find out if the author was a man or woman because I fell a little bit in love. Usually I can tell by the way a book reads if the author is a man or a woman, but not this time! And that is probably the best compliment that I could give to this author! Well done! Just WOW!
One of the few books that I can honestly say that at the end I had to take deep breaths to slow my heart rate and repeated , "Holy f**king sh*t" about 10 times. Then I had to find out if the author was a man or woman because I fell a little bit in love. Usually I can tell by the way a book reads if the author is a man or a woman, but not this time! And that is probably the best compliment that I could give to this author! Well done! Just WOW!
September 29, 2023
Fabulous
I could not put this book down & read it almost in one sitting, staying up until I couldn't keep my eyes open. I'm going to look forward to reading it again.
I could not put this book down & read it almost in one sitting, staying up until I couldn't keep my eyes open. I'm going to look forward to reading it again.
February 26, 2024
Nicely done
Riveting, I had a difficult time putting it down. I've read a lot of science fiction and fantasy. It has been a long time since I have found such an engrossing read.
Riveting, I had a difficult time putting it down. I've read a lot of science fiction and fantasy. It has been a long time since I have found such an engrossing read.
March 28, 2024
Review coming soon.
May 3, 2024
Full review on the way!
January 16, 2024
Now, this is how you write a standalone that packs a punch. Excellent character work and a compelling plot. Highly recommended!
February 18, 2024
Creative and engaging.
8/10
8/10
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