Review: Black Talon

Black Talon by Jaime Castle and Andy Peloquin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Epic in so many ways

Black Talon is one of those books that leaves you well entertained and, at the same time, starved for more. It’s epic fantasy full of epic action, with an epic story, told by a pair of epic writers, and narrated by two epic performers. And if you are looking to get the audiobook, 19 hours of an enthralling and hard-to-put-down novel for a single credit is also a pretty epic deal.

Black Talon is the first book in the Dragonblood Assassin series by Jaime Castle and Andy Peloquin, and it’s an impressive work of fantasy. It’s a captivating tale of magic, combat, and political intrigue. The story is told from alternating points of view, following Kullen, an imperial assassin, and Natisse, a member of the rebel group known as the Crimson Fang. The two characters seem to be working on opposite sides, but by the end, they have more in common than either would believe.

The most enjoyable aspect of Black Talon is the well-crafted plot full of unexpected twists and turns. I get bored when I can easily predict what will happen next, but Black Talon constantly kept me guessing. I also personally love alternating points of view – and that format is used masterfully in Black Talon. Flipping back and forth between Kullen and Natisse allowed two distinct storylines to weave together while, at the same time, maintaining their own unique narratives to independently further the overall plot. Characters in each storyline were beautifully complex and deeply fleshed out, making it easy to connect and root for them.

Overall, the book was a non-stop ride of action and suspense. The writing style was engrossing, making the story as a whole thrilling and enjoyable. However, I struggled to invest in Natisse's story at the start of the book. There was not much exposition about the motivations and mission of Natisse or the Crimson Fang, and while that may have been intended to intrigue the reader, I think it would have helped me connect with the character and her group earlier on. However, by the end, I found myself engrossed in both POV characters and eager to see what happens in the next book in the series.

Speaking of wanting to see what happens next – prepare yourself for one cruel joke of a cliffhanger. Once you get to the end, you basically have no choice but to read the second book. Hopefully, by the time you read this review, all the books will be out and published in your preferred format because you will want to immediately dive into the next one. However, this book is so good that really shouldn’t be a problem.

As for the narration in the audiobook, Michael Kramer and Kate Reading are a fantastic duo, adding an extra layer of depth and personality to the already well-written characters. The two's ability to provide voice inflection brings the characters to life and allows the listener to become fully immersed in the story. Reading's "male" voices take some getting used to, but overall, the narration is almost flawless.

Special thanks to Aethon Books, who provided me with this book at my request.


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