The Gutter Prayer (The Black Iron Legacy #1) by Gareth Ryder-Hanrahan ★★★★★

“Everything’s a weapon if you’re willing to use it...” 

- Carillon Thay 

ALL THE STARS!!!
George R.R. Martin without the rape. Brandon Sanderson without the extra five hundred pages of drudgery. 

Epic fantasy has a new king: Gareth Hanrahan. Bow down nerds. 

“We’re thieves,” says Cari, “call it a heist.” 

Runaway, robber, traveler: Cari swore she would never return to Guerdon. But she’s found her outlaw family in Spar and Rat, something worth fighting for.

“There are moments when things change, when the forces balance, and it’s possible for people - individual people - to remake the world.” 

Intellectual, thief, heir: Spar should be leading the Brotherhood but he caught the Stone Plague. 
Everyday, more of him freezes to stone. Everyday, he grows stronger.

“He laughs, this long slow deep laugh, and he can’t shake the feeling that the dead man he just ate is laughing, too.” 

Ghoul, psychopomp, friend: Rat’s connections with the surface world are all that keep him from entering the feral stage of ghoulhood. 

“That’s a terrible idea, but fuck it, lead on.” 

My favorite character! Last of the Saints of the Kept Gods, she is middle aged, all powerful, and completely irreverent. 

“It came into my mind that I could possibly help with a little magic.” 

History professor, investigator, sorcerer: Ongent buys Carillion’s way out of jail to help her explore the mystery of her visions.

“I don’t always control where I go.” 

Teleporter, cut-throat, lover: Professor Ongent’s son is usually his father’s brooding shadow. But when guarding Carillon, he proves a savage warrior.

“You’re mother is a Thay?”
“She never talks about that side of the family. She didn’t, even before the murders.” 

Student, researcher, runaway: Eladora is Professor Ongent’s assistant and reluctant hostess of her wayward cousin. 

“It’s a new era. All the old powers are obsolete.” 

The most powerful person in Guerdon, Rosha is an unrivaled alchemist, ruthless, and with ambition enough to take on the Gods.

“We can’t have little gutter thieves running around like stray cats.” 

Head of the Brotherhood, Heinreil will do anything to retain control of the underworld. But Spar has a stronger claim. 

The Gutter Prayer was Goldsboro Books December 2018 Book of the Month. I received 118/700, with sprayed edges, signed by the author.