Publishers Weekly
02/20/2023
The theft of a rare magical amulet becomes the catalyst for revolution in the shady city of Ilmar in this well wrought fantasy from Arthur C. Clarke award winner Tchaikovsky (Children of Memory). A high-ranking official of the Palleseen occupation, which seeks to bring “perfection” to the world, dies during the amulet’s theft, and the occupiers will not rest until order is restored. Tchaikovsky seamlessly alternates between a large cast as an academic, a refugee sorcerer, a petty criminal, and a noble scion become entangled in a frantic search for the amulet. The captivating magic systems of this world’s many cultures come to the fore as the Palleseen crack down on Ilmar: workers in factories powered by demons, the mysterious residents of the last grove of a magical forest, and a district abandoned to the emaciated victims of a virulent curse all chafe against the oppressive regime. The different resistance factions soon face a choice: rise as one to overthrow the Palleseen or stay separate and be crushed forever. The rich, inventive worldbuilding and nuanced intrigues will have fantasy readers on the edges of their seats. Agent: Simon Kavanagh, Mic Cheetham Literary. (May)
From the Publisher
Finesse and clarity of detail in the world building is the rock on which Tchaikovsky has built the City of Last Chances . . . the beauty of the story is in the slow and gentle unfolding of how the unrelated combine” —SciFi Now
“Paints a vivid detailed backdrop and populates it with colourful personalities and elaborate religious, political and economic systems . . . making a location the main character is a considerable challenge and it's testament to Tchaikovsky's skill that he can make it work” —SFX
“When things start to unravel, brilliant chaos ensues” —Daily Mail
“Has some of Tchaikovsky's best prose . . . an absolutely fascinating study in human behaviour” —SF Crowsnest
“An intriguing tangle, dense, dark, ingenious, ironic, complex, often funny, and always smart” —Locus
“Endlessly creative . . . so much invention peeking around every corner” —Patrick Ness
“The rich, inventive worldbuilding and nuanced intrigues will have fantasy readers on the edges of their seats” —Publishers Weekly
“Ilmar is vividly alive with ideas, conflicts, and a sense of its own history – a truly breathtaking fantasy city, down every street a compelling story” —David Towsey
“A master at the height of his powers. This is epic symphonic fantasy, weaving a breakneck plot through a sumptuously dangerous world” —Ian Green
“An ambitious epic fantasy read that contains many quality elements and memorable characters . . . a unique reading experience” —Grimdark Magazine
“A powerful story about romanticism versus the truth of rebellion . . . It resonates with the world we live in today and is well worth investing your time in more than once” —The British Fantasy Society
“A gritty adventure fantasy of uncommon breadth, fashioning a universe brimming with magic and treachery” —Foreword Reviews, starred review
“Ilmar will live up to its many names in this clever and engaging fantasy” —Booklist, starred review
“[A] darkly comic but also potentially transformative guide to fantasyland” —ParSec
“A wonderful twisty stew of a book with a cast of fascinating characters, set against the brilliantly realized city of Ilmar” —Django Wexler
“A triumph of a book: wildly imaginative, immediately immersive and hypnotically compelling” —Sharon Emmerichs
“Interesting and beautifully thought out. . . in terms of its scope, its ambition, and its ability to render a genuinely realistic view of a city on the cusp of revolution, City of Last Chances is immensely successful” —Nerds of a Feather
“A mosaic of a novel . . . Highly recommended to those who love books where the city feels like a character” —The Fantasy Inn
“As the story pulls back to reveal the whole of the fresco, I discovered that once again Tchaikovksy had treated me to a clever storyline that subverted expectations and rewarded my loyalty” —Geek Dad
“An absolute tour-de-force of a book . . . unpredictable and absorbing” —Birmingham Science Fiction Group
“Tchaikovsky skilfully immerses the reader into [his] rich and diverse world, where magic and machinery intertwine, and mysterious figures with barely glimpsed back-stories step onto, and then off, centre stage” —Concatenation
“PRAISE FOR BEAR HEAD:
'Adrian Tchaikovsky's dissection of Thompson's appeal and ghastly genius is the thoughtful highlight of this unashamedly thrilling escapade. You don't need to have read Dogs of War to enjoy Bear Head – but why deny yourself the pleasure?' The Times
'Funny, appalling, gruesome and uplifting (often at the same time), Bear Head is propelled by a cracking plot that balances dystopian satire with a palpable sense of moral peril' Daily Mail.
'An absolute whammy of a read, and a must for anyone who enjoys a smart, fast-paced, hugely entertaining blast of speculative fiction... This is one of those books where you can just throw yourself and abandon yourself to a fabulous story, knowing you will be entertained throughout' LoveReading.
'A rousing good read'” —Guardian
“City of Last Chances is filled with beautiful, colourful imagery, rich narrative and intricate world building. A challenging but rewarding read” —LoveReading
Library Journal
★ 04/01/2023
Welcome to Ilmar, the last refuge of every culture fleeing ahead of the Palleseen Sway's conquering forces. At Ilmar's heart, a dead duke and his cursed court shroud the gateway to magical realms still outside the influence of the conquerors. Shimmering as well in the city is the thought of rebellion, only awaiting a spark to light it. Also here, taking advantage of their opponents' bad ideas and worse luck, are a stolen relic, a dead official, and restless ghosts. As a motley band of frenemies tries to ride the chaos, others launch a bid to take the city back. Ilmar is corrupt, cursed, oppressed, and haunted at every turn, and each of those turns draws the tension in the plot ever tighter. Putting this novel down is as impossible as escape for any of the characters. Readers who swooned over the magic-infused city-empire of Kithamar in Age of Ash by Daniel Abraham will be thrilled to walk the mean streets of Ilmar in this clash of imperialism and sorcery. VERDICT This stand-alone epic fantasy from Tchaikovsky (Children of Memory) is highly recommended for lovers of big sprawling sagas who don't want to wait years for a climactic conclusion.—Marlene Harris
