In the Shadow of Lightning by Brian McClellan

Brian McClellan knows how to write military political fiction. I will give him that. The storytelling is absolutely gripping and incredibly well written. There is even a cliffhanger that almost made me throw my Kindle. I want to be able to recommend this novel to everyone, but I just can't. This will have a very niche readership type as it is a mature content novel. Not that it ruins the story, but it just makes me sad when authors feel this is the direction they need to take their stories.

This is end times Rome at its most decadent. Everyone is sleeping with everyone else, infiltrated by spies all around, and fighting to the death for entertainment. Entwined through all of this mafia type guild family drama is a top notch murder mystery. Several times I thought I had the answer to only be completely wrong. The actual answer was metaphysical.

A new magic concept is introduced where glass is imbued with certain characteristics in the blowing process. When worn on the body, the resonance releases an effect on the wearer. There are glasses for strength, wisdom, and healing as well as a couple more narcotic in nature. Seriously unique magic with real physics implications. This magic was a key reason I wanted to read this book.

Most of the main characters have been mentally broken down and are now relying on each other to complete a challenge given on a deathbed. Demir and Thessa must build the mythical, top secret phoenix channel to save the world after both their mentors are murdered. While they are doing that, though, Demir insists on finding his mother's murderer. The surprising part is the love story that unfolds on this headlong rush to be the first in ingenuity. 

But it is hard to keep secrets when every guild family has a spymaster and an insatiable greed to be the top family. Nothing comes easy as all the main characters scratch and claw their way through the filth and corruption that has become Ossan culture.

I wish it had just been the murder mystery without all the debauchery. The political intrigue was catty and really kept the pace of the novel flowing. The military campaigns were well articulated and captured the putrid essence of war. The sexual scope just seemed like an unnecessary component made to fit the current publishing culture.