This novel has a particularly good villain, who is unfortunately an extremely realistic character. Some authors write about complex themes only to falter at some level of execution, for instance by using metaphors that undermine the stated message of the story, and this is especially an issue with the depiction of antagonists. In this case, however, the plot's main conflict only complements the story's themes. ( )

Three parts dead is one of the most original books I've read in a while. It is sort of urban fantasy in a made up world (for those who are not familiar with the terms: urban usual consists of fantasy in our world). It has a strange mixture of magic and lawyers, gods and technology. How does all of this fit together? Well, magic is performed using soulstuff, and soulstuff can be exchanged between people (and gods). When soulstuff changes hands, a contract is drawn up, and with contracts come loopholes and lawyers... As for the technology, well, the magic is not necessarily used for magic purposes, but is often used for the mundane. For instance, the magic of the god Kos keeps the city running, since he provides the heat for all the machinery. Part of the service of his priesthood consists of managing all the valves and pressure gauges, and his priests are therefore called things like Novice Technician or Maintenance Monk.
The story: Tara becomes an associate at something reminiscent of a law firm. This particular firm specializes in resurrections. Her first job is a big one: the god Kos has died, and together with her boss she needs to find out how it happened...

To me, the main attraction of Three parts dead is the world and its magic. The characters are sympathetic and competent. The only reason I give 4 stars instead of 5, is that the book contains relatively little emotion. It is like it describes all the moves in a match, but doesn't focus on the participants's emotions very much. It is not at all distracting when reading the book, but it does make it easier to put it away. I believe this book is a debut, so I'm sure the author can still improve in this respect, and other than that, it really is a very good book. I have high hopes for the author's next works! ( )

Guys I think I found a new fantasy author to love and gush over.

Where to begin? I loved that this wasn't a story of absolutes--good, evil, right, wrong...practically everything in here is a shade of gray. One person's helpful deed, is another person's horrible sin--but that doesn't mean it was either of those. Gladstone spends a good chunk of the book building up the fact that everybody sees everything differently, but its the person with more power who decides which way is the 'right' way (this is illustrated very literally in the end).

I thought Tara was marvelous--kind of drunk on her power in the beginning (to an almost bad ending), but also partly resentful of how it separates her and how others just don't understand, she comes into her own (for good or ill) and finds a place that needs her (and maybe will appreciate her for it).

This is a very complicated book however. Gladstone draws out explanations and motivations for as long as he can, revealing such things as how Tara got herself kicked out of the Hidden Schools (kind of, not really...its complicated, but it may have involved an explosion) until much later in the story in a mildly inconvenient moment. This works well for the endgame, but for other things (the Gods' War?) it gets a bit irksome. The characters act, talk and react as if its something the reader should know (like water is wet or fire is hot).

Murder Mystery, religious thriller, and fantasy--Gladstone blended all the elements of various genres quite well. This is kind of like a Criminal Minds episode (if that was set in a world with magic and Gods talking to their acolytes mentally), there's a police procedural feel to the novel with Tara and co gathering facts and clues and investigating leads. The pacing feels off however because again as a reader we don't know everything about the world, so something I found to be 'ah-ha! clue!' is easily dismissed because its just an everyday occurrence in the world.

The thing of it is, even those minor sort of complaints didn't really stop me from eagerly turning page after page. By the end I understood quite a lot about the world, but I can't tell you how I know. The casual, organic sort of way Gladstone conveys the world-building is wonderful. ( )

Tara Abernathy, recent graduate and worker of Craft (basically magic, but with more than a whiff of necromancy), begins working for Elayne Kavarian, who brings her to the city of Alt Coulumb where a God, Kos, has died. She must use all her ingenuity to figure out what really happened, alongside the priest, Abelard, who was there when Kos expired.

The intricate world-building from the rules of magic to the role of divinity in everyday life is the main strength of this book, the first in a series. The pacing stays fast, switching perspectives often between the main players who are in different places investigating the death of Kos, and of a judge, and constantly having the reader guess who they can trust. The characters could be more fleshed out, and it was a little on the violent side for me. But the genreblend of fantasy and legal drama worked really well, the ending was satisfying, and I'd be willing to continue the series. ( )

originally posted at www.csdaley.com

It is really hard to do something completely fresh and original in fantasy for me these days. I have been reading fantasy for a long time. I read a lot of books. So when something jumps out at me as different I tend to take notice. Three Parts Dead is different. While on its surface it is an Urban Fantasy set in a world that looks a little like ours. Underneath it is a mash up of many different genres. By many different genres I am not frakking around. There is a bang up legal procedure that culminates in one of the most interesting court room dramas I have ever read.

I am not even sure I know how to describe this book. The main story revolves around the murder of a god and a young lawyer's search for justice. There are gargoyles and vampires and magic (called the craft). The story is gritty and reads like a great mystery novel. The world building is fantastic and the characters pop off the page. I was a little sad to find out that this is a series that will not center around any one character, although I am hopeful that we will see a few of our favorites from book to book.

The writing is smooth and moves at a brisk pace. I like how Gladstone gives us a little bit of the world. Lets our assumptions take hold and then blows it up and goes somewhere surprising. The book had me constantly wondering where it was going next. It is a pretty rare book that does this to me. I don't think I have read a more enjoyable book this last year. When I finished it was everything I could do to delay gratification and not jump into the next book. Three Parts Dead will keep you reading and smiling. You will love the world and how Gladstone peels it back a little at a time. I love that the book ends. Fantasy has become dominated by massive series. It was refreshing to get to the end of the novel and have a conclusion. Gladstone lets his writing and his world draw you into the series. Go buy this book right now and prepare to be entertained.
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