Hope and Red (#1) - Jon Skovron [Review]

Book: Hope and Red

Author: Jon Skovron

Published: 30th June 2016

Publisher: Orbit

Pages: 416
Source: eArc provided by the publisher via NetGalley

Rating: 4/5 stars

I had no idea what to expect with this one, I didn't have much to go on - but the premise sounded intriguing. It was definitely not what I was expecting, but that is by no means a bad thing.

If I had to describe this story, it's an amalgamation of Gangs of New York and Pirates of the Caribbean, with a little bit of Assassins Creed thrown in for good measure. There's gang fights, ship sailing, sea creatures, sordid encounters, and a ton of folk slang. Seriously, there's a glossary at the back and everything. Now, rather than being off-putting, this actually served to make the story more immersive, and I really felt transported to the fictional universe that Skovron has created. 

This book is bold, brazen, and unashamedly crude. There is graphic violence, horror and sex. After reading the opening few pages, I was immediately hooked, and had a million and one questions. Although the pace is somewhat meandering in the first 20-40%, it soon picks up (once Hope and Red actually meet each other) and the action is full throttle from pretty much then on. Although I was at times confused concerning certain parts of the narrative - there are some seemingly random passages from the point of view of a biomancer - the purposes of these passages becomes clearer towards the end of the book, and sets up the next novel nicely. 

The biomancers, in fact, were an interesting concept, and I would love to know more about them (I'm hoping this will be covered in the next book) and, indeed, I'm anticipating more development concerning the figure of the emperor, too. 

This brings me on to the characters; none are quite alike, and everyone appears to have a tragic backstory. There's Red, and orphan, living on the streets - he's charming, silly, daring, and altogether a great guy. He starts off unsure of himself, but he really progresses throughout he book, along with the help of the notorious Sadie the Goat. Sadie is just as silly and daring, and she really helps Red to find his 'place' in the world. Their banter was cute, much appreciated, and I enjoyed their dynamic.

Then there's Hope - Bleak Hope, to be exact - named after the town in which she was born. Of course, like her name, her life has not been all that great, and she moves from one bad situation to the next (can the girl catch a break?). She's determined, honorable, loyal, and super bad-ass with a sword. She survives so many trials and struggles, and she never gives up - It's safe to say I adored her character.

Her dynamic with Red is one of the best parts of the book, and, as mentioned, when they actually meet a fairway into the book, their chemistry becomes evident and they compliment each other nicely. Don't get me wrong, this is by no means a ~love story~ and there is definitely no swooning or instant love to be found. It's a gritty, sometimes ugly, and tense story, with a fair amount of gore and violence. There's some truly creepy stuff throughout this book, but there's also some warm friendships to be found, and an excellent sense of community among the wags of New Haven, which help combat the darker parts of the story. 

Ultimately, this is a book unlike any other I have read, and it definitely surprised me. I think it can only improve in the next book, and I am looking forward to seeing how both Hope, and Red, change and develop. If you're a fan of tales of adventure, hardship and you love a bit of crude folk slang, then you're sure to love this tale... keen?