The City Series, Book 1

April 29, 2013
Gemmell (Troy: Fall of Kings with her late husband, David Gemmell) proves more than capable of standing on her own with this powerful epic fantasy, heavier on combat than on magic. Ten-year-old Elija and his younger sister, Em, have lived in a sewer deep beneath the City for years. In the layers and layers of buildings and streets that were abandoned and then built over, survival is constantly in doubt. (Even in sleep, on the tiny ledge they can call their own, the siblings must stay very still to avoid falling to a watery death.) A devastating flood separates the pair, and Em ends up being reared by an old soldier, Bartellus, who was once a famous general. The plot centers on efforts to overthrow the City’s emperor, Araeon, who was responsible for the death of Bartellus’s family; now malcontents hope Bartellus will lead their revolt. Richly textured prose and settings distinguish this novel, and fans of grimdark fantasy will hope it spawns many sequels. Agent: Howard Morhaim, Howard Morhaim Literary Agency.

Starred review from June 15, 2013

The City sprawls in the center of an unending war, a bloated behemoth built on the ruins of other cities long gone. Under it, in the sewers and ruins, vast rivers of water and less pure things flow, and an entire population of displaced "Dwellers" try to survive on what they can scavenge. In the center of The City resides The Immortal, the emperor who remains largely unseen yet holds absolute power over the populace. Rumors surface that The Immortal is not human, that he is of a race called the Serafim, beings of superior strength and unknown abilities, who at one time bred with humans to create the ruling families. One thing has become clear: the war has decimated the countryside, spoiled land and water, and destroyed generations in unending battles. A small band of rebels believes that the only way to end the war is to kill The Immortal. VERDICT Populated with strong characters, including The City itself, this epic tale slowly builds until disparate events coalesce, moving inexorably toward the final climax. This skillfully crafted solo debut by the widow of, and coauthor with, best-selling fantasy novelist David Gemmell (Troy: Fall of Kings) proves that she is equal to the task. While the ending is definitely satisfying, enough questions remain unanswered that one hopes this is the first in a series and not the last we see of The City.--Jennifer Beach, Cumberland Cty. P.L., VA

Copyright 2013 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

May 15, 2013
Stella Gemmell, who finished husband David's historical novel Troy after he died in 2006, offers up an intriguing solo effort. Set in an eternally-at-war ancient city, the novel features a quintet of disparate characters: Fell Lee, a warrior with seriously conflicted loyalties; Indaro, daughter of one of the City's powerful families; Bartellus, a legendary military commander who was forced into hiding in the City's sewers; and Elija and Emly, a young brother and sister who have spent years living in the sewers. Some people believe the only way to stop the never-ending war the City has been fighting is to kill the allegedly immortal emperor, but will this free the City or plunge it once and for all into chaos? Having constructed a richly detailed world full of vividly drawn characters, Gemmell sets up a number of puzzles for the reader to solveincluding whether the book is set in an alternate past, or a far-flung futureand as we move through the sprawling story, the pieces begin to fall into place. Although a sequel is not mandatory (the book can work as a stand-alone), one would be most welcome.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2013, American Library Association.)