This dark, dystopian fantasy focuses on the exploits of an evil entrepreneur in a world driven by money making and marketing. It is a world chillingly close in many ways to our own where profit comes before caring for climate or the poor.
The scenes in the countryside and the Old Town are particularly poignant and compelling and I was fascinated by the hideous augmented horses and the mechanized equine monsters.
The author touches on Dickensian 'Hard Times' with his human and animal slaves working mills which will poison the land and kill them. Written with imaginative genius.

I found this book quite scary to read due to the way the world may or could go but on saying that I enjoyed the story and the way it was written. David is part of the Market World and works as an Enforcer making sure there is a fair system and the system is adhered to. No money is changed hands and they wear wristbands to “pay” for goods etc. They are not supposed to swap one thing for another and everything has to be legally dealt with. While working he meets a lady called Sarah who has been arrested due to bringing her applies into the city and would happily give them away. He is attracted to her immediately and tries to win her over by showing her how his city works. She is totally against the regime and tries to make him see that this type of life is not good for its people. David is coming to terms that she may be correct. A man called Franklin runs Market World and is particularly greedy and the villages around are in his eyesight. Sarah tries to get David on board and he is requested by his peers to infiltrate Franklin’s world to see if he is true to his word. The story continues throughout the book trying to find out what Franklin is up to and they are shocked with the way the outside world of the Market World is being treated and he is appalled. I liked the way the story intertwines with both worlds but as I said at the beginning I did find the story disturbing but one we should all read and take stock of

Well crafted characters, an underlying sense of menace and an immersive narrative combine for a suspenseful, one sit read.

I was kindly provided with an ARC via Netgalley.

I was very much intrigued by the premise of this book, and on the whole it was superbly set. I struggled to find much to like about the main characters, and didn't feel invested in their wellbeing. At times it seemed to meander around inevitability, but had just enough about it to keep me reading to the end. Plenty of promise here!

This is an enjoyable read and a individual book. Written in a pared back style. First comment horses play a big part in the story, but no spoilers. We start with a naïve and blinkered Government official, in a world where commerce rules, everything has to be bought or sold, ‘nothing is free’ says the one law. That’s the way it is, it’s perfect, and everyone should see that. But it isn’t, and they don’t . David finds himself questioning his world view, falling in love, and eventually wanting to change things for the better. This is a book that speaks to our generation, living in our current corrupted ideological and changing world; pollution, money, greed, self-interest, power and weak government, and megalomaniacs. I think it would be an interesting way to start talking about current politics and ethics with Secondary school Children. Thanks to Matador and NetGalley for letting me read an e-ARC. The views expressed are all mine freely given.