Continuing my set of reviews based on blended genres, I will go over Priest by Matthew Colville, the first of the Ratcatchers series.

*****SPOILER FREE*****

Priest is self-described as a fantasy hardboiled, combining mystery with the realm of magic and monsters. Suffice to say, I have a soft spot for such a hybrid work (having written one of an expected trilogy of such books).

But rather than following an actual detective, this novel’s protagonist is referenced in its title: Heden, a priest. Not in a “Friar Tuck” sense, as he derives considerable spellcasting power from the deity he worships; for readers less aware of how priest/clerics work as magicians in fantasy, you can think of the concept being similar to Moses causing miracles by the power of God.

Heden’s superior in the clergy sends him to a castle in the middle of the forest, which an evil army is readying to attack. Their protectors, the Green Order of knights, are not helping in this desperate hour, and it is Heden’s task to investigate why.

Our hero does fit the “hardboiled” archetype with his cynicism, a heart toughened with experience with violence and corruption. Yet instead of being a veteran against bootlegging gangsters, he has been in wars against orc-like enemies. His past is gradually shown, which helps inform him as he continues his search. It puts the storytelling tropes of its foregenre, mystery, into the setting dynamic of its backgenre, fantasy, in a way that shows the author’s informed knowledge of both.

The genres blend quite well; the greatest joy, challenge, and pitfall of fantasy is the world-building, while for mystery, it is the building of suspense and intrigue. Heden’s lack of knowledge of the Green Order is a prime example of them coming together. He learns the lore as is relevant (in line with good fantasy), and new information shows that there is more going on than previously believed (in line with good mystery). In other words, the common world-building advice of “don’t infodump” comes in quite handy.

If you like one of these genres, the other, or both, Priest will have plenty of intrigue and magic-packed battles to offer. Written by a fellow Dungeon Master of the Dungeons and Dragons playerbase, I can only imagine what Colville’s game sessions are like.

Plot: 4/4

Characters: 3/4

World-building: 3/4

Details: 3/4

Misc.: 4/4

Total: 17/20

Looking forward to the sequel.

*****SPOILER REVIEW*****

Any story that starts with a person’s head blowing up immediately has my attention. Not only does it establish the stakes, it creates the tone of crime and retribution classic to the ‘detective’ story. And, the scene demonstrates Heden’s magic capabilities.

His journey to Ollghum Keep has its own symbolisms, how he can never blend in, and always makes enemies where he goes. This is a good fusion of the hardboiled detective (always looking over his shoulder for the people around him) and the fantasy adventurer (being a stranger in every town outside of home). This hangs a strong sense of loneliness about him, amplifying the threats around him, and giving uncertainty of who to trust.

I also like how even Heden has things he hides, even outright lying, creating a sense that the reader cannot fully trust him either. The truth about his job and who he serves makes the reveal at the end all the more striking.

His duel with the knight is one of my favorite scenes in the novel. A great way to utilize fantasy’s play on the supernatural, while setting up the suspicious atmosphere in the forest. And the fight itself had its own clever moves.

Ultimately, the stakes show how well the genres mix. There is an evil army out to attack innocent people, as often happens in fantasy; but unlike the backgenre, the hero does not have to defeat the ‘dark lord’ or destroy an ancient relic, rather has to discover the puzzle pieces behind the Green Order’s inaction (true to its foregenre, solving a crime).

Overall, the novel is a great start to the series, and is executed well.