So, this one is both delightful and yet quite dark … I especially enjoyed the compassionate nature of the MC — a “cunning man” which is a man who can wield magic to a minor degree, mostly potions and charms, wards and seeings, and is scrupulous in avoiding dark magic workings. The MC makes constant efforts to avoid causing unnecessary suffering to “sentient creatures” he needs to control … even sentient creatures running amok and causing harm to others…. he seeks to detain and control, rather than kill. It’s so refreshing to find this compassionate attitude in a story filled with monsters, goblins, revenants and other wierdlings.
As for the gritty level of the writing, this particular book is darker than I expected, I’d compare it to the gritty level of Patricia Brigg’s Alpha and Omega or Mercy werewolves novels. There are some descriptions of physical harm that are very clinically detailed. I’m unsure if the reason for the level of darkness in this book will be equalled in the rest of the series, or if it will be limited to this book, perhaps because dark witchcraft is very prevalent as a problem to overcome in this book. I’m very tempted to try the next book in the hope I’ll get more of the kind-spirited MC being able to deal with nasty issues without discovering quite as much viscera strewn about.
The grit is balanced by the way the MC and his friends are written. The MC is really rather charming in his appreciation of other non-human species and his efforts to just add a little comfort to the lives of others thru his ability to find things they’ve lost. The elderly cunning man who is the MC’s friend is also very easy to like and appreciate. And there are several cranky old women who add some fine sass to the mix. In all, I’d like to see the inhabitants of this town again, and so I believe I’m on to book 2.