Snowblooded by Emma Sterner-Radley

Book Review

Elloise Hopkins

Valour is having a nightmare again, of creatures of folklore and old gods. The assassin does not have time to dwell on her thoughts though. She has a job to do, one that she is phenomenally good at. This time it is a foreign aristocrat who has been marked for her particular treatment as a member of the Order of Axsten. Elsewhere, at the harbour, ships arrive full of illegal, magical tonics. They are all that remain of the magic of the old gods, and the people of Vinterstock pay high prices to obtain them.

Petrichor burns another letter without reading it. There is no escape from this life for him, not for a long while. He must accept that–another on a long list of frustrations that generally has Valour’s name at the top. The two of them have the most well-executed kills of recent years, so he cannot deny her talents, but why does she have to be late to the sanctum of the guild yet again?

When she finally turns up, their leader has a job for them. A joint job, much to Petrichor’s disgust. This is not just any target. This is Brandquist, the infamous and rarely seen leader of the drug smugglers. No one will be able to tell them where he is or what he looks like. This job is going to test their abilities, and their patience, as it turns out. But above all else, it will test their ability to tolerate one another.

Snowblooded is an exceptionally well written, and refreshingly unique offering to the fantasy market. Set in 18^th century Scandinavia and drawing on elements of Norse mythology, Valour and Petrichor are opposites in almost every way, save for their training, having being raised from orphans to assassins as members of the Order of Axsten, Vinterstock’s official guild of sanctioned assassinations.

Our two protagonists are written as sibling rivals, Petrichor always disgusted with Valour’s crassness and lack of decorum, and Valour beyond impatient with his vanity and painstaking attention to detail. Their narrative voices are witty, entirely believable, and allow the reader to connect with each character’s raw honesty and vulnerability. Each carries regrets and burdens, and each finds ways (completely contrasting, of course) to function as highly effective hunters and killers, in spite of their flaws. 

The book takes us on their journey, to uncovering Brandquist’s identity and the greater plot that has their beloved, albeit dangerous city in its grip. The pace is good. The magic is suitably present. The world-building adds the perfect balance of detail and grit into Vinterstock and its colourful residents. Overall, a hugely enjoyable, funny and intelligent tale of rivalry, bravado and intrigue.