A resounding opening novel—an epic historical fantasy about a headstrong woman facing the complex realities of her beliefs and of war
War has arrived in the port city of Marenburg. While Cosette Argant is certainly aware of it—money is tight and necessities are even harder to come by—she doesn’t bother to worry herself with the finer details of what that means. Yes, Tearn has invaded Marenburg but not the quarter where Cosette lives, so she maintains faith that her government and military will fight the Tearnans and the Maren Freeman will be free once again.
Cosette Argant is a strong-willed and ambitious woman. She has recently taken ownership of Argant Fine Metal Crafts, her father’s business, due to his failing health, and she is proud to be a highly skilled metal artisan, especially as it is uncommon in Marenburg for women to not only learn such a trade, but to run their own business.
With her father staying with her uncle in a distant quarter of the city, Cosette needs only to take care of herself, a task that she could manage if war hadn’t affected her business so direly. Many businesses have gone as far as banning Tearnan customers from their shops, something Cosette can’t bear to do; the war isn’t against her fellow artisan neighbors who happen to be Tearnan.
After running errands one day, Cosette arrives back at her storefront to find a riot of angry Maren Freeman, ransacking the shop across the street owned by a Tearnan man. Their rage spreads like wildfire, as they begin targeting shops that do not have a sign prohibiting Tearnan customers. Cosette watches in horror as war finally trickles into her world, the rioters breaking her windows and looting her watches, jewelry, and other metal creations.
Cosette can’t stand idly by as this happens. She rushes to face two men who boldly go into her apartment above the shop. It is here that the dangers of nationalism and hatred lead to Cosette being violently beaten by two Maren Freeman, men who were supposed to be her neighbors and allies.
But Cosette is saved from a worse fate when her military cousin, who is like a brother to her, Jacque, arrives to remove her from the scene and take her somewhere safe. He assists her to Alphonse’s home, his close friend who is a war hero and holds a Seat in the Free Quarters, where his servants, who Cosette is friends with, take care of her.
While Cosette is resting, the riot gets out of hand. With the military spread thin, no one has the time to stop the spread of the fire that has begun amidst the chaos. Cosette’s home, business, and livelihood have been burned to ash.
“It felt intensely personal— the war had brought looters into her home and now was threatening Jacque and Alphonse. And yet, at the same time it felt too big, too abstract, happening almost beyond the grasp of her mind and certainly beyond her control.”
Things only get worse when Cosette’s uncle writes that her father’s health is not improving. With nothing left for her, Cosette decides she must make a dangerous journey through contested quarters to reach her ailing father.
Jacque and Alphonse, with their intimate familiarity of the war and concern for Cosette, warn her that this is not something she should be doing. But ever-stubborn and moved by her love for her only remaining parent, Cosette makes a rash decision to sneak off with a small assortment of necessities and seek a boat ride to the Sootlund Quarter.
As soon as the boat hits the docks of Sootlund, Cosette has to run. The realities of how much could go awry have hit her as she realizes she has no idea where on her map she is. Before long, Cosette is being pursued by Tearnans and quickly finds herself falling through the ceiling of a crumbling building and straight into imprisonment.
The Gray Sheep follows Cosette through her confusing imprisonment, where internal, personal Tearnan army conflicts are brought to light. Here, she is exposed to magic for the first time, and she is treated kindly by the close-knit Cartographer Corp, a sect of the army that is concerned with helping people.
Throughout the story, Cosette is provided information that shakes her black and white view on the war and the greater world. The Gray Sheep thoughtfully and carefully considers how a woman who grew up as Cosette did would react to her beliefs being challenged. It’s real and raw and thoroughly human. Each and every character is crafted to capture the minute details and imperfections of being a person, including the moral grayness of it all.
The Gray Sheep is a richly intriguing examination of the complexities of war, backdropped against an intricately detailed and fleshed out fantasy world. The politics, religion, and culture are profoundly comprehensive. Not only do we learn of the larger lore of the world, such as the religious belief that the sky is being held up by pillars, but finer details, such as how the bricks in Sootlund came to be differently colored over time.
The pacing of The Gray Sheep is slow, but in the best way possible. The story is continuous and always moving forward, while existing within each moment in a way that feels as though you are right there alongside the characters. It feels real.
To read this book is to step into its world and yearn to interact with it beyond the pages. If you’re into long books full of political and wartime intrigue, realistic characters, moral dilemmas, and a dash of magic, you do not want to miss this.
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