Overall, a unique and engaging read that pushes me – along with the mighty intriguing epilogue – towards pre-ordering the second entry in the series, The Shadow City, when it is released. I’m looking forward to eventually reading other books authored by him. Dan Jolley has a distinct style, and normally I very much dislike longer chapters, but he worked them in perfectly and made it an engaging experience. I thoroughly enjoyed reading the book, one of the best I've read in awhile. Arcadia and its inhabitants have been described and created to a high standard I especially like the ‘null draak’.

The other setting is called Arcadia, a dark dimension that is roamed by ‘nightmarish creatures’.

This works incredibly well with the novel’s plot: famous landmarks are referenced or visited, and the city’s history with earthquakes is very cleverly fused into the plot. All stand out - namely one who has a very distinctive voice and plays an anti-hero role - and there are a couple of small twists built on some of the characters introduced – among others – which worked well and surprised me a couple of times. The characters have been very well-developed in that regard with the majority having clear objectives on display.

Although in terms of structure, it holds together very solidly as the first act introduces the protagonist and the other most important characters to the reader, so it serves its purpose. You may find it starts a little slow, but once the first act has passed, it speeds up – in fact, I read the last 200 pages in one sitting – and holds your attention to an excellent degree.

The Emerald Tablet by Dan Jolley