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Twenty Palaces #3.5
The Twisted Path
Ray Lilly has been summoned to the headquarters of the Twenty Palace Society to answer one question: How has he managed to survive mission after mission fighting alongside his boss, Annalise? He doesn't have the power of a full peer of the society. He's a wooden man. An assistant. A diversion. The other peers want to know what's going on, so it's off to Europe for a trip to the First Palace. And no place in the world is safer than inside the headquarters of the Twenty Palace Society, right?
Right?
Right?
63 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 17, 2017
52 people are currently reading
171 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews
September 27, 2019
Yay! Harry Connolly has written a new Ray Lilly Twenty Palaces story.
Boo! It's only a novella instead of a novel.
Yay! It's an excellent story.
Now, what I need is everyone to buy this novella and the rest of the series so that Mr. Connolly can afford to work on it full time. This series really should be as popular as the Alex Verus books by Benedict Jacka or the Peter Grant novels by Ben Aaronovitch.
Boo! It's only a novella instead of a novel.
Yay! It's an excellent story.
Now, what I need is everyone to buy this novella and the rest of the series so that Mr. Connolly can afford to work on it full time. This series really should be as popular as the Alex Verus books by Benedict Jacka or the Peter Grant novels by Ben Aaronovitch.
January 23, 2018
So, to start: I love this series and I love this author. I have recommended this series to more people than any other series. When the series was canceled due to poor sales, I was disappointed, though I understood Harry Connolly's reasoning and I think he was smart. Still...
Not surprisingly, I was very excited to see this was being published!
And it was everything I hoped it would be.
I hope this is as successful as it deserves to be. I hope this means we'll see more Twenty Palaces books, novellas and/or short stories.
I know this review is just saying how much I love this series and this novella, rather than talking about why. I'll come back later and write about why you should read it and whether it's a good fit for you (and it isn't a good fit for everyone), but if you like dark urban fantasy and/or noir then read this series!
Note: Don't start with The Twisted Path; start with Child of Fire (or really any of the other novels). The other books are standalone stories, but this one really assumes you've read at least some of the other books.
Not surprisingly, I was very excited to see this was being published!
And it was everything I hoped it would be.
I hope this is as successful as it deserves to be. I hope this means we'll see more Twenty Palaces books, novellas and/or short stories.
I know this review is just saying how much I love this series and this novella, rather than talking about why. I'll come back later and write about why you should read it and whether it's a good fit for you (and it isn't a good fit for everyone), but if you like dark urban fantasy and/or noir then read this series!
Note: Don't start with The Twisted Path; start with Child of Fire (or really any of the other novels). The other books are standalone stories, but this one really assumes you've read at least some of the other books.
December 23, 2017
★ ★ ★ ★ 1/2 (rounded up)
This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader.
---
Annalise Powliss is a powerful sorcerer who travels through the US on behalf of the Twenty Palace Society keeping magic out of the wrong hands -- generally by killing the owners of those hands (and anyone standing too close to them). Ray Lilly is her Wooden Man -- an assistant whose primary responsibility is to distract her foes, draw their fire, and die in her stead. It's not the world's best gig, but he's an ex-con and doesn't have a lot of prospects (there are other reasons, but you should read them for yourself). The thing is, Ray's worked a lot with Annalise without dying, which makes him a remarkable example of a Wooden Man.
So the two of them have been called to the Society's HQ in Europe so The Powers That Be can meet Ray, examine him and . . . well, he's not really sure what to expect. Naturally, while they're there, the pair have an opportunity to take out a supernatural bad guy in their spare time.
This is a very different kind of story for this series, the focus isn't on the magical threat, but on the Society itself. Yes, there are Predators to be dealt with -- but that's almost a side-note. The Twisted Path gives Ray, as well as the reader, a much greater understanding of the Society. Not that I ever had a complaint about the focus in the earlier stories, but reading this pointed out what I wasn't seeing before. Initially, you care about the Society's mission in that, 1. they're saving the world, blah, blah, blah; but primarily, 2. because you want Ray to succeed (or at least survive) and therefore you want to see the Society's goals met. Now, I think I have a greater investment in the whole organization.
There's just so many things I loved about this -- Ray, the small-time crook from the Western U.S. being in Europe, trying to cope with all the differences that he never realistically expected to see. Just his reaction to walking on stairs that have existed for longer than the U.S. was a great paragraph. Ray's initial response to the peers he's called was so perfect, that I know it brought a smile to my face. Connolly did all the little things right, and that makes it so much easier for the reader to care about the bigger things. He's probably done that throughout the series, but in a full novel, it's easier to not pay attention to those details so you can get on with the story -- so you can find out what's going on. In a novella, you can feel like you can take your time.
Not only that, Connolly structured this novella in an atypical fashion -- it allowed him to do some things with the story that were natural, organic, and not-cheating, but were able to take the reader by (some degree of) surprise that he wouldn't have been able to in a straight-forward beginning-to-end structure. It's possible, really, that this is the best writing of Connolly's career -- he's had books that I liked a bit more, but I don't know if he's written anything better.
Short, fast, action-driven, but with a lot of things to chew on -- this is a great UF novella for readers of this series. I don't know how it'd work as an introduction to the series, maybe fine, but I think you'd be better off with Circle of Enemies. I bought it within minutes of hearing that The Twisted Path had been released and re-shuffled my week's plans to read it as soon as I could -- which were probably the best moves I made this week.
It's been years since I last read one of the novels (or the novelette), so I spent a little more time than I'd have liked trying to remember why we encountered some of these characters before or how this compared to the style of the others. I've got to add the series to my re-read pile, I want to revisit this world soon. If you haven't spent time with it -- go grab Circle of Enemies (don't read the prequel until after you've read #3, if you ask me), there are few, if any UF worlds like this.
This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader.
---
Annalise Powliss is a powerful sorcerer who travels through the US on behalf of the Twenty Palace Society keeping magic out of the wrong hands -- generally by killing the owners of those hands (and anyone standing too close to them). Ray Lilly is her Wooden Man -- an assistant whose primary responsibility is to distract her foes, draw their fire, and die in her stead. It's not the world's best gig, but he's an ex-con and doesn't have a lot of prospects (there are other reasons, but you should read them for yourself). The thing is, Ray's worked a lot with Annalise without dying, which makes him a remarkable example of a Wooden Man.
So the two of them have been called to the Society's HQ in Europe so The Powers That Be can meet Ray, examine him and . . . well, he's not really sure what to expect. Naturally, while they're there, the pair have an opportunity to take out a supernatural bad guy in their spare time.
This is a very different kind of story for this series, the focus isn't on the magical threat, but on the Society itself. Yes, there are Predators to be dealt with -- but that's almost a side-note. The Twisted Path gives Ray, as well as the reader, a much greater understanding of the Society. Not that I ever had a complaint about the focus in the earlier stories, but reading this pointed out what I wasn't seeing before. Initially, you care about the Society's mission in that, 1. they're saving the world, blah, blah, blah; but primarily, 2. because you want Ray to succeed (or at least survive) and therefore you want to see the Society's goals met. Now, I think I have a greater investment in the whole organization.
There's just so many things I loved about this -- Ray, the small-time crook from the Western U.S. being in Europe, trying to cope with all the differences that he never realistically expected to see. Just his reaction to walking on stairs that have existed for longer than the U.S. was a great paragraph. Ray's initial response to the peers he's called was so perfect, that I know it brought a smile to my face. Connolly did all the little things right, and that makes it so much easier for the reader to care about the bigger things. He's probably done that throughout the series, but in a full novel, it's easier to not pay attention to those details so you can get on with the story -- so you can find out what's going on. In a novella, you can feel like you can take your time.
Not only that, Connolly structured this novella in an atypical fashion -- it allowed him to do some things with the story that were natural, organic, and not-cheating, but were able to take the reader by (some degree of) surprise that he wouldn't have been able to in a straight-forward beginning-to-end structure. It's possible, really, that this is the best writing of Connolly's career -- he's had books that I liked a bit more, but I don't know if he's written anything better.
Short, fast, action-driven, but with a lot of things to chew on -- this is a great UF novella for readers of this series. I don't know how it'd work as an introduction to the series, maybe fine, but I think you'd be better off with Circle of Enemies. I bought it within minutes of hearing that The Twisted Path had been released and re-shuffled my week's plans to read it as soon as I could -- which were probably the best moves I made this week.
It's been years since I last read one of the novels (or the novelette), so I spent a little more time than I'd have liked trying to remember why we encountered some of these characters before or how this compared to the style of the others. I've got to add the series to my re-read pile, I want to revisit this world soon. If you haven't spent time with it -- go grab Circle of Enemies (don't read the prequel until after you've read #3, if you ask me), there are few, if any UF worlds like this.
November 30, 2018
I am still struggling to see why this series was dropped by the publishers. OK, I guess it didn't sell well enough, I get it, but frankly this is one of the best things out there if you enjoy urban fantasy. It's dark, enough different to be distinctive and is really well written and gripping.
This is a welcome return to the world of Ray Lilly, a ne'er do well who has fallen into the world of sorcery and horror that is overseen (with varying success, by the Twenty Palaces Society. A brilliant depiction of what happens when people, even the nominally good ones, get so much power that the people they are protecting are seen as inconsequential.
Do yourself a favour and read the series from the start, I doubt very much that you'll regret it, other than the annoyance that there are so many more stories to tell and you can't get them.... yet.
This is a welcome return to the world of Ray Lilly, a ne'er do well who has fallen into the world of sorcery and horror that is overseen (with varying success, by the Twenty Palaces Society. A brilliant depiction of what happens when people, even the nominally good ones, get so much power that the people they are protecting are seen as inconsequential.
Do yourself a favour and read the series from the start, I doubt very much that you'll regret it, other than the annoyance that there are so many more stories to tell and you can't get them.... yet.
February 12, 2020
A decent episode, but not the main course. There is a little twenty palaces exposition, but we also don't gain a lot of insight and it distracts a bit from the main mystery.
Plot: A decent episode
Style: Good
Characters: Fun
Setting: Keeps delivering
Plot: A decent episode
Style: Good
Characters: Fun
Setting: Keeps delivering
July 29, 2018
I missed Twenty Palaces
Damn, this was a nice surprise. I missed our favorite convict and his homicidal predator killing boss. I don't mind the shorter format either although the structure was a little weird. I hope Connolly publishes a few more of these novellas although I miss the effort he made with Circle
Damn, this was a nice surprise. I missed our favorite convict and his homicidal predator killing boss. I don't mind the shorter format either although the structure was a little weird. I hope Connolly publishes a few more of these novellas although I miss the effort he made with Circle
June 6, 2018
Clever Like a Predator
You cannot go wrong with a Harry Connolly novel. Or a short. Ray Lily, and his Twenty Palaces cohorts are brilliant (or at least Ray is: there’s a reason he’s the protagonist) and so is the world he inhabits.
In this installment of the series, Annalise and Ray are summoned back to the titular Twenty Palaces of the series name, and find there are several puzzles whirling around them - some apparent, some not. I found the slight of hand entertaining and impressive. I hope there are more stories starring Ray Lily in the future.
You cannot go wrong with a Harry Connolly novel. Or a short. Ray Lily, and his Twenty Palaces cohorts are brilliant (or at least Ray is: there’s a reason he’s the protagonist) and so is the world he inhabits.
In this installment of the series, Annalise and Ray are summoned back to the titular Twenty Palaces of the series name, and find there are several puzzles whirling around them - some apparent, some not. I found the slight of hand entertaining and impressive. I hope there are more stories starring Ray Lily in the future.
December 28, 2017
The Twisted Path is a story about Ray Lilly, who is an assistant to Annalise, who is a sorceress, . And in her world, assistants don't have very long life spans. And, given that he survived three books in the main series, Ray is an anomoly that needs to be investigated by the governing society that Annalise is a part of (The Twenty Palaces society).
The point of view character, Ray, is competent in the normal sense, but nothing like Annalise and her peers. This also means that he is still discovering parts of his world as he goes along (much like the readers). One difference here is that it is not just him and Annalise, he meets allies along the way. There are the other peers of Annalise, as well as other normal people like him who assist them.
The overall story is a mystery that involves a predator (demonic creatures that The Twenty Palaces is dedicated to preventing from entering this world at all costs) who has infiltrated the society. While he is fully aware that he cannot directly fight this predator (that is what Annalise and her peers in The Twenty Palaces do), he is expected to assist and be in harms way (this is why aides to the Twenty Palaces do not have long life spans). And he can think. So this is a mystery, and he is the detective who is trying to get close to the trouble, but not too close.
I like the fact that our POV protagonist is not all knowing or all powerful. He makes mistakes, has to be careful of being overwhelmed (and there is one scene where he and the aides are basically hiding from the main action off screen), and has a very limited set of actions he can do. But he can think, and make deductions. And generally lead the way to the solution of the mystery. I greatly enjoy having competent heros, and especially in this case where he is competent, but overmatched, and uses his wits not to win, but to survive by the skin of his teeth.
The point of view character, Ray, is competent in the normal sense, but nothing like Annalise and her peers. This also means that he is still discovering parts of his world as he goes along (much like the readers). One difference here is that it is not just him and Annalise, he meets allies along the way. There are the other peers of Annalise, as well as other normal people like him who assist them.
The overall story is a mystery that involves a predator (demonic creatures that The Twenty Palaces is dedicated to preventing from entering this world at all costs) who has infiltrated the society. While he is fully aware that he cannot directly fight this predator (that is what Annalise and her peers in The Twenty Palaces do), he is expected to assist and be in harms way (this is why aides to the Twenty Palaces do not have long life spans). And he can think. So this is a mystery, and he is the detective who is trying to get close to the trouble, but not too close.
I like the fact that our POV protagonist is not all knowing or all powerful. He makes mistakes, has to be careful of being overwhelmed (and there is one scene where he and the aides are basically hiding from the main action off screen), and has a very limited set of actions he can do. But he can think, and make deductions. And generally lead the way to the solution of the mystery. I greatly enjoy having competent heros, and especially in this case where he is competent, but overmatched, and uses his wits not to win, but to survive by the skin of his teeth.
June 2, 2021
I'm starting this review not really knowing what rating I'm going to give it. Maybe I'll find out along the way.
The ending feels... rushed. Like Ray knew something and went super fast through those things and we're just expected to keep up. I feel like this story would have benefited immensely had it slowed down somewhat. We've got an antagonist who's barely present and never understood, firing cinematically interesting predators but I just don't get the point or the motivations. Too little time is spent understanding the antagonists. And Ray/Annalise seem so out of character here as they let a predator just chill infecting Ray. That acts as a sword of Damocles which is cool but I don't think they explored the ideas of dealing with the predator nearly enough, even though Ray considered multiple options and never quite rejected them. It felt like the story just marched past them rather than deal with them, until the climax where another, equally implausible option presented itself and Ray just guessed it'd work. Why not try any of the others?
There's a cool, core idea of the betrayal at the heart of the First Palace. I think a great story could have slow rolled this out and brought us through twists and turns to get us to the moment, but it all seems so fast, so rushed, and just plain lacking. It doesn't hurt the series, and indeed I'm eager to see where it goes next, but it felt like this story wasn't functional on its own merits.
The ending feels... rushed. Like Ray knew something and went super fast through those things and we're just expected to keep up. I feel like this story would have benefited immensely had it slowed down somewhat. We've got an antagonist who's barely present and never understood, firing cinematically interesting predators but I just don't get the point or the motivations. Too little time is spent understanding the antagonists. And Ray/Annalise seem so out of character here as they let a predator just chill infecting Ray. That acts as a sword of Damocles which is cool but I don't think they explored the ideas of dealing with the predator nearly enough, even though Ray considered multiple options and never quite rejected them. It felt like the story just marched past them rather than deal with them, until the climax where another, equally implausible option presented itself and Ray just guessed it'd work. Why not try any of the others?
There's a cool, core idea of the betrayal at the heart of the First Palace. I think a great story could have slow rolled this out and brought us through twists and turns to get us to the moment, but it all seems so fast, so rushed, and just plain lacking. It doesn't hurt the series, and indeed I'm eager to see where it goes next, but it felt like this story wasn't functional on its own merits.
May 2, 2019
The Twisted Path: A Twenty Palaces Novella is a short story from the Twenty Palaces series written by Harry Connolly, which is a story that takes place after Circle of Enemies and is best read after the third book.
Ray Lilly has been summoned to the headquarters of the Twenty Palace Society to answer how he managed to survive mission after mission fighting alongside his boss, Annalise Powlis, when he is virtually powerless – a wooden man, a red shirt that is meant to die. The others want to know what is going on, so it is off to Europe for a trip to the First Palace.
The Twisted Path: A Twenty Palaces Novella is written rather well. It is a rather different story than the core stories, because the focus isn't on a magical threat, but on the Society itself. Of course there are things to be dealt with, but they seem rather secondary. This novella gives more backstory to the organization itself, which was rather lacking in the core series.
All in all, The Twisted Path: A Twenty Palaces Novella is a well written short story about Ray Lilly as he faces the Powers to Be within the Twenty Palaces Society. It is also a worthy and wonderful addition to the Twenty Palaces universe – enriching it just a tad more.
Ray Lilly has been summoned to the headquarters of the Twenty Palace Society to answer how he managed to survive mission after mission fighting alongside his boss, Annalise Powlis, when he is virtually powerless – a wooden man, a red shirt that is meant to die. The others want to know what is going on, so it is off to Europe for a trip to the First Palace.
The Twisted Path: A Twenty Palaces Novella is written rather well. It is a rather different story than the core stories, because the focus isn't on a magical threat, but on the Society itself. Of course there are things to be dealt with, but they seem rather secondary. This novella gives more backstory to the organization itself, which was rather lacking in the core series.
All in all, The Twisted Path: A Twenty Palaces Novella is a well written short story about Ray Lilly as he faces the Powers to Be within the Twenty Palaces Society. It is also a worthy and wonderful addition to the Twenty Palaces universe – enriching it just a tad more.
December 18, 2017
So, The Twisted Path. So, to start out, this is the fourth/fifth novel/novella length entry in a series. So if you haven't read the series you're not gonna know what's going on, who the hell these people are, or why you should care. If that's you, and you're reading this review wondering if you should grab this book then the answer is that you should go grab Twenty Palaces or Child of Fire instead. If you enjoy those, read the rest of the series, and you'll get back here.
If you've read the series and are wondering whether The Twisted Path is worth picking up? It absolutely is. Make no mistake, it is a different type of story than the previous entries, and not just because it's a novella. Where previous stories focused on predators, this one focuses on the people, both in the Society an on its fringes. The Twisted Path lifts the veil a little on how things work (and don't) in the Society, with some new characters and some familiar ones as well.
Once again, if you've read the series and want more: pick this up. If you haven't read the series: grab Twenty Palaces or Child of Fire and the rest first, then come back here when you're ready for more.
If you've read the series and are wondering whether The Twisted Path is worth picking up? It absolutely is. Make no mistake, it is a different type of story than the previous entries, and not just because it's a novella. Where previous stories focused on predators, this one focuses on the people, both in the Society an on its fringes. The Twisted Path lifts the veil a little on how things work (and don't) in the Society, with some new characters and some familiar ones as well.
Once again, if you've read the series and want more: pick this up. If you haven't read the series: grab Twenty Palaces or Child of Fire and the rest first, then come back here when you're ready for more.
January 7, 2018
Please give my Amazon review a helpful vote - https://www.amazon.com/review/R3NVLG7...
I have enjoyed Harry Connolly's Twenty Palace stories. They inhabit a tight "noire" neighborhood in the world of urban fantasy, where vampires don't sparkle and werewolves aren't misunderstood. To the contrary, the threats are of Lovecraftian proportions and those who protect the world are barely human themselves.
This is a short dip back into the Twenty Palace universe. We get to see Analise and Ray back in action again as they are called to the First Palace in Lisbon in order to let the other peers attempt to fathom why Ray has managed to survive as many as five assignments with Analise. Ray is a "wooden man," which basically makes his job to draw fire from supernatural predators so that Annalise can take care of the problem. Most Wooden Men don't make it past one assignment, so the powers that be are curious.
We get a glimpse into the hitherto mysterious world of the Twenty Palaces, although most of it remains dark. Ray and Annalise naturally stumble onto a predator threat and life and death choices.
It all makes for an exciting story.
I have enjoyed Harry Connolly's Twenty Palace stories. They inhabit a tight "noire" neighborhood in the world of urban fantasy, where vampires don't sparkle and werewolves aren't misunderstood. To the contrary, the threats are of Lovecraftian proportions and those who protect the world are barely human themselves.
This is a short dip back into the Twenty Palace universe. We get to see Analise and Ray back in action again as they are called to the First Palace in Lisbon in order to let the other peers attempt to fathom why Ray has managed to survive as many as five assignments with Analise. Ray is a "wooden man," which basically makes his job to draw fire from supernatural predators so that Annalise can take care of the problem. Most Wooden Men don't make it past one assignment, so the powers that be are curious.
We get a glimpse into the hitherto mysterious world of the Twenty Palaces, although most of it remains dark. Ray and Annalise naturally stumble onto a predator threat and life and death choices.
It all makes for an exciting story.
March 30, 2023
Симпатична повест в света на Двадесетте двореца, която служи за спойка между първоначалната трилогия и новите книги. Рей е привикан в ЛИсабон, по-точно в Първия Дворец, където да обясни защо е успял да оцелее в ролята си на Дървен човек толкова време и защо двамата с Анализа имат толкова случаи с хищници, докато останалите Благородни се мърдальосват и си мислят, че печелят войната. Интервюто с благородниците е на живот и смърт, но на Лили не му минават тия. Скоро ще се обеди, че наистина в Двадесетте има нещо гнило, както винаги е подозирал. Докато върви разследванетоиму, с Рей се свързва човек, който не за първи път занимава благородните. Това ще го отведе до поредната ситуация в която едва не губи живота си и някой неприятни разкрития.
Книгите от света принципно си имат мрачна ноарна атмосфера, но тук криминалният елемент беше точно какъвто на мен ми харесва и водеше повествованието. Екшънът беше само подправка, но доста вкусна.
Книгите от света принципно си имат мрачна ноарна атмосфера, но тук криминалният елемент беше точно какъвто на мен ми харесва и водеше повествованието. Екшънът беше само подправка, но доста вкусна.
July 20, 2023
Don't get me wrong--I'm a huge fan of the Twenty Palaces series. In particular I think _Circle of Enemies_ is one of the best books I've read in years. That said, I was disappointed with _The Twisted Path_. Compared to the depth and complexity of his earlier works, this book felt phoned in. The issue is mainly that of characterization: while Ray Lilly remains a fascinating and well-drawn protagonist, Annalise Powliss, who, in earlier books, was depicted with nuance & subtlety to imply hidden layers of trauma and complexity, has been reduced in this latest work to almost a stick figure (a wooden man if you will, lol) who is given not much to do and about whom we're shown little to nothing. Likewise Callin, who was a distinctive and portentous presence in the first book, has been whittled down to a generic, mostly featureless shape. The other supporting characters, including the antagonists, show little spark, failing to burst into life on the page. Now, I realize you might say that, well, this is only a novella, you shouldn't assume it would be as well-developed as a full novel--and that's true, to an extent. But I still think we could expect to see, if nothing else, a continuation of the evolution of Annalise, and the lack of anything like that was a disappointment. I'm going to keep reading the series, though! Not gonna give up on the author just because one book struck me as a dud, when all of the others have been bangers.
January 11, 2018
He's back!
I was always disappointed that poor sales had lead the author to shelve this world. I found the generic fantasy he shifted too a pale comparison. Well I say generic, I got half way through the first one and it seemed to have all the standard tropes so I just checked out as it was boring me.
I was excited to see the announcement of this novella, and that sales depending we may see more of Ray. This novella fair clipped along and I got the feeling that the whole story would have worked better in a longer form. Maybe just a bit too much reveal for a novella.
That being said, the strong world building, good characters and excellent storytelling made this a one-sitting read. Here's hoping for more as I feel the author's 'voice' is just so much stronger in this world.
I was always disappointed that poor sales had lead the author to shelve this world. I found the generic fantasy he shifted too a pale comparison. Well I say generic, I got half way through the first one and it seemed to have all the standard tropes so I just checked out as it was boring me.
I was excited to see the announcement of this novella, and that sales depending we may see more of Ray. This novella fair clipped along and I got the feeling that the whole story would have worked better in a longer form. Maybe just a bit too much reveal for a novella.
That being said, the strong world building, good characters and excellent storytelling made this a one-sitting read. Here's hoping for more as I feel the author's 'voice' is just so much stronger in this world.
December 21, 2017
I finished this book in two sittings. It would have been one, but I managed to force myself to stop reading and go to bed like a responsible adult instead of devouring the book in one session.
It's the latest adventure for Ray Lilly, and while it doesn't provide a lot more depth on the Twenty Palace Society, it definitely moves the story forward. As with all of the other 20P books, the writing and characterization are excellent. The story is told in parallel, with alternating chapters from "Before" and "After" a key meeting, building tension as both parts of the story move forward.
I really enjoyed this book, and it made me want to re-read the rest of this excellent series.
It's the latest adventure for Ray Lilly, and while it doesn't provide a lot more depth on the Twenty Palace Society, it definitely moves the story forward. As with all of the other 20P books, the writing and characterization are excellent. The story is told in parallel, with alternating chapters from "Before" and "After" a key meeting, building tension as both parts of the story move forward.
I really enjoyed this book, and it made me want to re-read the rest of this excellent series.
January 5, 2018
Great to have you back, Ray and Annalise.
A short but sweet reunion with characters that I didn’t realized how much I missed until I was with them again. I’ve always found the world of this series fascinating, and this story delves into greater detail by bringing us into the inner sanctum of the “palace” of the title. The shifts back and forth in time were a bit confusing, but if you read this book in one sitting (as it’s clearly supposed to be read) that won’t be a problem. The characters and world were just as engaging as ever, and I hope Harry Connally continues to make more.
A short but sweet reunion with characters that I didn’t realized how much I missed until I was with them again. I’ve always found the world of this series fascinating, and this story delves into greater detail by bringing us into the inner sanctum of the “palace” of the title. The shifts back and forth in time were a bit confusing, but if you read this book in one sitting (as it’s clearly supposed to be read) that won’t be a problem. The characters and world were just as engaging as ever, and I hope Harry Connally continues to make more.
December 19, 2017
Having read all of Connolly's books, I couldn't resist picking up The Twisted Path as soon as I saw that he released it. Since it clocks in at a little over 100 pages, it is rather short and you don't get a lot of time for tension to build, but it is a good story overall. I'm hoping to see more Twenty Palaces stuff in the future because, unlike the previous entries into the series, we are starting to get a glimpse into the Twenty Palaces Society itself. All in all, a fun read in a universe that is interesting. Hopefully Connolly can keep going with it.
January 1, 2018
Hooray, first book of the year coming in at 2AM, Jan 1.
A terrific novella set in the terrific Twenty Palaces world. Mr. Connolly has just a wonderful texture for everything he does. My only caveat is that you wouldn't want to pick this up if you haven't read the series- just start at 1 and get going, you will love them.
Overall the worldbuilding is fantastic, the characters are fantastic. If I have regrets, it's only that there aren't more of these books to read. It's easily one of the best series I've read in recent history.
A terrific novella set in the terrific Twenty Palaces world. Mr. Connolly has just a wonderful texture for everything he does. My only caveat is that you wouldn't want to pick this up if you haven't read the series- just start at 1 and get going, you will love them.
Overall the worldbuilding is fantastic, the characters are fantastic. If I have regrets, it's only that there aren't more of these books to read. It's easily one of the best series I've read in recent history.
August 6, 2021
This novella certainly reminded me why I liked the Twenty Palaces stories.
As with many of the others, this one is revelatory: it makes the world bigger by revealing the headquarters of the Twenty Palaces and introducing us to more of its members.
But it's also got terrific action that's written to create great excitement here.
Finally, we've got an intriguing new mystery that I want to know more about.
Overall, thrilled that Connolly is working on new Twenty Palaces stories, as this definitely makes me want more!
As with many of the others, this one is revelatory: it makes the world bigger by revealing the headquarters of the Twenty Palaces and introducing us to more of its members.
But it's also got terrific action that's written to create great excitement here.
Finally, we've got an intriguing new mystery that I want to know more about.
Overall, thrilled that Connolly is working on new Twenty Palaces stories, as this definitely makes me want more!
December 29, 2017
An entertaining working vacation with Ray Lilly and his boss, Annalise, who travel to Portugal for some hard questions from peers of the Twenty Palaces society. An encounter with a predator puts Ray's life at risk. At this stage in his story arc, he seems resigned to death, but he turns the tables on everyone's expectations again and shines an uncomfortable light on the fragile foundation of the First Palace.
January 23, 2018
I'm really happy that Connolly is publishing more in the Twenty Palaces universe. It was very disappointing that he published the first three books and then wasn't picked up by a publisher for more. Thankfully he's going to the route of self-publishing. This is really a great continuation of the previous stories, but I wouldn't recommend starting with this one. Hopefully if he does well with this book, he'll continue publishing new stories in this world.
January 23, 2018
Excellent short addition.
Council's craft is improving. Twenty Palaces has been some of his best work, but this short story demonstrates just how much he has improved. Very well paced, gripping you almost immediately, you will finish this long before you want to stop. I recommend this far any fan of his work but it will be an especially enjoyable treat for those that enjoy the series.
Council's craft is improving. Twenty Palaces has been some of his best work, but this short story demonstrates just how much he has improved. Very well paced, gripping you almost immediately, you will finish this long before you want to stop. I recommend this far any fan of his work but it will be an especially enjoyable treat for those that enjoy the series.
April 22, 2018
More Twenty Palaces! Yay!!
So happy to find a new Twenty Palaces story...thank you, Mr. Harry Connolly! I really love these books and am hoping for more in the future. The stories are very engaging -- never a dull moment. Dark and different and highly entertaining. Love it! Please, Mr. Connolly, keep writing them cuz I wanna read more! And Amazon...audible versions would be awesome!
So happy to find a new Twenty Palaces story...thank you, Mr. Harry Connolly! I really love these books and am hoping for more in the future. The stories are very engaging -- never a dull moment. Dark and different and highly entertaining. Love it! Please, Mr. Connolly, keep writing them cuz I wanna read more! And Amazon...audible versions would be awesome!
June 6, 2023
At last, a little tasty background on that mysterious background organization that bankrolls and manages all these adventures. But what we see doesn't look comforting. The Twenty Palaces (now more like half a dozen Palaces) has individual members who are exceedingly powerful, but overall it looks like they're calcifying, fading over time. These are the people who, if they make one mistake, it could be the end of the human race? We're in a lot of trouble.
October 26, 2023
I absolutely adored the first "Twenty Palaces" book, and while I enjoyed the subsequent entries somewhat less, discovering this novella was a delight! It captures the same essence as the acclaimed first book, boasting a captivating story, immersive setting, and unexpected plot twists. Delving deeper into the enigma of Ray Lilly and what sets him apart as a "wooden man" was a treat. Eagerly awaiting more!
January 11, 2025
Great short story...
This was a finely crafted story, perfectly paced, well nuanced, succinct, and with a satisfying ending. The new characters were a little thin; but for a short story, that's to be expected. What it really does is highlight Ray, the main character, from the reactions to him from the new characters that forces us, the readers, to look at him in another way. It added a new layer to him that will serve future stories. Well done.
This was a finely crafted story, perfectly paced, well nuanced, succinct, and with a satisfying ending. The new characters were a little thin; but for a short story, that's to be expected. What it really does is highlight Ray, the main character, from the reactions to him from the new characters that forces us, the readers, to look at him in another way. It added a new layer to him that will serve future stories. Well done.
December 20, 2017
Welcome back, Ray
I had forgotten I read the original trilogy so when this came up it took a while to recall. But I am glad I read it. Ray is cool. He has an amazingly filthy mouth, but is smart.
The story was fast paced and a quick read. I’m glad that Connolly decided to pick up the saga again, even if only for a short story.
I had forgotten I read the original trilogy so when this came up it took a while to recall. But I am glad I read it. Ray is cool. He has an amazingly filthy mouth, but is smart.
The story was fast paced and a quick read. I’m glad that Connolly decided to pick up the saga again, even if only for a short story.
December 22, 2017
It was so good to read about Ray and Annalise again! I enjoyed the novella, even if the end came too fast and too neat -- a bit like a Sherlock Holmes story ending.
I read the trilogy a long time ago, so I cannot tell whether the voice of the main characters and the interaction between them has changed.
If you haven't read the trilogy, give it a chance. You won't be disappointed.
I read the trilogy a long time ago, so I cannot tell whether the voice of the main characters and the interaction between them has changed.
If you haven't read the trilogy, give it a chance. You won't be disappointed.
December 28, 2017
I missed you Ray!!
Fantastic chapter. Where’s more?
Didn’t miss a beat from the books. This series is not like any other and believe you me I speed read a LOT. HC has such an uncommon skewed eye. Spillane would approve. Non schmaltzy (lamentable rarity) kick ass (gory) fun (fire! Hot pursuit! Explosions!).
Fantastic chapter. Where’s more?
Didn’t miss a beat from the books. This series is not like any other and believe you me I speed read a LOT. HC has such an uncommon skewed eye. Spillane would approve. Non schmaltzy (lamentable rarity) kick ass (gory) fun (fire! Hot pursuit! Explosions!).
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