Fantasy Book Critic: Breach of Peace by Daniel B. Greene review

AUTHOR INFO: Daniel Greene is an American YouTuber who created his channel in 2016. He creates videos about fantasy books, from reviews to rankings, to discussions, to news, to countdowns, to fantasy hot takes.

FORMAT: Self-published by the author on March 30. Paperback length - 98 pages. Audiobook length: 3 hrs and 9 mins. Cover art by Felix Ortiz.

OVERVIEW: I'm happy to report Daniel B. Greene is not only a great BookTuber, but also a promising author! Breach of Peace impressed me with tight plotting, distinct characters, and powerful conflict that drives the story.

His debut novella opens with a crime scene. Someone (or something) has slaughtered an imperial family; Officers of God, including Inspector Khlid and her husband, Samuel, try to understand how and why. There's also Chapman, a mysterious and sharp Officer. The story revolves around them following the lead and stumbling upon an uncomfortable truth. The kind of truth that gets you killed.

Major characters feel distinct. Their dialogue flows seamlessly, and I enjoyed their banter. Khlid and Samuel have great chemistry, and Chapman is, well, not exactly a sociopath, but his brain works differently. He's brilliant but has zero social skills and that makes him difficult to deal with. He's such a cool character, probably my favorite.

The story, set in an industrial age, depicts the world ruled by the Anointed chosen by God. As tools of a divine will, the police can get away with everything. They're indoctrinated and brainwashed but, otherwise, lead normal family lives. This makes the twists and turns of the story exciting and emotionally engaging; characters must choose between friendship and blind faith, and their choices cost lives. Novella format leaves little place for detailed worldbuilding. I could use more information but what I got allowed me to imagine the world and understand the context.

The writing drew me in with its quick clip and snappy dialogue. It's clean, polished, and accessible. And it fits the fast-paced story. I especially enjoyed the opening chapters that set the dark tone of the story and included horrific scenes engaging all senses (smell, taste, sight).

The story goes to dark places. Prepare for bloodshed and drama. And don't expect a happy ending. Actually, don't expect any ending cause you won't get one. Not really. If I were to be nitpicky about anything, I would say the story lacks closure and feels like an introduction to the longer story. And after this ending, I could use closure.

CONCLUSION: As it skillfully blends genres (crime mystery, horror, fantasy), Breach of Peace offers both solid writing and an irresistible story. It also combines a fast-paced plot with excellent characterization. A winning combination all around. I can't wait to read the sequel!

Additional info: I've listened to the audiobook version of the novella. Kate Reading and Michael Kramer have done an awesome job. Paperback and ebook will publish on March 30. The audiobook is already available.