Fantasy Book Critic: Book review: The Thirteenth Hour by Trudie Skies

AUTHOR INFO: Trudie Skies has been living inside fantasy worlds ever since she discovered that reality doesn’t quite live up to the hype. Through the magic of books, she wishes to share these worlds of hope and heroes with other weary souls. Living in North East England, Trudie spends most of her free time daydreaming about clouds, devouring whatever fantasy books or video games she can get her hands on, and chasing after her troublesome dogs, who would like to reassure you they are very good boys.

You can chat with Trudie on Twitter @TrudieSkies

Publication Date: October 13, 2021 Publisher: Trudie Skies Page Count: 535 Cover design:

Cool cover, I thought, before diving into the story. Initially, I was confused but intrigued. Then confusion turned into amazement. The story is unique, and it’s trying to do something fresh.

Set in a secondary world influenced by Edwardian aesthetics, The Thirteenth Hour can be classified as Gaslamp Fantasy. Twelve omnipotent gods have complete control over their domains and the mortal races created in their image. Domains and their inhabitants are radically different. Travelers can reach them only through a magical portal called The Gate, located in the steampunk city of Chime.

Twelve races include the red-skinned Ember who can summon flame, bird-like Zephyr who can fly, or elve-like Vesper, who can summon and manipulate shadows. Necro can manipulate the physical body (but also feel an appetite for flesh). Diviners manipulate time and also explore the past and future of those they touch.

TL; DR: Twelve gods, twelve domains, twelve races. All cool.

The story revolves around the mystery of soul-sucking creatures made of aether. The main protagonist, Kayl, becomes the primary suspect of Quen, a Warden with impressive time-manipulation skills. After unexpected discoveries, the two team up to solve the mystery (involving the world, their pasts, and their nature). We follow the plot through the first-person points of view of Kayl and Quen. An interesting choice. Initially, it felt slightly confusing, but each of them was different and had a distinct voice. No chance of mistaking their chapters.

Kayl is a Vesper. She considers herself godless and wants to live an independent life free from her god’s whims. She’s also flirty and emotional. Plus, it seems she has rather unique magical abilities. As a Diviner, Quen can manipulate time (pause, rewind it, see the future, and deaths, of mortals he touches). He is a member of the Wardens, the police force of Chime. He loves tea and biscuits and is rather charming.

The author charged their interactions with painful history, and their relationship oscillates between conflict and cooperation. And maybe something spicier. There are a lot of fascinating side characters here but I don’t want to write an essay no one will read. Suffice to say, the secondary characters feel well-rounded and fleshed out strongly enough to make me interested in reading spin-offs from their POVs.

The emphasis on world-building usually turns me off, but in this case, it almost worked for me. I found the world exciting, but there’s a steep learning curve here to understand how it all works. In consequence, parts of the book are slow and inflated with backstories/histories. Because the world awed me, I didn’t mind that much, though.

A few words about gods. They’re a nasty bunch. They are horrifying, bloodthirsty, and powerful beyond measure, with totally alien ways of reasoning. They own the souls of mortals and can “extinguish” them in an instant. Blasphemy and apostasy are crimes, and committing them has dire consequences.

Skies brings the sights, sounds, and smells of Chime to life with crisp prose that moves swiftly between thrilling action sequences and imaginative worldbuilding. Equal parts dark and entertaining, The Thirteenth Hour tells a satisfying and imaginative story. I can’t wait to read the sequel.