Advent Reviews Day 20: Hard Times In Dragon City by Matt Forbeck

I’m a huge fan of Matt Forbeck’s work: whether it’s novels or comics. I have yet to read any of his work that I didn’t like, and he has been the most consistent author for me to date, not to mention that he’s also the one I’ve reviewed the most! That creates certain expectations of course, and Hard Times In Dragon City fulfills those expectations quite nicely. As the first Shotguns & Sorcery novel, this is the fourth in his 12-for-12 project in which he aimed to write one 50,000-word novel a month. I’ve read the first trilogy, Matt Forbeck’s Brave New World, and it’s superb superhero fiction. Exciting stuff!

Ever wondered what fantasy noir would be like, with dragons, elves, halflings, dwarves and zombies? Matt Forbeck presents exactly that scenario in his latest self-published novel, set in his Shotguns & Sorcery RPG setting. The novel focuses on former adventurer and treasure hunter Max Gibson as he investigates the brutal deaths of one of his dead friend’s family members. Events lead him beyond the walls of the Dragon City, and even to the Dragon’s Spire at the heart of the city, where it’s ruler holds his court. As with any and all of Matt Forbeck’s work, his characters are excellent. Max Gibson makes for a wonderful protagonist with a distinct cynical personality and a flair for the tongue-in-cheek. Matt builds him up really well throughout the novel, and gives him some great dialogue as well. Captain Yabair of the Dragon Guard, Max’s former lover Bellezza Sanguigno, Max’s former adventuring partner Moira, and all the characters that populate the novel are all just as fantastic characters. I really liked the tense professional relationship between Max and Yabair. A buddy comedy starring these two would be awesome.

Dragon City, whether beyond its walls to the zombie hordes or within to the Dragon’s Spire, is a wonderful setting. I really like the mix of gunpowder weaponry and magic, which makes for a really good change from most other fantasy novels that I come across in my reading. Some really wonderful sights and sounds in the city, and it also has a very rustic, frontier town feel to it. I’d love to read more about the setting!

With some great pacing, a very exciting murder mystery, an even more excellent detective-protagonist, I can say with confidence that Hard Times In Dragon City is an amazing novel. As is my usual complaint with Matt’s 12-for-12 novels though, I really wish that these novels were longer!

Rating: 9.5/10