But as someone who is a fan of the stage musical Cabaret, I couldn’t help but connect to this comparison more. Much of the time, Amberlough is a spy novel, where morally flexible characters navigate the tricky cloak and dagger world of politics and intrigue. The book has been advertised as “Le Carré meets Cabaret,” and no comparison could be more apt.

One of the things that sets Amberlough apart is the fact that it pulls so deeply from other genres. This is something that Lara Elena Donnelly’s Amberlough really pulls off. And while die-hard fans like myself may be fine revisiting tried and true tropes over and over again (dragons! magic! games of thrones! fairy tales revisited!), for the genre to thrive, it needs to continue to expand in new directions. Including each other.ĭiscussion: At times, it can feel like there isn’t a lot of new territory left to explore in fantasy fiction. The Dancer: Streetwise Cordelia Lehane, burlesque performer at the Bumble Bee Cabaret and Aristide’s runner, could be the key to Cyril’s plans - if she can be trusted.Īs the twinkling marquees lights yield to the rising flames of a fascist revolution, these three will struggle to survive using whatever means - and people - necessary. The Spy: Covert agent Cyril DePaul thinks he’s good at keeping secrets, but after a disastrous mission abroad, he makes a dangerous choice to protect himself…and hopefully Aristide too.

By night, he moves drugs and refugees under the noses of crooked cops. The Smuggler: By day, Aristide Makricosta is the emcee for Amberlough City’s top nightclub. In Amberlough, amidst rising political tensions, three lives become intertwined with the fate of the city itself. When it was nominated for a Nebula award, then I knew that it was time for me to give it a chance. Why I Chose It: When I first heard about Amberlough, I was intrigued by its unique, cross-genre premise (the fact that one of my favorite authors narrated the audiobook was a bonus!).

Amberlough dossier series