House of Open Wounds

By: Adrian Tchaikovsky

Narrated by: David Thorpe

From the BSFA Award-Winning Author of City Of Last Chances

City-by-city, kingdom-by-kingdom, the Palleseen have sworn to bring Perfection and Correctness to an imperfect world. As their legions scour the world of superstition with the bright flame of reason, so they deliver a mountain of ragged, holed and scorched flesh to the field hospital tents just behind the frontline.

Which is where Yasnic, one-time priest, healer and rebel, finds himself. Reprieved from the gallows and sent to war clutching a box of orphan Gods, he has been sequestered to a particularity unorthodox medical unit.

Led by 'the Butcher', an ogre of a man who's a dab hand with a bone-saw and an alchemical tincture, the unit's motley crew of conscripts, healers and orderlies are no strangers to the horrors of war. Theirs is an unspeakable trade: elbow-deep in gore they have a first-hand view of the suffering caused by flesh-rending monsters, arcane magical weaponry and embittered enemy soldiers.

Entrusted—for now—with saving lives deemed otherwise un-saveable, the field hospital's crew face a precarious existence. Their work with unapproved magic, necromancy, demonology and Yansic's thoroughly illicit Gods could lead to the unit being disbanded, arrested or worse.

Beset by enemies within and without, the last thing anyone needs is a miracle.

©2023 Adrian Tchaikovsky (P)2023 Head of Zeus

Excellent story

Fantastic storyline, hilarious characters and such a sad ending. I hope there is more coming!

He Did It Again!

Yet another fine book by Adrian Tchaikovsky. Fantasy realms meets world war level conflict, meetd the Mobile Army Surgical Hospital (MASH). Sprinkle in a few deminished god's to the mix in a violently atheist population and some interesting things are going to happen. I highly recommend.

Great plot wonderfully narrated

Super witty and funny writing, albeit somewhat predictable at times (not always though). David Thorpe is imho one of the best narrators, giving many of the characters their own distinct and recognizable personalities.

Great climax

everything came together in such a satisfying way, the world building is so dense and intriguing. Similar humor and writing style to Terry Pratchett, would read again. Also loved the Narrator, great voices and switching accents

Best book of the series so far, and this is my favorite series.

Absolutely fantastic expansion of the series' characters and universe. It's just utterly delightful and intriguing.