The first casualty of war is truth . . .

First, Denland’s revolutionaries assassinated their king, launching a wave of bloodshed after generations of peace. Next they clashed with Lascanne, their royalist neighbour, pitching war-machines against warlocks in a fiercely fought conflict.

Genteel Emily Marshwic watched as the hostilities stole her family’s young men. But then came the call for yet more Lascanne soldiers in a ravaged kingdom with none left to give. Emily must join the ranks of conscripted women and march toward the front lines.

With barely enough training to hold a musket, Emily braves the savage reality of warfare. But she begins to doubt her country’s cause, and those doubts become critical. For her choices will determine her own future and that of two nations locked in battle.

Have you ever had a book remind you of books written by an author you’ve never read? Maybe you’ve seen some adaptations of their work or you just can’t help but be familiar with the overall vibe of said author’s work, because it’s so enduring. I’m explaining this poorly, but it’s what happened to me when I read Adrian Tchaikovsky’s brilliant fantasy novel, Guns of the Dawn.

I literally NEVER read book reviews prior to reading a book, ever. But once I finish a book, I’ll usually poke around on Goodreads or Amazon or different blogs, just to see what the overall reviews look like. And the first thing I noticed in a handful of reviews for Guns of the Dawn were folks commenting on a heavy Jane Austen influence. And I was like AHHHHH YESSSS I KNEW IT!!!

*ahem*

So yeah, even having never read a single book by Jane Austen, I could just sense the influence in Guns of the Dawn. In the way the characters speak & dress. In how proper some people behave. Complicated dances at lavish balls. Fretting over matchmaking. Of course, this is all in the early going of the book, before things take a very dark turn.

This is a war novel above all else, and a brutal one at that. Truthfully, the fantastical/magical elements in this book are minimal enough that at times, it feels more like historical fiction than anything. But that actually works in a really cool way, because when a strange forest creature shows up, or a warlock shoots fire out of his hands, you’re like, ohhhh right, it’s fantasy!!

This is the story of Emily Marshwic. Described in the synopsis as “genteel,” Emily lives in her family home with her two sisters and one brother. Emily is the middle sister…she’s a very measured person. Thoughtful, kind, with a very slight mischievous streak. Mary is the oldest sister. She lives in the house with her husband, Tubal, and their baby. The youngest Marshwic sister is Alice. She’s the one most concerned with things like propriety, or the cost or fashionableness of their dresses. Rodric is the youngest, and he becomes the first Marshwic to enter the recent war between Lascanne, their home, and neighboring Denland.

The Marshwic children are orphans, having most recently lost their father quite tragically. But the household carries on, with a small staff of people to help out. Emily takes it upon herself to continue the heated rivalry that existed between her father, and Mr. Northway, the Mayor-Governor. The relationship between Emily & Mr. Northway becomes a key element to this whole story.

The war between Lascanne & Denland was supposed to be a quick one, an easy victory for Lascanne. But it proves to be anything but, and as the years drag on, women are conscripted into service. Emily volunteers to be the Marshwic sister to go off to war (Rodric and Tubal are already enlisted). The story follows her tour of duty in a hellish war in which neither side shows any sign of backing down.

I realize I’ve gone into way too much detail about plot, so I’ll stop that now! Guns of the Dawn absolutely captivated me, and it’s for sure a new favorite. Emily is such a great protagonist…she doesn’t start off as a soldier, but this is the story of her truly becoming one. There was a really interesting element in the book where Tchaikovsky explores something akin to “imposter syndrome,” where Emily keeps getting (deservedly) promoted through the ranks, but always questions herself about whether she earned it or not.

I went into Guns of the Dawn excited for a badass flintlock fantasy novel, but I got something wildly different. Yes, there are some wicked intense battle sequences in this book, but this a deeply character driven novel. There’s some great dialogue & also plenty of humor…more than a touch of romance, as well. This book is just epic, in so many ways. I saw Tchaikovsky mention on Twitter recently that he always wanted to write a sequel, but that the book didn’t have “quite enough momentum.” On the one hand, that’s unfortunate…there’s mention of an ongoing naval battle in the book, and I think that story would make for a fucking awesome companion novel! But on the other hand, this book works beautifully as a standalone.

This is the first Adrian Tchaikovsky book I’ve read, but I’m really excited to explore more of his work. He’s got A LOT of books to choose from! For now, Guns of the Dawn is a book I couldn’t possibly recommend any more…totally immersive, gorgeous prose, grueling war sequences, and a phenomenal cast of characters. I FUCKING ADORED THIS BOOK!!!