Johann the Monster joins up with Florian the Sorcerer in the decaying industrial town of Elendhaven. Wacky hijinks ensue. If by wacky one means murder and lust and revenge and disease. That’s pretty much what I mean. Nicely decadent. Good emphasis on clothes and food; can’t have a decadent fantasy novel without descriptions of food and clothes. The setting is delightfully grimy and cold and smelly. The author made a great choice in setting the story in the Arctic, makes for a striking change of setting. Not many decadent novels have this setting. A very impressive first novel.
If you like: The Paradys stories by Tanith Lee or The Etched City by KJ Bishop.
Another success in the Tor novella line. They’re doing a fantastic job in their choice of publications.
Thanks to Jack Guignol at Tales of the Grotesque and Duneonesque for the recommendation