An intense, enthralling rollercoaster of a debut novel, We Are the Dead starts Mike Shackle’s The Last War series off with a bang and never lets up, a captivating book packed full of drama, violence and emotion in an East Asian-influenced fantasy world. The Shulka have always protected Jia against its enemies, but even their vaunted skill at arms isn’t enough when the Egril launch a blistering, magic-fuelled surprise assault. The Jian people soon find themselves enslaved by cruel new overlords in cities suffering under enemy occupation, but while some try to make the best of their new lives, others resist and strike back against the Egril.
It’s essentially an occupation story exploring how different characters cope with their sudden reversal of fortunes, learning to survive – on their own, with what’s left of their families, with clear purposes or not – while oppressed and in constant danger. For Tinnstra, disgraced daughter of a legendary Shulka, the Egril are a terrifying presence to be hidden from; her famous family a millstone around her neck and the resistance a dangerous complication she wants nothing to do with. Others see things differently – Yas, a young mother who’ll do anything to protect her family; Dren, a reckless orphan hiding his fear behind a mask of brutality and blind aggression; ex-Shulka Jax, who’s trying to lead an organised resistance in secret, and learn a new type of warfare. A desperate plot is hatched, one last chance to rescue something positive from the disaster, but the odds are stacked in the Egril’s favour.
This is a book which has pretty much everything a fantasy fan might want – a fully realised world, rich in detail and history, which draws you in from the off and doesn’t let go. Vividly drawn characters whose outlook and methodologies might be unpalatable – even unlikeable, on the surface – but whose motivations are complex, relatable and believable. A compelling plot full of drama and tension, beautifully paced and executed, complete with deeply sinister enemies – from outlandish, grotesque demons to ostensibly human characters whose actions make them more monstrous by far – and a layered sense of conflict both internal and external. There’s a lot going on from start to finish, but it’s brought together effortlessly into a gripping story which never feels laboured or exposition-heavy, and which puts its characters through hell while leaving the reader constantly wanting more.
As fantasy stories go this is comfortably, unashamedly on the darker side of things, and certainly isn’t for the squeamish. It’s almost unrelentingly grim, as befits a story about an entire nation crushed into obedience by an overwhelming, domineering force, and Shackle pulls no punches in his depictions of life under the Egril’s occupation. No character is safe, even those only just introduced, and some of the choices they’re forced to make are genuinely, appallingly brutal. As are some of their actions. For all the bloodshed, though, this is a character-driven story which doesn’t glorify violence, and emphasises the importance of family, of loyalty, of determination and empathy. It’s a captivating novel, a grim but wonderfully assured story fully deserving of the instant classic label, and which should appeal to pretty much any fantasy fan (barring those who need clear delineations between good and evil). There’s little doubt that Mike Shackle has a rare talent, and judging by his debut is undoubtedly one to watch.
Click here to buy We Are the Dead (or here for the audiobook version).
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