Author: Ed McDonald
Published: 2017
We went on a trip and I was/am really close to finishing The Black Company. And at this point, I guess I am.
I didn't want to finish The Black Company and then have nothing, so I took Blackwing and started it in the hotel. And I have to say, it starts off good, and so far has been keeping it's momentum, and my interest.
It's a grim dark fantasy that seems to be some kind of odd mix of 17th Century steampunk, or something(?) like that. Steam isn't mentioned, but they have what seems to be like electricity, but it's light harnessed. But they use matchlock (smoothbore?) gun on occasion, to devastating effect, some kind of light based magic (reminds me of Source from Divinity:Original Sin), they use carriages and horses, but the light magic makes light as well, and there are people sensitive to this light. Use of the light magic is draining.
Also, there are some kind of weird 'Deep Kings' making goblin people out of people, like some kind of corruption, like elves -> goblins/orcs, or elves -> falmer (of Skyrim). The no-mans-land that separates the land out protagonist inhabits from the place where these corrupted being come from is a wrecked waste land created by some wizard like guy 100 years prior. People have gotten complacent. Also, that light magic powers a gigantic super weapon meant to keep the corrupted critters out. People have gotten complacent.
The main character is basically a bounty looking for traitors of the state, and so far he's found two, dead in the dusty wastes, and been attacked at an outpost by the corrupted former-humans. Oh and he has a tattoo that is a not-quite-god-but-might-as-well-be who gives him orders but literally becoming a bird and ripping it's way out of his arm. Neat!