Today’s Series Spotlight falls on a special day–the birthday of the author of these weekly posts! To celebrate me, Shelbi, on this hallowed date of November 21, we’re sharing one of my favorite series of all time today. Admittedly, this isn’t a completely selfish choice, as the final book of this quadrilogy (which began in 2013) was just released earlier this month!
Bancroft has written a deliciously fresh fantasy series here that would be a perfect match for both readers who already love fantasy OR readers who don’t normally journey into the genre! If you’re a fan of the trope in which books are set in worlds that are similar but two degrees different from ours (think steampunk, alternate histories, etc.), you’ve found a rare gem here: The Tower of Babel (yes, probably that Tower of Babel) serves as the story’s entire set, but the presence of almost-modern technology makes it clear that this is certainly not the ancient world, and this Tower is not part of a mythical set of World Wonders. As a reader who loves to witness underappreciated characters come into their own, I find that it’s a complete joy to watch the protagonist, initially a prim and bookish teacher with little attachment to the real world, become a flashy, bookish adventurer as his journey evolves. I’m revisiting the books now and catch myself sinking hours into the story the way I did when absorbed in a really top-notch adventure-fantasy as a child, so I dearly hope some readers out there will dig into this birthday gift from me to you and add this hidden-gem series to your TBR! Read on to learn a bit more about the summary:
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The Tower of Babel is the greatest marvel in the world. Immense as a mountain, the ancient Tower holds unnumbered ringdoms, warring and peaceful, stacked one on the other like the layers of a cake. It is a world of geniuses and tyrants, of luxury and menace, of unusual animals and mysterious machines.
Soon after arriving for his honeymoon at the Tower, the mild-mannered headmaster of a small village school, Thomas Senlin, gets separated from his wife, Marya, in the overwhelming swarm of tourists, residents, and miscreants.
Senlin is determined to find Marya, but to do so he’ll have to navigate madhouses, ballrooms, and burlesque theaters. He must survive betrayal, assassins, and the illusions of the Tower. But if he hopes to find his wife, he will have to do more than just endure.
This quiet man of letters must become a man of action.
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- Book 1: Senlin Ascends
- Book 2: The Arm of the Sphinx
- Book 3: The Hod King
- Book 4: The Fall of Babel (*new!*)
- First three ebooks available on Overdrive/Libby
