Caffeinated Reviewer

After the events at the end of See These Bones, I dove into Red Right Hand by Chris Tullbane. It’s Damian’s second year at the academy, training to become a cape. No second book syndrome here as Tullbane delivered action, suspense, character growth and more. Unputdownable!

"If life’s taught me anything, it’s that you scrap and claw for every moment you can get. And if you’re a Crow like me, you don’t let a little thing like dying get in your way."

Following the events of See These Bones, Damian is back at the Academy of Heroes as the Free States' most unlikely potential Cape. He has a new name, a new reputation, and a whole host of new questions about his own past.

If he's going to find answers to those questions, let alone survive another year at the Academy, he'll need to learn a skill the orphanage never taught him: teamwork.

Nothing's ever easy, is it?

Red Right Hand is the thrilling sequel to the post-apocalyptic superhero novel, See These Bones. Like its predecessor, it features violence, gore, sexual situations, and a lot of expletives.

I am throughly enjoying this gritty urban fantasy set at the Academy of Heroes in the post-apocalyptical world of the Murder of Crows trilogy. Red Right Hand is the second novel and demands that the books be listened to in the order of their release.

Our protagonist is a scrappy young man named Damian. He’s a crow (necromancer) and the unlikeliest power to become a cape. It’s year two at the academy and while events at the end of See These Bones changed his standings, Damian still needs to learn to control his powers and work as part of a team.

The tale that unfolds takes time to develop bonds with the team. This year, the teams battle each other and they need to develop plans to succeed. I loved the friendships, romances, and bonding that developed. It allowed me to become vested not only in Damian’s story, but in others as well.

Damian may be rough around the edges, but his moral compass is solid and we see tremendous growth. He powers through every situation, giving it his all. Tullbane’s writing style and sheer enjoyment in the telling of this story is clear as I listened. Damian addresses the listener as he navigates this journey, giving us clear access to not only his fate, but his emotions and struggles.

The last part of the story increases in intensity as revelations are revealed. I could not set it down. The audiobook is narrated by Joseph Vernon, who has become the voice of Damian. His voices and tone only enhance an already brilliant work. I cannot imagine not listening.

Amazon | Audible

About Chris Tullbane

Chris Tullbane began as a gleam in someone’s eye, but birth and childhood were quick to follow. He’s been fortunate enough to live in Spain, Germany, and all over the United States of America, and is busy planning a tour of the distilleries of Scotland. He currently lives in Nevada with his angelic wife and ever-expanding whisky collection and occasionally ventures outside to peer upwards, mutter to himself about ‘day stars’, and then scurry back into the house. Chris is the author of two series; The Murder of Crows and The Many Travails of John Smith, as well as a collection of novelettes and stand-alone novels, Stories from a Post-Break World, which are set in the world of The Murder of Crows.

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Reading this book contributed to these challenges:

• 2024 Audiobook Challenge

About Kimberly

Kimberly is a coffee loving book addict who reads and listens to fictional stories in all genres. Whovian, Ravenclaw, Howler and proud Nonna. She owns and manages Caffeinated PR. The coffee is always on and she is ready to chat. BlueSky | Facebook | Instagram

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