Douglas Hulick

Douglas Hulick is an American fantasy author best known for his Tales of the Kin series, which began with his debut novel "Among Thieves" in 2011. Prior to becoming a published novelist, Hulick studied medieval history and spent over a decade practicing Western Martial Arts, specifically focusing on Italian rapier techniques. This background directly influenced the detailed fight scenes and historical elements in his writing. The Tales of the Kin series follows Drothe, a professional informant and smuggler in a complex criminal underworld. Hulick's first novel received positive attention for its gritty portrayal of criminal life and detailed fight choreography, leading to nominations for both the Kitschies Golden Tentacle Award and the Wisconsin Library Association's Literary Award. While Hulick has released a sequel titled "Sworn in Steel" (2014), the planned third book in the series remains unpublished. He maintains a relatively low public profile in the fantasy author community.

Readers praise Hulick's intricate fight scenes and authentic portrayal of criminal underworld dynamics in the Tales of the Kin series. Many point to the detailed swordplay as a highlight, citing the author's martial arts background as giving the combat sequences extra authenticity. Liked: - First-person narration style that puts readers in the protagonist's head - Complex political intrigue and criminal organizations - Technical accuracy of fight choreography - Morally ambiguous characters and relationships Disliked: - Long wait/uncertainty around third book completion - Some found the plot pacing uneven - Complexity of criminal hierarchy/terminology confused some readers Ratings: Among Thieves - Goodreads: 3.9/5 (12,000+ ratings) - Amazon: 4.3/5 (200+ reviews) Sworn in Steel - Goodreads: 4.0/5 (4,000+ ratings) - Amazon: 4.4/5 (100+ reviews) Reader quote: "The fight scenes read like a martial arts manual come to life - you can tell Hulick knows his stuff." - Goodreads reviewer

Among Thieves (2011) - A professional thief becomes trapped in a city-wide conspiracy when he investigates missing underworld artifacts.

Sworn in Steel (2014) - Set in the city of Ildrecca, Drothe must work with the Gray Princes to uncover the whereabouts of a missing friend while navigating guild politics.

Scott Lynch Writes fantasy heist stories featuring thieves and con artists in a complex urban setting. The Gentleman Bastards series follows criminals operating in a Venice-inspired city with intricate schemes and betrayals.

Patrick Rothfuss Creates first-person narratives about a character rising from street life to power through wit and skill. The Kingkiller Chronicle incorporates thieves, con games, and underground criminal networks.

Brent Weeks Focuses on assassins and street-level characters who navigate criminal underworlds and political intrigue. The Night Angel trilogy centers on characters who start in the gutter and master their craft through determination.

Daniel Polansky Sets noir-style crime stories in fantasy settings with morally gray protagonists. The Low Town series features a former intelligence agent turned drug dealer solving mysteries in a corrupt city.

Michael McClung Chronicles the exploits of professional thieves in medieval-style fantasy worlds. The Amra Thetys series follows a thief who becomes entangled in schemes beyond street-level crime.