The Gutter Prayer

The Gutter Prayer launches a dark fantasy series set in the city of Guerdon, where thieves, alchemists, and gods clash in the streets. Three outcasts - Carillon Thay, Rat, and Spar - become caught in a battle that could destroy their home. The city itself stands as a key character, with districts ranging from ancient catacombs to towering spires of the Alchemical Quarter. Magic and technology intermingle as the local thieves' guild carries out heists while warring gods threaten the city's independence from beyond its walls. Hanrahan crafts distinct systems of magic and monsters, including the Stone Plague that slowly turns people to marble, the Tallowmen who patrol with burning wax bodies, and the Ravellers who exist between dimensions. The three protagonists each represent different aspects of this world - criminal, infected, and touched by ancient powers. The novel explores themes of loyalty and belonging against a backdrop of class warfare and religious conflict. Through its dark urban setting, it questions what people will sacrifice to protect their chosen family and their home.

Readers describe this as a dark fantasy that blends horror and steampunk elements. Many praise the worldbuilding of Guerdon city and its magic system, particularly the Ghouls and Stone Plague concepts. The three main characters receive frequent mentions for their distinct personalities and complex relationships. Liked: - Unique magic and monsters - Atmospheric city setting - Creative take on gods/religion - Fast-paced action scenes Disliked: - Dense writing style requires concentration - Multiple POV shifts can be disorienting - Some found the plot hard to follow initially - Religious/political aspects too complex for some "The city feels like a character itself," notes one Amazon reviewer. "Had to reread several passages to understand what was happening," comments another. Ratings: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (6,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (450+ ratings) LibraryThing: 4.1/5 (200+ ratings)

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🔮 The city of Guerdon, where The Gutter Prayer takes place, was inspired by Victorian-era London and Dublin, with the author drawing from both cities' histories of crime, disease, and social inequality. ⚔️ Author Gareth Hanrahan has an extensive background in tabletop role-playing games, having written for popular systems like Pathfinder and Call of Cthulhu before penning this novel. 🏛️ The book's unique take on ghouls was influenced by ancient Mesopotamian mythology, where ghouls were considered divine servants rather than purely monstrous creatures. 🎭 The character of Spar, who is slowly turning to stone due to a curse, was partially inspired by the real medical condition fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva (FOP), where soft tissue gradually turns to bone. 📚 The Gutter Prayer was originally self-published before being picked up by Orbit Books, who then released it as part of a three-book deal called The Black Iron Legacy series.