The Last Smile in Sunder City

The Last Smile in Sunder City follows Fetch Phillips, a private investigator in a world where magic has vanished. Once filled with fantastical creatures and supernatural powers, Sunder City now contains only shadows of its former inhabitants - vampires who can't transform, dragons who can't fly, and countless other beings stripped of their magical essence. Fetch takes on a case to find a missing teacher from a local school, leading him through the transformed city's dark corners. As a former soldier who fought in the war that ended magic, he carries guilt while trying to help the people he once helped destroy. The investigation reveals deeper truths about the loss of magic and its impact on society, while exploring themes of redemption and consequences. Through Fetch's narrative, the story examines how people and creatures adapt when their fundamental nature is stripped away. The novel blends noir detective fiction with fantasy worldbuilding to create commentary about power, identity, and living with the weight of irreversible choices. Its post-magical setting serves as a lens to examine grief, change, and the search for purpose in a transformed world.

Readers describe this noir-style fantasy as a fresh take on urban fantasy, but note the pacing can be slow. Liked: - World-building and unique premise of a post-magic society - Main character Fetch Phillips' cynical voice and internal struggles - Blend of fantasy and detective noir elements - Dark atmosphere and gritty tone Disliked: - Plot moves slowly, especially in first half - Some found the noir style overdone - Backstory revealed through frequent flashbacks that interrupt flow - Resolution leaves multiple threads unresolved Ratings: Goodreads: 3.7/5 (2,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.1/5 (850+ ratings) Reader quotes: "Like Raymond Chandler meets Terry Pratchett" - Goodreads reviewer "Great concept but needed tighter pacing" - Amazon reviewer "Too much moping, not enough detecting" - LibraryThing review "The world-building carries an otherwise meandering plot" - StoryGraph user

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🔮 While working as a bouncer in Melbourne, author Luke Arnold developed many of the gritty characters and noir atmosphere that would later appear in Sunder City. 🏰 The book blends classic private investigator tropes with urban fantasy, creating a unique subgenre sometimes called "fantasy noir" or "magical noir." ⚔️ Arnold wrote the novel while traveling through Europe, drawing inspiration from various historic cities to create Sunder City's decaying architecture and atmosphere. 🎭 Before becoming an author, Luke Arnold was an actor best known for playing Long John Silver in the TV series "Black Sails" and Michael Hutchence in "INXS: Never Tear Us Apart." 📚 The novel's protagonist, Fetch Phillips, was partially inspired by Raymond Chandler's Philip Marlowe, though placed in a world where magic has suddenly disappeared rather than 1940s Los Angeles.