Description

‘A ground-breaking and extraordinary novel . . . Hanrahan has an astonishing imagination’ Peter McLean, author of Priest of Bones

‘Mind-blowingly stellar in every respect . . . Fantasy readers, be wise and buy this book, because there’s simply nothing like it’ Novel Notions

*****

The city of Guerdon stands eternal. A refuge from the war that rages beyond its borders. But in the ancient tunnels deep beneath its streets, a malevolent power has begun to stir.

The fate of the city rests in the hands of three thieves. They alone stand against the coming darkness. As conspiracies unfold and secrets are revealed, their friendship will be tested to the limit. If they fail, all will be lost and the streets of Guerdon will run with blood.

SET IN A WORLD OF DARK GODS AND DANGEROUS MAGIC, THE GUTTER PRAYER IS AN EPIC TALE OF SORCERERS AND THIEVES, TREACHERY AND REVENGE, FROM A REMARKABLE NEW VOICE IN FANTASY.

*****

‘An absolutely stunning debut. Insanely inventive . . . I loved it!’ Michael R. Fletcher, author of Beyond Redemption

‘Utterly brilliant . . . Hanrahan is a total genius’ Liz Loves Books

‘Captivating . . . Guerdon is a city that seethes with history, horror and hidden secrets’ Nicholas Eames, author of Kings of the Wyld

‘Already one of my favourite books from 2019 . . . Put simply, you need to read this.’ The Fantasy Inn

‘I’m confident that I won’t find a greater book this year’ BookNest

‘Compelling . . . rich with dark and original wonders’ Anthony Ryan, author of Blood Song

‘A gripping, darkly inventive tale’ James Islington, author of The Shadow of What was Lost

Publisher Review

A brilliant, imaginative debut. Absolutely worth the read and insanely, uniquely rich in every way -- FANTASY BOOK CRITIC Vengeful gods, alchemical weapons, odd but likable central characters, and vividly rendered battle scenes . . . wonderfully bizarre -- GUARDIAN Laced with the blackest of humour and packed with magic and mayhem, this is fantasy turned up to 11 -- Anna Stephens, author of GODBLIND Fans of Robert Jackson Bennett's Divine Cities trilogy will feel at home in this rich, twisty blend of noir, historical fantasy and eldritch dread . . . we can't wait to dive in to book two -- SCIFINOW An absolutely phenomenal debut . . . This book will undoubtedly be one of the best fantasy books you will read in 2019 and heralds the start of something absurdly promising . . . a must read for all who love fantasy -- BOOKSPRENS I can't recommend this one highly enough . . . This was like falling for fantasy all over again -- THE WEATHERWAX REPORT This book has a fascinating setting, awesome and unique characters, and a really original and well executed idea . . . It kept me reading until well into the wee hours every night. I can't wait to see where this story goes in the future, but I imagine that it's going to be pretty spectacular! -- SUPERSTAR DRIFTER A mercurial masterpiece . . . The only thing greater than its ambitions as a debut is its accomplished performance and the awe-inspiring imagination that's gone into it, which surely marks Gareth Hanrahan as one to watch . . . astounding -- FANTASY HIVE Hanrahan brings the sights, sounds, and smells of Guerdon to life with crisp, lyrical prose that moves swiftly between thrilling action sequences and imaginative worldbuilding -- PUBLISHERS WEEKLY The Gutter Prayer is already one of my favourite books from 2019. It's original, incredibly well-written, and honestly just so much fun to read . . . It's the battlecry of an exciting new author who I feel has the potential to hit the very top of the genre. Put simply, you need to read this -- THE FANTASY INN Beautifully written. Gripping. Guerdon is the city of my dreams -- Anna Smith Spark, author of THE COURT OF BROKEN KNIVES I'm confident that I won't find a greater book this year . . . The Gutter Prayer is, undoubtedly, the debut of the year, and I won't be surprised to see it sweeping every award next year -- BOOKNEST Hanrahan's highly anticipated fantasy debut is a real breath of fresh air . . . The Gutter Prayer features a skilfully crafted world, with masterful drama, expert dialogue, brilliant characters and an ending I did not see coming . . . A book that every fantasy fan should read -- FANTASY BOOK REVIEW With living candles, ancient ghouls, broken gods and more, The Gutter Prayer brims with cool and often twisted ideas -- Peter Newman, author of THE VAGRANT A gripping tale that meshes beautifully with its fascinating, darkly inventive setting -- James Islington, author of THE SHADOW OF WHAT WAS LOST Mind-blowingly stellar in every respect; full of seductive creativity, marvelously intelligent, innovative, and frankly revolutionary. This dark and enchanting debut contained no shortage of alluring madness and wondrous imagination that manifests itself gloriously within the pages. Fantasy readers, be wise and buy this book, because there's simply nothing like it . . . I envision that The Gutter Prayer will not only win many readers' hearts but also win multiple fantasy awards in the near future. Yes, it was THAT good. Read it. Thank me later -- NOVEL NOTIONS Employing an enviable skill with both plotting and prose, Gareth Hanrahan has in The Gutter Prayer woven an intricate and finely crafted web of compelling characters navigating a city rich in dark and original wonders. I await the sequel with the keenest anticipation. -- Anthony Ryan, author of BLOOD SONG The perfect marriage of grimdark and epic fantasy . . . an impressive debut . . . Boldly ambitious and innovative in equal measure, Hanrahan's daring entry into the genre is guaranteed to captivate and enthral -- BIBLIOSANCTUM Utterly brilliant . . . Excellent, edgy, absorbing writing, an intelligently woven story that throws the unexpected at you with almost the turn of every page, I think Gareth Hanrahan is a total genius -- LIZ LOVES BOOKS An absolutely stunning debut. Insanely inventive and deeply twisted. I loved it! Highly recommended -- Michael R. Fletcher, author of BEYOND REDEMPTION The Gutter Prayer is captivating and complex. Guerdon is a city that seethes with history, horror, and hidden secrets, and Hanrahan's assured style is reminiscent of China Mievelle in the best way possible -- Nicholas Eames, author of KINGS OF THE WYLD A ground breaking and extraordinary novel . . . Hanrahan has an astonishing imagination -- Peter McLean, author of PRIEST OF BONES