The Phenomenals, a Tangle of Traitors, takes place in the city of Degringolade where something dark is lurking in the tar pits. A group of four unlikely heroes don’t know it yet, but the fate of this twisted city is In their hands. Meet Vincent Verdigris: a brazen-faced, metal handed cutpurse and expert picklock. Folly Harpelaine: the secretive loner who stalks the ghastly entities that prowl the shadows of Degringolade. Citrine Capodel: the heiress to a huge fortune who will seek the truth, at any cost, framed for murder by her deceitful brother. Jonah Scrimshander: the deadly harpoonist who never misses his mark, vividly scarred from a battle with a whale. Together, these heroes must prevent the evil Leopold Kamptulicon carrying out his devious plan to set free the lurids living in the tar pit outside the city of Degringolade. Lurids are like ghosts of people who have died or been hanged. They howl, scream and smell really horrible. Once set free, lurids can be controlled and possess another human. It is up to the Phenomenals to stop this evil from taking place.
The story is brilliant, I loved the development of the characters and the wonderful scene when the Phenomenals finally meet each other.
The story was confusing at times, the author used strange words to describe everyday objects. I also found that the cover and blurb spoiled one of the most interesting scenes by showing Vincent after losing his arm.
I would make the strange words slightly less complicated and wouldn’t spoil things with the cover and blurb of the book.
The Phenomenals, a Tangle of Traitors, is a modern fantasy-steampunk book. I would recommend it to mature 10 year olds and above I give it an 8/10, the book is great, although confusing at times.