The Facefaker’s Game

Reviewed by:

G. Connor Salter, Professional Writing alumnus from Taylor University, Upland, IN.

Title:

The Facefaker’s Game

Author:

Chandler J. Birch

Publisher:

Simon & Schuster

https://www.simonandschuster.com/

Publication Date:

November 1, 2016

Format:

Paperback

Length:

464 pages

OVERVIEW

Street rascal Ashes knows the Burroughside region of Terranis like the back of his hand. Since he can remember, he’s been a thief and trickster of every kind. He has to be to survive in a city where the wealthy stare from their statuesque buildings on those who can’t even dream of rising.

However, things start to change when he breaks into the home of Burroughside’s crime lord Mr. Ragged, and sees things he shouldn’t see. Then a magician, Candlestick Jack, rescues Ashes and offers him a job. Jack and his team of magicians (or Artificers) can use magic to manipulate how things look. The process involves finely wrought glass, and arcane abilities that are supposed to be highly regulated. Jack wants to break into the home of one of the Artificer guild’s highest-ranking officers. He wants Ashes to help him. Ashes will have to decide just how far he trusts these new friends.

One hard but important conversation that fantasy authors have with each other is that writing about magic isn’t enough. J.R.R. Tolkien set the bar high for creating fantasy worlds with his meticulous Middle-earth stories, and readers’ expectations have kept rising since the 1960s. Consequently, having a well-developed fantasy world (and a detailed magic system with minimal holes) has become vital. Birch excels at both counts. His story takes place in a world with a dark Victorian feel like something from Dickens, but is clearly not the world we know. His magic system feels ornate and unique and fits with his story’s themes (illusion, trickster tactics).

The plot contains both fun moments (heist planning, discovering magic) and dark moments (corrupt leaders exploiting children as thieves). However, Birch makes sure the darkness never feels self-indulgent (dark for the sake of being dark). His writing style is dark, almost Gothic, but it never drags events. Atmospheric but never overwrought.

Most importantly, he ensures the dark events feel integral to the plot. Each element clearly fits the story world he’s built—a world of economic, social, and moral extremes. Hence, when the darkness comes, it makes sense for the story he’s telling—and notably, the darkness just makes the characters’ resilience and hope shine brighter. Redemption and heroism often shine brightest in stories that faces the darkness.

A crafted, intelligent fantasy novel with heist and psychological thriller elements.

ASSESSMENT

Rating (1 to 5 stars)

5 stars

Suggested Audiences:

Readers who enjoy fantasy novels with thriller subplots, elaborate settings, and high stakes.

Christian Impact:

Birch gained some reputation for being part of Taylor University’s Professional Writing, which has also produced fantasy novelists like Hope Bolinger and Alyssa Roat. While Roat and Bolinger’s fantasy novels so far have been released by Christian publishers (Lighthouse Publishing, Mountain Brook Ink), they have one thing in common with Birch: refusing to make stories about heroes making tough choices seem easy.

Birch’s writing style is a little darker than theirs. There are fight scenes with (minimal) blood and gore. There is some (implied) sexual material. There are dark Dickensian depictions of children living on the streets. However, like Bolinger or Roat, Birch never makes readers enjoy the darkness. This is a story about people in tough circumstances making tough decisions, and how they find unexpected resilience and community along the way.

So, while it may not be a conventional Christian fantasy novel, its tone is bracing yet redemptive.

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