The Hand that Casts the Bone

The Vanguard Chronicles, Book 2

By: HL Tinsley

Narrated by: RJ Bayley

Length: 13 hrs and 17 mins

Publisher's summary

The Hand that Casts the Bone is the second book in the Vanguard Series and continues the journey of protagonist, John Vanguard, as he negotiates his way through a city rife with crime and corruption. A Grimdark gas lamp novel, The Hand that Casts the Bone follows We Men of Ash and Shadow in its themes of redemption, betrayal, and revolution.

It was funny how everything came down to resources. Who had them, who wanted them, and who would die for them. That was the thing, when you cast a bone into the dog pit to watch the hounds fight; it was not the strongest dog that won. It was the hand that cast the bone.

Alone in a city on the cusp of revolution, separated from his allies and with nothing to his name, former mercenary John Vanguard finds vigilante life can be a poorly paid gig. When an influential aristocrat's death causes a sudden shift in the balance of power, Vanguard finds himself once more caught in the crossfire between dangerous men with murderous ambitions.

From his tower far above the city, Captain Sanquain seeks to tighten his iron grip on the capital and its citizens. Amidst the chaos of the Black Zone, a deadly turf war is brewing between the crime lords. Outside the city, libertarian Argent Cooke struggles to gather support for the uprising. And from the smog-stained rooftops, Vanguard's former protégé Tarryn Leersac is watching all.

With any hopes of redemption fading, Vanguard finds one last shred of hope in the form of an old friend, risen from the dead and promising the chance for atonement.

©2022 Holly Tinsley (P)2022 Holly Tinsley

Critic reviews

"Effortlessly readable. Grimdark Gaslamp at its very best," (Peter McLean, author of Priest of Bones)

Fantastic sequel

As good as the first. Really like this series one of my top grimdark fantasy series now. Like how’s it not medieval but rather 17/18th century feel. Can’t wait for the next one.

A wonderful follow up

The Hand that Casts the Bone picks up right after We Men of Ash and Shaddow. Cook's group seeks aid and legitimacy at the council meeting in another city as the plots that impact the entire world begin to shape.

War is coming, betrayal is here and resources are scarce. John Vanguard tries to pick up where he left off. But desperate times call for desperate measures and he ends up needing a favor from Hector.

Sanquain continues to plot in D'Orsee and work at keeping the crime lord's our of his plots. bringing Taryn back after he's had time to heal from the encounter in the splinters. A new mysterious leader of the rebellion named Monroe appears and it is imperative he is found before he can sow more chaos and challenge the status quo.

The cast once again brought to life by RJ Bayley beautifully and with comraderies and personalities apparent.

Glorious, gritty, emotional, very good. Can't wait for more.

A great sequel to a dark world

What a way to continue the stories of characters that pull on the heartstrings. Once again, H.L. Tinsley takes into the heart of the world, full of dark corners and just the slightest glimpse of light in the form of hope. It was great to jump right back in shortly after the events of the first, once again returning to familiar viewpoints. Vanguard is the kind of character that talks to readers, silently cheering him on, knowing full well that if they met him in person, they would be on the opposite side.

The political aspects of this novel are a great strength, causing for multiple ways of trying to think of what could possibly be coming next. It keeps the reader turning pages, constantly becoming complex in all of the right ways. The only thing that I really want more of is more knowledge about the powers that Vanguard seems to possess. It is intriguing and makes for some interesting action sequences. The heart and soul of this book is how the characters overcome the darkness that pushes in on them at all times, yet they fight to live their own lives.

Once again I truly enjoyed my time in this world. It is brutal. It is dark. It is great gaslamp fantasy! The character work of each and every one is profound, as they all have their motives for what they do. It is a great aspect that allows the world and characters become even more real. I eagerly await to once again immerse myself in the world of Vanguard and his associates. You may not have noticed how good it is, but the tabby definitely reminded you.

Thanks for taking the time to read my interview! As always, happy reading and Stay Great!!

A dark sequel with a ray of sunshine

Tinsley's characters are compelling (including some of my favorites from the grimdark subgenre) and her world though quite gritty and dark has some hope. The twists and turns were quite unpredictable and I enjoyed every moment. Looking forward to the next installment in the series.