The Carnival of Ash

I really tried, but I couldn't. I had to DNF at 10%. The concept of a city of books is fascinating, and was the main reason why I requested an ARC, but the choice to begin the story with the stereotypical “young angsty drunk poet” doesn't help maintain the reader's interest. The focus on that character makes the reading experience tedious and impossible to enjoy.
As others have pointed out, this is not really a fantasy novel. That means the marketing text is misleading.