About the Book

Cadenza is the City of Words, a city run by poets, its skyline dominated by the steepled towers of its libraries, its heart beating to the stamp and thrum of the printing presses in the Printing Quarter.

Carlo Mazzoni, a young wordsmith arrives at the city gates intent on making his name as the bells ring out with the news of the death of the city’s poet-leader. Instead, he finds himself embroiled with the intrigues of a city in turmoil, the looming prospect of war with their rival Venice ever-present. A war that threatens not only to destroy Cadenza but remove it from history altogether…

About the Author

Tom Beckerlegge grew up in the northwest of England in a house filled with books. Writing as Tom Becker, he won the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize with his debut novel; The Carnival of Ash is his first adult book. He lives in Enfield with his wife and young son.

The Poet, The Gravedigger and the TikTok

At just under 600 pages, this tome described as Alternative Literary History is described as a sumptuously written tale of political intrigue.

I’ve only managed to read the beginning of the book so far – it’s split into twelve cantos (verses – though it is in prose form) and in the first we meet Carlo lying in a grave feeling unheard. He tells the gravedigger to bury him and his dark deeds, but when the old man actually goes to Chuck soil on him he seems affronted and climbs out.

I made a TikTok video reading out the next section (I was reading from an ARC and had to leave out a few lines for timings so the finished version may be different). in the video I share my head cannon of Carlo’s character, seeing this melancholic poet as a cross between Romeo when he is pining over Rosaline and Spike from Buffy in his William the Bloody Awful Poet stage. I hope you enjoy it.

This scene has made me chuckle (find it on TikTok here). I will share a review when I have had the chance to immerse myself in the world and writing but for now…

Welcome to Cadenza

Where libraries tower and ink maids roam!

You can find the Goodreads Link here and order now from your favourite Indie bookshop.

Thank you to The Write Reads and Rebellion Publishing for the gifted ARC copy. Do check out the other spots from the tour by using the hashtag #TheCarnivalOfAsh.