Forced by necessity into a life of piracy, Senlin and his eclectic crew struggle to survive aboard their stolen airship as the hunt for his lost wife continues. But the Tower of Babel is proving to be as difficult to re-enter as it was to escape.
Hopeless and desolate, they turn to a legend of the tower, the mysterious Sphinx. But help from the sphinx doesn’t come cheaply and, as Senlin knows, debts aren’t always what they seem in the Tower of Babel.
Arm of the Sphinx is the second novel in Josiah Bancroft’s Books of Babel quadrilogy, following on from Senlin Ascends. As is often the case with a fantasy series, you really do need to read the first book in order to get the most out of this second instalment – it’s not a series to dip in and out of, and I don’t think that the reader would appreciate the background and how we find Thomas Senlin in his current position without starting at the beginning.
Arm of the Sphinx picks up some months after the events of the first novel and sees Tom Senlin (or occasionally Mudd) captaining a pirate crew in his own unique and inimitable style as he continues to search for his wife, Marya. Senlin is an interesting character – one who is a little annoying at first, although I’ve become rather fond of him. A former school headmaster, he initially comes across as being far too fussy and fastidious, and definitely not someone who’s cut out for adventures. I love the development of his character over the two novels (with more to come, I’m sure) as he’s taken well and truly out of his comfort zone, rising to every challenge that he’s presented with. There are hints of what’s to come next within this novel, and I’m looking forward to seeing how he deals with his next set of challenges.
As well as Tom, this novel also sees the return of many characters from the first novel, and I really enjoyed getting more insight into these secondary characters as they play a more active role in this novel. Voleta is a real stand out – I love her quick wit and sharp tongue and her complete disregard for the rules, something that causes trouble at times although her instincts often prove correct. I’m also a big fan of Edith who is a much calmer presence than Voleta, and yet brave and daring in her own way. No spoilers, but I really hope she gets the opportunity to take her revenge on her scumbag of a husband. Iren and Adam complete Senlin’s crew, and I loved seeing their friendship develop unexpectedly. I don’t think that any of these characters would be expected to get along under normal circumstances, and yet they work well as a group, each with their own strengths and weaknesses.
Arm of the Sphinx also introduces a new, key player into the mix – the titular Sphinx. We don’t learn a huge amount about them – they aren’t the sort to reveal their secrets – but it seems clear that they will have a significant role to play, albeit as a puppet master rather than someone who gets directly involved in events. The Sphinx has eyes everywhere and comes across as being almost omniscient in what they know about the goings-on in Babel. It’s not information that they share willingly, however, and so the reader can only guess at those secrets at this stage. I’m intrigued to see how this character is used in the subsequent novels and whether their purpose is more than it currently appears.
I felt that the tone of this novel was a little different to the first. Senlin Ascends felt less action orientated as Senlin, completely bewildered by his experiences, tries to stay alive while searching for his wife. I think that Senlin’s (and the reader’s) ignorance as to how Babel operates adds an element of mystery to the novel, particularly as the first four levels which he works his way through are very different to each other, albeit for good reason. This second novel maintains that aura of mystery as new characters are introduced and as new information is revealed, but it also seemed to have more action than the first novel. There’s more excitement and drama as Senlin and crew face various predicaments, and is perhaps more aligned to traditional fantasy narratives.
Unsurprisingly, Arm of the Sphinx does have the feeling of the second novel of a series. By the end of it, the reader has learned more about Babel, its inhabitants, and how it operates, but there are still questions to be answered. I’m really looking forward to the third novel in the series, The Hod King, to see where it goes next. The Books of Babel is proving to be a fantastic series – brilliantly written and wholly original. I adore the characters, now that Senlin isn’t quite as uptight, at least and I can’t wait to see what happens next.
Jo's Book Blog 
Fab review Jo glad you’re enjoying the series! x
Thank you, Nicki! x