D. Bradbury

Pushes Fantasy and GameLit in the Right Direction

Revisado: 09-18-20

After I finished listening, I read over some more of the reviews here and thought it would be good to leave my thoughts. In short, this is a high-quality fantasy/GameLit novel. If you enjoy 'hard' magic systems and like (or don't mind) lgbtq+ themes, you'll probably like this book.

I'm queer myself and felt the representation and thoughts of the lgbtq+ characters were well done. Some of the other reviews that address this subject may not be used to these types of characters, as it is clear to me how the characters view each other while maintaining satisfying tension. That said, this is a fantasy novel first and foremost, and I am glad for that.

Themes and ideas are well explored. The way the characters explore the world is satisfying, and I'm never left wondering why they didn't do something else instead. I was captivated and wanted to continue listening. Some of the moments where repeated days or weeks pass feel a little off-rhythm, but they're serviceable. The scenes themselves never dragged out longer than needed, and as such, the pacing felt very comfortable. The few times the pacing is brought out of chronological order is refreshing and feeds the reader with ideas of what is yet to come.

The magic system itself is well thought out. It is precise enough to have an impact on the reader, making them feel like they're able to make decisions about the actions chosen, but leaves enough room to wonder what else might be possible. A lot of time was undoubtedly spent on ensuring fundamental magical consistency, and I think it repeatedly pays off.

The characters themselves are interesting and varied, and seeing how they interact with the world keeps the world feeling like it has depth. Characters who are not the main character have their own lives and are more than props which keep the story moving forward.

Overall, I hope the other two books in the series are brought to Audible, though I'll likely pick up the Kindle or paperback versions before that happens.

Fantasy is a genre that has a history of alienating groups of people. Gaming (and by extension, GameLit) is also guilty of this. They're also genres that have seen rapid growth over the past 30 years. All too often, I read stories that have inclusivity but poor writing. Sometimes there is a great magic system, but the pacing is all over the place.

I commend this book as one that is both well written and inclusive.

I recommend it for adults and young adults as a medium-light-sized fantasy book or those interested in GameLit as a genre. Writers would do well to pick this up as well.

4.8/5

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