A review by emily_mh
Dauntless by Elisa A. Bonnin

adventurous tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

Everything about this book was pretty much perfect apart from the execution of its theme, which I’ll get into later. For now I want to talk about the good stuff.

First of all, this book wasn’t trying to accomplish too much. Quite often in standalone fantasy, especially ones centring a conflict, the author makes the scope WAY too broad, so that nothing within the book feels fully fleshed out. This was not the case here! The story focusses on one stage of the broader conflict/situation. As such, the plot is well-paced, with ample space for world-building and character development.

Bonnin presents a fascinating world here. I was particularly compelled by the armour magic system (how armour functions and how it is governed), spreading trees, and the death rites of the People. Bonnin also never info-dumps; she spreads her world-building across the narrative.

The story is told from multiple POVs, which was incredibly effective. Mostly we read from Seri’s POV, but we also get Eshai’s and Tsana’s. This meant that the story had a clear focus driving it (from Seri), but could dip into other perspectives to give broader context. The character work within these three POVs was excellent. Seri had some of the most natural, yet significant, character development I’ve ever read. Across the story we see her evolve from secretary to warrior, yet there is never a clunky moment where this change is sudden. Eshai was really interesting to read from as she embodied the reluctant hero trope: all she wanted to do was explore and be in love. Tsana was also compelling, as her development was driven by her marginalised position in her own society, and also her abusive relationship with her mentor.

There is a romance between Seri and Tsana, and I enjoyed it. They pushed each other to be better. They also saw the ugliest parts of each other and still wanted to be together regardless. The romance is very much a side-plot, so don’t go in expecting anything swoony.

All this is disseminated through Bonnin’s writing style. It very much reminded me of how adult fantasy is written, letting the reader interpret the story, characters, and theme. I also appreciated how well Bonnin wrote the action scenes; I was genuinely gripped by them, and they were conveyed really clearly.

Despite all these positives, I have a big criticism of this book. That is that the theme of war was executed muddily. The book was simultaneously trying to depict war as futile and unnecessary while glorifying the valiants, who are essentially a military. I understand that the valiants were not aware of what their actions signified, but that doesn’t make these actions okay or heroic, which is how they were painted to be right til the end of the book. I also found it hard to view the conflict the valiants were involved in as a war, because the beasts’ side was fuelled by self-defence of their territory that the valiants are encroaching upon. The villain on their side is purely a lone agent. So painting the conflict like both sides have good reasons to fight didn’t make sense to me. I understood why the valiants needed to take down the lone agent villain, but the narrative kept justifying their overall fight against the beasts as good and heroic, because they were protecting the People. Protecting them from what? The consequences of their own colonising?? I really wish the book had been about rejecting the way of the valiants. As I said before, it’s not like Seri ever realises the folly of their ways; she just keeps on praising the military. Right at the end,
it’s just the Hollows making reparations for the war. The valiants keep wearing armour, which might I remind you is constructed from dead beasts! And the valiants themselves continue to exist, even though they were formed to fight the beasts - now there is no fight, why do they still exist? A force like that can’t be “reformed.” They should have been disbanded.
(By the way, I don’t know if I’m completely misinterpreting everything here, and I’m happy to adjust this review if I am.)

Despite my criticisms here, giving this book less than four stars didn’t feel right. I would ultimately recommend it with the caveat that the theme may not play out well for you. I’m really looking forward to reading more of Bonnin’s work in the future.

Rep: lesbian (word not used) Filipino-coded MC, sapphic Filipino-coded LI, Filipino-coded SCs
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