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A review by podanotherjessi
A Contract in Sol Forne by Élan Marché, Christopher Warman
adventurous
challenging
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I have been struggling to write this review for a day and a half. I really loved this book, and when I love a book it's often hard to explain why.
Let's start with the setting, which is undoubtedly my favorite part. This doesn't have the same fairy tale feel to it as Seasons of Albadon, but it has it's own charms. The world is expanded, and we learn about more of the history of the world and the geopolitical conflicts. Sol Forne is a fascinating city with a guild structure not unfamiliar to fans of fantasy video games, but developed in a really interesting way that makes it feel unique. And we learn even more about the magic and how it ties to the world itself that really solidifies the stakes.
The other shining star in this book was the main character, Vaelin. She is an absolute delight. You can really feel her pain at the situation she's in, the anger, and more than anything just the complete and utter exhaustion. She has a wit to her as she observes the people around her that I really loved. Pluse, something I found unique in an immortal being thousands of years old, it was really resreshing to see her wonder and interest at how the world changes rather than any negative emotion (although, there is some of that too, but with very good reason).
Dorovan is another story. He's also a well-wrtten character. Warman and Marché do a brilliant job walking the line between him being entirely insufferable and ...well, never sympathetic. But understandable. Not hatable. That said, I feel like his arc was a weaker point of the book. Without spoiling the details, there was a lot of really good growth and slow build to a change, but then the change itself felt a little abrupt.
All and all, this is a fantastic book, and I cannot wait to see what comes next in the Eighth Chant.
Let's start with the setting, which is undoubtedly my favorite part. This doesn't have the same fairy tale feel to it as Seasons of Albadon, but it has it's own charms. The world is expanded, and we learn about more of the history of the world and the geopolitical conflicts. Sol Forne is a fascinating city with a guild structure not unfamiliar to fans of fantasy video games, but developed in a really interesting way that makes it feel unique. And we learn even more about the magic and how it ties to the world itself that really solidifies the stakes.
The other shining star in this book was the main character, Vaelin. She is an absolute delight. You can really feel her pain at the situation she's in, the anger, and more than anything just the complete and utter exhaustion. She has a wit to her as she observes the people around her that I really loved. Pluse, something I found unique in an immortal being thousands of years old, it was really resreshing to see her wonder and interest at how the world changes rather than any negative emotion (although, there is some of that too, but with very good reason).
Dorovan is another story. He's also a well-wrtten character. Warman and Marché do a brilliant job walking the line between him being entirely insufferable and ...well, never sympathetic. But understandable. Not hatable. That said, I feel like his arc was a weaker point of the book. Without spoiling the details, there was a lot of really good growth and slow build to a change, but then the change itself felt a little abrupt.
All and all, this is a fantastic book, and I cannot wait to see what comes next in the Eighth Chant.