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A review by rebeccazh
Minimum Wage Magic by Rachel Aaron
i really like rachel aaron's dfz world. they're so fun. this one is set in the same universe as the heartstrikers series but a few years after the end of the last book (i think). the main character is opal, who is risk-taking, kind and resourceful. she flies through life by the seat of her pants.
i liked following her narrative. she starts out in a very tight and desperate spot because she's been from suffering months of bad luck that has left her almost penniless with a debt on her back. so she makes a risky deal and joins with a tough, hardhearted and opportunistic guy, nik, to chase a trail that promises a lot of money. her ultimate goal is to use that money to buy her own freedom, but not at the expanse of others.
along the way, she's put into a bunch of different situations that pit her values against her need for money, with her need for money winning out at first, even though she feels increasingly conflicted. but slowly, her conscience emerges and it was satisfying to see her choose to do the right thing by the end of the novel.
i liked her contrast to nik. he's always only been in things for the money, and it's clear that after years of opportunism at the expense of others, his conscience is making itself known. her 'softness' balanced him out even as he brought factuality and concreteness to her decisions. he was more humanized as the novel went on. i really liked their exchange near the end of the book that revealed as much. i'm very curious about his past, which i'm guessing the second novel will be focused on.
i liked following her narrative. she starts out in a very tight and desperate spot because she's been from suffering months of bad luck that has left her almost penniless with a debt on her back. so she makes a risky deal and joins with a tough, hardhearted and opportunistic guy, nik, to chase a trail that promises a lot of money. her ultimate goal is to use that money to buy her own freedom, but not at the expanse of others.
along the way, she's put into a bunch of different situations that pit her values against her need for money, with her need for money winning out at first, even though she feels increasingly conflicted. but slowly, her conscience emerges and it was satisfying to see her choose to do the right thing by the end of the novel.
i liked her contrast to nik. he's always only been in things for the money, and it's clear that after years of opportunism at the expense of others, his conscience is making itself known. her 'softness' balanced him out even as he brought factuality and concreteness to her decisions. he was more humanized as the novel went on. i really liked their exchange near the end of the book that revealed as much. i'm very curious about his past, which i'm guessing the second novel will be focused on.