CBR18 Bingo – Right: Asunder by Kerstin Hall throws you right into the story and magic world without exposition or a glossary.
The beginning of the book was slow as I adjusted to its liberal usage of fantasy nouns and norms. I thought I missed something whenever a new concept was introduced. But Hall gives enough info to let the reader follow along and imagine a reread where they know what the hell is going on. Literally.
Karys made a pact with a demon equivalent to get powers that let her be a deathspeeker. Yes, signing a contract with a demon means she’ll have her reckoning and dues, but the lady’s gotta pay rent and buy groceries. And she does pay her rent and even buys quality boots, so it’s not like the pact she made was a total bust. However, there are easier and less hazardous ways to qualify for a job (I say as someone who went to grad school).
During a not routine death investigation, Karys stumbles onto a conspiracy, binds a kinda-dead man to her so she can get a reward for bringing him back to life, and stumbles into more conspiracies. And then some more.
She and Ferain, the man who now lives in her, go on an adventure to get split, survive the political bullshit they’re mixed in, and get Karys paid before she has to pay the ultimate price for her abilities.
I feel like I should have liked this more than I did because it has everything I like – Eldritch horrors, complex relationships, mysteries, Ann Leckie’s name on the cover, and random elephants. With all that, it didn’t quite land. I don’t know why. It’s probably a me thing.
