A Star-Reckoner's Lot (A Star-Reckoner's Legacy) (Volume 1)

I received a copy of this book through TBRindr.

In A Star-Reckoner’s Lot Darrell Drake has given us a deeply character driven story set in a unique historical fantasy setting. It is hard to conceive of a setting that eschews the classic medieval European setting more thoroughly.

Drake truly excels in the character department. We have three characters who are well fleshed out, with motivations and inner demons that make for an engaging read. Seeing the ways the different characters interact, especially when their motivations set them on slightly different courses is one of the things that keeps the pages turning. The setting is also wildly unique. Set in an historical fantasy version of Iran, it plays on that culture’s myths and folklore to create a one-of-a-kind setting. In addition, there are several sections that disdain even this mundane setting for something truly otherworldly, weird, even psychedelic. A Star-Reckoner’s Lot certainly hits the non-western setting nail on the head.

Each chapter functions more as a vignette than as a traditional chapter. This was an unexpected story-telling device, and while it had great potential it didn’t work for me. Initially it was interesting and novel. As the story progressed, however, I found that the disjointed nature of the chapters—often with large time jumps between one vignette and the next—caused me to feel that the plot was becoming disjointed. There were moments when I felt like important things had happened off screen, or that so much time had passed that I didn’t quite have a clear idea of how the characters (might have) matured or changed. This culminated in a major plot twist roughly two-thirds of the way through that I feel was not foreshadowed well enough. The bigger issue with this plot twist wasn’t lack of foreshadowing but that it seemed to presage a significant character transformation for one of the MCs that felt out of left field to me. I feel like the disjointed nature of the chapters might have contributed to that feeling. By the end of the book I felt like I didn’t have a firm grasp on why characters were making the decisions they were. This was doubly disappointing since I think through most of the book the characters were the greatest strength—even beyond the amazingly unique setting.

The writing was very good, even beautiful at times and the setting and characters were engaging but the novel as a whole just didn’t work for me. Based on other reviews I’ve read, I think the chapters as vignettes worked for many folks. Given the disjointed nature of the novel I can’t really recommend it to others. 2/5 stars.

5 – I loved this, couldn’t put it down, move it to the top of your TBR pile
4 – I really enjoyed this, add it to the TBR pile
3 – I liked it, depending on your preferences it may be worth your time
2 – I didn’t like this book, it has significant flaws and I can’t recommend it
1 – I loathe this book with a most loathsome loathing