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A review by wardenred
The Impossible Contract by K.A. Doore
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
There are few things worse than death, but I am capable of most of them.
Wow! I really enjoyed the first book in this series, but this one? This one is where it’s at. Such a stunning and exciting example of everything I love about the fantasy genre. Not a hint of the dreaded middle book syndrome here, just lots of plot development, expanded worldbuilding, and truly fantastic characters.
Where The Perfect Assassin was a contained, city-based mystery, this book takes its characters beyond Ghadid and introduces us to the wider world and the bigger challenges. What starts as an attempt to finish a tricky assassination contract turns into a dark, messy, high-stakes journey through the desert with a visit to the heart of the Empire that wants to absorb Ghadid, and also necromancy, possession, political plotting, and immortality-seeking villains. The way new layers get constantly added to the whole situation is glorious. The plot unravels with so many twists and turns, and the last 4-5 chapters in particular are *such* a wild ride, like, I couldn’t look away from the page for a moment, the whole thing’s just. Asdfghjkl.
Thana turned out to be a super compelling protagonist, torn between her desire to live up to her legendary mother’s legacy and to break out of that legacy’s shadow. She has a great arc, and I love how resourceful, smart, and flawed she is. Also, she’s the type of character who has some sort of chemistry pretty much with everyone else, and that makes all the interactions so exciting. Her easy partnership with Amastan that was just ever so slightly tinged with jealousy, her slow-burn romantic dynamic with Mo, the whole convoluted thing with Heru. Speaking of Heru, he’s SUCH an amazing character! I started off really disliking him and wishing Thana all the luck in her original goal to murder him. Then the more page time he got, the more entertaining he became, and by the end I had to admit I’ve fallen in love with this snarky nerd who might be kinda evil, but it’s for science.
It was also so fun to meet Amastan again, but this time seeing him in the side character position. I loved witnessing his continued growth and development, and his characterization in the previous book was so strong that I feel like I’ve had no trouble guessing at how he must have been internalizing this one’s events, what’s been going through his head, etc. Honestly, the characterization in this series just really is great. As great as the worldbuilding.
In other words: this was incredible, can’t wait to pick up the final part of the trilogy, and also, I want a zombie camel.
Wow! I really enjoyed the first book in this series, but this one? This one is where it’s at. Such a stunning and exciting example of everything I love about the fantasy genre. Not a hint of the dreaded middle book syndrome here, just lots of plot development, expanded worldbuilding, and truly fantastic characters.
Where The Perfect Assassin was a contained, city-based mystery, this book takes its characters beyond Ghadid and introduces us to the wider world and the bigger challenges. What starts as an attempt to finish a tricky assassination contract turns into a dark, messy, high-stakes journey through the desert with a visit to the heart of the Empire that wants to absorb Ghadid, and also necromancy, possession, political plotting, and immortality-seeking villains. The way new layers get constantly added to the whole situation is glorious. The plot unravels with so many twists and turns, and the last 4-5 chapters in particular are *such* a wild ride, like, I couldn’t look away from the page for a moment, the whole thing’s just. Asdfghjkl.
Thana turned out to be a super compelling protagonist, torn between her desire to live up to her legendary mother’s legacy and to break out of that legacy’s shadow. She has a great arc, and I love how resourceful, smart, and flawed she is. Also, she’s the type of character who has some sort of chemistry pretty much with everyone else, and that makes all the interactions so exciting. Her easy partnership with Amastan that was just ever so slightly tinged with jealousy, her slow-burn romantic dynamic with Mo, the whole convoluted thing with Heru. Speaking of Heru, he’s SUCH an amazing character! I started off really disliking him and wishing Thana all the luck in her original goal to murder him. Then the more page time he got, the more entertaining he became, and by the end I had to admit I’ve fallen in love with this snarky nerd who might be kinda evil, but it’s for science.
It was also so fun to meet Amastan again, but this time seeing him in the side character position. I loved witnessing his continued growth and development, and his characterization in the previous book was so strong that I feel like I’ve had no trouble guessing at how he must have been internalizing this one’s events, what’s been going through his head, etc. Honestly, the characterization in this series just really is great. As great as the worldbuilding.
In other words: this was incredible, can’t wait to pick up the final part of the trilogy, and also, I want a zombie camel.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Self harm, Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal death, Slavery, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Death of parent