Book Review: The Price of Power (The Price of Power, #1) by Michael Michel
ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
The Price of Power by Michael Michel
My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
Series: The Price of Power (Book #1)
Genre: Fantasy, Epic Fantasy
Pages: 730 pages (Kindle edition)
Publish date: 6th February 2023 by Morningstar Books (Indie)
The Price of Power is a foundational character-driven fantasy debut with promises of great things to come.
“As much as the future is fickle, the past is solid and certain. What it tells me is things continue forward. The future persists even when bleak. I fight fear with wisdom.”
It seems like in the middle of my hectic life, I seem to have forgotten to write my full review for The Price of Power by Michael Michel. By two months! I shall fix that now. Apologies. I really thought I’d written my review for it. For the past year or so, The Price of Power has been gaining positive reviews and a steady increase in the legion of fans devoted to it. As a diehard fan of The First Law series by Joe Abercrombie, I had my interest in it immediately invoked when I heard, repeatedly, how this is compared to The Blade Itself. While I personally think The Blade Itself is a superior novel, I can certainly understand why people recommend it to readers of The First Law, too. The story is told from the perspective of four main POV characters, and that’s how I will structure my review. Starting from Prince Barodane.
“When you ride alongside those considered the lowest in honor, you must work all the harder to demand respect.”
Out of all the four POV characters, Prince Barodane is the one that has the vibe of The First Law. And I was immediately hooked by the strong opening of Barodane’s story. Overall, it is a tale of regret and the struggle of overcoming it when it’s rooted deeply in your soul. Barodane’s relationship with Garlenna was slowly nurtured and developed. However, although Barodane’s story started and ended strongly, I do think the slow-burn nature of the narrative in his story was a bit too long and winded. The payoff at the end of the novel for Barodane’s story did not feel powerful or rewarding enough because the entirety of it feels like a setup for the sequel.
“And as a ruler you must know the stories of those who serve you as well as those who oppose you. Information is the shield that protects nations. Knowing what motivates your enemies, the killing blade. Without understanding of your people, you are left naked. Weak.”
The biggest surprise for me was Ishoa Ironlight’s story. Unlike Barodane’s storyline, Ishoa’s POV did not have a strong beginning. However, Ishoa’s chapters are the ones that keep getting better and better with each page. The character development was great, the intensity steadily increased, and I was surprised to find how gripped I was by her conflict with her family and also her romantic partner, Lodaris Warnock, by the end of the novel. The strive and turmoil with the Scarborn were well-depicted, and hey, there’s a fierce animal companion in Ishoa Ironlight chapters, which is always a plus for me in my fantasy books. But was Ishoa my favorite character? No.
“I’ve learned time favors decisions both clear and bold. For those working against the River’s current, commitment is a necessity. More precious than gold, or weapons, or magic powers, none of which are earned without commitment.”
Almost the entire narration in The Price of Power is written with a third-person past tense narration. There’s only one POV character in the book narrated in the first-person present tense, the POV of the grandma. Or Locastrii. The story of Locastrii and Akyris is my favorite in The Price of Power. Right from the first chapter, I was hooked by the distinct narration, and I always wanted to learn more about what was going on. To find out whether the mentioned tragedy will occur. And how the premonitions, training, and development could connect with the other POV characters. I’m a fan of reading characters with distinct voices, and this is where Michel’s skill as a storyteller shines like the piercing arrow of light the narrative chases. It’s incredible. I eagerly look forward to reading the continuation of Locastrii and Akyris’s story. No doubt about it.
“Love is not meant to be betrayed. It is like a dog that we train. Treat it with care and it gives in return all that it has until its dying breath. But raise it with a malevolent hand and it is an untrustworthy, dangerous beast. Already, I have felt its bite. Love is a bitch.”
Unfortunately, the remaining POV character, Thephos, was the weakest link of the novel for me. It ended up bringing down my enjoyment of The Price of Power more than I expected, thanks to my disconnection with the character and his story. To put it simply. I felt his storyline belonged in a different book or a spin-off to The Price of Power. It felt like reading the prologue of The Price of Power, which I believe will be removed or restructured in future editions because it feels too disconnected. The tone of the prologue felt different from the rest of the novel. And Thephos’ story (to me) did not spark a big enough emotional investment in me.
“One who does not seek to break their chain is already broken by it.”
Overall, as a series starter, The Price of Power is a great foundational installment. Similar to how The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie is used to introduce the characters and premise of the series, Michel did a similar execution with the novel. Although some of my reading enjoyment was substracted because of this, especially in Thephos’s chapters, I have faith that the rest of the series will only get better and better. The ending chapters of the three other POV characters certainly have enough power to make me interested in reading the sequel whenever I feel like I’m in the right mood for it.
“To control another is to amplify one’s own pain and maybe lose a loved one all the faster. Relationships teach as much to those willing to listen.”
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