A Broken Blade

Blair’s bumpy debut tackles addiction in a world where elves are abominations and fae are barely tolerated. Cruel King Aemon has killed off all Light Fae, subjects all Halflings (humans with elvish blood) to his service, and maintains a tenuous peace with the Dark Fae, whom he failed to vanquish completely. Orphan Halfling Keera Kingsown has been a charge of the king for as long as she can remember, trained from childhood to hunt criminals and enemies of the crown. As the King’s Blade, none is her equal in combat, but she chafes under the crown’s oppressive rule and drowns her demons with alcohol. Investigating the Shadow, the leader of a growing resistance to the king’s tyranny, turns into reluctantly joining the resistance in hopes of overthrowing the crown. Blair’s worldbuilding is murky, and the attempt at a fresh take on fae and elvish attributes doesn’t quite land, as neither group particularly stands out. Keera is a well-shaded protagonist, but her development comes at the expense of the rest of the cast, who remain two-dimensional. Readers will be disappointed. [em](Aug.) [/em]