ARC Review: The Unfettered Child by Michael C. Sahd

This will be a difficult review to write because honestly, this story didn’t work for me. It has nothing to do with the author’s writing, which was excellent for the style, but everything to do with my expectations for the genre. I tend to be a rather picky when it comes to the fantasy genre. I require an extensive amount of world-building, including telling me the general geography and demographics of the world, and can handle maybe two or three POVs but the fewer the better for this high maintenance reader. Otherwise, I unintentionally start applying canon from other books or games and that clearly wasn’t what the author was intending. It’s a reading vice, I know. Keep reading the review because I can tell by what I read that some of the bigger fans of the fantasy genre will love this series. 

The opening was intriguing with talking skeletons, evil elves, and a rivalry for the ages. After introducing us to the history, readers are moved forward at a very quick pace. The Unfettered Child switches POV each time the plot needs to barrel forward which is nice if you are wondering what the villains are up to but it also makes it difficult to get to know the characters. I didn’t feel attached to any of the characters. If anything, I liked Zayra but I would have loved to read a novella with just her side of the story to allow growth to happen at a slower rate. It felt as though each of the characters was driven solely by emotion rather than a bit of caution and strategy. Samara’s Dad, Orin, in particular has the peculiar brand of boar rage that makes every time he leaves a camp seem like a suicide mission. 

It may be because I have a young daughter, but I found it particularly distressing to have an 8/9 year old traipsing about unsupervised with just a lunatic in a gem to guide her. Sahd truly convinced me that I was reading about an eight-year-old and it was disturbing to watch her play with magic and being manipulated by that twit in the gem. 

One of the few times I didn’t struggle with the story post-prologue was after the entrance of the Kahliji. I loved the concept of a diverse, nomadic tribe, for lack of a better term, moving about performing and trading with different communities. I kept reading their name as Khajiit every time they mentioned trading I thought “Khajiit has wares”. 

Ultimately, this was a well written book but I found myself greedy and wanting more which is a testament Sahd’s writing ability. I would love to read more about this world that he has created. I don’t know if I would pick up another book that features these core characters, although you better believe I am here for Kahliji story.