Kindle Books has liberated a lot of authors. But having read a lot of subpar fantasy that Kindle has unleashed on the fantasy world, it is a pleasure to read a Kindle book by someone who knows how to write.
What I liked best about A Magic Broken was the characterizations. Each character had their own perspective and individual voice. Too many novels, especially Kindle novels, have all the characters think and talk the same—often like they are a college professor. I was particularly taken by the character of the “honest” crook, the slaver. Day tweaked his language just enough for us to understand who he was without too much annoying bad grammar.
Broken gives us a good balance of action and detail. The usual lack of balance between these two are why I usually do not read novellas. While the novella is a part of a bigger world and is designed to promote the upcoming series, it stands alone. Day cleverly informed us with a lot of details about the geopolitical situation in the mouth of the main character explaining himself to the city’s guards.
I do feel that the dwarves and elves are a little too stereotypical in the novella. One of the dwarves was also rather a stereotype of the typical rich man’s, er, dwarf’s son.
Those who wish another novel by Day can get it at the bargain price of $.99. Summa Elvetica. I am looking forward to reading Vox Day's next book, A Throne of Bones, set in this same world, which is to be available soon.