Review: The Price of Power by Michael Michel

Blurb:

Prince Barodane could not hold back the darkness. Not even in himself. He laid an innocent city in its grave and then died a hero.

In his absence, war whispers across the land.

Power-hungry highborn dispatch spies and assassins to the shadows as they maneuver for the throne, while an even greater threat rises in the South. Monsters and cultists flock to the banners of a mad prophet determined to control reality…and then shatter it.

Destiny stalks three to the brink of oblivion.

A dead prince that isn’t actually dead. Barodane buried his shameful past in a stupor of drugs, drink, and crime, and now, he’d rather watch the world fall apart than wear a crown again.

An orphan with hero’s blood who is forced to make a harrowing choice: betray her country or sacrifice her first love.

And a powerful seer who has no choice at all–her grandson must die.

If any of them fails to pay the price…

The cost will be the world’s complete annihilation.

Review:

I started reading Michael Michel’s work this year with his short in Grimdwarf Magazine. Since then, I’ve read pretty much everything except his short story collection. Every single story of his has left an impact on me for a multitude of reasons. Be it his unique voice, his ability to get inside the character’s mind and simulate their experience for the reader, or his patience with setting up the world and conflicts around the characters, Michel is one author that you have to experience for yourself. After The Price of Power, I can say without a doubt that Michel is the latest entry into my list of favorite authors.  

What I liked:

After reading War Song: Legacy Rising, I couldn’t wait to dive into Michel’s highly rated Price of Power. Now that I’ve finished it, I get why folks speak so highly of this novel.  

The Price of Power follows four distinct plots featuring a host of new characters. Each one is facing a trial of sorts—some literal, some internal—the completion of which will determine the future course of history. With that being the primary narrative for all our POVs, you might wonder—wouldn’t that get repetitive? 

Not at all. Each one’s trial is distinct, following different facets of the human condition. Barodane’s trial is one of self-reflection and overcoming one’s own demons; Ishoa’s trial is as much about proving herself as it is about living up to the legacy of her predecessors; Thephos’ trial is spiritual and subconscious; Akyris’ trial is metaphysical, one of power and existence with cosmic repercussions. Navigating this smorgasbord of internal and external conflicts, Michel has created an experience that demands reflection. Personally, I love those kinds of stories and character explorations. 

SPOILERS: 

Let’s talk about my two favourites: Barodaone and Ishoa. Where Barodane Ironlight is a hardened veteran and Prince hiding away as a form of self-punishment for his heinous crime, Ishoa Ironlight (his niece) is an innocent princess who is more than aware of the burden of legacy that falls on her shoulders. Both of these characters are descendants of Danath—the slave rebellion leader from War Song, also responsible for the unification of Namarr—whose legacy they both feel insignificant before. Similar internal conflict, but complicated by their individual trials. Ishoa navigates court politics and love, whereas Barodane navigates regret and acceptance. Ishoa must overcome everything because of who she is, whereas Barodane must overcome despite of who he is. The parallels between these characters, and how their respective stories unfurl were a treat to read, and a brilliant discourse to reflect on. 

Barodane’s struggle with addiction and regret is visceral to the point of unsettling, building character and the world of the ordinary. At the same time, Ishoa’s slow acclimatisation to the mature responsibilities comes in an exploratory manner that builds on the world of Namarr and its cultures. Barodane’s decision behind the Rainy Meadows Massacre comes from a place that starkly contrasts Ishoa’s slow acceptance of her position. Ishoa is working hard to do justice to the same legacy that Barodane is running away from. Yet, where Barodane overcomes his tragedies and accepts his position in the end, Ishoa’s world crumbles as she loses almost everything. All this to say—this world is a brutal fantasy reality that is going to push all its players beyond their limits, because not everyone is capable of paying the price of power (pun intended).

Speaking of pushing beyond limits, let’s talk about Akyris. His is the only story that isn’t told from his POV. Instead, we see everything from his grandmother’s POV, told in first person present. An odd stylistic choice which sort of makes sense when you accept that Locastrii is not your ordinary character; she can see across timelines with the Jewelled Eye. In fact, there are moments in Thepos’ storyline where the voice changes to present, suggesting he too has transcended the physical and is experiencing the flow of the River. Michel manipulates structure and breaks rules to establish the ground realities of these other realms, a choice that enhanced my reading experience. Of course, the experience could be a little jarring, and won’t be to everyone’s liking. 

Coming back to Akyris, his story is probably the most important of the four. The larger conflict at play in his plot is something that is slowly divulged through Locastrii’s POV. This one is what got me most intrigued, and the ending had my jaw hanging. Akyris’s inevitable tragedy is something that I can’t wait to explore in the coming sequels, especially because of how Michel has developed his character through Locastrii, establishing the complex interpersonal relationships that make up his small social circle. To have this seemingly insignificant boy play such a massive role with world-changing consequences was intriguing. 

What I didn’t like:

The slow burn didn’t bother me as much as I thought it might. In fact, I appreciated the slow pace that allowed me enough time to get to know these characters before the world was fully realised and the conflicts escalated. 

What did bother me were two things: Thepos’ plot, and Ishoa’s ending. 

Thepos is the fourth of our roster. Last to be introduced, his was the least explored backstory. He’s also the most disconnected from the others. By the end, Akyris’ connection to the plot becomes clear, but Thepos’ remains relatively separate. Yes, he is Awakened, and his story is probably the most directly related to the title of “The Price of Power.” Yet, the character felt flat, and I neither related to nor found myself rooting for him. Unfortunate, because Thepos’ plot is the most surreal, fever-dream-inducing metaphysical trial of the lot. Barodane’s addiction and Akyris’ exploration of the River come close to the imaginative splendour of Thepos’ trial on Unturuss. You can see Michel’s efforts in Thepos’ plot, but the eventual lack of explanation as to where Thepos stands in the larger scheme of things, coupled with his character not being the most relatable, made this journey a little underwhelming for me. 

Secondly, and this is my bias, I did not like the cliffhanger in Ishoa’s story. I loved everything about her, from her growth to her plot. I just wish we had gotten some kind of resolution to her plot before the cliffhanger. 

Another minor complaint—not a dealbreaker for me, but certainly needs pointing out—the larger plot of this series is still a little unclear. There are ample seeds planted throughout the book, and I have my guesses. However, plot-wise, the Price of Power leaves you wanting. This is a character-driven story through and through. 

Conclusion:

The Price of Power is just book 1 of what is clearly an ambitious project sprawling across a whole continent. Despite the complaints, it’s the positives that stood out for me, and will stay with me for a long time. The character work especially is one of its biggest strengths. If you like character-driven fantasy, you are in for a treat!

Book 1 does a brilliant job of setting up the key characters, establishing cultures and power dynamics, and kickstarting the plot. A strong opening chapter for what I believe is going to be a fantasy series of epic proportions. A modern classic in the making! 

TL;DR:

WHAT I LIKED: Characters and character development, the way internal and external conflicts were explored, world-building

WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE: Thepos’ character and arc, cliffhanger in Ishoa’s ending