For those who don’t know about SPFBO (the Self Published Fantasy Blog Off) – this is a competition created and run by Mark Lawrence.  The competition is now in its tenth year and you can find out more about all the other entrants and judges over on Mark Lawrence’s blog.

I have now completed all my reading for the first phase of SPFBO X.  Today I am posting my second of three reviews following which the  Critiquing Chemist and I will be announcing our finalist.

Today’s review is for The Enchanter’s Counsel by Thalib Razi.

The Enchanter’s Counsel brings to readers an interesting world that explores religion, culture, climate change and other real world issues in an intriguing setting.

The world building here is interesting and felt quite unique.  This is a coin shaped world, people live on both sides of the coin as well as along the rim.  This is a world that experienced wars in the past and the peace still feels tentative, there is tension and as with most wars the culprit is greed and the race to mine the gems that encrust the edge of the planet.  Fridehim is the holy city and the setting for the majority of the story.  The city is populated by dwarves, goblins and elves although the three don’t always get along as well as they could and in fact tensions and outbursts of conflict are not uncommon.

As the story begins we meet Mizan al-Wasati.  Mizan is returning to his family home having graduated university as an enchanter of gems.  Along the way he is accompanied by a friend called Apple and the two have a few adventures before Mizan finally boards the dragon that will fly him home.  It’s something of a strange homecoming for Mizan, on one hand he’s graduated university and everyone is suitably proud, on the other he doesn’t yet have a new job and is starting to feel like his years of study were for nothing.  Initially, Mizan works at his family’s cafe until he comes up with a bright idea to drum up new business that eventually sees him encountering a childhood friend and uncovering a potential disaster just waiting to happen.

Mizan is the MC.  He is accompanied by a few old friends.  Apple, a university friend, Nick, a childhood friend and eventually Daena – who Mizan has a soft spot for.  The four become entangled in a secret project.  Of late the city has been plagued by earthquakes and it seems that the hard mining for magical gems is starting to take its toll and over use of magic is causing rifts.

What I particularly enjoyed about The Enchanter’s Counsel was the setting.  There are some really creative elements.  I loved the hustle and bustle of the city.  There’s a lot of attention to the cultural aspects that really bring the place to life.  The fantasy elements feel low key in some ways, people have become reliant on gems which has created the need for overmining.  I loved the diversity of the world, of course there are tensions and misunderstandings and I felt this was dealt with in a sensitive fashion.  This is a world of mixed cultures and as a result there are extremists from both sides of the coin that are not necessarily reflective of the greater population who are simply trying to get on and live together.  A lot of thought has been given to this element of the story and it shines through.

In terms of criticisms.  I think the story itself felt a little light but this is sometimes the case with a first book in series where character development and plot sometimes take a back seat to world building.

Overall, this was an intriguing read and a good set up for future instalments that hopefully take our MC further afield and explore this coin shaped world in greater depth.

I received a copy courtesy of the author for which my thanks.  The above is my own opinion.