Paladin Unbound Review
Author: Jeffrey Speight
Rating: 7.5 GOOD
What’s it about?: The last of a dying breed, a holy warrior must rise up against a growing darkness in Evelium. The most unlikely of heroes, a lowly itinerant mercenary, Umhra the Peacebreaker is shunned by society for his mongrel half-Orc blood. Desperate to find work for himself and his band of fighters, Umhra agrees to help solve a rash of mysterious disappearances, but uncovers a larger, more insidious plot to overthrow the natural order of Evelium in the process.
“I have come to understand I was made for this very moment. Everything that has ever happened in my life, every twist and turn along my path, has prepared me for the mission at hand. I won’t fail you. I won’t fail Evelium. I won’t hesitate.”
Paladin Unbound by Jeffrey Speight takes a lot of inspiration from various role playing games and presents everything with a unique twist. What I thought was going to be a standard fantasy affair turned into an energetic and often horrific party-based quest that had me frantically flipping through the pages with a smile on my face. Great scene setting, world building, and likable characters made this a good fantasy adventure that should not be missed.
“There were half-eaten corpses scattered about and dried blood strewn across the tables, walls, and floor. Six iron cages hung from the ceiling, still dripping with the fluids of decomposing bodies.”
I had an absolute blast reading this book. Admittedly, I do have a penchant for roleplaying games. However, that certainly isn’t a prerequisite to enjoying this story. It begins with our main protagonist Umhra, a half orc paladin that takes on a contract along with his crew, that unravels a deeper conspiracy. To me, Paladin Unbound feels like it's taken the best parts of a dark fantasy RPG and compiles it into a quest-driven novel. There's a simplicity and a straightforward nature to the good versus evil story that I felt refreshing. Speight slowly brings out hidden depth within the characters and world that kept entertaining me with every chapter I devoured. The prologue was extremely effective and grabbed my attention from the start. This is a word of warning to readers who skip the prologue. Please don’t. It provides much needed context, and sets the tone. After the prologue, the story begins at a fast pace. At first glance, I thought that the plot was moving way too fast in order for me to become invested in anything. My concerns were put to rest due to Speight’s storytelling abilities. The adventure takes a fantastic and horrifying turn that I didn’t see coming. I wasn’t expecting horror at all, and when it came, it was a bloody pleasant surprise. Speight doesn't hold back and drenches the pages with atmosphere and dread. Perhaps it was because it was so unexpected, but I really loved these sections. They were so well crafted with ravenous creatures that go bump in the night. Additionally, On their quest, they encounter different villages and towns bustling with various races, cultures, and activities. This introduction of new and interesting inhabitants of Evelium gave me a sense of progression and traversal across the land that pulled me into the roleplaying aspect of the book. I felt like I was right along with the party, exploring the land and pushing forward on our quest. Furthermore, racism is a recurring theme within the book. Orc's are often looked at as outsiders and brutes. Oftentimes their skin color plays a role in how the townsfolk view them. I think that the author could have done a better job exploring this topic. I would have liked to see more description of the races and a deeper explanation of their cultures. Especially, considering the theme of racism is brought up several times. I found it frustrating that it was there, but only skin deep. Without spoilers, another issue I had was that certain aspects within the main quest were glossed over. Once again, I feel that further explanation was needed within the plot. It’s as if the author was in a rush at times, quickly pushing to the next plot device. Despite these shortcomings, the passion that Speight has for the world of Evelium shows on every page. He has a clear vision for his world and has created a gorgeously detailed digital map on his website. I strongly suggest taking the time to plot out your quest as it added to my immersion and understanding of the continent.
“I don’t give off the aura of anything of much importance, but you men practically glow with bravado.”
The author does an excellent job of making each character in the book feel unique even though their archetypes have been used a million times before. Naivara was my favorite character, as Speight uses her powers outside of combat in a fun and interesting way. Additionally, Umhra's character is compelling and deep. Hearing about his tragic past brought depth to him and his actions throughout the book. He’s a smart character. His calmness and level-headed nature grounds the crews he works with. I also really like the way Umhra leads his crew. Due to his intelligence and disposition, he tactically approaches each obstacle. He runs his crew the Bloodbound, almost like an elite military unit which I found unique. Something that I wasn't anticipating is that every side character could be considered a main protagonist. Laudin, Shadow, Gromley, Nicholas, Balris and Naivara are all equally important and compelling. They take center stage along with Umhra. The author shows he cares about them, and so did I. He also uses the plot to develop his characters in a very distinctive way. While each character is preparing for their quest, the author uses this time to provide much needed backstory by weaving it into their preparation for the journey ahead. This all leads to depth and context that would normally be absent. I really appreciate these subtle nuances that told a larger story and enhanced character development.
“I needed to see to it personally that you were properly broken before you met your end.”
I think Jeffrey Speight’s writing really excelled in his scene setting and world building. With inviting names such as The Nightcrawler and The Weary Monk, I loved the taverns and inns within Evelium. Each one is described differently, each with their own decor, mood, and provisions. When entering a candlelit tavern I could smell the beer soaked floors, and hear all the various revelry within. The detailed descriptions continued throughout the story and made each new venue feel vibrant and well realized. The author's dialogue was good, but what stood out to me were the tonal changes as the close band of characters finally formed their party. You feel the genuine friendship and respect between them. Jokes, jabs, and friendly banter ensured that I really cared for each individual and upped the stakes higher than I had expected. The action is energetic and fits the dark nature of the various settings. The party that Umhra travels with are all so competent in their own style of combat. From warhammers and swords to magical incantations, the various ways the protagonists dispatch their foes was so fun to read. Overall, the characters were engaging, but it was Speight's unique touch that brought me closer to each member of the party.
“No matter what lies on the other side of these doors, may we prove ourselves worthy of the tomes of history, should our story be told, or not.”
Paladin Unbound is a good book and the definition of a "page-turner," for me. I flew through the story because I was having so much fun with it. Usually, after a few chapters, I put the book down for a bit. I think about what I read, grab some coffee, take notes, then eventually return. Upon starting Paladin Unbound, there was no time for notes and coffee, only my quest. Much like a late night RPG, Paladin Unbound kept me pushing forward through the night and into the early morning. Unfortunately, there are missteps along the way that did detract from some enjoyment. However, If you're into D&D or the Pathfinder games, you'll love this. If you're not, I think you'll still enjoy it. I feel like there's something here for everyone. The author's surprising addition of horror elements delighted me. His world building, scene setting, and interesting party of characters made this a good fantasy adventure that I recommend. I will most certainly be reading the sequel.