The Unbroken (Magic of the Lost, 1)

Just adding stars. This was undoubtedly the best book I've read in at least a year (maybe two). It has detailed world building that never felt like it was dumped in chunks of background--rather it was woven between the aggressive plot. Most importantly, the characterizations are top notch--both main characters have their own very intense and conflicting motivations while still being relatable and sympathetic.I read a fair amount of forgettable fluff in my personal time because I have to read pretty heavy stuff for work. However, my favorite books are the ones that capture the deeper pathos of more highbrow literature while still being readily accessible and engrossing in the way good fluff can be. This book is absolutely that. I'll be thinking about it, re-reading it, and buying whatever else Clark writes next.

The book follows the story of Touraine, a Qazāl Sand, kidnapped as a child and turned into a soldier, now returning to her homeland as one of the vanquishers, out to tame the 'uncivilized' of Qazāl. The second main lead is Luca, Queen-in-waiting, out to prove that she is fit to be a ruler by quelling the unrest amongst the citizens of Qazāl..As a soldier of the Balladairan army, with the culture and memories of her homeland erased by years of brutal training, Touraine finds herself between a rock and a hard place - the Balladairan's will never accept one of the Sands as their own, and the Qazāl see her as less Sands and more a Balladairan betrayer. She tries hard convince herself and others that she is a true Balladairan with no alleigance with the people of Qazāl, however events from the past soon begin to haunt her. When Touraine is framed for a murder she didn't commit, she is offered a Hobson's choice - the gallows, or working as an undercover agent for Luca, trying to find a way to negotiate with the Qazāli rebels..Touraine is constantly torn between her loyalty to her soldiers that used to serve under her, to Luca and to the people of her homeland - and along the way she makes several questionable choices, and not ones that might necessarily endear her to readers. I quiet liked the complexity of her character, and the choice she makes at the end partially redeems some of her earlier misjudgement..Luca on the other hand, is perhaps slightly too naive and optimistic at the start, believing that the rebels would prefer surrender over their independence. A lot of Luca's early training for her role has come from reading, and she has very little practical experience on the filed. When she first arrives in Qazāl, she starts hunting for old healing magic, one that has been buried and suppressed by the colonists, in the hope access to this magic will allow her to bring peace to this troubled region. When her closest ally, and direct route to this magic is killed, she has no choice but to recruit Touraine - however, what starts off as an employee-employer relationship (in the loosest sense) soon turns into something different, complex and a little bit messy with power dynamics at play, and loyalties tested to the extreme..This book is the first of a trilogy - it has some resolution at the end, but also leaves other avenues unexplored and open for resolution in future books. It also takes a deep dive into colonialism, internalised racism, slavery and all the politics that come with it, sometimes a bit too well - this aspect is particularly heavy at the start, which made it difficult to get into the book. However, once Touraine and Luca's roles are clarified, the story flows more smoothly, and the last few chapters have really good pacing. Both main leads, and even some of the secondary characters, are multi-dimensional, and have very clear voices that remain consistent throughout the book..There are two things worth mentioning about the book - Luca has a disability, and I felt this aspect was very realistically and thoughtfully conveyed - we see how she doesn't let it stop her as she goes about her day-to-day business, but we also see the pain and fatigue when the lights are dimmed and the curtains are drawn. I often find this aspect missing in books that have disabled characters, often we don't see the flip side. Second, there is no stigma attached to sexuality and choice of a partner, and no gender inequality - in a world heavy with so many other burdens, that was refreshing..This book is fantasy in that it is set in another world, but not fantasy that lets you escape into another world - many of the issues highlighted in the book resonate closely with our world, and could be the subjects of deep discussion. If you want an intense, emotional book that is rich in world-building, drawing you in and makes you think about bigger issues outside the book, then absolutely read the book - just don't go into it expecting any fluff or romance. I am excited and curious to see where Touraine and Luca's journey will lead them, and will definitely be picking up book 2..Fun Fact: One of the things that drew me to this book was the cover - turns out the cover illustrator is Tommy Arnold - the same illustrator who drew the covers of the Gideon trilogy!

This novel gave me everything I wanted. It tackled colonialism, French imperialism, racism, religion, war and identity. Touraine is a big softie on the inside and I would die for her. Don't be intimidated, though, because it was honestly really accessible. It's light on the military tactics and heavier on the politics. It's dark and brutal, but you'll love the protagonist and want her to succeed. There is also a slowburn sapphic romance, but it's not straightforward or easy, so don't come in looking for something sweet. Loved everything about this. Loved the worldbuilding, the queernorm world, the female cast, the action, all of it!!

Trying to do this without spoilers… but maybe enough to say that Touraine just gets saved by a few dei ex machinae too many, about the only weakness in a book that’s solid in so many ways

I have a lengthy queue of books on my to-read list, but I moved this one to the top when it was released. And I was not disappointed. The characters are memorable. The conflicts are messy. And even though you know which side has the right of things, the author puts us into the heads of both protagonists, creating sympathy for both of them, even as they inevitably come into conflict. The world created is rich and deep, even as it is clear that this story only reveals a small part of it. I am very much looking forward to the sequel.

This book is gripping and engrossing from the start. Even when I wasn't reading, a part of me was in Qazal. I could feel the dusty heat and see the bright busy streets as I read. Touraine and Luca were so human and so heartbreakingly relatable that I'd often have to set the book down, just to pick it right back up again. This book is what modern fantasy should be. C. L. Clark not only wrote a gorgeous, gripping story, but she did it so thoughtfully and powerfully. Exploring tough and critical concepts of identity and belonging through the eyes and hearts of two very different women, in a way that profoundly breaks your heart and also brings so much hope. The understated expressions of profound love and loss and desire feel so familiar, I feel them too. The world and the magic are well developed and also do not drive the story; they're just features of the rich landscape Clark has created. Lastly, Clark treated queerness as the norm and unremarkable, which felt so relieving. This story is one of the best I've ever read. I cannot wait for the sequel.

The Unbroken is a masterful work of epic fantasy literature. C.L. Clark's prose style, much like Touraine herself, is lean and mean and trained to kick ass. But don't expect this story to play out like a video game—small fight, small fight, small fight, boss fight, repeat. Instead, it's a compassionate tale about identity and loss and love, all played against the backdrop of revolution and empires in decline (or possible on the rise?). Much remains to be seen, and I'm eager to read the next book, but this is a satisfying and complete tale in itself. I thoroughly believe this series is going to make some waves. You'll want to be part of the early fanbase.

It feels like this has been the first time this year where I have been fully absorbed by a book - struggling to put it down, being forced to stop reading because midnight has crept up on me, etc. I have loved every single second of reading Touraine and Luca's twisting story. I have 0 clue where the story will develop in book 2, but cannot wait to find out! Easily a favourite of 2021.

Pretty good debut effort although there was one point in the middle where i got really frustrated with the main character and put the book down and seriously considered giving up.There were parts in the plot that felt a bit too convenient as well. For example, an important character dies mysteriously, but this doesn't get investigated because everyone is too busy until it's conveniently pointed out that it was probably the bad guy who did it.

Great book by a great author

Personnages principaux pas vraiment attachants. Des passages intéressants et la construction de la magie également même si pas tellement révolutionnaire.