Review: The Impossible Contract, by K.A. Doore

 

Thana has a huge reputation to live up to as daughter of the Serpent, who rules over Ghadid’s secret clan of assassins. Opportunity to prove herself arrives when Thana accepts her first contract on Heru, a dangerous foreign diplomat with the ability to bind a person’s soul under his control. She may be in over her head, especially when Heru is targeted by a rival sorcerer who sends hordes of the undead to attack them both. When Heru flees, Thana has no choice than to pursue him across the sands to the Empire that intends to capture Ghadid inside its iron grip.
A stranger in a strange city, Thana’s only ally is Mo, a healer who may be too noble for her own good. Meanwhile, otherworldly and political dangers lurk around every corner, and even more sinister plans are uncovered which could lead to worldwide devastation. Can Thana rise to the challenge—even if it means facing off against an ancient evil?

"She was more than just the Serpent's daughter". K.A. Doore's The Impossible Contract is the second book in a trilogy of standalones set in a wondrous city standing high from the sands. Ghadid is the true protagonist, its setting rich and interesting, the book showing us even more of the city, but also what lies beyond the sands. Ghadid houses a family of elite assassins, and each novel follows a different one.

This second volume is focused on the journey of Thana, with her heavy heritage of being the daughter of a legend. The book explores her struggles well, but also her forging of her own path as she stumbles upon a plot that could destroy the world as she knows it. She also finds a delightful romance in the meanwhile, a sort of meet-cute with a kind healer, a woman with a big heart and clear morals. The love interest's profession sparks an interesting and compelling conflict with Thana, whose own profession after all, means she has to end lives.

The world-building is truly phenomenal, with an interesting water-based magic system and its more sinister possible use. This is a land were necromacy is real, while deemed blasphemous, and where souls can be swallowed or possessed; where zombies can be created. But things aren't black and white, and when we spend some time with Thana's mark, the en-marabi Heru, we may find him too compelling and wickedly funny to want him dead. We also meet again the previous book's protagonist, and it was definitely interesting to see how he was faring.

The pacing was a little weird towards the last third, but the book made up for it with its fast-paced, exhilarating conclusion.

The Impossible Contract is a fun adventure with a fascinating setting.

✨ 3.5 stars