Interesting fantasy premise where magic was free but due to a Pact with the Gods has been constrained and limited power for each region to set magical elements. Our protagonist is Wen Alder or Foolish Cur, born of two different cultures, his fathers with ties to the conquering empire and his mothers with ties to native magic and rebellion.
Alder is consummed with passing the Imperial examinations to bring honour back to his fathers family name, however he has also been inducted into the Nanyen ways of magic which drives him to seek magical power from all the regions of the Empire.
Initally I found Alder a difficult character to like as his driven nature, immaturity and arrogance were at the fore. However as his story progresses through power, betrayal and realignment Alder deepens as a character and visibly learns from his errors which had me rooting for him at the climactic end to this book.
A great read particularly in the latter two thirds for me - definitely worth trying..
My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for access to this ARC all views are my own.