The Master of Samar by Melissa Scott
Cursebreaker Irichels returns to the city and family home he never thought he'd come back to after he unexpectedly becomes the only family member left to claim the Samar home, position, and wealth, something he'd been raised to believe would never happen and he didn't want. He, his mage lover, and his bodyguard have to deal with mysteries, politics, and assassination attempts as they try to figure out who, if anyone, they can trust.
I most liked this book for its unusual magic system, mostly based on demons and the contracts you (if you're wise, very carefully) make with them, and worldbuilding. It takes place in a sort-of Venice, with history, customs, and politics it drops the reader into while rarely feeling like info-dumping, just sort of immersing you in it and letting you pick things up as you live the life alongside the main characters. I wouldn't mind seeing other stories set in this city. I mostly liked the characters, though Alaissou, the wife foisted onto Irichels against his will could have used more development since I didn't believe how quickly she made herself part of the team effort and how quickly they came to trust her, despite everything going on and happening to them. She doesn't really feel like a sheltered teenager either.
The plot didn't always work for me. I don't think we ever got a good answer to who was behind the decades of lethal luck the Samar family suffered from. Yes, somebody wanted to take out one of the pillars protecting the city from demons, but we're talking about many, many years and many victims. The Samar were only one of the families behind the Shame, so why were they the only ones who seemed to have gotten a curseling? Plus, did Cambryse really have a plan to replace that contract, because it seems like he didn't. I found the magic battle near the end somewhat difficult to follow.
I most liked this book for its unusual magic system, mostly based on demons and the contracts you (if you're wise, very carefully) make with them, and worldbuilding. It takes place in a sort-of Venice, with history, customs, and politics it drops the reader into while rarely feeling like info-dumping, just sort of immersing you in it and letting you pick things up as you live the life alongside the main characters. I wouldn't mind seeing other stories set in this city. I mostly liked the characters, though Alaissou, the wife foisted onto Irichels against his will could have used more development since I didn't believe how quickly she made herself part of the team effort and how quickly they came to trust her, despite everything going on and happening to them. She doesn't really feel like a sheltered teenager either.
The plot didn't always work for me. I don't think we ever got a good answer to who was behind the decades of lethal luck the Samar family suffered from. Yes, somebody wanted to take out one of the pillars protecting the city from demons, but we're talking about many, many years and many victims. The Samar were only one of the families behind the Shame, so why were they the only ones who seemed to have gotten a curseling? Plus, did Cambryse really have a plan to replace that contract, because it seems like he didn't. I found the magic battle near the end somewhat difficult to follow.