A Price to Pay by Jason Hubbard is one of the most entertaining fantasy books of 2021 for me. Have you ever wondered what it would be like to wake up and not remember who you are? That is what duchess Melindra is experiencing. As she makes her way through daily life, it becomes apparent that her personality was absolutely vial. Servants are terrified of her, and people with questionable morals are her closest friends. The more Melindra uncovers about her life, the more she feels the need to enact great change. What price will she pay to right her wrongs?

Entertaining is the first word that comes to mind when I think about this novel! When Melindra first wakes up in Vincent’s castle she feels lost, confused, and scared. Hubbard’s portrays these emotions  in stirring fashion that makes the characters feel effortlessly emotive. He completely transports readers into Melindra’s mind and has you grapple wit the emotional turmoil with her. I also enjoyed the slow but steady process of Melindra beginning to grasp who she was before the memory loss. Hubbard took his time with this process, spanning it over the entirety of the story, which gave it a realistic feel. I also really enjoyed the depth of the world the story is set in and how it crossed over into our own present day. While I found the magic system in this novel intriguing, I wanted there to be more nuance.

The story is inspired by the 2017-2020 presidency. After a statement like this, I spent the whole story trying to find what could have been inspired by true events. By the end, I wasn’t sure what part was actually inspired by the presidency, besides corruption, and it all felt like thoughtful commentary on society. Some readers may enjoy this infusion of reality in their fantasy story.

A Price to Pay is an entertaining read that is told in Jason’s Hubbard’s signature style, that sword and sorcery fans will quickly devour. A refined and relevant epic fantasy story that shows you the power of a single persons actions.

Pages: 293 | ASIN: B08VRPLXMN