Originally posted as part of Queen’s Book Asylum’s SPFBO X reviews.

By Blood, By Salt is set amidst a world where an emperor holds power through a combination of belief, military power and factional infighting. It’s obvious that a great deal of thought has been put into the building of this world; from the religious divisions that often take centre stage to the various desert tribes encountered in the second half of the novel. Yet none of their introductions or explanations felt overly like info-dumping, which is definitely to the novel’s benefit.

The bulk of the novel is told from the perspective of Azetla, a soldier in one of the empire’s older battalions. While we are given great insight into his thoughts, a lot is also held back due to his constant need to walk a tightrope. Educated and decisive, he has worked his way to being virtually the second-in-command of the battalion, while also being, essentially, a second-class citizen in the empire he serves. Multiple times he is referred to by the derogatory term ‘jackal’ or reminded that merely carrying a sword, let alone giving commands, would be sufficient cause for his immediate execution.

The basis of his exclusion is his religion and the deeply ingrained belief in the inferiority of his race. The latter is brought home especially hard in sections where the POV switches to other characters, those who know and have seen Azetla’s intelligence and competence, and yet cannot shake the inherent irritation and suspicion that he is, in some way, getting above himself.

While there are several other POV characters, the one who has the second-most page time is Lord Wesley Verris. In many ways, he seems to be a mirror for Azetla. Although untried in combat, he can be as scheming and manipulative as Azetla and although a lord, the view of his lesser bloodline means he is considered almost an outsider at the Imperial court. However, it is his desire to rise above, and his coercion of the Emperor’s younger, impressionable brother, that sets the primary plotline in motion.

While I found a great deal to enjoy and admire about By Blood, By Salt, there was something that held me back from truly loving it. It is a fairly unrelenting read, with little to leaven the scheming and oppressive atmosphere that the story invokes. Due to that, I feel like this might be a more challenging read for some.

4 out of 5