Stolen and raised as a soldier for an empire that will see her people dead, Touraine and her company have been sent back to their motherland to squash a rebellion before it can take flight. Princess Luca needs a spy and Touraine is the perfect match. Disconnected enough from her people to betray them and loyal enough to tiptoe the line between treason and order. Someone who can dirty their hands while she works to remove her uncle from her throne. Even if it means betraying the very foundation of Balladaire. However, Touraine finds herself questioning her decisions and is forced to betray everyone she loves to protect them all. Who will survive in the end, the soldier or the spy?

The Unbroken truly broke through one of the worst book slumps I’ve ever had in my life. A passionate and powerful debut about a soldier who must find out who she truly is before it is too late. A political fantasy novel that takes you on a slow burn of a journey with an ending that rewards its reader with a satisfying promise of what’s to come. Touraine and Luca are complex and so is the system around them, the novel set in a fully fleshed out world that has been so severely affected by the actions of the colonising state of Balladaire. The first half of the book takes its time but the end result is worthwhile.

The Unbroken takes place entirely in Qazāl, a country colonised by Balladaire and on the cusp of rebellion. Luca hopes to quell the dissent as proof of her right to rule and to uncover the magic within the land to save her people back home. Touraine doesn’t know what to think. She keeps her head down, hoping to one day gain the favour and respect of the commanders before her. But returning to Qazāl gives her the wake-up call she truly needed. After a false accusation, Touraine finds herself ripped of her hard-earned status and saved by the grace of Princess Luca in exchange for a much perilous role. We navigate the diplomacy and political landscape through the lens of Touraine, a soldier with no “home”.

Thematically, The Unbroken hides no secrets about the core message. The series is undoubtedly about empire rule and the lingering effects of colonialism on the people left behind. Initially, Touraine recoils at the memory of her people, the Qazāli, determined to prove to them that the so-called aid that Luca and her diplomats bring can elevate their status. But it is the emotion and experience of the people left behind that reminds her that the machine behind Luca does not care about their well-being and she is stripped bare of her complaceny and the identity she had worked so hard to build and survive her environment. Luca might give Touraine everything she needs, but Touraine must decide where she stands or risk losing everything.

As the dust settles and they are all left tending to the wounds of colonial violence, The Unbroken is a journey on its own, but Touraine’s story is far from over. I adore this book and would definitely recommend to any reader who really wants to sink their teeth into a gritty military-political fantasy that deep-dives into the nuances of imperialism from a multiude of perspectives.

This one is hard to review for me, because objectively, this is an absolutely stunning, brilliantly plotted and very intriguing fantasy tome. And I did really appreciate all of those aspects - I thought this was a really good book. But this book is also exact proof of why I often struggle reading fantasy, no matter how much I love it. I found the writing and all the politics quite dense and hard to process, which took a lot out of me while reading. I think I'll have to reread this eventually to fully appreciate it, and I do think I'll want to read the sequel!

Thanks so much for the opportunity to read this book! My review will be forthcoming from Strange Horizons Magazine.

It took a while for The Unbroken to click with me, but once the action really started to hit in the second half and the pacing ramped up I was completely sold. I was also incredibly impressed at how much of a wordsmith Clark is already with their debut novel, the prose was exquisite.

The main draw of this book for me was the Sapphic romance, and I am so glad to say that Clark definitely did not disappoint on this front. I'm very much looking forward to the next installment.

Characters - 7/10
Touraine really spoke to me like no character has before. I absolutely understood every single one of her choices (even the dumb ones). I know a bit about how it feels to be caught in the middle of two opposing worlds. Her desire to protect her found family is what drives her decisions and I can respect that. I've seen some people say Touraine is a bit naive, but if anyone is naive it should be Luca.

I liked Luca enough, but she really annoyed me at times. She makes some really dumb decisions for someone who's supposed to be a "smart" scholar. I also would have liked to spend more time with the Sands. Touraine's relationship with them is a key driving force, but I feel like we see very little of them.

Atmosphere - 7/10
I absolutely loved the world. It was so lush and well built. There were some confusing geographical elements here and there, but overall the world was really fleshed out.

Writing - 8/10
The writing was excellent. At some point, I couldn't stop reading. The story was easy to get in to and I often felt like I was in the world with the characters. Clark did an amazing job.

Plot - 7/10
The plot was a little slow at times. However, that's understandable since the first book in a fantasy series needs to spend some time setting up the world. I think the plot could have used some finer details, sometimes I felt like I was missing something. There were some confusing time jumps, but that might be because of the formatting of the eARC.

Intrigue - 9/10
This book made me think, a LOT. It tackles the issues of colonization and how younger people are often caught in between. Ultimately Touraine makes her choice and takes a stand. We see the effects of colonization in full force and that really makes this book stand out. It punches you in the gut and it's amazing.

One slight snag for me was the romance. It didn't hold my interest and it was very subtle. Other elements of the book are definitely stronger and the romance could have probably been left out.

Logic - 7/10
The magic system was a bit vague. We're explained some rules, but I would have liked to get more into it. Hopefully, the next book delves deeper into the magical lore.

Enjoyment - 8/10
Overall this was an amazing book and I really enjoyed it. I cannot wait for the second one.

There's a lot of potential in this story but, after a gripping first part, my attention wavered and the story fell flat.
Not my cup of tea.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Unfortunately, this book didn’t grip me in the way I was hoping. The worst part is that I couldn’t even tell you exactly why. I thought the relationship that Touraine had with Luca vs Cantic vs the Sands was great. I thought the topics were so important and I was very interested in learning about them and hearing them be explored. But I just kept spacing out. I only have good things to say about this book, but I was still not drawn in as much as I could have been. I wouldn’t let that count you out at all, though! It is probably just me.

I have always found it difficult to review books that I've enjoyed and The Unbroken is no exception. I am at a loss for words because the plot and characters were so layered and multifaceted, so much that my review will not give this book justice. Clark's world-building was phenomenal and I enjoyed every second of Touraine's journey, albeit painful and frustrating at times.
The themes of colonialism were deftly handled. We got to see the point of view from the colonized and the colonizer. It was a difficult and frustrating read but very much needed. I could not stop thinking about it hours after finishing it.

Overall, this was a fantastic debut and I'm looking forward to seeing what Clark puts out next!

Enemies to lovers to enemies to lovers. A saphic, military political adventure fantasy set in a North African world.

Honestly this was a struggle to get into but I really wanted to because of all the good things I've heard about this book. It took me until about halfway through the book until I was properly hooked and the pace sped up to a comfortable one.
The first book in a new series, I'm looking forward to seeing what the next book holds.

Thanks for the opportunity to advance read this book. Will be uploading a full review to my blog.

I am completely blown away by how much I loved this, I mean I knew I would from the description, but I underestimated just how much I would. It’s an amazing book , this is a real and raw look at rebellion, the true costs are faced, the reality of colonialism, racism are shown in full and honest truths. I love Touraine‘s conflict, her struggles to decide where she stands. The story is engaging, painful and epic, a truly amazing debut, a fabulous start to a series and I can’t wait for more. One of the best books this year I’ve read.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion

You know how sometimes you're so scared you can't do a book justice? Well, I've sat on writing feedback for this book because it was SO GOOD, which is just absurd.

The Unbroken is easily the best fantasy I've read this year so far (in the face of strong competition!) - an unforgettable cast of characters as compromised as they are uncompromising, as flawed as they are committed. I loved how CL Clark eviscerated fantasy tropes, choosing to focus on the ugly self-interest of colonialism and explore what that would look like rather than write just another fantasy rebellion, just another couple redeemed by their love for one another. I'm so fiercely glad that isn't the story here. I felt so deeply for Touraine - loyal to an empire that despises her, naive and impulsive. I raged at Luca, choosing only to acknowledge *some* of the horrors committed in her empire's name. I relished that everyone was exposed as imperfect, willing to countenance horrific deeds in the service of their cause. It made for a sometimes bleak but always satisfying reading. Excellent craft, complex characters and a desert city so real you can feel the grit in your eyes. Just brilliant.

It feels like this has been the first time this year where I have been fully absorbed by a book - struggling to put it down, being forced to stop reading because midnight has crept up on me, etc. I have loved every single second of reading Touraine and Luca's twisting story. I have 0 clue where the story will develop in book 2, but cannot wait to find out! Easily a favourite of 2021.

I think this is a solid debut ! I really liked the first half but it went downhill for the second half as there's a lot of miscommunication and back and forth for characters, especially Touraine, which made me like her less than in the beginning.

Easily my favourite book of the year so far. I have been struggling to put into words how incredible this book is, so here's a list of bullet points:

-Multiple complex, layered women filled with ambition and drive.

-Tackles the topic of colonialism from multiple angles -- both from the coloniser, the colonised, and someone trapped between both worlds.

-Luca is the definition of ''no one is the villain in their own story." She is the greyest of grey-area characters and is so frustrating, but Clark does a fantastic job with her story arc.

-Touraine is one of the best characters in fantasy. Enough said.

-The romance is so complicated and layered and ARRRGGGG.

Please read this book.

The Unbroken by C. L. Clarke has assassinations aplenty. Every few pages, death makes its mark on its protagonists as well as on us. While one is inexperienced in the ways of court but brilliant in commanding soldiers to fight for their country, another is an amateur in both the battlefield as well as the court. While one wears her emotions on her sleeve, the other woman hides her emotions well behind a veneer of a cool mask. While one is loyal to her company of soldiers, the other only cares about the throne. Now, you must read the book to discover who is who.

In addition to the protagonists (Touraine and Luca), I found all the characters to be engaging. The protagonists are flawed, their immaturity plainly visible at each step. This simply exacerbates the situation but roots you to the spot. You have no choice but to keep reading. Further, the book features several queer characters.

As with any epic fantasy novel, things do not remain the same throughout the novel. Both the women grow wiser at the expense of many losses. These losses were like a punch to the gut for me as well as to Touraine and Luca. They could not trust anyone. Even their dearest ones betrayed them.

The Unbroken is a classic conquered versus conqueror tale. Luca belongs to the family of the conqueror while Touraine is the conquered. Kidnapped as a child to fight for Balladaire, she is fiercely loyal to her company of her soldiers – the Sands. Because they are the only ones who keep her sane. Because all the Sands were kidnapped as children. So, all of them feel each other’s pain.

Torn between loyalty to the Sand and duty to Luca, Touraine is forever walking on the edge of a sword. Add to this mix, love for Luca and unexplored ties of blood, you get a story that is crackling with tension.

“This looked like the losing side. It even felt like the losing side. It didn’t feel like the wrong side.”

What does Touraine choose – duty, loyalty, or justice? Again, you have to read the book to find out.

The Unbroken is an intimate portrayal of the complexities involved in governing an empire and the bid to become a ruler. The environment in barracks in which the Sands stay, the punishment-and-reward ways in which they are trained to be loyal to their captors, the politics in the court, the devious behind-the-scenes trickery for personal gain, the descriptive visuals of the hot, baking desert town and the cool house in which Luca stays not only make for a gripping read but also lend themselves to excellent worldbuilding.

However, the book falters in pacing. I would have liked the story to be faster paced. Moreover, despite being lengthy, I felt The Unbroken only skimmed the surface of what C. L. Clarke has to offer. There is magic, sacrifices, and faith to counterbalance the cold and calculate logic of subduing a rebellion. However, I would have liked to know more about them.

The epilogue makes it clear there is more heartbreak reserved for the readers in Book 2 of Magic of the Lost. I would be glad to read the sequel. Hopefully, it will have a faster pace than Book 1.

The Unbroken by C. L. Clarke is recommended for lovers of epic fantasy and queer fiction. Thanks to the publisher for providing a digital copy via Netgalley.

Really loved the lush, immersive settings and the choice of exploring them though a critical take on the price on colonialism. However, I could not connect very well to the characters -- I felt like their declared coolness level wasn't necessarily underpinned by actual competence, which honestly is a frequent reason for my disconnect with the books in general. But honestly, I think if I can afford to complain about liking one f/f fantasy with punch WOC more than another, we're really lucky to have such a lineup in 2021.

Thanks to #NetGalley for providing an advance copy of #TheUnbroken

I think I can thank Twitter for stumbling across this one, pre-publication. I knew it was queer, but also a North African inspired military fantasy. There is far more going on in this book than that brief sentence can encompass.
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This is a book that:

• has many, many competent women (hello, Cantic, my flawed, horrendously problematic General)
• examines, subverts, and ultimately guts the idea of the good coloniser (there is none)
• has two women cautiously falling for each other, but severely hampered by colonisation and a gigantic power imbalance (princess/conscripted soldier) between them
• deals with faith and magic in really interesting and brutal way
• is really funny when it’s not being horrendously sad
• there’s a scene involving a rock that almost made me cry.

Some of the experiences of Touraine and the other Sands, the children taken and conscripted into the Balladairan army, are painful to read: they’re too other to ever truly belong in Balladaire, no matter how they excel, and too part of the Empire when they return to their homeland. A recurring theme is Touraine feeling adrift from a culture she briefly grew up in, and has faint memories of, including not being able to speak the language.

Book 1 ends in a really interesting position, and I’m so excited for the next in the trilogy. Sabine, Luca’s friend, is apparently prominent and from the few references of her in this book, I believe I’m going to love her.

More of this kind of book, please, publishing.

The Unbroken was a wonderfully complex book with complex characters and a plot which pulls you in right from page one. Here’s 5 reasons you MUST READ this book:

AN INTRIGUING PLOT

This book is a North African inspired military and political fantasy about a princess trying to prove herself and save her empire and a soldier fighting for freedom. The themes and discussions of colonialism is delicately interwoven in the plot while also talking about white privilege and racism and all of this is done seamlessly. I adored how the first few chapters of the book set the tone and pull you in right away. This makes it intriguing. The dynamic of the characters mixed with the plot and the high stakes of the book, make this an amazing book.

COMPLEX CHARACTERS

The main characters of the book are Luca, princess and queen-to-be and Tourraine, a soldier. Luca is an interesting character who is curious and has a thirst for knowledge but she isn’t the most likable character and I love how well-nuanced her story is. Tourraine was a character with the worst luck but best fighting spirit and I adored reading about her. Both the characters were well fleshed out and realistic and enjoyable to read about. None of the characters felt one dimensional so they annoyed you and made you scream but at the same time made this book even more fun to read. The romance felt a little underdeveloped but I’m excited to see how their story moves forward. The side characters were also great.

AMAZING WORLD BUILDING

The first thing which really made me love this book was the amazing world building. We are thrown right into the world and it might take a few pages to understand but once you do, its truly impressive. Honestly, even getting used to it was easy because the setting and tone of the book has you intrigued right from page one. I am truly so impressed by how good and complex the world building was and it played a huge part in making this book a must read. The detailed and intricate world building is my favourite part of the book!

BEAUTIFUL WRITING AND PROSE

I loved the writing and prose of the book. This book was described as a military and political fantasy so I was hoping for it to be intense and intense it was! The writing was so good and sets the mood perfectly. I have said this a lot but the author does a fabulous job of setting the perfect tone and intensity and in a way which makes it feel realistic and plays in your head while reading it. The descriptions of the scenes and the desert setting was stunning and leaves you wowed.

NARRATIVES OF COLONIALISM AND PREJUDICE

This book is unique in the way it not only describes colonialism as a theme but as an important plot point. It talks about colonialism is a raw and brutal way telling it exactly how it is. It’s a well-written and its nuanced take on the social and economic commentaries in the book also give the reader a very well rounded experience. Right from white privilege to racism to the prejudice faced by the Sands is all written well. I would particularly describe this book as raw in the all the various narratives it handles.

Overall, The Unbroken was an intense book which will make you go through many emotions with its well-written characters and world building and intriguing plot. If you’re a fan of books with pain, politics and military fantasy, The Unbroken is a must-read for you. If you’re looking to get into adult fantasy or are searching for an adult fantasy, The Unbroken should be top of your list!

This was one of my most anticipated books of 2021 and I was delighted to receive an e-arc from NetGalley. I was about three chapters in when I ordered a physical copy too (I knew immediately my wife would love it) which is a recommendation in itself!

The hook that drew me in was "North Africa inspired military/political fantasy with queer leads" and it didn't disappoint on any of those fronts. The world-building and setting is really strong and feels fully realised from the first page, and it never flinches aware from any of the horrifying details of colonialism that it examines. The Sands occupy such a complicated and liminal place in all the colonial politics and motivations and focusing in on them (via Touraine but also via her soldiers) lets Clarke be complicated in exploring it. I loved that the three characters we're first introduced to (Pru, Beau, Touraine) immediately present this lovely snapshot of how the same situation brings out different instincts and opinions and motives in different people. It sets the rest of the book up beautifully (and heartbreakingly.)

A lot of the plot of this novel comes down to Touraine (and Luca, but I'll come to that) making a series of bad and kind of contradictory decisions, which sounds sort of frustrating, but it’s beautifully complex and nuanced, and I loved it. I loved that Touraine was pulled in so many different directions (her soldiers, her blood family, Cantric, Luca, the rebels...) and that she felt so differently about the same things throughout the book, and not always in a neat, linear way. It felt very real. I really liked that she never just slipped effortlessly back into her homeland, just as she never quite belonged to the empire even when she became a free citizen. It was all those subtle touches, like how hard it was for her to pick up her mother tongue again despite presumably being fluent when she was five, that really sold me on her character and the book overall.

I really enjoyed Luca as a character too, and it was interesting how despite being generally more logical and considered than Touraine (and less off the cuff) her decisions were somehow more frustrating. Her dedication to eventually being on the throne feels so remote compared to Touraine's very present and real motivations: not being executed, stopping her friends and family from being killed. They're a good foil for each other.

I liked that their not-quite relationship didn't really make it into this book. Along with the political fallout of the ending, it's another nice little hook that definitely has me invested in the next in the series. It's a such a complicated and uncomfortable dynamic in a lot of ways, with Touraine being saved from execution by Luca and not yet a free citizen, and Luca being the literal princess of the empire. I'm really looking forwards to meeting them again when this dynamic is in (presumably!) quite a different place.

So many great SFF debuts coming out lately, and this is no exception. High on the tension and the morally grey, with queer-as-norm and super compelling protagonist Touraine. Military fantasy isn't usually my jam, but I couldn't get enough of The Unbroken.