As I write this review I’m about four and a half books into the series, so the thing I would tell potential readers is that this book is good but that things get great later on. With novels this short I find it can be somewhat comparable to watching a TV show. This book is the “pilot” – it has a lot of worldbuilding to do, and there are great characters who don’t come in until quite late in the story (and many more great characters who don’t appear until later books).
Unsouled is a solid first outing that lets us get to know our main character and the basics of his world quite well. I liked it from the beginning, but it wasn’t until near the end as things started to expand that it grabbed me intensely. Later books in the series have more than rewarded my investment. I recommend sticking with this series even if one doesn’t blow you away. There’s lots of wonderful stuff to come.