Tribute at the Gates makes for an intriguing and deep start for a new fantasy world. The premise, that those with a certain “power” in their blood, are locked up and used for the “good” of the elite is not particularly new but comes with some interesting twists. The cruelty of those placed in power over effective slaves is unfortunately believable and is thankfully balanced showing that there are those who, even in the worst of conditions, will try to help the downtrodden to what degree they are able. The implications of the magic system, once it starts being revealed, make for a promise of interesting adventures and changes to come. The author does a good job of giving a reason for the protagonist to rapidly develop his powers and control despite being young (much better than the typical “he is the chosen one so, of course, he has great power and near-perfect control) and while his magic is strong, even the way his knowledge and control is boosted leaves him with a need to really work on controlling what he has learned and large gaps in his knowledge and skills. Looking forward to seeing where this series goes and the development and return of suport characters.
Disclaimer: I was given this a free review copy audiobook and have voluntarily left this review.