It is rare that a book has it all. Intricate and far-reaching plot devices and details, deftly-woven character viewpoints, and incredible and detailed character development; The Song of the First Blade has it all.

The Song of the First Blade is the first book in a fantasy series of four. Central to the book’s plot is the weaving of three different main characters, and occasionally side characters viewpoints. The story initially follows Elyon, a young and flirtatious prince, Saska, an abused servant and her dark past, Jonik, an assassin with a conscience from an ancient order, and Lythian, a knight from the same house of Elyon. The book starts slow, but quickly ramps up in tension.

In any other fantasy book, you could consider the worldbuilding in First Blade as the finest point in that story. Incredibly, T.C. Edge manages to overshadow his worldbuilding with his evolving and continuous focus on characters. More than anything else, his characters shine with individuality and development throughout every aspect of the book. Many other authors have made the mistake of assuming that people change only through arduous or significant circumstances, but Edge knows better. His characters change and evolve throughout every chapter of their stories, and interactions between side and main characters seem to effortlessly show different perspectives.

Edge also shows himself to be thorough by giving the same level of development and detail to his side characters as he does to his main characters. Few authors convey so cleverly the idea that their main characters are not unique; that they face the same challenges and struggles that other side characters do. 

And whilst the worldbuilding is overshadowed by his characters, Edge is no slouch on it. While the societies feel at times more simplistic than other books, inanimate details are strong and the magic systems feel interesting and advance the plot. 

However, a fair criticism is that the books are long. Not unnecessarily long, but the books do have problems with resolving sub-plots and even main plotlines. Perhaps more attention could be paid to individual book climaxes, rather than focusing on the longer-term payoff of certain plots and characters.

The Song of the First Blade, written by fantasy and sci-fi author T.C. Edge, may be his finest work. The narrative and his characters are deserving of your time and attention to uncover and understand.