After Kris' trial the dust is setting and this episode is bit slower than the last. While it wraps up several outstanding questions from the last episode, it also broadens and expands into new storylines, now that Kris has made it to be a Warden.There was a bit too much exposition for my liking but it didn't matter much. I really like this serial so far, I'm curious to see where it is going.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

I have been really enjoying this series and this latest instalment does not disappoint. Following the action-packed Gauntlet, this episode focuses more on the diplomatic aspects of the plot and seems to be pushing the narrative towards a climactic showdown, which is very intriguing. I like Older's prose style - it is clean and concise and I thought that there was some interesting character development at play in this instalment. I have come to look forward to each new offering, which I think says a lot about the quality of the writing and the plotting. All in all, a really fascinating world and a great series.
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

The dust settled with Kris as a new Warder. Trade Deal, episode five of Born to the Blade, returns to the political jockeying that makes Twaa-fei so interesting. The consequences of The Gauntlet begin here. Trade Deal by Malka Older is the fifth episode of Serial Box’s Born to the Blade series.

TL;DR

Trade Deal continues to expand the Born to the Blade universe while opening new story threads. Recommended.

Story

Kris and Ojo, still the best character, celebrate the Rumikan’s victory, and as Kris moves into the role of bonded and certified warder, they make mistakes that show just how new to diplomacy they are. But Kris is a likable character, eager and naïve. Their apologies to Takeshi, the Ikaran, they injured in the gauntlet are sincere and without ulterior motives while still making an alliance. In episode five, Ojo’s sadness is most apparent. Despite knowing the outcome, he still got caught up in emotions with Penelope, and in this episode, she seems to experience a little sympathy to him. Michiko is forced to face her failure, and once again, we are treated to Lavinia’s icy contempt. Once again, Michiko is caught between her ancestors’ loyal to the empire and those who wish to see Kakute free. In this episode, she begins to see just how the Mertikans view the countries it occupies. Michiko is on her path to being woke. And finally the ending. I once heard someone say that the best ending is a surprise that feels inevitable, and this episode ended that way. I didn’t see it coming, but now I don’t see how it could have ended any other way.

Writing

This episode is written by Malka Older, author of Infomocracy. As expected, the writing quality matched all the others. This was one of the faster moving episodes. For the middle part of a story, it didn’t bog down and made me think that episode four really changed gears on the story. Also, it had a good mix of setting the new balance and working in new bits of storyline to open the world up. Finally, as far as I can remember, we get a bit of science in this world, and it’s nice to see that not everything is magic based. Adechike stepped up in this episode too.

Conclusion

Trade Deal accelerates from episode four into a new phase of the story. While new storylines appear, the main arc of Mertika being colonizing assholes continues. The new storylines open up a wider range of options for the future. Will industrial espionage become part of the story? What exactly are the birthrights? Count me in for finding out.