L. E. Modesitt Jr. https://www.lemodesittjr.com is the author of more than 80 novels. Isolate was published in 2021. It is the first book in the Grand Illusion series and the 61st book I’ve completed in 2022.

Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own! Due to scenes of violence, I categorize this novel as R. Steffan Dekkard is the primary character. He is an isolate, that is, one who is immune to empaths.

Dekkard has recently graduated from the Military Institute and security training. Now he is one of the Security Aides for Councilor Axel Obreduur. Not only must the Councilor be protected from political rivals, but there is growing unrest. With his fellow Security Aide Avraal Ysella, Dekkard must constantly be vigilant.

They both soon find that Obreduur is not the only target. They have become targets as well. The two find themselves attracted to one another, and romance soon follows.

I thoroughly enjoyed the 28.5 hours I spent reading this 601-page fantasy. The novel contains action and a lot of political intrigues. I have read five additional books by Modesitt, and they have been consistently excellent. Those books are Endgames, The Mongrel Mage, Outcasts of Order, The Fire-Mage War, and Fairhaven Rising. The cover art for this novel is a bit dark but fits the story. I give this novel a rating of 5 out of 5.

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L. E. Modesitt, Jr. is one of my all time favorite authors, and this book did not disappoint. Though it did take me a little bit to get caught up into the book. But this is the first book, and things can get a bit slow when you're setting up a new world. Once you get past the introduction of the world the story is a great one, filled with lots of twists and turns in the political landscape of the the story. Steffan and Avraal, the main characters who are security guards for counselor Obreduur along with being his representative at times. They have to navigate a corrupt world where those in power do not want to give up their power and are doing things that are not great at all to keep that power. Steffan and Avraal are doing their best to protect Obreduur, who is a person with potential to help the whole country survive in a way that will in the long ru be beneficial to everyone. This story is entertaining and shows how at times things will never be perfect for everyone but they are working to make things be as good as they can for people.
I look forward to the next installment in this series when it comes out to see how Steffan and Avraal along with Obreduur can manage with all the opposition that they face

L.E. Modesitt starts a new science fiction series, The Grand Illusion, with Isolate. Steffan Dekkard is an isolate, a person who cannot be read or moved by an empath; he has an artisan background, but trained in security. He forms a team with an empath to protect one of his country's councilors. There is social and political unrest as the country is dominated by commercial interests and ordinary people are suppressed or paid little Follow the development of Steffan in political and social wisdom. Very complex tale with intrigue and politics at the center.

Isolate is the first novel in a new series by L. E. Modesitt, Jr. Released 16th Nov 2021 by Macmillan on their Tor imprint, it's 608 pages and is available in hardcover, mass market paperback, audiobook, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. Book two of the series is due out in August 2022.

This is grand space opera mystery with political machination, skullduggery, and corruption. The main character is an Isolate, one of the few people who are immune to manipulation from empaths. As such, he's ideal for security and protection and works at protecting one of the leaders of a powerful political party.
One of the most appealing facets for me was the fact that it was immediately so comfortable...with a few plot/setting changes, it would be at home as a western or a gritty noir PI novel (on the mean streets of NYC). It's visceral, perennial, it's engaging, and familiar. There's nothing morally bankrupt or emotionally ambiguous with the protagonists here. Having emphasized how traditional the writing and plotting are, I will say that true to form, there's not a lot here to challenge the boys' club feel of a lot of golden and silver-age science fiction, with the exception of a female partner and the strong (not entirely positively rendered) wife of the main character. It's not John Norman (Gor novels) by a long shot, but neither is it Octavia Butler.

Overall: Engaging, well written, occasionally stilted dialogue, high political science fiction. I recommend it for readers looking for alternatives to early Heinlein, Frank Herbert, Larry Niven, and the other boys in the band. Four stars.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes

This book was given to me in exchange for an honest review.
Before I could finish reading this book it got archived and there's no way I can review a book I didn't finish reading.

But the few pages I read through, I got a glimpse of the world building and it was really interesting. Along with the thriller ot brewing. I wished I got to finish reading it.

Isolate does an interesting thing in combining two fantasy genres of urban fantasy and more "traditional" fantasy. This does a great job of making the reader familiar with the setting while still adding to the genre. So the setting and world-building choices are excellent. Our main characters are definitely rough around the edges with interesting backgrounds and seeing them interact with the magic was fascinating. The many twists in the story kept me flipping the pages. I just had to know how it ended and now I can't wait for book 2!
Full review to come on YouTube

A delightful book full of adventure, action, and thrills. Fun to read, engrossing world building, and very descriptive imagery made it feel like it was cinematic. It's hard to resist the story as it drives forward. Would recommend.

Political Intrigue, Engrossing

Industrialization. Social unrest. Underground movements. Government corruption and surveillance.

Something is about to give.

Steffan Dekkard is an isolate, one of the small percentage of people who are immune to the projections of empaths. As an isolate, he has been trained as a security specialist, and he and his security partner Avraal Ysella, a highly trained empath, are employed by Axel Obreduur, a senior Craft Minister and the de facto political strategist of his party.

When a respected Landor Councilor dies of “heart failure” at a social event, because of his political friendship with Obreduur, Dekkard and Ysella find that not only is their employer a target, but so are they, in a covert and deadly struggle for control of the government and economy.

Steffan is about to understand that everything he believed is an illusion.

One of the reasons I love L.E. Modesitt Jr.’s work is the level of detail and thoughtfulness that is woven throughout each novel. And even if the novel is part of a series, he always makes certain that the novel can be read as is, without the reader missing a beat. While this novel is the first in a duology, he created the same impression, a book full of detail, thoughtfulness, and readability. 

In “Isolate”, he has created a world full of political intrigue, change, and layers of society much like ours but where there are boundaries for women and those not in power. Not dissimilar from our world but in this novel, includes those with talents, both empaths and those immune to their power. The details in both the political system, in the intrigue, and in the stratification of society makes for an engrossing and satisfying read. 

It is not the world building alone that makes the story so interesting. It would not work without the engaging characters, Steffan and Avraal in particular. The story is told from Steffan’s point of view as he learns the truth of the various political intrigues but also develops the friendships between him and those around him, especially Avraal. Every character in the novel is developed throughout the story, showing us who they are through their actions rather than telling us. You learn the most about Steffan and Avraal by their interactions with each other but also by the man they work for, Councilor Axel Obreduur. It absolutely shows Modesitt’s skill and experience, in how he demonstrates the characters through their interactions with each other. 

The political intrigues that Steffan deals with and his role in disrupting those intrigues is what makes the story so wonderful. Unfortunately, I don’t want to give anything away but be assured that those intrigues and Steffan’s abilities make for a grand novel that is completely engrossing. 

If you’re a fan of L.E. Modesitt Jr. and his other work, this one will be equally satisfying. The magic is subtle but well used and both the story and the politics make for an incredibly interesting story. I totally suggest you check out the book.  Remember, if you do want to purchase the book, contact us at Duncan's Books and More and we can order for you direct from the publisher. 

5 out 5 political intrigues.

There are a ton of fun tropes and familiar elements in this book -- empaths and those trained and immune to them along with others who are susceptible. There's a bit of steampunk and typical scifi/fantasy evil corporations and political intrigue. There was a lot going on and if readers are into this sort of revolution story line, they'll find a lot to enjoy. For others it might seem long and tedious at times. Overall, an engaging read.

Isolate is the start of L.E. Modesitt Jr.'s latest series. If you're looking for the striking blend that is both science fiction and steampunk elements, with a dash of mystery and fantasy, then this is going to be the perfect read for you.

Steffan Dekkard is what is known as an isolate. This means that he is immune to the projections created by empaths. This unique ability has granted Steffan the security specialist role for Axel Obreduur.

When a friend of Obreduur's dies by suspicious means, Steffan and his partner, Avraal Ysella, get sent in to investigate. In doing so, they will uncover many truths that others would prefer left alone. Soon their investigation will become a fight for their lives.

I'll be the first to admit that I haven't read nearly enough of L.E.Modesitt Jr.'s works. Yet I was delighted to hear about the release of Isolate, his latest novel. I couldn't resist diving into this one, especially as I love nothing more than finding a series as it is starting.

So many elements wove into Isolate that it nearly blew me entirely away. It's political, social, and very human all in one. It has a solid grasp on these foundations and then takes it all a step further by plunging us into a world of science fiction. Better yet! It has a distinct steampunk flare, which I absolutely cherish.

I love the Victorian elements while still getting the chance to see a world that is so very different. At least, there are times where it felt like it couldn't be more different if it tried. That made the world all the more intriguing in my mind.

Then there's Steffan Dekkard (whose name I love to say, don't know why). His story is interesting, as he has unique abilities that put him in a position where he would be set for life. It's also a bit of a dangerous position, forcing him to deal with the psychics of the world.

Long story short, I really enjoyed Isolate and everything it had to bring to the table. I would absolutely recommend this read for anyone looking for a unique steampunk-esque read.

The premise of the book seems excellent and i was totally hooked by them. Modesitt is a great author, well know for the fast pace stories that quickly get straight to the point.
The problem in Isolate is that there is not enough space to develope both the political intrigue and the romance. And knowing the premises, it shouldn't be a problem but the result isn't as solid as i would expect it to be. At the end of the book it feels more like i didn't know how to feel about it rather than having a good or bad opinion. I think that, through an heavier editing and additions, this story would be excellent, but right now it lacks it sparks.

Modesitt begins a new series with this steampunk style of fantasy novel. It's written in typical Modesitt style with slow, steady world building and character development. As is usual for his books the main characters slowly grow in depth and skill as they both go about their daily lives as well as meet progressively greater challenges. The premise of the series is an interesting departure as Modesitt creates a world where people vary in their empathic skills, ranging from being able to sense the emotions of others and project emotions of varying degree onto them to either being increasingly susceptible to such "control" or being completely blocked off from both being sensed or affected (the isolate). The two main characters are a security team for a political leader in the minority of the local government. The book focuses on the political and class distinctions of an early industrialization society and the struggles for power, wealth and social change. Overall I found the book interesting and did hold my attention as well as left me looking forward to the next book in the series. However, I also found the depth of detail offered during daily life (e.g. the meals eaten, the food consumed, the clothing worn) to be tedious and excessive. This tedium markedly lowered my enjoyment of the book and my final rating.

Probably my favorite book of the year!
I absolutely loved this book. But it's hard to describe and I would have difficulty recommending it to anyone. Modesitt completely immerses the reader in a world that is familiar but not quite with all the mundane life details (food choices, preparing a car to drive, writing letters) that involves a bodyguard/advisor to a minority government leader. As well as the empath/isolate stuff. There is no plot, plot; it's more of following someone's life in the month of turbulent change with them being in the eye of it. However, all those details and day-to-day happenings are crucial to the story.

The best way to describe it is a fantasy/gaslamp West Wing story. There is a hopeful optimism in a world with governmental and societal problems that if you just get the good people doing their jobs everything will work. Sometimes I felt that I should be getting a greater meaning out of what was going on; some metaphor for what's happening currently. I'm not aware enough to get those nuances (if such nuances were intended) but it didn't hamper my enjoyment at all.

Minor quibbles: some phrases were repeated too often and the romance seemed both out of left-field and natural. I think having the characters just telling each other "I know" ala Star Wars, hampered it.

Steffan Dekkard is a security aide to Councilor Obreduur of the Craft Party in the state of Guldoran. He lives in the Councilor’s house along with Obreduur’s wife and children and other staff members including Avraal Ysella, a female empath. Ysella is also a security guard but both she and Dekkard double up as economic advisors, administrators and general helpers once Obreduur has been safely escorted to his office.

Empath’s can sense the feelings of those around them, mostly, so Ysella can assess if someone is about to attack. Dekkard is an isolate, one who cannot be ‘read’ by an empath. He is trained in combat and armed with a hefty truncheon, a short sword and two throwing knives. Councilor Obreduur is often attacked in the novel. Generally Ysella can get out a warning just in time and Dekkard can deal with the assailant. As well as empaths and isolates there are ordinary folks and an unfortunate type called susceptibles who can be controlled by an empath. In some countries, these are used as slave labour but not in Guldor.

Not that things are perfect in the land. This is a gaslight fantasy which means technology has reached steam power and society is going through an industrial revolution with all the trouble that entails. Workers are made unemployed by new machines and corporacions, as Modesitt calls them, are ruthless about increasing their profits, heedless of any social harm. The Craft Party represents guilds and workers more generally but the Commerce Party controls the government, supported by the Landor Party which looks after the interests of the old landed aristocracy. The Commerce Party serves the corporacions and corruption is rife. The rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer, surprise, surprise. But there’s enough dissatisfaction afoot that the revolutionary New Meritorist movement is gaining support, assassinating Councilors and blowing up public buildings. Revolution is in the air!

The Craft Party wants to stop revolution by ending corruption and redressing the economic balance a bit so that workers do better. The Commerce Party and their wealthy backers just want more and more wealth and power for themselves and intend to deal with troublemakers by ruthless suppression. Our hero Dekkard is an up and coming young man caught in the middle of all this, and loyal to Councilor Obreduur.

It’s a political story that allegorically addresses one of the main issues of our time, gross inequality of wealth and opportunity, especially in the United States of America. Britain has the same issues to a degree, and so does Europe, but having allowed some evil creeping socialism (U.S. readers recoil in horror) into our systems we do not have such disgruntled lower orders. Nearly all Modesitt’s novels are political to some extent, that’s his background, but this one is more obviously so, and none the worse for it. He actually worked for the Republican Party but in a bygone era when it was...what’s the word?...sane. Currently he seems to find the excessive greed of the wealthy somewhat odious.

As ever with Mr Modesitt the book is full of interesting ideas about how society should ideally work along with the sad truths about how people really behave. His hero kills when necessary, without any sign of remorse. He also falls in love with the female lead and their courtship proceeds at a glacial pace. Modesitt’s ideas of romance are downright Victorian but rather sweet, and suitable for children. The author’s technique of following the hero’s daily life in detail lends verisimilitude to the fantasy world but some readers might find it a bit of a plod. Although there are some exciting moments, this is not an adventure novel. It’s not fun. It’s a meaty, substantial, worthy novel about party politics. Think Anthony Trollope rather than Robert E. Howard.

I generally like Modesitt’s books and I liked this one. The fantasy world isn’t very magical and, apart from the empaths and the politics, not all that different from our own Victorian age. The world building is solid and well thought out. The characters are noble and engaged in important tasks. Can they prevail? You’ll have to buy it and see. Part two of the series is out next year and I look forward to it.

Modesitt is easily one of the most accomplished and stylish writers it has ever been my pleasure to read. This has a very Modesitt feel to the world building and socio-political structures. With a hint of Bladerunner mixed with psychic noir, Isolate is a dystopian style treat to be devoured in great gulps. Excellent start to a new series.

A new and fascinating Modesitt world!

Entering a new Modesitt world always fills me with goose bumps of expectancy. What intriguing differences might this place hold? The opening events throw us right into the thick of things. And Yes, there’s that familiar cadence Modesitt brings to his works. Complex places without question. A troubled society, with different groups jockeying for power. Political / social divisions that are out of kilter demanding change and justice. I sigh with relief as the prose wraps around me. I know this rhythm. There’s echos of tropes from other tales but given a wholly new and mesmerising sheen.
The characters begin to take shape. Steffan Dekkard, an Isolate and Avraal Ysellla, an Empath are employed by Councilor Axel Obreduur the Leader of the Craft Party, as his security aides.
Dekkard has that restrained air of someone who is more. Someone comfortable with themselves. It’s through his eyes the country of Guldor unfurls. Ysella is more mysterious, politically aware, with hidden depths. But very knowledge about the political process. (I do so appreciate the the male and female hero’s Modesitt gives us!) Councilor Obreduur is enlightened, forward thinking and plays the long game. He encourages his aides to question and to think. I really liked that about him.
Guldor appears to be a place where groups are sorted by trades and psychic abilities. The social heirachy is well defined and appears immutable.
Empies or empathetics can sense intent, manipulate feelings, and inflict harm.
Isolates can’t be manipulated and are mostly teamed with empies as security agents for Corporacions (I love the spelling BTW), CEO’s and political leaders.
Susceptibles or Sussies are those who appear to be expendable. They can be easily influenced by Empathetics and in dark times were used as indentured servants. In other countries they still are.
The Great Charter (playing off the Magna Carta) is a charter of rights setting out how society should run. However it seems to have been cannibalized away from its original purpose in favour of, yes you’ve guessed it, the Corporacions and the Commerce Party. The Charter is both a best friend to the society’s running and an enemy, depending on interpretation. Maybe the subtitle says it all.
There is a ruling monarch type figure, The Imperador. He can call for elections and take action in the political scape where absolutely necessary, such as a huge political scandal.
There are three parties: the Commerce Party, the Craft Party and the Landor Party. The Commerce Party currently holds leadership. The Premier of the country is the leader of the party in power. How to bring about leadership change and elections is the challenge facing the Craft Party.
However there’s a revolution hatching by an entity known as the New Meritorists. They feel that councilors should be elected by merit of their vote, and not by party politics. They want it seems more accountability. Demonstrations have been swiftly and harshly dealt with. Disruptive action on major resources and infrastructures are targeted. They appear to be coming more violent. Mind you the actions of the Security Ministry are atrocious.
Elements of Guldor are more in tune with the Gaslamp fantasy trope with vehicles powered by steam. There’s the search for alternative power sources. Now that resonates with me. There’s coal shortages and trade deficits. That too! Hmm!
Do I see a running commentary on todays society? Well commerce is King. Corporacions and councilors are all powerful. Goods are being made cheaper by slave labor in other countries and imported in unfair competition with the Artisan community. The press is hardly free and the landed class is giving way to big coporacions. The artisan community represented by the Craft Party is on the rise. The status quo is changing. For the better?
Once again the deeper I get into a Modesitt novel the more I’m intrigued. (I was fascinated by the segue into tulip petals as a substitute for onions. I looked it up. It was a food source during World War II in Holland in famine times, although the bulbs are poisonous unless treated properly.)
I am so enjoying the unique setting of Modisett’s latest novel and must confess to some impatience for the next in the series. Be calm my beating heart!

A Macmillan-Tor/Forge ARC via NetGalley

Isolate is a fantasy novel from L.E. Modesitt, Jr. That sentence is doing a lot of work and it is important because if you've read any of Modesitt's fantasy novels you have a pretty good sense of the shape and style of Isolate. If you've read more than one of his fantasy novels, you have a really good idea what sort of novel this is.

Isolate is set in a somewhat more modern setting - there are cars (though steam powered) and buses and the primary city of the novel just feels more modern than anything we've seen in Recluce or Imager or the Corean Chronicles. Steffan Dekkard is somewhat older and more accomplished, which is something I appreciate when Modesitt writes full adults rather than the youth who needs everything explained - though Dekkard is a political neophyte and as the security for a councilor, he is getting new political lessons as he is going to be coming up in that world. It's not that much different than any of the Recluce protagonists reading The Basis of Order and working on theory. Here it's a lot of political conversations, local politics as well as some that touch a wider nation. If you like all of that, if you like the slow burn and the day to day interactions and meals (and meals) and theory and even some political campaigning and that does build to a larger conflict that is oh so slowly being revealed - Isolate is for you. It's the first novel in a new series that is completely unrelated to any of Modesitt's other works. L.E. Modesitt, Jr writes a L.E. Modesitt, Jr novel and for me, that's exactly what I'm looking for.

Isolate is the first book in a new Gaslamp political fantasy series by bestselling author L. E. Modesitt, Jr. Isolate. The first novel in the Grand Illusion, it delves into the social unrest and government corruption of The Empire of Gold.

Steffan Dekkard is an isolate security specialist for a senior Craft Minister, along side a highly trained empath named Avraal Ysella. Due to his immunity to empathic projections, Dekkard is the perfect counterpoint to Ysella, and together they protect their employer from an assassination attempt. This is only the beginning of an undercover battle for control of the government.

Isolate is perfect for those who love political intrigue and rich world-building. I found it a bit cumbersome for my tastes, but have high hopes for the sequel, Councilor, which is scheduled to be released on August 9, 2022.

The Grand Illusion of the series title is the illusion that the government (any government) can solve every problem and make everyone happy – all at the same time. But as the story unfolds it acknowledges that this is very definitely an illusion, that a government can possibly make nearly all of the people happy some of the time, that it can certainly make some of the people happy nearly all of the time, but that making all the people happy all the time is neither possible nor realistic.

Although good people in government can do their best to walk the tightrope, to do the best job they can for most people most of the time. If they devote their lives to it and are even willing to give those lives in order to do the most good for the most people most of the time – even in the face of those same people not recognizing that it’s being done while resenting that it isn’t being done nearly fast enough..

In other words, this is a political story, told through fascinating characters. It also reads like a story about how to potentially stage a coup from the inside – and how to stop it. That could just be reading the real-life present into the opening salvo in what I hope will be a long and fascinating series. But the interpretation feels right to me and your reading mileage may vary.

So Isolate examines the dirty business of politics, as seen through the eyes of someone with an intimate view of just how the sausage is made, as the saying goes, and finds himself on the inside of an attempt to make it better. Or at least tastier for considerably more people than is currently the case.

Isolate can be read as an exploration of how politics and government work as well as a continuous discussion about how they should work, but the story is wrapped around the characters and that both personalizes it and makes it easier to get swept up in the discussion right along with them. It can also be read simply as a “power corrupts” type of story and it certainly works on that level, but it’s also competence porn of the highest order and I absolutely could not put it down.

(Speaking of not being able to put this down, readers should be aware that the count of 608 pages is a serious underestimate. It’s 15,000 kindle locs. I know there’s not a direct translation from locs to number of pages, but as an example, Jade City by Fonda Lee, which is awesome, BTW, is 560 pages and 7684 kindle locs. No matter how loosely you do the math, based on my reading time Isolate is more likely 806 pages, or more, than it is 608, unless they are very large pages and the print is very, very small. It is absolutely worth reading, I loved every minute, but it will take more time than you might think it will from the page count.)

I recognize that I’m all over the map in this review. There is a lot to this book, and it’s one that made me think quite a lot as I was reading it.

As I said earlier, there were quite a few points where it felt like a story about how to stage a coup from the inside – and how to stop it. At first, I thought that those currently in power were setting up the kind of coup that nearly happened in the U.S. after the election, but it didn’t get to quite that level of skullduggery – not that there wasn’t plenty but it didn’t go quite that far in quite that direction.

But there’s also an element that the forces of “good” or at least the forces we follow and empathize with the most, are staging a coup from inside the government but outside of real power to make change. That feels kind of right, but as it’s handled in the story it’s legal and on the side of the “angels”.

While never glossing over the fact that politics is a dirty business, and even those on the side of the “angels” sometimes have to get their hands dirty – even if by proxy.

Escape Rating A+: What made this story work for me was the way that it completely embodied its political discussions and political maneuvering in its characters. There’s a lot of necessary exploration and explanation of what government can and can’t, and should and shouldn’t, do for its people, in this country that reads just enough like ours – or Britain – to feel relevant without feeling so close that it ends up being either a political treatise or a work of alternate history.

Instead, it ends up being the story of three people doing the best that they can to help their country in spite of everyone who tries to get in their way. In the process, they all rise above the place they expected to be, and that’s just the kind of story I love to sink into.

It takes a bit to get the reader firmly ensconced in this world with these characters, but once it does, it’s riveting. And it ends, not so much with triumph – although that element is there – but with the sure and certain knowledge that Steffan, Avraal and Obreduur have plenty of work left to do. They’re eager to get started, and I’m eager to read what happens next in Councilor, due in August 2022.

Ok…. Since March 2020 I’ve read and reviewed 180 books on NetGalley. This one is 181. It’s the first one I didn’t finish. I read a quarter of the book, 25 chapters out of 101 and I’m simply not the target audience. It’s too bad. The description sounded really good and I enjoyed the Recluce and Imager books I read. I just found it dry as dust to read page after page after page of the minutiae of the lives of a low level government employee along with the lives of those around him. There are multiple pages that discuss the type of wood paneling being used in train cars and the ramifications thereof….
I’m giving it what is for me a neutral that was fine three stars because while it wasn’t for me it was solidly written. There’s a skill in being able to write a doorstop of a book and keep it cohesive. If you’re a big Modesitt fan this might be the book for you. If you value setting over action this may also be the book for you. It’s not a bad book. I just wasn’t quite the right reader…