Accidentally Disappointing? A Little, Perhaps ...
I must start by saying: Do not misunderstand me. I enjoyed this story, overall, and it moved the plot forward in some interesting ways, particularly as involves Melvin's real family. We did learn more about how things work, the mechanics of the System. These are all good things.
And yet I must admit I leave this installment a little disappointed.
To begin with is Melvin, the MC. For all his plot was moved forward, and his power grew exponentially, we saw him grow very little as a character. In this regard, he was essentially the same as in the previous book, Education. Perhaps I expect too much, but especially given his responsibilities and the much greater dangers faced, I would have hoped to see a greater degree of seriousness in how he considers things and acts on them. Instead, we have a character almost tragically limited in his ability to grow in this wise, and it's really only great good fortune that keeps him from truly experiencing such tragedy. One might say Kalli grows more, and yet she too shares that issue in much the same way. These two are now adults, with commensurate power and responsibilities and circumstances, and they should start showing it.
Unfortunately, this is how they're written, and that too is disappointing. Again, we advanced this bar nicely from a reasonable start from Summoning to Education, but then slipped the transmission into neutral. Indeed, the way characters seemed to be written even backed up some to the entry levels of the first book. The way situations were presented, new characters introduced lacked a more advanced vigor I would have expected in a third book.
The structure of it also seemed to slip, and I fault editing for this. Primary example: distinguishing between the different types of communications that characters engage in. Unless this is carefully and consistently followed, it will inevitably allow for confusion to occur. This happened multiple times, and sometimes even within the same phrase. That is not only confusing, but it also reduces what had been a strength to a distraction as the reader is forced to go back through again to try figure out who said what to who and how. That was not the only editing issue I noted - I was also somewhat irritated by the occasional reference to things not previously mentioned as if they had been - but it was certainly the primary.
But in the end, as I said, I still enjoyed it. It was very interesting to see how Emperor Melvin developed his nation - as a veteran of games such as Sid Meier's Civilization series and the like, I certainly understood and had an appreciation for the MC having that ability in his innate skillset. And one wonders how his nation will fare in his absence. How well will Kalli be able to handle that for him? These and many more questions like it will have to wait on answers from Corruption, which is an intriguing if not very hopeful title ...
Score for Contract: 3.75 out of 5.00