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Every Rule Undone
Aza Gen, curse cleaner and snooper at keyholes, never set out to break all the rules.
She lives a sheltered life as a curse cleaner for Maripesa's ruling family. At thirteen, the day of her first period, she acquires an ability to split herself and see from two perspectives. She keeps it a secret, not knowing where this Talent fits in the magical structure of her society.
Magic can so easily slide into chaos. That's why the belief in it was phased out over eons. But the island of Maripesa took a different approach. They used those eons to breed a system that uses magic to maintain order. Spell types are genetically bound to family clans. The upper clans curse. The mid clans repair or heal those curses. The lower clans have no magic. Anyone who breeds outside their clan is executed. It is a simple and perfect balance of power.
Years later, Maripesa's rigid calm devolves under an upper clan spellwar and, not coincidentally, Aza loses everything. Sick, fearful and grieving, she's thrust alone into the unfamiliar city where she encounters hypocrisy and deception—so much worse than the twin evils of curses and maladies. But there are also good people with wells of kindness and wisdom; the experience of romance and sexual awakening; profound new kinships; and a burgeoning awareness of her own power.
She finds women who have magic similar to hers. Women's magic—minimized, ridiculed, suppressed through generations—becomes her focus. Aza realizes that because it crosses and includes all clans, it can subvert the system. Her rage at mounting injustices will not stop until every outdated rule is undone.
Book One of The Last Magic City unfolds through four characters from different clans. In addition to Aza Gen, there are Ferjival Puraples, son of the ruler, and an angst-ridden antagonist; Benelek Kruik, a fun-loving, charismatic woman whose generosity and ambition don't always coexist easily; and Vijo Besin, healer of maladies, scholar of all magic, romantic soul with perhaps too much patience for his own good.
Aza, Ferjival, Benelek and Vijo show us the way through this charm-filled, twisty, heartfelt journey about the chaos that hypocrisy and hubris can bring and the healing that kindness will always manifest.
She lives a sheltered life as a curse cleaner for Maripesa's ruling family. At thirteen, the day of her first period, she acquires an ability to split herself and see from two perspectives. She keeps it a secret, not knowing where this Talent fits in the magical structure of her society.
Magic can so easily slide into chaos. That's why the belief in it was phased out over eons. But the island of Maripesa took a different approach. They used those eons to breed a system that uses magic to maintain order. Spell types are genetically bound to family clans. The upper clans curse. The mid clans repair or heal those curses. The lower clans have no magic. Anyone who breeds outside their clan is executed. It is a simple and perfect balance of power.
Years later, Maripesa's rigid calm devolves under an upper clan spellwar and, not coincidentally, Aza loses everything. Sick, fearful and grieving, she's thrust alone into the unfamiliar city where she encounters hypocrisy and deception—so much worse than the twin evils of curses and maladies. But there are also good people with wells of kindness and wisdom; the experience of romance and sexual awakening; profound new kinships; and a burgeoning awareness of her own power.
She finds women who have magic similar to hers. Women's magic—minimized, ridiculed, suppressed through generations—becomes her focus. Aza realizes that because it crosses and includes all clans, it can subvert the system. Her rage at mounting injustices will not stop until every outdated rule is undone.
Book One of The Last Magic City unfolds through four characters from different clans. In addition to Aza Gen, there are Ferjival Puraples, son of the ruler, and an angst-ridden antagonist; Benelek Kruik, a fun-loving, charismatic woman whose generosity and ambition don't always coexist easily; and Vijo Besin, healer of maladies, scholar of all magic, romantic soul with perhaps too much patience for his own good.
Aza, Ferjival, Benelek and Vijo show us the way through this charm-filled, twisty, heartfelt journey about the chaos that hypocrisy and hubris can bring and the healing that kindness will always manifest.
345 pages, ebook, paperback
First published October 22, 2024
3 people are currently reading
19 people want to read
About the author
Nancy S.M. Waldman
17 books24 followersNancy writes science fiction and fantasy short stories and novels. She grew up in Texas, but now lives (as far away from that heat as she could manage) in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Canada and has a sometimes retreat in the mountains of Western North Carolina. She's an editor and publisher of regional authors through Third Person Press, a graduate of Viable Paradise Writing Workshop and a member of SF Canada.
Read Nancy's stories online in Fantasy Scroll Magazine, Perihelion SF, AE-Canadian Science Fiction Review and in the anthologies Futuristica Vol 1, Metasagas Press, Lazarus Risen, Bundoran Press and Compostela-Tesseracts Twenty, Edge Publishing as well as all the anthologies from Third Person Press.
Read Nancy's stories online in Fantasy Scroll Magazine, Perihelion SF, AE-Canadian Science Fiction Review and in the anthologies Futuristica Vol 1, Metasagas Press, Lazarus Risen, Bundoran Press and Compostela-Tesseracts Twenty, Edge Publishing as well as all the anthologies from Third Person Press.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
October 29, 2024
This took me a bit to get into, but eventually, it swept me up and took me on quite a journey. Aza was not likeable in the beginning. For her age, she seemed so much younger and completely out of touch with any experience or knowledge. I do think that is why I struggled to get into the book, because I found Aza to be inconceivably emotionally and mentally sheltered. But the author proved me wrong and Aza blossomed.
There is some romance in the novel, but it doesn't take away from the story and even lends to Aza's growth.
I was fascinated by the world building and the different clans and what each of them represented. Also, why they were separated into clans in the first place.
The magic was very fascinating as well. I hope the next novel features more of the clans, the history of their separated clans and of the magic use.
In all honestly, it was superb.
I definitely cried a couple of times for Aza as she found out more about her father and mother. Those are the best books in my mind: if you can make me feel for the characters and become emotional, then you have a fan for life.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
There is some romance in the novel, but it doesn't take away from the story and even lends to Aza's growth.
I was fascinated by the world building and the different clans and what each of them represented. Also, why they were separated into clans in the first place.
The magic was very fascinating as well. I hope the next novel features more of the clans, the history of their separated clans and of the magic use.
In all honestly, it was superb.
I definitely cried a couple of times for Aza as she found out more about her father and mother. Those are the best books in my mind: if you can make me feel for the characters and become emotional, then you have a fan for life.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
December 21, 2024
I really appreciated the premise of this book. It's set in a pre-industrial revolution city with a complicated caste system based on the inherited magic of the different groups. What makes the world and characters particularly engaging is how they grapple with deeply relatable concerns despite the fantastic setting. Like any young person, Aza struggles with her father's expectations and the pressures of where she fits in society, while her relationships feel authentic rather than purely plot-driven. Her initial adventures as she tries to figure out why she has unique magical abilities and searches for her kidnapped friend are quite interesting, and there's a wonderful specificity to how characters navigate both their magical society and their personal lives.
The book takes a different turn halfway through, as Aza's personal story grows into a fight against the government. While the beginning's mysteries and personal conflicts keep you turning pages, the story loses some of its spark when it shifts away from these intimate struggles. The alliances Aza forms in her fight against the government come together too smoothly, missing opportunities for the kind of interpersonal tension that made the early chapters so engaging. Some readers may find the earlier character-driven portions more engaging than the wider political narrative that follows.
For readers seeking an alternative to traditional Romantasy or Epic Fantasy, this book offers a distinctly fresh approach. The writing style feels contemporary and immediate, while the themes explore modern concerns about identity and power structures through a fantasy lens. Characters think and speak with a present-day sensibility that makes them remarkably accessible, yet this never undermines the rich secondary world setting. This book would particularly appeal to readers who enjoy character-focused fantasy that tackles social issues, especially those who appreciate seeing familiar contemporary challenges reflected through a magical lens.
I received this book through LibaryThing's Early Review Program. The opinions are my own.
The book takes a different turn halfway through, as Aza's personal story grows into a fight against the government. While the beginning's mysteries and personal conflicts keep you turning pages, the story loses some of its spark when it shifts away from these intimate struggles. The alliances Aza forms in her fight against the government come together too smoothly, missing opportunities for the kind of interpersonal tension that made the early chapters so engaging. Some readers may find the earlier character-driven portions more engaging than the wider political narrative that follows.
For readers seeking an alternative to traditional Romantasy or Epic Fantasy, this book offers a distinctly fresh approach. The writing style feels contemporary and immediate, while the themes explore modern concerns about identity and power structures through a fantasy lens. Characters think and speak with a present-day sensibility that makes them remarkably accessible, yet this never undermines the rich secondary world setting. This book would particularly appeal to readers who enjoy character-focused fantasy that tackles social issues, especially those who appreciate seeing familiar contemporary challenges reflected through a magical lens.
I received this book through LibaryThing's Early Review Program. The opinions are my own.
March 1, 2025
In an isolated, magical society, shunned by other non-magical communities, coming of age can be complicated. When you are confined to the middle-class by birth in this strictly class-structured society, things can be even more challenging. Young Aza Gen is on a journey of self-discovery exploring her place in this world and wrestling with its societal injustices. It is easy to root for this curious, intelligent, and thoughtful young woman as she resists the paths carved out for her and tries to seize her own destiny, all while discovering her own desires and what brings her joy, whether emotional, carnal or magical. Her burgeoning magical powers are also naturally subversive to the societal norms and it is exciting and frightening. Witnessing an abduction that shakes her to her core, and forced into hiding by numerous factors, Aza must find the strength, and allies, to fight back.
Political intrigue aside, the society and setting are both complex and compelling. The city of Maripesa is a wonderful place to visit. A sensory delight of colour and intricate fashion, design and architecture that is so beautifully described you will feel as though you had indeed been to this incredible, magical place.
Julie Serroul
Political intrigue aside, the society and setting are both complex and compelling. The city of Maripesa is a wonderful place to visit. A sensory delight of colour and intricate fashion, design and architecture that is so beautifully described you will feel as though you had indeed been to this incredible, magical place.
Julie Serroul
January 16, 2025
Exciting, charming, and fantastically immersive, this debut novel is delightfully readable. I adored all the characters and will miss them, as one does after finishing a great book. I was very invested in all their individual obstacles and collective triumphs (which were many!). The story offers an absorbing plot and also many layers of social commentary, with a slow rebellion of women and lesser clans that felt inspiring, heart-warming, and very satisfying! The villains have just as much depth and surprise as the protagonists, and I loved that no one and nothing was quite as they seemed. The way magic worked in this world was very cool and unique, in my opinion as an avid fantasy reader. So many layers and so much fun! Can’t wait for more.
December 17, 2024
Very enjoyable, immersive read.
Nancy SM Waldman’s strong suit is world-building. It was easy to fall into Every Rule Undone and the thoughtful details about Maripesa made me feel like returning.
Certain major plot points were revealed after a gradual build-up, and I felt that made these reveals highly believable.
I’m curious to know what comes next for the people of Maripesa!
Nancy SM Waldman’s strong suit is world-building. It was easy to fall into Every Rule Undone and the thoughtful details about Maripesa made me feel like returning.
Certain major plot points were revealed after a gradual build-up, and I felt that made these reveals highly believable.
I’m curious to know what comes next for the people of Maripesa!
October 21, 2024
"Every Rule Undone" starts slowly, setting the stage for the complete upheaval that's to come. The world building is incredible, with a magic system the likes of which I've never seen before. Also fun is that this is a world where there are trolleys and cars, but also magic--so unusual and nice to see!
Around the halfway point, the plot really kicks in, and by the 2/3 point, I honestly had no idea how Asa, the protagonist, was going to get out of all the horrible messes that had been thrown her way. The ending didn't tie everything up with a neat bow, which I truly enjoyed. No, a world as messed up by revolution as Asa's wouldn't simply go "back to normal" or find immediate peace, so I wouldn't have found that believable. Instead, there is a ... well, I'll let you find out yourself. But it's nice. And the final emotional note for Asa is perfect.
At the outset, Asa is incredibly naive and sheltered, so much so that I found her a bit too trusting. But it turns out that her instincts (or maybe her magic guiding her) were correct, and it's by her honestly she upends the whole nasty, bitter world, literally making every rule come undone in their magic-powered city-state. It's a nice metaphor for our current world, and by showing how kindness is power, while nastiness comes home to roost in the souls of those who use it, it may encourage readers to practice empathy a wee bit more.
This isn't *quite* cozy fantasy, but nonetheless it'll be appreciated most by those who enjoy that sub-genre, or works like Sarah Beth Durst's "Spellshop."
Around the halfway point, the plot really kicks in, and by the 2/3 point, I honestly had no idea how Asa, the protagonist, was going to get out of all the horrible messes that had been thrown her way. The ending didn't tie everything up with a neat bow, which I truly enjoyed. No, a world as messed up by revolution as Asa's wouldn't simply go "back to normal" or find immediate peace, so I wouldn't have found that believable. Instead, there is a ... well, I'll let you find out yourself. But it's nice. And the final emotional note for Asa is perfect.
At the outset, Asa is incredibly naive and sheltered, so much so that I found her a bit too trusting. But it turns out that her instincts (or maybe her magic guiding her) were correct, and it's by her honestly she upends the whole nasty, bitter world, literally making every rule come undone in their magic-powered city-state. It's a nice metaphor for our current world, and by showing how kindness is power, while nastiness comes home to roost in the souls of those who use it, it may encourage readers to practice empathy a wee bit more.
This isn't *quite* cozy fantasy, but nonetheless it'll be appreciated most by those who enjoy that sub-genre, or works like Sarah Beth Durst's "Spellshop."
December 3, 2024
~ I received this book via LibraryThing’s Early Reviewers ~
2.5 / 5 Stars
Every Rule Undone takes us on the journey of Aza Gen, in a world where people are divided based on the magical abilities to curse, heal, or fix, called “Talents”. A worker in the current political leaders household, she has eyes and ears on all of the ins and outs, but yet still knows so little of the world beyond these curse spitting leaders.
This is a book that I have some complicated feelings on, and I’m not sure if I can truly form these thoughts into words. On one hand I truly enjoyed so much of what was happening in this story, the world and the people were intriguing, on the other hand I felt bored, there wasnt enough happening, and many of the characters grated on my nerves.
This book is a very classic case of tell and not show, which for some will be a big bonus, but for me I will always prefer showing and not telling. From time skips that left me confused on when we were, to conversations repeated that happened off “screen”, I couldn’t help but feel I was missing out on things that would have been so lovely to know about, but instead I am simply being told, “Ah, yes those four months were great. So glad I learned how to care for animals and learn to ride a horse.” instead of being shown it during its happenings. This also goes for little things, the relationships of Aza didn’t feel as if we could feel out her emotions towards others. Instead of feeling like I was experiencing falling in love with her, I was being told she was in love now, quite suddenly I might add.
I guess this leads me easily into the issues I took with the relationships, though I adored the intricacies of the relationships forming. The anger between Maleka and Aza, the soft wariness and whimsy between Bek and Aza, the tentative kinship of Riwena and Aza. Even the relationship between Aza and her split-self Zaz was so intriguing. But, for every moment of intricacy and smooth blossoming moments, it felt like I, as the reader, was missing something not being said. As if the author wasn’t writing all of the story? Hmm, I’m unsure how else to word that, but it felt as if for each of these connections there was a puzzle piece being withheld. The image came together, sure, but there was a corner piece missing that would perfectly complete the entire picture if we had it. Specifically, this was made clear to me with moments between Bek and Aza, then again between Vijo and Aza. The romances felt.. Too fast. We went from a clear admiration of Bek, maybe a little confused crushing on Aza’s end, to outright heart wrenching love after being apart for months and having seen them together on page a handful of times. This doesn’t happen as aggressively with Vijo, as we have an introspective moment of Aza viewing him more as a brother, to then asking him to bed! Now I understand this is a stress and naive response on Aza’s end, but it still felt so out of left field due to all that we’d learned of Aza in the time we’d known her. As if I’d missed reading some pivotal knowledge between these pages that she felt she was craving that kind of closeness with someone.
The world itself is rich, and it is very clear the heart and energy that the author, poured into it. I wanted to explore more, learn more about the ports and the shops. I still would love to revisit that little bakery Aza entered at the beginning of the book, how’s it doing? Still running? Does Bek still go there to spill the rumours? I will never fault an author for thinking of all the little things in the worlds they create, and I have a feeling Nancy S.M. Waldman is one of these authors.
Unfortunately, on the other hand, it felt at times like the heart and energy put into this world wasn’t enough. As some of the actual story felt dragging and incomplete compared to how complete and filled out the world was around the story.
All in all, this distance between story and world is the reason why I feel so conflicted on this book. The characters are so flush with emotions, the city and country so lush, but when it came together it felt long in moments but rushed in others.
Actually, the thought I kept having over and over as I was reading was that this felt more like an outline to a series of novels, rather than one novel. I am aware that there is a follow up book in the works, but that still doesn’t fix that this one didn’t feel like… A book. I almost wish it was several books, all longer in length on their own and separated by characters so I could learn more about them, spend those skipped over months with them, learn more about their own lives and thoughts specifically rather than broadly as it felt at times. I would love to have read the story of a young Gen woman, Aza, on a journey of self discovery to find out who she is after her fathers death, working for the Puraples, and possibly ending with the promise of the MATRIA being formed. Then possibly a second novel overlapping, about Bek, a character we’ve seen in Aza’s life, but now we know where she was all that time, what she was doing, how she is truly involved in the Kruiks and how she feels about her dedication to them. So on for various characters, and to move forward in time through the political shifts of the world.
But that’s just my two cents, which are probably worth a whole lot less than that anyhow. I did enjoy this in parts, but unfortunately it fell too flat as a whole for me. I’d be intrigued to see how this author grows with these characters in a second novel though!
2.5 / 5 Stars
Every Rule Undone takes us on the journey of Aza Gen, in a world where people are divided based on the magical abilities to curse, heal, or fix, called “Talents”. A worker in the current political leaders household, she has eyes and ears on all of the ins and outs, but yet still knows so little of the world beyond these curse spitting leaders.
This is a book that I have some complicated feelings on, and I’m not sure if I can truly form these thoughts into words. On one hand I truly enjoyed so much of what was happening in this story, the world and the people were intriguing, on the other hand I felt bored, there wasnt enough happening, and many of the characters grated on my nerves.
This book is a very classic case of tell and not show, which for some will be a big bonus, but for me I will always prefer showing and not telling. From time skips that left me confused on when we were, to conversations repeated that happened off “screen”, I couldn’t help but feel I was missing out on things that would have been so lovely to know about, but instead I am simply being told, “Ah, yes those four months were great. So glad I learned how to care for animals and learn to ride a horse.” instead of being shown it during its happenings. This also goes for little things, the relationships of Aza didn’t feel as if we could feel out her emotions towards others. Instead of feeling like I was experiencing falling in love with her, I was being told she was in love now, quite suddenly I might add.
I guess this leads me easily into the issues I took with the relationships, though I adored the intricacies of the relationships forming. The anger between Maleka and Aza, the soft wariness and whimsy between Bek and Aza, the tentative kinship of Riwena and Aza. Even the relationship between Aza and her split-self Zaz was so intriguing. But, for every moment of intricacy and smooth blossoming moments, it felt like I, as the reader, was missing something not being said. As if the author wasn’t writing all of the story? Hmm, I’m unsure how else to word that, but it felt as if for each of these connections there was a puzzle piece being withheld. The image came together, sure, but there was a corner piece missing that would perfectly complete the entire picture if we had it. Specifically, this was made clear to me with moments between Bek and Aza, then again between Vijo and Aza. The romances felt.. Too fast. We went from a clear admiration of Bek, maybe a little confused crushing on Aza’s end, to outright heart wrenching love after being apart for months and having seen them together on page a handful of times. This doesn’t happen as aggressively with Vijo, as we have an introspective moment of Aza viewing him more as a brother, to then asking him to bed! Now I understand this is a stress and naive response on Aza’s end, but it still felt so out of left field due to all that we’d learned of Aza in the time we’d known her. As if I’d missed reading some pivotal knowledge between these pages that she felt she was craving that kind of closeness with someone.
The world itself is rich, and it is very clear the heart and energy that the author, poured into it. I wanted to explore more, learn more about the ports and the shops. I still would love to revisit that little bakery Aza entered at the beginning of the book, how’s it doing? Still running? Does Bek still go there to spill the rumours? I will never fault an author for thinking of all the little things in the worlds they create, and I have a feeling Nancy S.M. Waldman is one of these authors.
Unfortunately, on the other hand, it felt at times like the heart and energy put into this world wasn’t enough. As some of the actual story felt dragging and incomplete compared to how complete and filled out the world was around the story.
All in all, this distance between story and world is the reason why I feel so conflicted on this book. The characters are so flush with emotions, the city and country so lush, but when it came together it felt long in moments but rushed in others.
Actually, the thought I kept having over and over as I was reading was that this felt more like an outline to a series of novels, rather than one novel. I am aware that there is a follow up book in the works, but that still doesn’t fix that this one didn’t feel like… A book. I almost wish it was several books, all longer in length on their own and separated by characters so I could learn more about them, spend those skipped over months with them, learn more about their own lives and thoughts specifically rather than broadly as it felt at times. I would love to have read the story of a young Gen woman, Aza, on a journey of self discovery to find out who she is after her fathers death, working for the Puraples, and possibly ending with the promise of the MATRIA being formed. Then possibly a second novel overlapping, about Bek, a character we’ve seen in Aza’s life, but now we know where she was all that time, what she was doing, how she is truly involved in the Kruiks and how she feels about her dedication to them. So on for various characters, and to move forward in time through the political shifts of the world.
But that’s just my two cents, which are probably worth a whole lot less than that anyhow. I did enjoy this in parts, but unfortunately it fell too flat as a whole for me. I’d be intrigued to see how this author grows with these characters in a second novel though!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 23, 2024
This coming of age story takes place in a magical but turbulent society that slowly pulls you into a world of chaos and division. In a political power struggle where attaining political power seems to be the only thing that matters, a new kind of power sets this character and story off on an unexpected and interesting turn of events.
At the end of the book I was left wondering… where is the sequel!
At the end of the book I was left wondering… where is the sequel!
October 20, 2024
I received this book as an ARC and I DNF at page 209 of 347.
There's a lot I can say and will try, but to summarize it's a book with an amazing worldbuilding, a barely existing plot and what exists is quite boring.
The setting is quite in-depth, with all the kinds of family magic (Talents) and not, with a rich design in clothing and culture. On that nothing to say, a magnificent example.
The problem is that the setting is the only thing: even the mysteries, the problems, and the main plot are the setting.
The storyline is moved mainly by coincidence or by the protagonist revealing her secret to random people who all happen to be trustworthy. In general, the friendships that aren't pre-book are based on one or two interactions that suddenly are ride-or-die friendships.
Also, this book was in the LGBT+ section so I suppose at some point there will be a queer relationship, but at 2/3 of the book there is no romance, so IDK. Or so I hope, bc the only "queer thing" is a VERY secondary character that uses they/them pronouns and I'm sure if in the context of the story that is a queer/gender thing or cultural thing so...
Also, just a vibe, but the protagonist developing her secondary magical power with her first menstruation was just eh. Especially since the powers themselves are little more than an excuse to give her some extra info when needed but also aren't used when it would make sense (like to check if she was followed when she knew it was risky)
I suppose it has something to do with the feminist theme, but eh.
To go to back the plot, there is no plot. Well, not really, but the plot starts so late and I'm still not sure where it wants to go: the underlying story is Aza has an extra set of powers and that it is weird, but also there is war among the upper class, but not really; her father doesn't talk to her, but neither does she; her best friend gets kidnapped but not really; she has a love interest, no she doesn't not; is all of this linked? Eh, yeah maybe by the fact that they're all bad at communication and somehow she hasn't left her workplace in 14 years.
And suddenly, there is a death and she runs and now she's a rebel and freedom fighter ready to start a revolution.
Will we have so answers in the third part? Probably. Do I care? Not anymore. Not when the first 150 pages were things happening randomly to the protagonist and the 100 pages after are about a different character, bc Aza has a character growth - with extra powerup and a new personality- in the meantime and we don't get to see anything of that!
To conclude, I can not do it anymore and this will go in the rare category of I didn't finish bc I didn't even care to have some answers.
There's a lot I can say and will try, but to summarize it's a book with an amazing worldbuilding, a barely existing plot and what exists is quite boring.
The setting is quite in-depth, with all the kinds of family magic (Talents) and not, with a rich design in clothing and culture. On that nothing to say, a magnificent example.
The problem is that the setting is the only thing: even the mysteries, the problems, and the main plot are the setting.
The storyline is moved mainly by coincidence or by the protagonist revealing her secret to random people who all happen to be trustworthy. In general, the friendships that aren't pre-book are based on one or two interactions that suddenly are ride-or-die friendships.
Also, this book was in the LGBT+ section so I suppose at some point there will be a queer relationship, but at 2/3 of the book there is no romance, so IDK. Or so I hope, bc the only "queer thing" is a VERY secondary character that uses they/them pronouns and I'm sure if in the context of the story that is a queer/gender thing or cultural thing so...
Also, just a vibe, but the protagonist developing her secondary magical power with her first menstruation was just eh. Especially since the powers themselves are little more than an excuse to give her some extra info when needed but also aren't used when it would make sense (like to check if she was followed when she knew it was risky)
I suppose it has something to do with the feminist theme, but eh.
To go to back the plot, there is no plot. Well, not really, but the plot starts so late and I'm still not sure where it wants to go: the underlying story is Aza has an extra set of powers and that it is weird, but also there is war among the upper class, but not really; her father doesn't talk to her, but neither does she; her best friend gets kidnapped but not really; she has a love interest, no she doesn't not; is all of this linked? Eh, yeah maybe by the fact that they're all bad at communication and somehow she hasn't left her workplace in 14 years.
And suddenly, there is a death and she runs and now she's a rebel and freedom fighter ready to start a revolution.
Will we have so answers in the third part? Probably. Do I care? Not anymore. Not when the first 150 pages were things happening randomly to the protagonist and the 100 pages after are about a different character, bc Aza has a character growth - with extra powerup and a new personality- in the meantime and we don't get to see anything of that!
To conclude, I can not do it anymore and this will go in the rare category of I didn't finish bc I didn't even care to have some answers.
March 8, 2025
📖 Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult
⭐ Rating: 4/5
📚 Overview
Every Rule Undone transports readers to Maripesa, a society bound by magic and rigid hierarchies. The protagonist, Aza Gen, works as a curse cleaner for the ruling family, but her unique ability to see the world from multiple perspectives sets her apart. As she uncovers deeper truths about her powers and the constraints of her world, she must decide whether to conform or break free. This is a story of defiance, self-discovery, and the courage to rewrite the rules.
🧐 What I Loved
✔ Immersive World-Building – The magic system in Maripesa is intricately crafted, and Waldman does an excellent job of making it feel lived-in. The hierarchy, customs, and history are richly detailed.
✔ Aza's Growth – I loved seeing Aza evolve from a dutiful servant to someone who questions authority and reclaims her power. Her journey is inspiring and deeply relatable.
✔ Thought-Provoking Themes – The book explores the tension between tradition and change, individual freedom versus societal expectations, and the cost of rebellion. These themes resonate beyond the fantasy setting.
🤔 What Could Be Better
🔹 Uneven Pacing – While the world-building is immersive, certain parts of the book slow down due to heavy exposition. Some readers may find these sections dragging the plot.
🔹 More Development for Side Characters – While Aza is well-fleshed out, some secondary characters could have been given more depth, especially those opposing her.
✨ Final Thoughts
Every Rule Undone is a compelling fantasy novel with strong themes of identity, power, and challenging the status quo. Waldman creates a rich, magical world and a protagonist worth rooting for. Though the pacing stumbles at times, the emotional payoff is worth it.
📌 Would I recommend it? Yes! If you love magic-infused societies, strong heroines, and stories about defying expectations, this one is for you.
⭐ Rating: 4/5
📚 Overview
Every Rule Undone transports readers to Maripesa, a society bound by magic and rigid hierarchies. The protagonist, Aza Gen, works as a curse cleaner for the ruling family, but her unique ability to see the world from multiple perspectives sets her apart. As she uncovers deeper truths about her powers and the constraints of her world, she must decide whether to conform or break free. This is a story of defiance, self-discovery, and the courage to rewrite the rules.
🧐 What I Loved
✔ Immersive World-Building – The magic system in Maripesa is intricately crafted, and Waldman does an excellent job of making it feel lived-in. The hierarchy, customs, and history are richly detailed.
✔ Aza's Growth – I loved seeing Aza evolve from a dutiful servant to someone who questions authority and reclaims her power. Her journey is inspiring and deeply relatable.
✔ Thought-Provoking Themes – The book explores the tension between tradition and change, individual freedom versus societal expectations, and the cost of rebellion. These themes resonate beyond the fantasy setting.
🤔 What Could Be Better
🔹 Uneven Pacing – While the world-building is immersive, certain parts of the book slow down due to heavy exposition. Some readers may find these sections dragging the plot.
🔹 More Development for Side Characters – While Aza is well-fleshed out, some secondary characters could have been given more depth, especially those opposing her.
✨ Final Thoughts
Every Rule Undone is a compelling fantasy novel with strong themes of identity, power, and challenging the status quo. Waldman creates a rich, magical world and a protagonist worth rooting for. Though the pacing stumbles at times, the emotional payoff is worth it.
📌 Would I recommend it? Yes! If you love magic-infused societies, strong heroines, and stories about defying expectations, this one is for you.
October 8, 2024
I received an ARC of Every Rule Undone and this review is my honest opinion of said book.
This story follows the lead character of Aza Gen, that last name indicating which magical clan she belongs to and thus, her loyalties and abilities. The Gen in this world act as a submissive partner to the Puraples, the leading magical clan. In contrast, their enemies, the Cruiks, have their own submissive clan, the Besin healers. The Puraples and the Cruiks spend their time tossing magical curses at each other, and their submissives scramble to clean them up. If this sounds like an endless cycle, it is, and revolution is brewing when a full-on magical curse plague breaks out.
Added to these four clans is another set of people, folks whose parents broke the law by cross-breeding between magical clans and abilities. If they manage to escape execution, these Undones have no place in society.
Aza leads the reader through this world as unrest grows and builds, becoming the sort of delicious revolution story where unexpected heroes emerge simply because of the situations they find themselves. It is a pleasure to read how Aza and her friends grow, change, and become different people across the events in the book.
I don't want to spoil anything, so I'll leave it at that. If you enjoy a character-driven story filled with difficult decisions that change their worlds forever, this needs to go on your TBR!
This story follows the lead character of Aza Gen, that last name indicating which magical clan she belongs to and thus, her loyalties and abilities. The Gen in this world act as a submissive partner to the Puraples, the leading magical clan. In contrast, their enemies, the Cruiks, have their own submissive clan, the Besin healers. The Puraples and the Cruiks spend their time tossing magical curses at each other, and their submissives scramble to clean them up. If this sounds like an endless cycle, it is, and revolution is brewing when a full-on magical curse plague breaks out.
Added to these four clans is another set of people, folks whose parents broke the law by cross-breeding between magical clans and abilities. If they manage to escape execution, these Undones have no place in society.
Aza leads the reader through this world as unrest grows and builds, becoming the sort of delicious revolution story where unexpected heroes emerge simply because of the situations they find themselves. It is a pleasure to read how Aza and her friends grow, change, and become different people across the events in the book.
I don't want to spoil anything, so I'll leave it at that. If you enjoy a character-driven story filled with difficult decisions that change their worlds forever, this needs to go on your TBR!
January 11, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️
**"Every Rule Undone" by Nancy S. M. Waldman** begins with a strong, intriguing premise, drawing readers in with its focus on the intimate struggles of its characters. The exploration of identity and power structures through a fantasy lens is engaging, and the magic system adds an exciting layer to the world. The book also excels in its world-building, creating a rich, immersive setting that’s undoubtedly the highlight of the story.
However, as the plot progresses, it takes a turn that loses some of its initial spark. When the focus shifts away from the characters’ personal journeys and towards broader, more fantastical elements, the emotional depth that initially drew me in begins to fade. The pacing becomes uneven, and the character development feels rushed or underexplored. While the magic and world-building remain intriguing, the story’s shift makes it harder to stay fully connected to the characters and their struggles.
**Rating:** ★★★ (3/5)
*Every Rule Undone* offers a compelling world and thought-provoking themes, but it loses some of its impact as it moves away from the more intimate character struggles, leaving the pacing and emotional engagement to fall flat in places.
Thank you to NetGalley and Nancy SM Waldman for eArc of this book in exchange for an honest, unbiased review!
**"Every Rule Undone" by Nancy S. M. Waldman** begins with a strong, intriguing premise, drawing readers in with its focus on the intimate struggles of its characters. The exploration of identity and power structures through a fantasy lens is engaging, and the magic system adds an exciting layer to the world. The book also excels in its world-building, creating a rich, immersive setting that’s undoubtedly the highlight of the story.
However, as the plot progresses, it takes a turn that loses some of its initial spark. When the focus shifts away from the characters’ personal journeys and towards broader, more fantastical elements, the emotional depth that initially drew me in begins to fade. The pacing becomes uneven, and the character development feels rushed or underexplored. While the magic and world-building remain intriguing, the story’s shift makes it harder to stay fully connected to the characters and their struggles.
**Rating:** ★★★ (3/5)
*Every Rule Undone* offers a compelling world and thought-provoking themes, but it loses some of its impact as it moves away from the more intimate character struggles, leaving the pacing and emotional engagement to fall flat in places.
Thank you to NetGalley and Nancy SM Waldman for eArc of this book in exchange for an honest, unbiased review!
August 1, 2025
DNF at 30%. I really loved the premise and the action it promised, and the magic system was interesting if a little basic (the class division determining the kind of magic, and all) and odd. The protagonist turned out to be a well-rounded and interesting character, but there were differences between what the author implies the characters are and who they actually appear to be on the page, which made their actions disconcerting since their motives ended up being weak. I had the same issue with the plot too: it moves forward only because of the protagonist’s poorly conceived decisions that could have just as likely not happened at all.
There’s the famous saying about writing a novel, “Show, don’t tell”, and I think this was one book where most of the information was handed to the reader very directly, and as a result, didn’t really evoke my interest in why this information was relevant. In the end, I think the lacking sense of engagement was what made me decide to stop reading; it felt like the story was getting looser and less compelling as it progressed.
Three stars for the writing, which was actually really good, but if the story had been executed better, I’d have liked it quite a bit more.
Thank you to NetGalley and Nancy SM Waldman for the eARC. My opinions are unbiased and my own.
There’s the famous saying about writing a novel, “Show, don’t tell”, and I think this was one book where most of the information was handed to the reader very directly, and as a result, didn’t really evoke my interest in why this information was relevant. In the end, I think the lacking sense of engagement was what made me decide to stop reading; it felt like the story was getting looser and less compelling as it progressed.
Three stars for the writing, which was actually really good, but if the story had been executed better, I’d have liked it quite a bit more.
Thank you to NetGalley and Nancy SM Waldman for the eARC. My opinions are unbiased and my own.
September 7, 2025
Every Rule Undone, 1st book in the The Last Magic City series.
This book had it all, magic, societal ranking, political intrigue, revolution at play.
Ada is a young character that I struggled with. She is very naive to the world around her. Although, not at all her part. This book was one that felt lead by the young character with no parent guidance. Only needing to know if she asked sort of situation. We do get some romance, we see some struggling of identity (multiple facets) of Ada in this 'coming of age' story. We see her grow in this book for someone so young and having to overcome so much.
I loved the societal ranking by class and found the magical system to be setup nicely. Took a minute to understand, there was a lot going on for me in this story. It wasn't info dumpy just felt like a more complex system. Repeating at times but I think that was more so for Ada's character connection than anything.
I loved the magic system and the community of witches (revolution vibes). The introduction of the magic system was there and we were able to dabble as readers. However, I was left wanting more of Ada's ability and didn't think we saw a lot of the training element I would have liked to see.
This book had a lot of feminine undertones with all the period talk, heirarchy, value of magic = power.
I enjoyed reading this book but felt like it missed something I cannot quite explain.
Thank you to Netgalley and By and By Press for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.
This book had it all, magic, societal ranking, political intrigue, revolution at play.
Ada is a young character that I struggled with. She is very naive to the world around her. Although, not at all her part. This book was one that felt lead by the young character with no parent guidance. Only needing to know if she asked sort of situation. We do get some romance, we see some struggling of identity (multiple facets) of Ada in this 'coming of age' story. We see her grow in this book for someone so young and having to overcome so much.
I loved the societal ranking by class and found the magical system to be setup nicely. Took a minute to understand, there was a lot going on for me in this story. It wasn't info dumpy just felt like a more complex system. Repeating at times but I think that was more so for Ada's character connection than anything.
I loved the magic system and the community of witches (revolution vibes). The introduction of the magic system was there and we were able to dabble as readers. However, I was left wanting more of Ada's ability and didn't think we saw a lot of the training element I would have liked to see.
This book had a lot of feminine undertones with all the period talk, heirarchy, value of magic = power.
I enjoyed reading this book but felt like it missed something I cannot quite explain.
Thank you to Netgalley and By and By Press for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.
November 14, 2024
Every Rule Undone by Nancy S.M. Waldman is the story of Aza who can split into two selves to view a situation from two perspectives. She lives on an island controlled by magic wielding clans, and those who clean up after the magic users. After a very isolated and insulated childhood, Aza begins to see and learn more about the world.
In general, this is a charming story with a unique magical system. I particularly liked the women’s talents compared to the ruling class’s curses. The world building did slow the pacing down, and parts dragged quite a bit, especially in the beginning. Something else that seemed off is that each new person that Aza encountered was willing to help and had her best interests at heart. Although there was tension with those that she already knew were abusing power, she seemed to just luck into all of the people that would otherwise help her.
This is a solid start to the series. It will be interesting to continue the exploration into how each of the factions confronts and deals with the new power and political alignments that are shaping up in this world. Thank you to Librarything and the author for the ARC.
In general, this is a charming story with a unique magical system. I particularly liked the women’s talents compared to the ruling class’s curses. The world building did slow the pacing down, and parts dragged quite a bit, especially in the beginning. Something else that seemed off is that each new person that Aza encountered was willing to help and had her best interests at heart. Although there was tension with those that she already knew were abusing power, she seemed to just luck into all of the people that would otherwise help her.
This is a solid start to the series. It will be interesting to continue the exploration into how each of the factions confronts and deals with the new power and political alignments that are shaping up in this world. Thank you to Librarything and the author for the ARC.
December 28, 2024
I won this book on LibraryThing.
I had a hard time getting into this book. I like that the main character is a strong female in a patriarchal community with father of note. I especially enjoyed that she had Zaz, who could split from her physical self to do some recon.
The insidiousness of the curses, their threat to rivaling factions in the community provided a level of interest, but the story moved quite slow.
I had a hard time getting into this book. I like that the main character is a strong female in a patriarchal community with father of note. I especially enjoyed that she had Zaz, who could split from her physical self to do some recon.
The insidiousness of the curses, their threat to rivaling factions in the community provided a level of interest, but the story moved quite slow.
February 19, 2025
I was so excited by the premise of the story - A curse cleaner... and in the beginning it was interesting and i went along for the ride, until i didnt. The writing/story lost its way along the pages, though i do enjoy the era and the mystery and i was quite interested to see the main characters development, especially with her magic.
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