Legalist

The Grand Illusion #4

by L.E. Modesitt Jr.

L. E. Modesitt, Jr., bestselling author of Saga of Recluce and the Imager Portfolio, continues the Grand Illusion, a gaslamp political fantasy series (Isolate, Councilor, Contrarian) with a prequel, Legalist.

Fifty years after the establishment of the Imperium, and 450 years before the events of Isolate, Dominic Mikail Ysella―ancestor of Avraal Ysella―is the grandson of the last king of Aloor. Stripped of most of their land, Dominic, as the third son, must support himself.

Dominic becomes a legalist and is elected to the Imperial Council quietly working as an isolate, someone unreadable by government telepaths.

Amid a time of a crumbling imperial line, Dominic must build a coalition within the Council and quietly draft a new constitution to save the Imperium from itself. Uncovering rampant corruption, graft, and potential to be arrested for treason, Ysella discovers any number of ways that simple legal specialist in water rights could get himself killed.

Genres: Fantasy, Steampunk, Fiction, Science Fiction

576 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 7, 2025

About the author

L. E. (Leland Exton) Modesitt, Jr. is an author of science fiction and fantasy novels. He is best known for the fantasy series The Saga of Recluce. He graduated from Williams College in Massachusetts, lived in Washington, D.C. for 20 years, then moved to New Hampshire in 1989 where he met his wife. They relocated to Cedar City, Utah in 1993.

He has worked as a Navy pilot, lifeguard, delivery boy, unpaid radio disc jockey, real estate agent, market research analyst, director of research for a political campaign, legislative assistant for a Congressman, Director of Legislation and Congressional Relations for the United States Environmental Protection Agency, a consultant on environmental, regulatory, and communications issues, and a college lecturer and writer in residence.
In addition to his novels, Mr. Modesitt has published technical studies and articles, columns, poetry, and a number of science fiction stories. His first short story, "The Great American Economy", was published in 1973 in Analog Science Fiction and Science Fact.

-Wikipedia

Reviews

[Liviu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set roughly 450 years before Isolate, Legalist takes place in the waning years of Laureous I (later known as The Great) who founded both the Empire of Guldor some four decades earlier by conquering Aloor and Endor, as well as its new capital Machtarn. As a cornerstone of the founding of the Empire, the Establishment Act is the basis of the government, giving most powers to the Emperor and his court which contains both the army and navy leaders, the Imperial Guard which is the only armed force in the capital (outside the regular police), and the ministers - still called Administrators.

The Council of 50, without formal parties though Commercer (the nascent capitalist class), Landor (landed aristocracy who traditionally governed Guldor, Aloor and Endor) and Crafter (guilds and nascent unions) tendencies are clearly visible, and elected by the vote of propertied men, only serves at the Emperor's pleasure to write and vote on the laws but with no recourse except to rewrite them if the Emperor refuses to sign them. In practice, writing and voting laws is tedious enough that most of the time the Council - and especially its Premier (a rich, powerful and respected aristocrat), the Floor Leader (a moneyed commercer in all but name) and the 7 powerful Committee Chairmans decide what is to become law except in the areas Laureous takes great interest.

Ailing gravely though still mentally sharp, the old Emperor is respected and feared by all, though overall he is considered a just and effective ruler. Laureous hates corruption with a will - he cracks down hard on powerful Councillors or Administrators who use their positions for self-enrichment. He also hates debt so interest rates are held artificially low - this seems good for the people but in practice, this leads to both overinvestment in land which weakens the Landor class who cannot afford it, under-investment in new technologies which may put Guldor future at risk, as well as under the table corruption where less scrupulous money invest in riskier stuff for hidden or illegal favors and drive out the more honest money.

Also, the Emperor doesn't allow government debt or bonds, so the Council must match expenditures to taxes and tariffs received (balanced budget!) which of course leads to chronic shortages of investment in necessary repairs etc and Council fights for "fair" allotment of available resources.

Finally, Laureous loves big powerful (and expensive) battleships, while the current external situation asks for more numerous, faster, and cheaper frigates to fight the piracy scourge supported by the unfriendly Duce of neighboring Atacama whose Navy cannot fight Guldor on the open seas, but whose pirates can devastate the Guldoran coast if unchecked.

The major problem is that the Heir, the only surviving son- future Laureous II - despite his benevolent appearance and mild attitude is corrupt to the bone, ambitious but unwise, willing to give favor for favor and promote anyone who flatters or pays him, while also infiltrating both the Imperial Guard, the Administration with his supporters, with rumors of building a private army and paying snitches to report on opposition throughout Machtarn.

In the mix comes our hero, Dominic Ysella, third son of the heir of the last King of Aloor - his father Cliven is still a well-to-do Landor but when Aloor kneeled to Laureous, the ruling family lost most of their lands though they at least survived - so without any inheritance, he became a Legalist, then the youngest Councillor at 26 and now 7 years later, the youngest Committee Chairman and whose fairness in dividing the limited money allowed by the budget, earns respect from his peers and even grudgingly from Laureous.

But the situation is unstable and the respected Premier Detruro has this idea to amend the Establishment Act and give the Council more power - to counter the future Emperor - and he delegates the task of writing such in secret to Dominic who runs with the idea and starts preparing what he calls The Great Charter which moves decisively the power to the Council - creates ministries under the Council, army and navy same though the Emperor still appoints the Marshals, expands the Council to 66, establishes parties with minimum/maximum representation, including the Craft Party which Dominic (risking to be called a class enemy by the more conservative Landors) deems necessary to be a buffer between the ascending Commercers and the diminishing Landors etc - pretty much all the machinery we know from the Steffan and Avraal series.

Dominic also has to get buy-in from the powers to be (army and navy leaders, moneyed interests, powerful Landors, even sympathetic administrators who dislike or fear the Heir) and all in secret as this could be construed as treason by Laureous if exposed at the wrong time and by the wrong people. And of course, the little matter of how to convince the ailing Emperor to sign this seems to be insurmountable, but as Iustaan Detruro tells Dominic, better to be prepared if the right moment comes...

As time passes, it becomes clear that the Emperor can only count on the support of his young daughter Delehya who is a powerful Empath and is also coming of age at the Yearend Imperial ball - unfortunately, Delehya is not loved by her older stepbrother and Heir so she needs to marry soon and get out of the Palace. Given the circumstances, only two candidates seem to be acceptable to Laureous, the younger unmarried Dominic, of sort of royal blood, though not wealthy and an Isolate to boot - though at the time that is not a juridical category as in Steffan time, but a way powerful Empaths refer to those who can resist their influence - and the Premier, older, widowed but also rich, relatively powerful and respected.

And so it goes, with horses and carriages rather than steam cars, crossbows and swords rather than guns, but the same political action, intrigue, romance etc. Dominic has to deal with writing laws, hustling for votes in Aloor, pleasing his family, helping his friends, and then even with romance, while also dealing with enemies, assassins and Laureous and his court and while we know how the main story comes out, it still has a lot of twists and turns and the way we get there differs from how things are recounted centuries later in the times of Steffan and Avraal.

Lots of cool touches, including a glimpse at Argental through the eyes of their ambassador to Machtarn who befriends our hero, the beginning of the influential steam engine technology, the founding of the Imperial University, the growth of Machtarn towards the Metropolis of the later series time, the early stirrings for votes for propertied women at least, better treatment for Susceptibles, while we have even an echo of the recent Recluce Alyiakal tale with a story of how one the current Marshals and his wife got together as recounted to Dominic at a dinner party...

Great stuff as usual and another Grand Illusion superb novel - not unlike the original trilogy but with enough new stuff and characters. Top fantasy of the year to date and highly recommended - it actually can be a great entry point in the Grand Illusion series

[eyes.2c · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again Modesitt sweeps me into a world where the man with integrity must balance carefully all he says and does. A man of principle with no illusions.
The prelude to events in The Grand Illusion series. Loved it

[♥Milica♥]

Grand Illusion prequel? Consider me seated!!!

[Yev · Rating 5 out of 5]

Legalist is the 4th book in The Grand Illusion series and takes place ~450 years before the 1st book, Isolate. That means this can be read as a standalone. There are no overlapping characters and much is different about the Imperium of Guldor from the prior trilogy. The main problem in doing so though is that the book assumes you're already familiar with the peculiarities of the setting, so it doesn't go over them much. However, due to being a prequel set centuries ago, most of them aren't relevant yet.

Dominic Ysella, 33, is the elected councilor from Aloor and a member of the Waterways Committee. A water rights legalist by trade, he felt that he could better serve his country by being in government. ~50 years ago Imperador Laureous conquered the neighboring countries and formed the Imperium. Ysella's grandfather was Aloor's monarch, so he's familiar with bad governance and violent regime change. Laureous's advanced age has made him erratic and unreliable as a ruler and his heir is even worse. The only way to save Guldor is to limit the powers of the Imperador through reform, not revolution. Ysella is determined to work within the system as best he can, often covertly, to reduce corruption, promote good governance, and balance the interests of those involved.

Legalist is even more about a government in a secondary world than the previous books. There is far less action, romance, magic, and much of everything less. Ysella is devoted to improving the country to the exclusion of almost all else. He'd prefer to do everything without violence, though self-defense is permissible and necessary. He believes that progress is far better served through civility, respect, and mutual regard.

Ysella does this within the context that only certain men can vote, those who differ from the standard are discriminated against, and those with the most power murder their opposition. The indigent and vulnerable are exploited or disregarded, commerce has few regulations, and war looms. Reforming much of this isn't a current priority, as preventing a civil war and reining in the Imperador's power take precedence.

In terms of the narrative, this is almost a day by day account of Ysella's life, where each chapter is a single day. Despite that, I didn't feel that his routine was repetitive. However, as I wrote about the previous books, I don't know how much that of that is personal preference and bias. For me, Modesitt has reached a new height of enjoyment with what I've read from him with this book, and at 82 years old, he's better than ever. While I ought to read more historical fiction, there's just something about detailing a fantasy government and its political drama that works so well for me. This comes close to being everything I could want from the relatively more serious variation of this niche. I eagerly await the next and assumedly final book in the series.

[Craig · Rating 4 out of 5]

Listened, 11/25. Distant prequel to the first 3 in the series. Too much micro-detailed, repetitious political manuevering and far too many random minor political names to track, but the last half mostly makes up for all that. Not for anyone new to the series or to the author's proclivities, but good for those who've enjoyed the former and are willing to put up with the latter. Both of which include me, so I'll be generous with the rating.

[Marlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Looking back at the Grand Illusion series, the very first book in the series, Isolate, was, among its many other marvelous themes and threads, a story about staging a mostly non-violent political coup from the inside. Following with Councilor and Contrarian, the series continues to explore what happens AFTER the balance of power has shifted as certain people attempt to shift it back to where THEY believe it belongs. With them, of course.

Whether that’s good for the rest of the country – or not.

This fourth book in the series takes a step back from those first three books and literally kicks the story back more than 400 years, but to a similar conflict. One that creates the possibility that occurs in the series’ ‘present’ in Isolate. A situation that is, come to think of it, is predicted late in THIS book, Legalist.

The ‘grand illusion’ of the series’ title is the illusion that government can make EVERYTHING better for EVERYONE at the same time. An idea that is so illusory it might as well be a mirror image of the famous line that goes, “You can please all of the people some of the time, and some of the people all of the time, but you cannot please all of the people all of the time.” (The quote is often attributed to Abraham Lincoln, but may have originated with P.T. Barnum substituting “fool” for “please” – and doesn’t that fit all too well!)

However, just because many people either see government as utterly useless OR expect it to solve all their problems – and sometimes both contradictory thoughts at the same time – that doesn’t mean that government – or at least people in government – are completely ineffective at helping the people they claim to serve.

And it certainly – and unfortunately – doesn’t mean that they are not absolutely capable of harming the people they serve.

It sounds as if I’m talking about now, doesn’t it? And I am, but only in the sense that the grand illusion of what government can and cannot do is fairly universal.

The story in Legalist is about a crisis in government and about a change in the form of that government in the hopes of making that crisis a bit less, well, terrible. Because humans are gonna human, and that’s true on all sides of the equation.

So the story focuses on one single member of the Council of Guldor, water legalist Dominic Mikhail Ysella – not coincidentally the ancestor of one of the primary characters in Isolate. Ysella sees the current crisis coming from miles away – and so do many of his fellow councilors.

The Imperador, the man who brought the country together and held it together, is dying. His virtually unlimited power is about to pass to his remaining son, a man who enjoys wielding unlimited power and is not at all tempered in that wielding by experience, intelligence or anything even vaguely resembling a moral compass.

Under the Heir, Guldor will become the kind of tyranny that incites rebellions – until the country breaks apart in civil war. The current Imperador may have unlimited power, but he still has the sense not to rule in such a manner as to drive the entire country into revolt. His son will have all of that power but nothing to temper it and no desire to even try.

However, the country that the Imperador created does have a founding document that outlines who has what powers AND provides a method for altering that power. The trick – and it’s going to be a trick and a half – is to get the Imperador to agree to curtailing his own power.

Or to retain his own power while limiting the powers of all who will come after him, knowing that it will happen much sooner than anyone would prefer. Change is coming, whether anyone likes it or not. The question before the Imperador, the Council, and especially Councilor Ysella, is whether this is a chance to turn that change from the unquestionable terrors of tyranny to the questionable future of a constitutional monarchy.

And who will survive the turmoil that will inevitably go into making it happen.

Escape Rating A+: This series is reading catnip for me, but I also think it’s a bit of an acquired taste – just that I’ve fully acquired it.

For one thing, all of Modesitt’s series are the ultimate in competence porn. Just like the protagonist of the Imager Portfolio, Dominic Ysella is simply damn good at his job – and he’s a decent human being as well. He doesn’t rely on luck or connections, just training and education and hard work and doing the right thing instead of the easy. He sees opportunities and he seizes them, but he also knows when to temper his own impulses.

And we see this world through his eyes as he does his best and damndest to make his country a better place than he found it.

From one perspective, it’s all about meetings and documents and political machinations – and on the other hand, it’s about not just being in the room where it happens, but making the moves needed to become the person who creates the situation that opens the room FOR it to happen.

This story could have been a bit dull – but it never is. Instead, as we follow along, we get deeper into the situation that Ysella finds himself in, we see the rock hemming him into the hard place – and watch as he opens up an unexpected space between the two so he has room to maneuver – and to make a difference.

And the story IS exciting. He’s constantly under threat of assassination, whether merely a character assassination or a bloody one. He knows he has enemies on all sides, as well as friends. He’s caught in the midst of secret work that will save his country and himself – but only if he can prevent it from a too early reveal that will inevitably lead to a charge of treason.

Ysella often feels as though he’s dancing one step forward and two steps back, on a tightrope, with no net, in the dark. We watch to see if he’ll fall even as we hope he’ll succeed.

Obviously, I loved this one, as I have the entire rest of the series. Due to this entry being a prequel to the rest, it would be possible for someone to start with Legalist, decide if this is a taste they’d like to acquire, and if it turns out to be so then going back to Isolate and reading the rest.

But speaking of the rest of the series, the author has announced that he has turned in the manuscript for what he says will likely be the last book of the Grand Illusion series, which will return to the main line of the series and take place after Contrarian. The publication date has not yet been set, however, the title of that final book will be Premier, as I predicted when I finished Contrarian. So I’m a bit chuffed about that even though I’m going to have to impatiently wait at least a year to read it.

Originally published at Reading Reality

[Mary Soon Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a prequel to an existing trilogy in the same fictional world, a series titled "The Grand Illusion." All four books revolve round politics, though there are fantasy elements (empaths exist). The bodycount -- especially the bodycount directly associated with the protagonist -- is far lower than in most of Modesitt's work. But there is a veritable feast of corruption and political maneuvering, plus an important, albeit secondary, romance thread.

I enjoyed this very much, though I suspect it will have a more limited reach than Modesitt's Imager and Recluce fantasy series. I like the main character, who is heroic but not attention-seeking. I like the emphasis on the importance of the rule of law. As usual, I find Modesitt's storytelling very immersive. I know others, including a close family member, who find the dry style tedious. But I slip happily into the main character's world and have a Jolly Good Time.

Four out of five legalist stars.

About my reviews: I try to review every book I read, including those that I don't end up enjoying. The reviews are not scholarly, but just indicate my reaction as a reader, reading being my addiction. I am miserly with 5-star reviews; 4 stars means I liked a book very much; 3 stars means I liked it; 2 stars means I didn't like it (though often the 2-star books are very popular with other readers and/or are by authors whose other work I've loved).

[Tracy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this one

As one of my favourite authors, L.E. Modesitt Jr. has long excelled at marrying vision, craft and character. Legalist is a standout in his body of work: the prequel status gives it the freedom to build and anticipate, while still delivering full stakes and tension. I found myself completely absorbed in Dominic’s world — the subtle maneuvering, the constant awareness of danger, the feeling that every move matters.
What I particularly loved: the emphasis on law, institutions and change rather than brute force alone. We see how societies shift, how power corrupts and can be constrained, and how a single willing person with integrity and smarts can make a difference. There’s a satisfying sense of payoff and promise — yes, this is a prequel, but it never feels like padding or filler. It has weight, suspense and meaning.
For me, this book reaffirmed why I keep returning to Modesitt’s worlds: layered, thoughtful, and never merely escapist. Legalist sits high among his best. Five stars without hesitation.

[Jesse · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set hundreds of years before the first trilogy, this book provides a fascinating look at the founding of Guldor. It follows the strengths of the previous books, with strong characters, intricate politics, and as Modesitt likes to do provides a nice twist on what we know about the history of the world from the previous books, leaning into the theme of related history being unreliable, especially hundreds of years later. It's also nice to see the society at the dawning of the industrial age, and see how different that looks compared to what we saw in the first set of books. Unlike some fantasy novels, Modesitt does a good job of avoiding the society that is static (socially, politically, and technologically) for hundreds of years, and it's fun to see the seeds of the structure that it becomes.

[Ron · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dominic Ysella is a former waterways legalist and currently a councilor on the Imperial Council of Guldor during the reign of Laureous I. Despite being a member of the landowning class in the country, he finds himself working with others to strengthen the power of the Council and lessen the power of the Imperador without sparking a revolution. The other question is whether he can survive to see this goal accomplished and get the girl he has come to appreciate. An interesting flashback tale that sets the stage for the other volumes of The Grand Illusion saga.

Thanks Netgalley and Tor for the chance to read this tale!

[Henry Lazarus · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of my favorite authors, L. E. Modesitt Jr. has a prequel to his Grand Illusion series. Dominic Mikail Ysella is a Imperial counselor and Legalist (hard from TOR) who is caught up in the problems of his nation.Laurous Imperador, who established the nation, is dying and his heir will destroy the young nation unless legal chains, agreed to by Laurous before he dies, are set up to create a democratic monarchy. Dominic, still a bachelor, is also wooing a woman. While there is some violent chicanery to spice the book up, the tale has a dryness to it. I, like other L. E. Modesitt Jr. fans found it fascinating.

[James · Rating 3 out of 5]

Guldor, a country on the verge of an industrial revolution is an absolute monarchy. Dominic Ysella, third son of a failed royal family is elected to the Imperial Council that advises the Imperador, who's not a good ruler and is dying. His heir is even worse, can Dominic convert Guldor to a constitutional monarchy before its royal family destroys Guldor?

A decent read, similar to his other works.

This is the start of a new story line, you can read this one without reading the first three.

[Carol Landry · Rating 5 out of 5]

IT IS ALL IN THE DETAILS

I have read 99% of Modesitt’s novels, and one of the many things I enjoy is his attention to daily details that make his MC a real person. This book lays out the political foundation for the previous 3 Grand Illusion books, but can be read with no reference to them. It can also be read as a stand alone, however the series is richer.

[James Reed · Rating 5 out of 5]

another great book

Again Modesitt jr has supplied another book in the ‘Grand Illusion’ series this one going back in history. Well written and keeping the reader wanting more it was well balanced with intrigue and excitement with more personnel feelings than usual but in keeping with his novels

[Adena Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This author, as always, created a tale of hard choices and practical idealism which kept me reading and re-reading. He clearly puts a lot of time into researching societal and political structures and uses this research to make an already intriguing story absorbing. Lots to consider and think about in this tale - that's why I expect that I will be re-reading this often.

[Cathy Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

New and captivating storyline

Once again and as expected, Mr Modesitt has jumped timelines to create a fascinating story of the beginning of the imperium. I look forward to the next book.

[R. E. Day · Rating 5 out of 5]

Greater than ever

Each novel builds on the previous one and steadily increased in excellence. I'm not sure if he can keep up the brilliance!

[Glenn Martyn Otto · Rating 5 out of 5]

And on:

This book was so well drafted that I wished it would never end . No other author could have achieved this.

[William Herbert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read

L.e. Modesitt's style and imagination are among the most engaging books I made ever read I reread his stories often

[Edward G. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent, as always

Classic L E. Modesitt! Jr.! Even manages a Gilbert and Sullivan allusion. A thoroughly enjoyable read that you will regret finishing.

[Tom · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent Prequel

This is a recounting of how the Great Charter came to be.

The differences from the first three books bring out the history involved.

Enjoy. I did.

[Tony Fecteau · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great book in the series! Of course, this a prelude to prior books in the story. Dominic was a super hard worker and always tried to be prepared.

[Eugene Tellier · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fine entry in an excellent series.

[Bill Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

this author even makes politics sound good

[Sylvia McIvers · Rating 1 out of 5]

read a lot of this author's books, but could not finish this one.

[Mike · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this story very much. I found it hard to put down.

[Alain · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice.
Dominic is a more relatable character than Dekkard.
Here's hoping for a sequel.

[Deborah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this series. This book is set near the beginning of the Imperium.