Book Review: Deflection by Gabriel Palmer

Book Blurb

What is the Nameless Wanderer, and why does it cross the sky each night?

High above the idyllic, orbiting island of Raezoorn, the starry sky is static—except for one star, the Nameless Wanderer, which has swept across the heavens every night for countless generations. The elders of the race of the Nari accept the Nameless as unknowable, but the enigmatic Aialii—the winged race which shares the world of Aerimus with them—know more than they are letting on.

When Nirav, a mute but skilled swordsman of the Nari, embarks on a journey to prove his strength, he agrees to what seems a fairly innocuous request: deliver an odd family heirloom, known as The Key, to the city that happens to be his destination anyway. But when the Key turns out to be more trouble than the job was worth, Nirav’s skills are tested to their limit, and his curiosity about Aerimus’s secrets may well be satisfied—though perhaps not in the way he was hoping…

Deflection is the first book in the Aerimus Series, a trilogy crafted in the style of classic adventure science fiction and fantasy.

Overall Analysis of Deflection

Deflection by Gabriel Palmer is the striking debut to his Aerimus series. This novel seamlessly blends elements of sci-fi and fantasy into a high-stakes, coming-of-age adventure. Set on the planet of Aerimus, the story follows Nirav, a highly adept yet taciturn warrior of the feline Nari species, and his new and spirited companion Mikela as they navigate a dangerous world brimming with thieving gangs and pirates.

Nirav, who struck me as a Tabaxi-fied Link from Zelda, is an exceptional protagonist. I admire how effectively Palmer subverts our assumption that he will be a conventional, overpowered, and predictable hero. Moreso, while writing a mute protagonist would drive me mad, Palmer clears this hurdle effortlessly. Conveying everything through physical gestures and Mikela’s fumbling attempts at translation must’ve proven quite the daunting challenge. Without even an internal monologue to rely on, readers are left deciphering Nirav's thoughts right alongside Mikela, sometimes sharing in her frustration.

And yet, Nirav does not have a monopoly over uniqueness. Beyond the Nari, Aerimus is co-inhabited by a winged race known as the Aialii. They are initially portrayed as paragons of virtue, but the narrative does not shy from stripping them of their collective moral superiority, revealing characters who range from conflicted neutrals to unadulterated villains.

I am torn between the characters and the world-building being the novel’s greatest strength. The moving islands of Aerimus are introduced gradually through the characters’ experiences rather than long-winded exposition, and the clockwork machinations, fantastical creatures, and other elements I will leave unspoiled combine to fuse the novel into a blend of steampunk, fantasy, and sci-fi. All the while, the early-introduced enigma, The Nameless Wanderer, creates an impression of a world that extends far beyond Aerimus.

Fair warning, though: This book is dense. It packs a tremendous amount of story into two meaty arcs. This sometimes results in rapid pacing and scenes being painted with a single stroke. For instance, the events of the "Conjunction" unfolded surprisingly fast, despite feeling like a major milestone in the story. Fortunately, this hurried pacing does not weaken the climax, which I found to be the strongest writing in the entire novel.

Final Thoughts

Despite being the first in the Aerimus series, Deflection reads well as a standalone novel. There is a satisfying conclusion for those worrying they would have to wait years for a resolution. While the story contains some violence, it’s never excessive, making it an easy recommendation for anyone seeking a lighthearted fantasy adventure. It sort of plays out like a video game plot, where side quests sidetrack the adventurers, but it all ties together despite how disconnected it may appear on the surface. The writing is along the lines of windowpane prose, which, despite its density, makes it a quick and easily understandable read. This is a promising debut for Gabriel Palmer, and I look forward to seeing what the next installment brings.