The Feather and the Lamp: An Imperceptibility Happenstance Adventure by L.N. HunterMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
Disclaimer upfront: I received a review copy from the author, who mentioned it on the Books for Review thread of a writers' forum we both belong to. I hadn't previously interacted with the author and I received only the free copy in exchange for my review.
Recognizably in the vein of the late lamented Terry Pratchett, The Feather and the Lamp takes place in a world that feels a little darker than the Diskworld, with aspirants to the Adventurers' Guild being condemned to death if the (metaphorical) dragon who is the Gatekeeper deems them to be timewasters. (We are later told that the sentence is often commuted by the Guild's Council, though that still leaves the question of how a guild which isn't a government has the right to condemn people to death in the first place; but judging by how the Gatekeeper speaks to a prince, they're a powerful enough group that they can do whatever they like with impunity.) Into this guild comes Imperceptibility Happenstance, which is the kind of silly name that usually raises red flags with me in funny fantasy; too often, the "funny" in "funny fantasy" consists solely of silly names and tropes. Fortunately, that's not the case here, and we get a story that works in its own terms as well as being frequently amusing.
Her surname is, however, a bit of a clue, in retrospect. Though she does act with generosity, intelligence and determination throughout, Miss Happenstance (or Itty, as she likes to be known) is also very lucky, and frequently relies on the kindness of strangers to help get her out of the situations that her lamp djinn has put her into. The djinn has the power to make her forget that he exists, and is also allowed, under the rules, to get her killed, which, if he achieves it before she makes all three of her wishes, will free him from the lamp. The thing is, he doesn't seem to be trying all that hard, or else her luck is more powerful than he is; at one point, he even helps her to phrase her second wish more effectively rather than attempting to sabotage her again. The playing field is definitely tilted in Itty's favour, is what I'm saying, though she doesn't just get handed all of her solutions; she does often have to work for them, and has a bad time sometimes along the way, though it doesn't drag her cheerful spirit down much.
What makes up for her luckiness in my eyes is that she's also kind and generous, always looking for the best outcome for everyone, not just herself. Even when she encounters a ruthless businessman who is her exact opposite in this regard, she persists in looking for a way in which everyone, even him, can get something they want. She doesn't hold grudges or hang onto regrets, either. She's an enjoyable character to follow around, more likeable than, say, Rincewind, and the world we follow her through is populated with other fun characters who often have that Pratchettian slightly distorted echo of our own world that at the same time manages to be a more than usually clever pun.
I'd happily follow this eccentric young woman through more books, so I'm glad the author has some planned. This one comfortably sits on the Silver tier of my Best of the Year list, solid work with plenty to recommend it.
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