Hand of Midas is a 2022 science fiction novella by Richmond Camero. It is the first book in the Chronicles of Kenji series. The novella was independently published by the author and released in October 2022.
A mercenary. A mission. A decision that may change his life forever. Kenji Kawasaki is a renowned Hand in a group of mercenaries called Midas Guild. After returning from a mission slaying the Diger Dragon, he discovers another task is waiting for him. A mission that may shake the stability of their country, Vesper. The life of a Hand of Midas is dictated by his contracts. With this new mission, not only is his reputation as one of the best Hands of Midas at stake, but his life may also be in danger. A choice between two evils: will Kenji be the catalyst of chaos in Vesper, or will he betray his Guild?
The plot of this novella is engaging and fun. The story overall reminded me of a handful of "spaghetti western" films from decades past. Kenji is given a mission that seems off, and debates whether or not to fulfill his contract. There are some great action scenes and the story doesn't get too bogged down by a complicated plot. The story itself is intriguing, but there weren't many surprises in how it unfolded. It wasn't difficult to know where things were headed, but the journey was still a fun ride. The big plot twist, the client Kenji is working for, wasn't poorly executed, or overly foreshadowed, but it didn't come as a surprise due to the limited cast of characters. The ending felt satisfying to an extent, and left enough room for future books in the series.
I enjoyed the characters in this novella overall. Kenji as a character didn't stand out much to me, as he didn't have a strong personality. He felt flat, in moments when he wasn't interacting with other characters. His interactions with other characters were entertaining and engaging though, especially his dynamic with Cervan, his partner for his assignment. Cervan surprisingly had the most depth as a character, as well as a fun personality. He was snarky, he had a complicated history and it was clear there was a lot more to him than met the eye. He reminded me of characters from other works, which made him more enjoyable than Kenji, but also made him feel less unique. He was a fun character, in the end. The other characters in this novella are little more than the roles they serve. Kenji's professional rival is the typical rival character, who refuses to allow anyone to be his equal. Politicians are either idealists or conniving opportunists. The eccentric billionaire is amusing, if not a shallow character. The story doesn't delve into the antagonist's reasons for what happens, so they're the bad guy because that's the role in the story.
The world of this story felt very familiar. A few sources of the author's inspiration became clear while reading, including a heavy Star Wars influence. Despite the world feeling familiar, the world-building was nearly non-existent. The reader knows the story takes place in the distant future, on another planet, but little beyond that. Politics and politicians play a major role in this story, but little is shared with the reader about the politics of the world or how the society operates. This lack of context removes some of the tension from the story, as the stakes might be high, but they quickly become unclear. The Midas Guild is given some exposition, but very little else is. The author seems to rely on the reader making a lot of assumptions when it comes to world-building, since the world already feels familiar.
Hand of Midas is an entertaining read. The plot is fun and action-packed, and the story moves quickly, but doesn't have many surprises. The characters are fun, but not particularly memorable. The world feels familiar, and is reminiscent of settings from other works. It's a fast read, and a fun story, so it's great for a reader looking to kill some time, or something that isn't too heavy.
Rating: 2.5 Stars
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