The Whitefire Crossing

Recommendation via someone on Twitter I don't really know personally. Had it for a few years now, but only just got around to reading it. Pretty good read!

Two neighboring countries have differing policies on magic: Ninaveh, where mages operate more or less freely, and Alathia, where magic is regulated and most major magic is forbidden. Dev is a smuggler, who's just taken on a job to smuggle a person into Alathia rather than normal contraband, but doesn't get the full story from the person contracting him.

Story is basically good, although the author's own predilection for rock climbing is shoehorned in for no particular reason. (I also climb. I sympathize. But it doesn't add much to the story.) Lots of turns, and the author manages the complexity well. Occasionally it seems like the rules of the world are made and tweaked according to the author's need, but overall the systems are handled well.

Abrupt ending, but I was happy enough with this that I'll probably continue on with book 2.