The Pariah starts off quite well, the writing is good and Alwyn as a character has a good narration for conveying the story but the rest of the characters are quite flat, there's far too much plot contrivance with Alwyn running into important characters from his past too often and too conveniently for the plot, and there's just nothing particularly unique about the world to make it stand out. It's  a pretty standard medieval feudal system setup with some off-brand Vikings thrown in for good measure and a dash of religious schism. 

The story starts over a lot too which becomes pretty tiring by the third time the set up has been ditched once more and Alwyn is discovering a new setting and mentor to follow. Something that contributes heavily to the rather meandering pace of the book as it tends to hit a lull each time Alwyn begins anew. 

Most of the story is fine, if unremarkable, but Alwyn being so utterly good at everything while constantly talking about how fortuitous he's being to get away with whatever the plot requires becomes tiresome. Ah the incredibly observant thief and master linguist with a knack for discerning lies and emotions who can translate ancient texts for a heathen people who couldn't manage it themselves, skilled enough to become a worthy swordsman in the space of mere weeks and who also just happens to solve a mystery that has confounded scholars for hundreds of years... Yawn. 

By the time he's randomly captured for a chapter towards the end of the book for no other reason than to tie up a plot point with a character from earlier in the book before finding exactly what he was after and going on with his day I was ready to be done with this book.