The Legend of Eli Monpress

After several lackluster fantasy books I am so glad to find this one. It has really reminded me why I love the genre so much.

The synopsis is a little misleading, at least for the first eighty or so pages. Instead of following Eli & co. we spend a lot of time with Miranda, the Spiritualist trying to catch them. However, it isn't long before the plot to kidnap a king gets turned on its head and nothing turns out the way it was supposed to.

The characters were all different and if they do, on occasion, turn back to fantasy cliches... Well, there is a reason they are cliches in the first place.

The story isn't dark, though you will find signs that not everything is quite as bright as it first appears - but really, all this story is trying to be is a fun romp through a moderately inventive world.

I'm the sort of person that says that, and likable characters (which these people are) is almost enough to make a wonderful book.

The only other thing a book needs is to be well written, and this one is. It's not confusing and the action is actually rather well written.

I recommend this book to people that like the lighter side of fantasy fiction - and are willing to let the story grow and build as you go.