To Ride Hell's Chasm

I did not expect that a single standalone fantasy novel could lodge itself into my list of favourite fantasy series. I enjoyed just about everything in this book.

First, the world is beautifully and richly painted. As it goes along, you can see the loving care that's been taken to create a living breathing world with its own richly described and detailed system of magic and demonic powers, even hinting at things greater than just that world. In just one book, it brought to life at least four cultures that could've had books by themselves.

Next are the characters, with incredibly deep characterisation given of Mykkael, a ex-mercenary with a very scarred past. The plot begins with him being tasked to track down a missing princess, of which slowly unveils itself as a conspiracy in the first half of the book. As more and more is revealed, things take on a desperate urgency in the second half of the book, as Mykkael strives to hold to his sworn oath and escape through Hell's Chasm, an inhospitable route through mountainous terrain inhabited by dangerous creatures. The flight itself was nothing short of phenomenal it surprised me at every turn, especially at the end of it - that escape-by-kerrie? Brilliant!! (a kerrie is like a more reptilian, fire-breathing, griffon).

Every character that interacts with Mykkael along the way are unique characters, and many of them are very memorable for both their flaws and their highlights. Mykkael's past is a rich and sad tapestry of experiences that is slowly shown to the reader as the book goes along, drawing you in. Mykkael is a very strong character, and I mean that in a literary sense; he is one of the most memorable characters that I've read, and all in one book!

Oh, and did I mention that some the great characters are actually horses? The author certainly seems like she knows a lot about horses. It's to the point that you're actually rooting for the horses , I especially found the scene where the horses were being manoeuvred to escape a hunting kerrie to be very heart-pounding.

The finale was touching and very fitting, tying up all the loose ends, both figuratively and literally. Having that seer around at the end was a nice touch, helping to provide a satisfying closure.

This is definitely one of the better books I've read in a while and I heartily recommend this to any serious reader, probably not to young readers though. I honestly enjoy the flowery prose and narrative in the book - they're beautiful, but not to the point of overdoing it.

I can't really find anything much to nitpick about the book. Maybe it could lengthened certain key pivotal scenes instead of summarising it in the aftermath? But that might probably just turn this into a trilogy and that may have had a different effect. Definitely don't want that.