I've never been a great fan of fantasy novels (with the exception of The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings), finding that the necessary world-building can get in the way of a good story.
However, I felt I was taken straight into the action in Shadowblack, the second in the Spellslinger series aimed at Young Adults, and I didn't have the benefit of having read the first book. I grew to like the main characters as the good hearts concealed by the bantering tone were revealed. Kellen, the teenage outcast trying to find his place in the world, is faced with several life-changing choices, and it is never obvious where these will take the story.
I was also interested by the tensions between nations and within the societies described, as well as the various attitudes towards those who were trying to change things.
Ultimately though, it is Kellen's story, and I found the conclusion surprisingly moving.
However, I felt I was taken straight into the action in Shadowblack, the second in the Spellslinger series aimed at Young Adults, and I didn't have the benefit of having read the first book. I grew to like the main characters as the good hearts concealed by the bantering tone were revealed. Kellen, the teenage outcast trying to find his place in the world, is faced with several life-changing choices, and it is never obvious where these will take the story.
I was also interested by the tensions between nations and within the societies described, as well as the various attitudes towards those who were trying to change things.
Ultimately though, it is Kellen's story, and I found the conclusion surprisingly moving.