Review: Delightful and entertaining fantasy.....
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 01 8, 2012
When I began this book, it was a bit confusing because I was reading a little bit at night before I'd go to sleep and I kept forgetting what was going on.  Once I got into the story I was captivated and had trouble putting it down!  (Aren't most books like this?)  The setting was beautifully described and I could really see the characters as I was reading.  Writing a story like this with such imaginative characters is a true work of art and the author has done a magnificent job creating the people & creatures and the land they occupy.  The story was exciting and kept getting better the more I got into it.  Now I'm hooked and can't wait for the next two books!  I even had to read the two prequels, one about Chalice and the other about Jeremiah.  I am really looking forward to see what adventures await them!The ONLY problem I had with the story was the occasional mention of something more contemporary.  Here I was, lost in a wondrous story..... in a mysterious land....in who knows what time period... and the author mentions that someone is riding a Quarter Horse and someone else is riding a Thoroughbred.  It might have been better just to describe the horse and leave it at that.  As a horse person, I know that Quarter Horses are relatively new on the planet and started out in the USA, so the mention of one in the story affected me as if I was watching a movie about cavemen and I saw someone with an iPhone.  It's like a slap in the face with a reality check... ha ha.  I'm sure that most readers wouldn't have a problem with this, but I noticed it - and it pulled me out of the story I was deeply immersed in.  Of course I jumped back in and continued reading.Great story!  Keep up the great work Melissa!  I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys fantasy and likes a great story!