Excellent writing and great story. Needless to say I was on Amazon.com to buy the second book even before I finished reading this one. I've been searching for books by authors I haven't read before and when I saw this one I was a bit sceptical but I've definitely not been disappointed. The story is unique and well written and the characters pull you into the story and you feel a part of their lives and their world. The book tells of a land where the people fear to venture outside at night because that is when demons rise from what they call the Core to stalk, kill and devour anyone not safely behind a strong ward. Only messengers venture out away from population centres carrying messages and goods between towns and cities but even they retire behind wards at night to wait out the demons. One boy named Arlen, after needlessly losing his mother, decides not to hide anymore and decides to take the fight to the demons and becomes The Painted Man.
Gripping stuff and I can't wait to start on the second book - The Desert Spear.
5 stars *****
