really enjoyed this one and can not wait for rest of series..

It's been a few weeks since I wrote a review. I don't really have an excuse other than that the sun has come out and it's way too much fun being outside after a long, dreary winter.

Merchant of Alyss was a wonderful read and well worth coming inside for. As much as I have had trouble picking up a book lately, once I did pause and open Merchant of Alyss, I honestly couldn't put it down. I am a huge fan of the fantasy genre. As much as it is not the main genre that I read it is definitely my favourite. The reason I don't read more fantasy is that good, wholesome fantasy is hard to find.

I read the first book in the series, Emissary, two weeks ago after reading the first chapter of Merchant of Alyss and realizing that the books need to be read in order. So I went to a local book store and picked up Emissary. This review is about the second book, but I have to throw this in here: Emissary is an amazing book! Before reading Merchant of Alyss make sure to read the first book. Not only will you understand the subsequent book much better, but the first book is incredible.

So, what did I like about Merchant of Alyss? Well, I loved the world. There are so many different tribes of humans, non-humans, and magical-type animals; best of all, these different 'species' are not your stereotypical fantasy creations. Thomas Locke has made the effort to make them unique. For example, the elves are not tall, willowy, blonde human-types like those found in Lord of the Rings. Instead, they are smaller, green folk that live in enchanted worlds accessed by the forests. I appreciate the author's efforts to make his world unique by not borrowing characters from other stories. I also liked how the worlds were layered. There is the world that the main character (Hyam) lives in, but then there are mirrored worlds where the *spoiler alert* dragons and elves are. An interesting touch to the story!

Like any good fantasy, Merchant of Alyss has magic. I loved how the mages don't have power on their own, but have to draw their power from "arteries" that flow through the earth...rivers of magical energy, if you will. Only by tapping into this strength can they do anything. This clause creates some rather interesting circumstances of Hyam and his fellow adventures.

Speaking of Hyam, he really is the main reason behind this series. I will try not to ruin the first book, but Hyam is a half-human with some pretty wild mage abilities. *Spoiler alert* During an epic battle in the first book, he destroys his ability to connect to the rivers of power and thus destroys his magical ability. Enter the second book and Hyam is reeling and trying to recover from his brutal injury. Despite no longer being a mage, the enemy is moving and he needs to keep fighting. His wife, Joelle, who is a warrior alongside him is cast under a brutal spell by the enemy and Hyam's search for answers becomes desperate. He teams up with a multi-faceted group of characters as he barrels head-long into madness. Hyam is a driven, self-controlled, general-type who sees the final goal and does whatever it takes to get him there. He is all business and isn't afraid to take risks or to sacrifice himself, if need be.

I'm trying not to ruin the story by giving away too much - needless to say there is more than enough action in these stories to keep the most impatient reader very happy. The plot is drawing but not too complicated and the characters are engaging and believable. Both Emissary and Merchant of Alyss are great teenage/adult fantasy read.

As a caution, I will mention that there is some more mature content in these books that I would caution parents of younger teenagers about. There are suggestions of intimacy between Joelle and Hyam, though nothing is stated explicitly (PG), there is a woman who lusts after Hyam even though he's married, there is mention of sheer garments on women and the use of sexual dances to lure in men, and there is a lot on magic, mages, and witches. So, I would personally not give this book to anyone under 15 or so (parental judgement required here), but for a mature audience these books are a great find.

Thank-you to Graf Martin Communications and Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group, for a free copy of Merchant of Alyss for me to review.

Once again Thomas Locke drew me in and held me hostage with the pages of a book. And just like last time with Emissary I finished Merchant Of Alyss in fairly short order. I just couldn't seem to put it down. The story was enthralling and the writing is top-notch in quality.

Reminiscent of Tolkein, in that, the story gets darker and more desperate as the quest goes on, but still told in Locke's own distinctive voice. Merchant Of Alyss is definitely what I would call epic fantasy. It isn't one of those dauntingly thick paperbacks of years gone by, but it is an all encompassing, all engrossing tale. Complete in 350+ pages and yet with the perfect, almost cliffhanger, ending to draw you onward in anxious anticipation for the next book.

If you like fantasy Merchant Of Alyss has it all. A desperate quest, dragons, magic, mysterious forces of both good and evil, and a small band of companions trying to conquer the darkness before it's too late. For years I kept my fantasy reading to pretty much J.R.R. Tolkein and C.S. Lewis but in recent years I have discovered some pretty talented current fantasy authors. Thomas Locke is one of those I consider a must-read, if I see his name on the cover I'll definitely pick it up.

A great book that will appeal to teens and adults alike, Merchant Of Alyss, Thomas Locke's latest installment in the Legends Of The Realm series, is a MUST read for fans of fantasy and quality, well-written fiction.

(I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my review. All opinions are entirely my own.)

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. In some aspects it reminded me of The Lord of the Rings. Hyam and his companions are caught up in a journey filled with mystery and intrigue. As they continue, the mystery unravels and the stakes are raised. The language is descriptive and captivating. I would recommend this book and I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series. I know I'm not supposed to judge a book by the cover, but the cover of this book is absolutely wonderful too. So colorful. I received this book from Revell in exchange for my review.

Merchant of Alyss, the sequel to Emissary, by Thomas Locke was well worth the wait. Right from the beginning those who are familiar with fantasy lit can sense that something out of the ordinary is about to happen. And boy does it!

At the end of Emissary the main character, Hyam, has been stripped of his power. Because of that one would think that the storyline would come to an end, but Locke manages a fix to the problem and Hyam once again is able to be a useful character and fight the evil that is trying to overtake the land. His is not an immediate cure. This is managed through ancient scrolls written in such a manner as only Hyam can read. The writing on the scroll allows Hyam to use magic in a different manner than before. Once he and his friends are made aware that there are many more such scrolls they set off in search of them. So begins their new adventure. Some of those who accompany Hyam are the same as in Emissary. Some are new to the group. All have their role to play and are vital to the success of their mission.

As with all good storytelling there must be a conflict of some sort. In this case, Shona, new to the group and with powers of her own, reveals to Joelle, Hyams wife, that she too loves Hyam. Joelle has already warned Hyam of this. Rather than act in jealousy, Joelle talks lovingly to the young girl and tries to make her understand that Hyam cares for her as well but not in the same way. Unfortunately, rather than Shona accepting her words and trying to move on, she tells Joelle that he could care for her one day. That statement alone clues the reader that trouble may be brewing for the future happiness of Hyam, Joelle, and Shona. It should be interesting to see how the author handles this dilemma in future offerings.

Obstacles are overcome, battles fought, allies made, and enemies defeated but not annihilated as they need to be in order for peace to return to the land. Groups of people who were once enemies and even non-humans come together for a show of solidarity in the quest to rid their land of evil. It was during the ceremony where Shona was made Queen of the realm that Bayard, Earl of Falmouth, made what I thought to be a most interesting speech. It struck me as ironic that it should bring to mind current affairs in our own country as well as abroad. Id be surprised if bringing me to this thought process is what the author intended. This is when the written word can take on various and possibly hidden meanings for those who read it completely and are able to see beyond what is said to what may be implied and what may be meant to jettison us out of our complacency.

Overall, the happenings throughout the book are told well and completely, giving the reader freedom to interpret and fashion their own visuals. The quest is not finished and another sequel will be writtensooner rather than later, I hope, as waiting to see what happens next will be like trying not to eat your favorite dessert sitting right under your nose.

I received an advance readers copy of this book from Revell in exchange for my honest review.