Merchant Of Alyss

 “Legends have come to life around us!” The sage pointed north and east, to the ridge that separated them from the desolation. “A crimson mage appeared and destroyed the peace of ten centuries. A hero rose from the ranks of humans and joined the crimson mage in battle. The sky was blasted with flame and magic, such that we ourselves witnessed the event, fourteen days’ hard march from Emporis!” Caleb’s beard trembled with indignation and certainty. “I, Caleb, the Elder, tell you that a dragon has arrived! If it is a threat, the hero of Emporis will bring it down! And I, keeper of the Highland Lore, will bear witness to all the generations yet to come!”

Book: Merchant of Alyss (Legends of the Realm) by Thomas Locke, Revell Publishers, 2016

Genre: Speculative Fiction

Target Audience: Boys 18+

Subjects: Marriage, Attraction to opposite gender, Power, Direction In life

Summary: Every night the dragon appears in Hyam’s dreams. It appears to be attempting to communicate with him, but he doesn’t understand it. Some say it’s a clear threat, others a sign. Some doubt that a dragon could exist at all. A dragon isn’t all that is found though. Old scrolls, written in a language only Hyam can interpret, they contain spells for magic. Before long it becomes clear that a quest is needed. Hyam, Joelle and some of the others set out for a very distant land, a land few ever visit. Hyam relishes the feel of experiencing magic again as he touches the scrolls and is eager for the journey. A great danger, one very unexpected awaits them though. 

Notes: As with the first book, there aren’t any clear spiritual elements. Rather there are “morally good” elements. Some of those that are seen in this book are: battle for self-control, sacrifice, love, individual’s choice of being good or evil and finding power in something greater than yourself. One character feels strongly attracted to a man who is married to someone else and is told that there is a chance he could belong to her – no one knows or can predict the future. She is told to weigh carefully the consequences of choices she makes and taught to understand that with the position or authority she is being given, comes much responsibility. A character hurting over a loved one who is ill has to put aside his own hurt to focus on his mission to help save everyone else.

Spiritual Content Recommendation Scale: 1/5

Reviewer: J:-)mi

Proverbs 21:2 – All a man's ways seem right to him, but the LORD weighs the heart.