I ordered this trade paperback after reading about the series on its TV Tropes page. It's the first book of what seems to be a very elaborate series set in a fantasy world that requires an entire third of this volume to contain supplemental material - glossary, detailed maps, calendar, customs... In fact, that part of the book could almost serve as a guide for a fantasy role-playing game, it's that complete {wry grin}.

The story itself opens with beleaguered orphan Rossamund (who gets a lot of grief due to his name) learning how to make his way in this world, which includes some rather dangerous journeys where he meets a variety of characters, some friendly and some very much otherwise.

I admit that this book just didn't grab me, though; not quite sure why, as it seems well-written and is definitely well-planned. I'll write it off to "just wasn't in the mood", and if some future reader writes a glowing review it may inspire me to give it another try someday!

I'm adding this book to KateKintail's YA bookbox, which will be on its way to its next stop soon. Hope someone enjoys it!

*** Released for the 2014 E-less Challenge, for books with no "E" in the title. ***

Took from the YA bookbox.

Rossamund had a hard enough time growing up an orphan with a "girly" name and being passed over for apprenticeships because of his middling grades and slight build, but when he finally gets a job, it sets him out on an adventure he never anticipated. From the crew of a smuggling ship to a warrior who uses her ability to electrocute enemies to hunt monsters, he meets people and creatures that even his guidebook has no information on.

I found this a fairly middle-of-the-road YA fantasy. There was very little that was unique and the plot was very thin. On the other hand, we have some trope characters that are engaging despite the fact we've seen many variations of them before and the characters played off each other well.

The thing that really bothered me while reading was that many of Cornish's "fantasy" terms are actual words with no connection to the English meaning. The one that repeatedly confused me was a character referred to a "leer", which a job title/description of a certain type of person. Over a quarter of this book is glossary/maps/other trivia, which seemed excessive for a simplistic story in a very generic fantasy realm.

Sent out as a replacement for a book lost in the mail during the Blind Date with a Book Game.

Tracking number: 9114 9011 8986 6568 3310 38

A simple luck of the draw,

not always good
in name or fate in general.