The Merchant of Alyss by Thomas Locke is a fantasy novel about Hyam, a retired warrior who receives mysterious scrolls…and soon must save his wife and community from danger. I like the fantasy world that Locke has created, with its city of Emporis, yellow sea, and magical spells. The book is full of mystical elements, and the protagonist encounters many mythical beings, such as dragons, elves, beasts, and golems. Locke nicely portrays the epic journey of the courageous Hyam, and I liked seeing Hyam’s good-heartedness and watching his quest to save Joelle. Some of my favorite parts of the book were when Hyam and his cohorts traveled to different places as they figured out their next course of action; the book focuses on their epic journey. Locke incorporates a nice blend of fantasy, suspense, and action.

You can read more about The Merchant of Alyss here.