Rebels of Halklyen is a dark adventure fantasy (though suited, I would say, for younger readers) about a boy named Flint who is wrongfully sentenced to death and then caught up in a political conspiracy.
The book tends more toward military fantasy than is my personal preference. I’d like to get to know the characters a little better, and also learn more about the magic in this world, which didn’t feel as central as I prefer. However, it does what it does extremely well.
The authors are wonderful storytellers, with a clear voice and a particular talent for action sequences . The book is very well-paced and well-plotted. The scenes of action are filled with a page-turning energy, and also coalesce into a sweeping narrative. Also, Mortakallu, the villain, is a terrific antagonist in the “dark lord” mode. Powerful, scary, and totally evil.
I look forward to learning more about the characters and the world in the sequels!
Anya Josephs 