Merchant of Alyss continues the story begun in Emissary, following Hyam, his wife Joelle, and their friends as they embark on another journey against a hidden foe.

Book summary:

Life for Hyam is bittersweet. Admired by the citizens of Falmouth for his heroic rescue mission, he cherishes these peaceful days with Joelle by his side. Yet grief over the loss of his magical skills during the great Battle of Emporis threatens to engulf him. Sometimes he even wishes he had never known magic at all.

When Hyam comes into possession of an ancient Milantian scroll, he is thrilled to feel the surge of power that courses through him whenever he touches it. But what he discerns in the text could mean war. He embarks upon another journey to determine its true meaning and forestall any attack. But as Hyam is seeking answers, he is unaware that the merchant of Alyss is seeking him . . .

Plot

One of the best ways to judge the merits of a book is how much demand you to read it—even when you have a hundred other activities vying for attention. I experienced this a few times with Merchant of Alyss, but not nearly often enough.

Though it moved a quick pace, the story failed to grip me on a deep level. It lacked enough mysterious elements and tense moments to keep me glued to the page.

The plot hailed from the warehouse of Standard Fantasy Fare. A handful of inventive elements prevented it from wallowing in the dreaded mud of clichés, yet it could have been more complex and compelling. Key parts fell flat, offering gentle pokes when I wanted the ramifications to provide a forceful punch.

With a few exceptions, the action didn’t pop in ways that kept me speeding through the pages to find out what happened next. The climax could have been stronger as well, though it left ample room for the next book and gave some hints of what’s to come.

Setting

To me as a reader, the world in which a story takes place, especially in fantasy, needs to stand out in remarkable ways. Merchant of Alyss delivered a few such elements. It straddled the line between clichés and brilliant creativity. Parts of the setting were shot through with imagination—veins of gold in a gray wall of rock.

I enjoyed the range of locations. A couple echoed with redundancy, but most of them revealed previously unexplored parts of the world. Such a sense of discovery is something I cherish in books.

At times, the prose spun vivid images of the setting so that for a few moments I left the confines of home and was transported to the location.

A range of creatures made appearances, some borrowed from the Encyclopedia of Traditional Fantasy Beasts, others altogether new. They made minor contributions to the story but didn’t leave a lasting impression.

One part I found lacking the magic system. The ability to draw power from the orbs and some new developments since Emissary on how to wield magic added touches of diversity, but overall the magic system didn’t ring out with imagination. It wasn’t explained in as much detail as I prefer, and it didn’t address the consequences and limitations while using it.

Characters

The diversity of races is something I appreciated, with the main group of characters representing a wide range of backgrounds, professions, and goals. Comprised of such a mixed group, the characters had a lot to offer in the way of diversity. This made for a measure of interest but could have gone much further.

I had a difficult time connecting to them—except for Shona, whose story I sympathized with.

Another small detail I wished played a larger role was a sense of humor. I love few things more than witty banter and clever comebacks. A few such exchanges would have livened up the scenes and made the characters come alive to a greater degree.

Hyam once again is the main character, but a couple new people add their story to the overarching tale, most notably Shona. For the most part, the interactions among the characters were one-dimensional. An infusion of subtle mysteries and hidden agendas would have added some much-needed facets. However, Shona’s love for Hyam added a dash of intrigue, as did the background of Selim the merchant.

Conclusion

Merchant of Alyss was a decent book. It certainly didn’t make my cringe as other books have. Yet it only brushed the surface of what a fabulous fantasy could and should be. Fantasy books have almost unlimited potential, and Merchant of Alyss didn’t cash in on the possibilities as thoroughly and potently as I would have liked.

Merchant of Alyss earns a spot on Shelf Average.

Buy Merchant of Alyss

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Author website: Thomas Locke

*I received a free advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.