The Hero’s Lot was like a club, beating my imagination with its bold storytelling, gripping plot, and scheming characters.

And I reveled in every minute of it.

*Spoiler Alert*

If you haven’t read the first book, A Cast of Stones, do it now or risk learning things that might spoil that story.

The book summary (from the back cover):

When Sarin Valon, the corrupt and dangerous church leader flees the city of Erinon and the kingdom, Errol Stone believes his troubles have at last ended. But he and his friends still have dangerous enemies working against them in secrets and whispers.

In a bid to keep them from the axe, Archbenefice Canon sends Martin and Luis to Errol’s home village, Callowford, to discover what makes him so important to the kingdom, and in that journey they discover amazing new secrets about the workings of Aurae.

Back in Erinon, Errol is unjustly accused of consorting with spirits. Convicted, his punishment is a journey to the enemy kingdom of Merakh, where he must find Sarin Valon and kill him. To enforce their sentence, the church leaders place Errol under a compulsion—he must complete his task, or die trying.

Plot

This type of story is a reader’s best friend. From a break-neck pace to eye-opening twists that slam you when you least expect it, the plot of The Hero’s Lot buzzed with excitement, intrigue, and suspense. Danger waited around every corner for Errol and his friends.

From the start of the book, the story grabbed me by the throat and refused to let go. Helpless, I went along, pulled through a maze of political machinations, treachery, and discovery.

Some of the revelations left me staring at the page in amazement. Others dropped promises of future conflict that will shake Illustra and the other kingdoms to their core. Just when I thought I had things figured out, a new twist would leap out at me. A few had kingdom-rocking ramifications.

One of the strongest aspects of the plot was Errol’s compulsion to kill Valon. It drew a clear line that showed the stakes and didn’t leave any wiggle room for doubt. Forcing him into this situation added delicious amounts of anxiety and tension as I saw him pulled toward his fate in spite of the dangers that lay in his path.

The climax had one of the most shocking plot twists of the book. Afterward, the story didn’t leave me time to catch my breath as it plunged to the end of the book and prepared for book three, which I can’t wait to read.

Setting

I love when fantasy settings expand and reveal once-hidden aspects of their world as a series progresses, and The Hero’s Lot did that in many ways.

• Through the journeys of the characters, I traveled to kingdoms beyond Illustra and experienced their unique culture, geography, customs, and history.
• The so-called magic system of casting lots turned in a jaw-dropping direction with consequences to make a statue gasp.
• The faith and religious elements in Illustra took on deeper meaning and significance.

Despite the lack of a map—which I’m still disappointed about—I began to get a clearer picture of this world. It has distinct parallels to Western Europe.

• Illustra’s provinces of Basquon and Talia reminded me of France.
• The Forbidden Strait, separating Illustra from Merakh, could easily be the Strait of Gibraltar.
• Merakh bore resemblances to middle-eastern countries, specifically Egypt.

This is a well-drawn setting with all the right pieces for a fantastic fantasy story.

Characters

It seemed everyone had secrets and agendas. Some were more damaging than others, some more subtle but with deep impact, and together they wove a net of complex plans, plots, and subterfuge that kept me guessing at every turn.

The main characters had motives and goals that often clashed like the ring of swords, creating mountains of conflict and intrigue. Several groups vied for supremacy, from the church to the Weir family to Valon and his minions. When their plans crossed, the result was akin to a bunch of fireworks exploding in a confined room.

The fact that Martin had his own POV brought him more fully alive, and while I was worried his plotline would be a detraction, it turned into a wonderfully entangled and interesting journey.

Some of the characters weren’t as fleshed out as they could have been, but overall there was enough to distinguish them that I didn’t find myself annoyed by stereotypes.

Conclusion

I enjoyed this book for many reasons, but one of my favorite things was the writing. The author did a masterful job of weaving together a compelling story using sparkling prose that did the setting, story, and characters proud.

More so than in A Cast of Stones, the religious themes pulsed in the pages like a drumbeat, but in a natural way that didn’t come across as preachy.

If you haven’t read The Hero’s Lot and you like fantasy, what are you waiting for? I recently read the first two Harry Potter books, and to me, The Hero’s Lot is better than both of them. Yep, it’s that good.

So do yourself a favor and get this book by hook or by crook.

The Hero’s Lot earns a spot on Shelf Excellent.

Author website: Patrick W. Carr