I found this book entrancing - could not put it down. As I was reading it I tried to figure out what makes for a good fantasy book (other's that I've loved include Cherryh's Gate of Ivrel, Nix's Sabriel, Stevermer's College of Magics, Wendling's Wood Wife). You've got character development, but not the real deep stuff you encounter in good fiction. I think it was the atmosphere that was created. Magic gems, small kingdoms, homespun garments. The scale stayed at the personal level, with individual characters' actions (no sweeping battles). Though it contains elements typical of fantasy - you could Not predict how it would develop, where it would take you next. It contained the right amount of suspense. The ending wasn't great, but good enough.It is the story of Daryn Gosney, a minstrel, swordwielder, and young duke coming home after his father's death. He hasn't been back since his mother died. Now the king wants Daryn to take up his family's tradition serving as the right-hand to the king.
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