The Awakened Mage

Book 2 of this duology, like the first, is a great read - but for different reasons. The second book picks up where the first ended in a cliffhanger. As I read it, I saw the effects of the first book. The first book provided really good characterisation, pulling you into the world and its fully-fleshed out characters, drawing you in. When things start to go wrong in this book, you just get pulled in deeper.

The story itself is nothing spectacularly creative or unique, in fact, some would call it typical fantasy fare - reluctant hero, oh-i'm-so-powerful-and-evil nemesis, doomsday prophecy, etc. But what I believe is brilliant is the way it's told. The pacing starts slow, like the first book, then like a storm, it picks up speed and charges towards the finale.

The ending actually sets itself up to be an expanded canvas of storytelling - and sure enough, another duology is out. I'm definitely going to read them.