Keeper Martin's Tale
In Ruin Mist: Keeper Martin's Tale, you enter a world rich in history and excitement. These story tells the tale of Vilmos (a youngster with a dark beginning), Adrina (a sad princess) and Seth (a warrior elf). The story's sharp wit and clever mixing of history to make Ruin Mist seem utterly real reminded me a great deal of Tolkien's Hobbit. It is ultimately a simple story in the complex framework of a rich world with wonderful characters.

Like Tolkien, Robert has developed an entire history for his world that makes it a magical place to visit. Of all the books I've read in recent years, this is the one that really got to my heart, mind and soul. On the surface, this is the story of a world in turmoil but underneath it's a voyage of discovery where we meet fascinating people and journey to fascinating places.

When you read Keeper Martin's Tale, you're going to fall in love with the people first:

Adrina is so sad and her pain of loss so clear that your heart goes out to her from the beginning. She is so caught up in her loss that she often loses sight of the world around her.

Vilmos is a precocious boy who can't seem to do things right which gets him into trouble and the biggest thing that haunts his life are the black priests who may take him away for using magic.

Emel a young guardsman. He rides a black stallion called Ebony Lightning. His heart certainly belongs to Adrina and this gets him into trouble as often as not.

Xith the mysterious shaman of the North and visitor in dreams and darkness. He'll come for the boy, Vilmos, and what happens afterward will blow you away.

Seth a warrior elf and queen's protector. He's never journeyed beyond the walls of the queen's sanctuary and now she wishes him out into the world to do her bidding and bring word to the realms of men.

Galan another elf. She's second in command to Seth. She's carefree yet cautious and she's strong.

Other key inhabitants of Robert's world include: Keeper Martin, Father Jacob, King Andrew, Prince Valam, and Lady Isador. With a cast of main characters this big, the story is sweeping and moving yet never falls short of providing the details that give you insight into character's thoughts and actions. They all seem and act like real people and by the end of the story, they seem like old friends as well.

Beyond the wonderful characters, Keeper Martin's Tale has a wonderful setting. The world of Ruin Mist is truly a remarkable place. It rival's Tolkien's Middle Earth and is certainly much more enchanting that Rowling's Hogwarts. And you get to see different parts of the world through the eyes of different characters and one character's thoughts about other peoples/places isn't the same as another's. As in life, characters with different backgrounds see things differently and there are prejudices that they must overcome as well. The realms of Elves and Men are separated and after the Great Wars are mortal enemies. Peoples of the southern kingdoms mistrust the peoples of Great Kingdom and for Vilmos in particular this is a hard thing to overcome.
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Related books:

The Hobbit by JRR Tolkien
Fellowship of the Ring by JRR Tolkien
The Two Towers by JRR Tolkien
The Return of the King by JRR Tolkien

A Game of Thrones by GRR Martin
A Clash of Kings by GRR Martin
A Storm of Swords by GRR Martin

Harry Potter & the Sorcerer's Stone by JK Rowling
Harry Potter & the Chamber of Secrets  by JK Rowling
Harry Potter & the Prisoner of Azkaban  by JK Rowling
Harry Potter & the Goblet of Fire by JK Rowling
Harry Potter & the Order of the Phoenix