Erec Rex: The Search for Truth

Kaza Kingsley has done it again!! In Erec Rex: The Search For Truth, she has written another wonderful chapter in the ongoing saga of Erec Rex, the kid born to be king. These books are full of humor, excitement, magic, danger, more magic, more danger, more humor, and more action.

In the first two books, Erec finds out that he has a chance to be king of Alypium, a magical underground kingdom but, to do so, he has to complete twelve quests. And he's not the only one trying for it--Damon, Balor, and Dollick Stain, three of the worst bullies out there, are also trying. They're backed up by Thanatos Baskania, the Shadow Prince. This book has Erec going on the third and fourth quests but Thanatos, who has become incredibly powerful by now and incredibly dangerous, seems to pop up every time Erec goes on a quest. In fact, he even captures Bethany, Erec's best friend, to find out the secret of the Final Magic, which can destroy the world. As if that's not enough, Erec is determined to find out who his birth parents are but what he finds...

Oh, and did I mention that Erec sometimes turns into a dragon? There's a lot that happens to our guy in this book and it just gets harder and harder for him.

As I said, this is a terrific read and I heartily recommend it. I do have a little criticism, however. There were some places in which I didn't feel the emotions I needed to feel as strongly as I should have. Does that make sense? For example, in one place, Erec has to grab a manticore. That sound pretty dreadful, right? Well, I didn't feel the suspense and horror as much as I thought I would have. Maybe there needed to be a sentence of description showing us what it was like to grab hold of that monster. Now I know too much description bogs down a good story, but just a sentence or two would have heightened the effect. That's how I see it, at least. Maybe you'd disagree with me. Hit that comment button below and tell us!

Let me say one more thing, though. What sets a really good fantasy story apart from a merely good story is the "sense of wonder"; in other words, you see and experience amazing things that you couldn't find anywhere else. You get that in the Narnia books, the Lord of the Rings, the Barnstormers/Sluggers series, and the Percy Jackson books. You also get it here. Just wait until you see what happens when Erec gets all five of the Awen together. It's incredible. Or sometimes you get a sense of "dreadful wonder" in which something so horribly bad happens that...well, you'll just have to read for yourselves! (like cahpater 16. Yeesh! Yuck!) And whenever Thanatos appears. Wow! If he doesn't creep you out, I don't know what will. Anyway, Kaza Kingsley is one of those few writers that creates a real sense of wonder. And she tells an exciting sotry. You'll keep turning page after page to find out what's going to happen. EREC REX: THE SEARCH FOR TRUTH. Go get it, guys

Carl