β Scribed by Rachel Aaron
No coin nor oath required. For personal study only.
After a slow start, debut author Aaron pulls the action together and turns in a romp of a lighthearted fantasy starring an absolutely darling rogue. Eli Monpress is a talented thief with a knack for persuasion and more than his fair share of looks and charisma, and his skill with magic makes him truly formidable. While trying to earn the title of the man with the biggest bounty on his head, Eli kidnaps the king of Mellinor, planning to let him go once the bounty goes up. Then the king's exiled brother pulls a fast one and takes over the kingdom, and Eli must make things right. Aaron's breezy style at times tends toward the farcical and absurd, which may not be what she intended but will keep humor-loving readers looking out for subsequent volumes in the planned trilogy.
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Starred Review Aaronβs outstanding fantasy debut is the first in a trilogy about unrepentant thief Eli Monpress, whose goal in life is to amass $1 million in gold. Hoping to accomplish his mission in a hurry, Eli decides to raise the stakes and kidnap a king. He doesnβt realize, however, that snatching the king of Mellinor (an entirely unmagical and rather boring kingdom) will set off a chain of events that will put him in peril from multiple sources, including the powerful Miranda, who is determined to catch Eli. But thatβs no easy trick, as Eli is also a powerful magic-user himself; his swordsman-partner Josef carries the legendary Heart of War sword; and their female associate is a demonseed whose powers are terrifying. Fast and fun, Spirit Thief introduces a fascinating new world and a complex magical system based on cooperation with the spirits who reside in all living objects. Aaronβs characters are fully fleshed and possess complex personalities, motivations, and backstories that are only gradually revealed. Fans of Scott Lynchβs Lies of Locke Lamora (2006) will be thrilled with Eli Monpress. Highly recommended for all fantasy readers. --Jessica Moyer
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### From Publishers Weekly After a slow start, debut author Aaron pulls the action together and turns in a romp of a lighthearted fantasy starring an absolutely darling rogue. Eli Monpress is a talented thief with a knack for persuasion and more than his fair share of looks and charisma, and hi
### From Booklist The third Eli Monpress book delves still deeper into Eliβs and Nicoβs backgrounds, integrates unresolved plot elements from the previous entries (The Spirit Thief and The Spirit Rebellion, both 2010), and provides larger roles for previously minor characters, including Alric and t
### From Booklist The second entry in the Legend of Eli Monpress series starts up a few weeks after the events recounted in The Spirit Thief (2010) as Miranda arrives home from Mellinor only to be arrested on the doorstep of the Spirit Court. Meanwhile Eli, Josef, and Nico are wandering in the wood
### Product Description Eli Monpress is brilliant. He's incorrigible. And he's a thief. He's also still at large, which drives Miranda Lyonette crazy. While she's been kicked out of the Spirit Court, Eli's had plenty of time to plan his next adventure. But now the tables have turned, becau
### Product Description Eli Monpress is brilliant. He's incorrigible. And he's a thief. He's also still at large, which drives Miranda Lyonette crazy. While she's been kicked out of the Spirit Court, Eli's had plenty of time to plan his next adventure. But now the tables have turned, becau
### Product Description Eli Monpress is brilliant. He's incorrigible. And he's a thief. He's also still at large, which drives Miranda Lyonette crazy. While she's been kicked out of the Spirit Court, Eli's had plenty of time to plan his next adventure. But now the tables have turned, becau