Caped Crusader. But Magic.

The Thorn of Dentonhill by Marshall Ryan Maresca
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is a fun book in a fun series. I happened to read the second book first (or first book in the second series first, or something like that) but it doesn't matter much. They work in either order.

Veranix is an interesting main character, a bright university student learning magic who has personal reasons to disrupt the drug trade going on around him. He's not a superhero, but he's not toothless either. He's bright and athletic and magically powerful, though a bit too rash for his own good. A little thoughtless, too, but kindhearted just the same. I like his roommate, too, but my favorite secondary character is Kaiana, who hates the drug dealers as much as he does and helps him where she can. When he disappoints her by being a bit of screw-up, I feel bad about it...

It's a quick plot, mostly straightforward, but with enough complexity to make it interesting and give it depth. I'm interested in seeing how he progresses and will be grabbing the next books.

Veranix has his flaws, but he's likable, and so are his friends, and it's a pleasure to read a book where I can easily like the main characters. Lots of messy protagonists out there for those readers who prefer it. This to me is a true pleasure--a book with sympathetic characters in a fun, exciting adventure. Recommended.

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