“… in Heir of Night – everything about this book felt fresh and new to me. I loved it utterly and recommend it highly to friends who ask me for books to read for younger readers, not because I think it reads young, but because Malian is such an engaging character and I identify with her, and I know younger, newer readers would identify with her more than with say, David Eddings’ characters and books. Some books just don’t age well, even fantasy novels.

In the Heir of Night books, there’s no pretend, no artifice and it doesn’t feel to me, as a reader, that I’m struggling to keep up but there is especially no skimping on world-building and complex layered political and religious shenanigans. And it’s presented to me in a new and fresh way – a cast of characters whom I both like and dislike and trust and distrust.

I like too that Malian speaks like a real person. The dialogue is fresh – this is what should keep any book fresh, be it fantasy or science fiction or whatever.”

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Liz’s comment appeared on “What Makes for ‘The New’ in Epic Fantasy?” and as I replied then, in respect of her remarks on HEIR:  “Wow — thank you, Liz.”