The last book I’ve read in 2018 is a re-read of the very first self-published book I’ve read, back in 2016. This was a mixed-feelings return, for reasons I’ll mention later.

The story starts with the MC taking up the nickname Edryd ending up on a strange, almost forsaken island, on the run from a political struggle with personal ties to him – and which he wants to put behind him.

The beginning was a tough read back in 2016 as Edryd shares a half-true tale about the way he ended up on An Innis. The island is not a good place either – locked down by thieves attacking every single boat leaving the place, the harbor ran by former slavers and the island having even darker leaders.

Edryd then happens to get into the hands of Aed Seoras, a man running a small keep where he trains men only for them to eventually become ‘something darker’. He also meets two of his servants – Gilic Tolvanes (who claims to be the original owner of the fort that, by his words, was taken from him by force) and Irial, a mysterious healer shrouded in rumors.

Seoras wields a strange power and senses some potential in Edryd to the point he tries to awaken said power within him. The attempt ends up with Edryd being severely wounded.

As he struggles to recover with the help of Irial and her adopted sister/daughter Eithne, he tries to learn more about Seoras and the power he wields – and how much truth is in the belief he has an affinity for it. Meanwhile, the conflict he tried to run away from catches up with him as Logaeir plans to take the island by force while Edryd’s old contacts bring news of rising turmoil.

Getting the answers will have its price and change Edryd (and some others) more than he’d expect.

• Read dates: 24.8.-17.9.2016, 22.-28.12.2018
• Publication date: 27.4.2015
• Goodreads (my highlights) / Amazon rating: 3,78 / 4,0
• My rating: 80%
• Length: 408 pages (kindle edition)

There’s a shorter novella at the end of the book that explains a bit of backstory – something I wished I knew before the first read in 2016. The book is interesting but took me a bit to get into back when I read it the first time – something that was not the case during this re-read because I remembered some bits that helped me understand it – hence 80%.

And now, about the mixed feelings: this book probably helped to shape my love for self-published fantasy. Yet, it might be a story without an end – the author had died before book two was finished. The story works as a standalone to a degree but that does not change the fact it had a potential for a great trilogy.