Monument

Monument - wow - what a book. I have to say that I think this is definitely one of the better fantasy books I've read in quite a long time.

The main character isn't noble, he isn't exactly predictible, and he isn't exacly likeable, but by the end of the book, he seems to be all those not-exactlies in a very understandable and well-written way.

And, when I say well-written, I mean it was a captivating quest and a beautifully portrayed journey (definitely an outer journey, maybe some of an inner journey too in a wierd way). And still, who is redeemed at the end? I'm not sure - what is done out of true heroism and what is done out of a sense of self-preservation in one warped way or another? But that's what makes this SO darned good. There are easy answers to grasp if you're satisfied with them, but the characters are actually much more complex.

Ok. That last paragraph sounds really englishly of me I know, but that's what makes it so good. It isn't an easy book. Oh, it's an easy read...but that's not the same thing. Wow...that was good.

Another one that's powerful like that is The Alchemist by Donna Boyd.