Unscarred

Unscarred, by R.M. Hamilton (2006)

Hamilton makes his debut with this tale from a distant land named Eir. While this is his first book, the Chicago-area author’s biography includes some ten years of work in printing and graphic arts.

The fantasy begins with the gruesome toppling of King Jonathan’s empire by Marauder’s vicious henchmen, a battle that determines the entire fate of the land. Marauder’s order, The Eternal Flame, is a ruthless band that inflicts terror on all of their subjects. Shortly after the opening salvo, the reader meets Kyle, a farm boy whose relationship with the feared dictator becomes the central conflict in the story.

When Kyle meets tragedy he learns of his own mysterious lineage. The young farmhand is pulled into Marauder’s orbit following the death of his parents and he is forced to help the dictator find an ancient amulet that only Kyle can retrieve.

The reader meets Melinda, a barmaid, and her brother Adam, who together are proprietors of a successful tavern. They, along with Ellis, a nomad with a questionable past, figure in Kyle’s story as the protagonist finds his way.

The book suffers somewhat from lean editing, but this flaw rarely takes away from the enjoyment of a fast-paced novel. In sum, Hamilton’s debut is a swift-moving, action-packed tale that leaves the reader ready for more. The author is already working on his next novel, which will be the sequel to Unscarred. The graphic fight scenes make this book unsuitable for children; recommended for all other age groups.