Reading Challenge - #8. Green Rider [A1]

Well, I think January is off to a good start! I have already finished another book in my reading challenge and it is only the 14th. Pretty proud of myself right now. Not to mention this book is a lot longer than all the other ones I have read so far.

Green Rider by Kristen Britain (1998) is an easier reading book, but is packed full of fun and adventure in the uniquely created fantasy world of Sacoridia. There are the staples of Kings, Queens, and magic - but of a different kind. There are also Green Riders, many other magically inclined beings and fantasy creatures of the author's own creation. The most interesting variant from typical fantasy, is that Britain's world has Eletians instead of elves. They're similar in ways, but also very different. Very intriguing.

The story follows Karigan G'ladheon as she finds herself accepting the mission of a dying rider on horseback to deliver an all important message to the king. This puts her smack dab in the middle of a conflict in her country that she had no idea was going on. Her mission takes her through danger, capture, combat and discovering that magic isn't so much a thing of the past as she was led to believe.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Parts of the first half had me a little on edge because I felt like Karigan wasn't making any progress, but I flew through the second half just so I could find out the ending. There is good character development and I found the world-building was effectively woven into the story. And Karigan isn't the typical protagonist. She consistently has doubts and regrets right up to the end of the book. She doesn't just accept that what happens to her is her fate. I really liked that about the book.

There is obviously more to the story after Green Rider and it is carried through into more books; Six in total so far. I eventually plan on reading all of them, but they will likely not be part of my reading challenge. In order, they are titled: Green Rider, First Rider's Call, The High King's Tomb, Blackveil, Mirror Sight, and Firebrand. The author's website says that there is no set number of books in the series and she will "leave it up to the story to determine the number".

I highly recommend Green Rider, and the whole series. I know a six book, and possibly more, series is a large commitment, but Britain's writing is entertaining, not overly complicated and enjoyable to read. The story has an overall good arch and lots of room to develop. Dig in fantasy readers.

Up next is the Book Club January pick (watch for the post about it at the beginning of February sometime), and so my reading challenge will pick up after that with The Light Between Oceans.