The epic adventure, begun by author Thomas Locke with The Emissary, continues. But for Hyam . . . this time, it’s personal.

He’s been having trouble sleeping, his dreams troubled by a great dragon who is desperate to communicate with him. Or is it a dream? Before he can discover the meaning, he and his companions are forced once again into daring and doing the impossible. Along the way, they will each face their personal demons as they grow together from a group of individuals to a mighty army.

The Merchant Of Alyss follows the same formula that garnered praise for Thomas Locke in the first installment of The Legends Of The Realm. The reader will be swept away on a literary journey fraught with peril, filled with challenges, and tinged by sorrow. New friends will be made, new enemies will be met, and new obstacles will be overcome. And yet through it all, there are the never-ending, ever-enduring themes of loyalty, courage, honor . . . and love.

To reveal more in this review would be to spoil the adventure. If you’ve never read The Emissary, that might be a good place to start. While The Merchant Of Alyss can be read as a stand-alone book, there are enough allusions to the first book to make this somewhat tedious.

Five Stars for author Thomas Locke and The Legends Of The Realm epic adventure!

Such a great addition to the fantasy genre this book is an outstanding read!

First, I must say this is one of the best series I have ever read. And, I read a lot, 1 - 2 books a day. The story of Hyam and Joelle continues and this makes me happy! To say I've been waiting for the 2nd book in this series is an understatement. Emissary was excellent, one of my favorite books of all time; the Merchant of Alyss does not disappoint. Thomas Locke makes you feel as though you are in the story. This is a fantasy book but it’s so good you get caught up in the plot and it seems quite possible these things could have truly happened. You can see the people, the towers, lakes, waterfalls - you can envision it in your mind. His writing is so descriptive and full of feeling - you are transported. The characters are fully developed and completely relatable, they are very well written. I love, love, love this book! I want the next installment of this series ASAP! Go - Read This. NOW. You will be so glad you did.
If you haven't read Emissary, I recommend starting with that (another fantastic book and the beginning of the series) and then go to this book.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell in exchange for my honest review but this book is so good I would certainly buy it.