Spellslinger 4: Soulbinder

I realised when reading this book that I don't actually like Kellen of The House Of Ke'. There I was thinking I had been enjoying the last 3 installments of his adventures when really I was enjoying the adventures of his "sidekicks" Reichis and Ferius Parfax - but especially Reichis. Seeing as the opening chapters of the book see Kellen being separated from both of them this made it the whole book a bit of a slog for this reader. All the elements of the previous books are here, in fact much of the plotting from previous books is here as it follows the same over-arching plot as all 3 previous books just with different people and different locations. Kellen is under attack and is saved more by luck than good judgment, he then spends most of the book finding out about some huge conspiracy and ends it in triumph but on the road again. The writing is taut and humorous and quite engaging - although it took me at least 100 pages to become engaged. The plotting is well executed with a strong tension building and the world building is excellent. Unfortunately, because I could not really sink into this book in the same way I did the others I soon realised that this was just a rehash of the earlier tales with one or two new spells and peoples thrown in. A shame really as instead of looking forward with anticipation to the fifth outing now I am far more blase about it. I RECEIVED A FREE COPY OF THIS BOOK FROM READERS FIRST IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW.