Review brought to you by OBS staff member Annabell Cadiz

Synopsis:

In the eighth-century Baghdad, a stranger pleads with the vizier to safeguard the bejeweled tablet he carries, but he is murdered before he can explain. Charged with solving the puzzle, the scholar Dabir soon realizes that the tablet my unlock secrets hidden within the lost city of Ubar, the Atlantis of the sands. When the tablet is stolen from his care, Dabir and Captain Asim are sent after it, and into a life-and-death chase through the ancient Middle East.

Stopping the thieves-a cunning Greek spy and a fire wizard of the Magi-requires a desperate journey into the desert, but first Dabir and Asim must find the lost ruins of Ubar and contend with a mythic, sorcerous being that has traded wisdom for the souls of men since the dawn if time. But against all these hazards there is one more that may be too great even for Dabir to overcome.

Review:
The Desert of Souls was a magical ride full of well rounded characters and a wondrous captivating story.

Asim was one of my favorite characters. As the narrator of the story, he was engaging and a wonderful story teller. He is patient and agile, a great warrior and a loyal friend. All the characters were written with wonderful detail and vividly brought to life. Even though they are composed in a different world than what most will know, they are relatable and enjoyable to read. You feel like they are old friends taking you along on one of their adventures.

The setting is written with lush intensity and elegance. From the beginning of the book, you feel swept up into the story and into the crazy journey Asim and Dabir venture on. The story does start off a little slow but picks up gradually.

The action is just as intense as the setting and written just as wonderfully. Sword fights, magical artifacts, evil wizards and sorcery create a world of pure fantasy that hasn’t been seen in a long time. Romance is also mixed into the story but never manages to take away from the thrilling adventure Asim and Dabir are on and the battles they face. It was a sweet touch through all the chaos.

Author Howard Andrew Jones deserves two thumbs up for spinning such a great tale so many will love!

For all you fantasy lovers out there, you will find a gem in The Desert of Souls and for all of you who haven’t quite decided how to step into the world of fantasy, this book is perfect way to begin =)