[Graham44]

I'm currently reading The Ember Blade by Chris wooding. It sounds like your typical fantasy adventure story, a privileged young man who nevertheless finds himself living under an empire that conquered his people witnesses his father being murdered by the inquisitors of the empire. He and his best friend are themselves imprisoned as slaves after trying to intervene. Vowing to right these wrongs he sets out on a quest to recover a legendary sword that is said will free his people from their oppressors.

Sounds very standard stuff, but so far I'm really enjoying it (I'm only on page 202 of 937). It is well written, the world is well described and has enough fantasy without being over the top. The characters are likeable (or not as the case may be) and there are some genuinely funny moments particularly between the two main characters Aren and Cade.

If it carries on as it's started I will definitely want to read the other book in the series - The Shadow Casket