The Spirit Eater
Rachel Aaron
Orbit, Dec 1 2010, $7.99
ISBN 9780316069083
Professional thief Eli Monpress the charm wizard decides he and his two partners, Josef Liechten the swordsman with a magic sword and Nico the demonseed who stalks the shadows earned some R&R after their successful venture in the impenetrable Duke of Gaol citadel (see The Spirit Rebellion). His plan is to spend money and have fun, but not be auspicious.
However, a friend Pele Slorn begs Eli to find her missing father Ferdinand the Head Shaper and Guildmaster of the Shaper Clans. Although he could use a respite, Eli agrees to search for him and his two companions accede to delay their relaxation to assist him.
Meanwhile Nico struggles to control the demon that lives within her. She fears the voice is taking over her head so she tries to suppress it. However, their quest to find Pele’s dad needs Nico’s demonic generated power so either she releases the dynamo for the sake of her friends or deny the existence of the Spirit Eater she fears is destroying her identity.
The latest Monpress Spirit fantasy (The Spirit Thief) is a super tale as the three thieves search for a missing shaper wondering how to find someone who can change shapes and may not want to be found especially with the Lord of Storms, the League and demons involved. The story line is action-packed from the moment Pele pleads with Eli and never slows down until the final Monpress-caused altercation. However, even with Eli at his outrageously charming thieving best, what makes this a super tale is the internal conflict within Nico as the demon inside her battles for control with her essence in a sort of fantasy version of dissociative identity disorder.
Harriet Klausner
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