The Misenchanted Sword

The first book from perhaps my favorite fantasy series. The Ethshar books aren't particularly epic or heroic. Magic is another resource, available to those with coin, and society has some differences because of it. When I first read this, I imagined D&D much more like this world than Middle Earth or Narnia.

There are many books set in this world, but each stands alone nicely. This book is more episodic than epic, and the story of a common warrior and a sword enchanted in haste spans over a hundred years. The main character sometimes reacts with his gut, and other times thinks through his plans, much like any of us. In the end, he is both a common and a good man.

Already a successful writer of fantasy and science fiction, Lawrence Watt-Evans wanted to write "something lighter in tone", and I would say he succeeded. According to the author, this has been his most successful book to date (as of 2017). The series contains fourteen published novels and eleven stories, now collected into one volume. I've only ever read the first six, and plan to reread (and review) all of them. 4½ stars.