The Book of Deacon by Joseph R. Lallo

Book of Deacon #1

"Myranda is a young woman more interested in staying alive than being a hero. Orphaned by a continent-spanning war that has gone on for decades too long and shunned for failing to support it, she has been on the move since she was only a child. One can hardly blame her when she thinks that the chance discovery of a fallen soldier's priceless cargo is the moment that will change her life. No one could predict just how great that change would be. It will lead her through an adventure of rebels and generals, of wizards and warriors, and of beasts both noble and monstrous. Each step of the way will take her closer to the truth of her potential, of the war, and of the fate of her world."

This is a pretty good book. It is vastly different from the other types of fantasy I read. But, closer to high fantasy than YA-fantasy. I liked all the characters, they were all very different from one another.

Myranda is an orphan that hates the century long war, and that is something that makes her hated by any she comes across. Being a sympathizer doesn't breed many friends when the entire country is committed to a war they no longer remember what started it. And knowing her stance on the war won't make her any friends but only enemies, brings a lonely life. Not too much descriptive information is given about Myranda other than she is thin, from not having three steady meals a day,  and has red hair. I suppose she is around 18-20 years old. 

Lain/Leo, is a Fox-man creature called a Malthorpe. His character is still mostly shrouded in mystery. He tells many stories of his childhood, being sold as a slave, being forced to fight in arenas. And being a malthrope, humans, and other races hate him. Malthropes are the creatures in every tale (in the world that this story is set in) that cause mayhem and thought to be wicked and scary. Boogy-man type characters. 

Myn is a young dragon the Myranda was with when the dragon was born. She's a cheeky little dragon, with a very protective streak towards Myranda. Quite possibly the best side character in the book. Myranda was on her way to be trained to be a healer when she took shelter in a cave that happened to be the home of a large mother dragon. Myranda has knocked unconscious and when she awoke the young dragon was sleeping across her chest.

The book has a handful of other characters that are mentioned in passing more than once. An elf General, and her Admiral, as well as a few other Generals. But mostly the book focuses on Myranda and her travels, her finding a sword that changes her fate more than she ever thought possible. Finding out that she is a magical prodigy, and what that means for her finding that sword in the first place. The northern army was sent out to track her down after she found the sword, wanting to bring her in for questioning. There is another character that I assume will become important since his name is Deacon. 

While I did really like and enjoy this book, the pacing is a lot slower than most books I am used to reading, so I took many breaks from reading it. I still recommend it, and I am definitely going to read the rest of the series. It is interesting, entertaining, and very well written.