Originally posted as part of Queen’s Book Asylum’s SPFBO X reviews.

Runelight is a solid fantasy novel, with a well-told story centering around the character of Kate. The entire novel is told from her perspective and she makes for a generally relatable and engaging protagonist.

While the first few chapters detail a child Kate’s discovery of the mysterious aenigma box, and the loss of her younger brother, Evan; the plot skips forward approximately twenty years. In that intervening time Kate has joined the group of magic users called The Keepers and her older brother Bo has become what seems like the fantasy equivalent of Indiana Jones, part-historian, part-treasure hunter. Both of them remain hopeful they might discover some way of finding out what happened to Evan. Kate’s life of quiet research is interrupted by the arrival of Venn, a stand-offish Elf-woman, bearing the news that Bo has disappeared.

The developing friendship between Kate and Venn is one of my favourite parts of the book. Originally mistrustful and belligerent towards each other, they gradually come to an understanding and eventually a solid camaraderie. This is facilitated by one of Kate’s discoveries, a potion that allows them to share memories back and forth. This particular plot device is used multiple times, and between multiple people, throughout the remainder of the novel.

I found there were three small drawbacks with this novel. The first is that it is occasionally difficult to feel any sense of jeopardy for Kate, since the sections the main story is broken into are interspersed with a future Kate’s reminiscences. Obviously this only means she will survive, not any of the other characters that join her in her search.

The second issue is that, aside from those first chapters set during Kate’s childhood, the first third or so does take its time. Things eventually pick up with the introduction of some supplemental characters and the last quarter, where things come together, does move at a pretty decent clip but some patience will be required to make it there.

Finally, while it is obvious that a great deal of thought has gone into building this world, there were several elements I found myself wishing that had been explored more. This might not be the same for someone who has greater familiarity with the author’s work, since Runelight is the first volume of the third series set in this same world. Unfortunately, while I was aware of those other books, I haven’t read any as yet, and it often felt like a knowledge of those prior works was being taken for granted. Having said that, it didn’t prevent me from following everything that was happening. Or from picking up the next installment.

4 out of 5 solus potions.