Across the Face of the World, by Russell Kirkpatrick

In my quest to find new, worthwhile authors, I picked up the first books in a half-dozen fantasy series, including Across the Face of the World, by Russell Kirkpatrick. For the impatient, let me jump to the conclusion straight away: it takes a while to build - perhaps longer than many will have the patience for - but once it gets rolling, it swells into a real juggernaut

Among the strengths of this book:

- The terrain is richly detailed from page one. The author does a terrific job in describing the world in which he tells his story. From mountain to sea to forest, from ice, snow, and rain to wind, heat and calm, the world around the tale is alive and breathing, as much a character in the tale as any of the humans.

- The lore is varied, the peoples distinct, and the tale completely free of profanity and "adult" content. It is definitely a book that you can safely give to any family member without worry of offense (unlike GRRM's Song of Ice and Fire series...).

- In fact, there are very strong Christian parallels to the main lore and questline. Any church-goer will notice the subtle and not-so-subtle Biblical inspirations. And yet, it doesn't become preachy or distract from the reading at all.

- The quest group is truly a unique band of misfits. And while some of their encounters are a little contrived at times, for the most part, what they accomplish is fitting and believable, within the context of what you feel these people are capable of.

The biggest drawback is having to generate enough momentum to prevent giving up on the book. I would read a bit, set it down, and go days without picking it up again. Until I reached almost halfway through, after which time I read the rest practically without stopping. Many of the scenes are now etched into my mind, in a great way, especially the shooting of the rapids. Wonderful.

If you are looking for a good book that will reward your diligence and investment of time, I feel safe in recommending this book to you. I will definitely pick up book 2 and see how the Company fares in the next stages of their quest.

Summary: Builds Slowly to a Great Tale 3.5/5