Darren Shan wrote the famous Cirque de Freak series. While those books have been around for a long time, The Thin Executioner is my first foray into Shan's work. It was an adventure.
Plot
The book centers around a boy named Jebel, who is disgraced when his father does not offer him a chance to compete for the most coveted position on the planet: Executioner. Determined to win back his honor - and the girl he wants to marry - he sets off on a quest with his slave, Tel Hesani, to reach a mountain that is said to obtain a god who can give you invincibility - if you succeed in surviving the quest. From Jebel's point of view, this is a sure way to impress his potential employer, but there's a catch. He must sacrifice Tel Hesani to gain this power.
Pros and Cons
What ensues is a book filled with many adventures. Shan's dialogue is quick and oftentimes witty. Tel Hesani is a character you begin to feel sympathetic with. Jebel, on the other hand, is a little tiring. It's sometimes very hard to root for a protagonist who's okay with sacrificing his slave's life to obtain honor and glory.
Bottom Line:
It's a very entertaining book. Once it starts, it never stops. Jebel's adventures begin from Chapter One and stretch to the very last page. The prose flows well, the quest storyline is appealing and you'll enjoy a satisfying - albeit a bit predictable - ending.
The Thin Executioner
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