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Although some parts were a bit difficult to follow, Daugher of the Sun was a solid story with a very non-cliche ending that I very much enjoyed.

I got to know Lonnie via the Dragons Landing Inn podcast, which I listened to faithfully from episode 1 up until about episode 40, when I began losing interest in Dungeons and Dragons and couldn't squeeze DLI in amongst the slew of other podcasts I listen to regularly. This is his first work of fiction, and taken as such, is really quite good, although it fares poorly when stacked up against the works of George R.R. Martin and Terry Brooks.

Daughter of the Sun tells the tale of a woman named Elena. Elena's mother had use of magic, which is outlawed, and which indirectly led to her death. Everyone in the small town knows this, and Elena lives as an outcast, eking out a meager living as a chandler, supporting her drunkard husband who used to be a war hero.

Things pick up when the Overlord's son comes into town and takes her daughter. If she is to save her daughter, Elena must learn to use the power she has grown up hating.

The basic storyline is very solid, but as a fledgling author, Lonnie's execution isn't always perfect. At times, I found myself wanting more from the story's major revelations, such as when a character dies and the event is glossed over in a sentence or two, and we don't get to see the shocked reactions from those who would most certainly care.

I thought the setting's magic system was unique and well thought out. Magic is invoked through "The Breath", which not coincidentally requires the user to breathe deeply, and draw from life in the surrounding environment, or from other nearby life forms. Of course, this can often be destructive. It can be as simple as killing grass, or as cruel as draining the life from a person. This was reminiscent of the defilers in Dungeons and Dragons' 2nd Edition Dark Sun setting, but Lonnie made it his own, and it never felt like he'd borrowed the idea.

The overall book somehow reminded me of Wizard's First Rule, although I can't put my finger on why.

This book is available on Lulu.com - I'd say it's definately worth a read. Check it out.