I've struck gold! Bwahahahahah! I've read a few books before this one, all of them I enjoyed but didnt really rock my world: Blood Ties by Pamela Freeman, (I already ordered the sequel to it), Powers by Ursula Le guinn (very touching, the last book of the series, I think),  The Eternal Rose by Gail Dayton (since it's the 3rd book and I forgot the story since it's been more than 2 years, I had to re-read the previous two). I am also in the middle of reading Kay Kenyon's the Bright of the Sky, which is really good but I cant really get into the story that much so I kept on reading everything else, even re-reading the entire 6 books of the Sun Sword series so I can't seem to finish it. Then I got this book. And with this, I would have to say it again,Ii've struck gold.

The characters are well developed, and very likeable. I realized that for me to end up liking a story, I need to like it's characters. The world building and the plot might unravel in the seams or might get shot to hell, but as long as I wanted to know what happens next, as long as I care enough to know how a character will end up, I wont stop til I finish the book. The story of the Warded Man (or the Painted Man everywhere else except here in the US, dont ask me why), is a common one. I think there's only one formula you can follow in the fantasy realm. A young boy coming into power, becoming the hero he must be in order to save the world. And finding his little coterie of helpers.  Though the story is cliche, the delivery is not. Both the characters and the story take a grip on you from the very beginning, and wont let you go.  I want Arlen, Leesha and Rojer to succeed really bad. I can't wait for the next book. Hopefully, he's one of the rare authors who can write really fast. Haha.