Pathfinder Tales: "The Redemption Engine" [RPG]

 

NO SPOILERS

I don't even know how to begin heaping The Redemption Engine with all of the effusive praise it deserves.  I've read a lot of the Pathfinder Tales novels, and this one is among the very best.  James Sutter knows his way around Golarion, and he's picked one of its most flavourful components (the city of Kaer Maga) as the starting point for this awesome adventure.  Sutter's writing just pops with

excitement, humor, and intelligence, and he's created an original plot to drive the story.  Even the way he describes things familiar to gamers, like channelling energy, has so much verve to it (while still being faithful to the RPG) that one can't help but admire the talent that went into the novel.  I'd definitely recommend this one to Pathfinder fans, but also to fantasy readers in general (there's even a helpful glossary to explain setting terms).  

SPOILERS

Salim Ghadafar, atheist priest of Pharasma (it makes sense!) is back for another adventure, having previously appeared in Sutter's excellent novel, Death's Heretic.  Forced to serve the goddess of death due to choices made in his past, Salim is called in to investigate a great story hook:  the souls of 53 murder victims have not turned up in the Boneyard (the afterlife) like they were supposed to.  So where are they?  Or, perhaps more to the point, who has them?  Salim's investigation covers the memorable streets of Kaer Maga, the City of Silence below, the heights of Heaven above, and even a detour to Hell.  It's all handled extremely well, and I particularly appreciate how a place that may seem dull like Heaven becomes a fascinating place for story-telling.  Angels may not be what you expect!  And the ending is genuinely exciting.   This is one of those books to read, and then pick up again a few months later to re-read.  It's really that good.