Lord of the Isles (Lord of the Isles, 1)

I read a lot of fantasy and, often, there is a "feel" that is common among them. Typically, it's a mythological tone. For most, I get a feeling like when I read Greek myths. Drake's Lord of the Isles is different. Although it still had that mythological tone, it engendered more of a feeling that I associate with reading Arabian myths: a bit more raw. Reminded me a bit of reading Sinbad, where it's not surprising to see skeletons appear (or liches, in this case), armed with swords and shields. The different tone made it that much more enjoyable, forcing me to pay more attention and hang on a bit longer to see what happened next. Where fantasy novels are quest novels, this one turns it on its ear a bit more than most, leaving me with an emotional reaction to this day every time I pick it up and even look at the cover. Highly recommended!