
The Thorn of Dentonhill
Reviews

"Thief!" a heavy voice shouted from the door. That's rich, one of them calling me thief, Veranix Calbert thought. He had only arrived seconds before. He hadn't had a chance to steal anything yet. This is how Marshall Ryan Maresca introduces us to the world of Maradaine with his debut novel The Thorn of Dentonhill, transporting us to a vibrant and diverse city where powerful mages, university students, assassins and street gangs all call home. Our protagonist is Veranix Calbert, a magic student by day and vigilante by night. When the sun goes down, Veranix ventures out into the streets, disrupting the local drug trade in the hopes of bringing down the notorious crime boss Fenmere, the man who killed Veranix’s father and destroyed his mother’s mind. Folks are saying it is a bit like Harry Potter meets Daredevil or Batman, and while there is some truth to this, Maresca brings his own fresh twist to the classic vigilante story. Supporting Veranix is a cast of characters: his cousin, Colin (a street captain of the Rose Street Princes); Kaiana, a half-Napa half-Druth staff member; and his friend and roommate Delmin. There's also his Professor Alimen, Veranix's tutor in magic...who is a bit of Dumbledore/Snape rolled into one. I really enjoyed the world Maresca has created. It’s surprisingly rich, featuring a long and complex history and populated by many cultures. Maradaine feels richly populated by interesting factions, university students, mages, etc. I love forward to reading more stories set in Maradaine. For fans of: Harry Potter, Batman, Daredevil, Patrick Rothfuss, The Discworld Series.