Scriber

Sometimes you get a fantasy book that breaks all expectations -- and Scriber by Ben S. Dobson is that book. It's not only a book that tells a great story, a story that surprises in unexpected ways through a different sort of hero.The story eschews the high fantasy conventions you typically find in the genre. That means no dragons, no god-slaying swords, no dark lord trying to conquer the universe, no brawny hero slaying armies.The setting is medieval Europe so some expectations of the genre's tropes are there. There are battles, there are conflict, there are fantastical elements. But what pulls this unusual novel forward is the protagonist -- a character far away from the heroic standards. He's not a swordsman, or a leader, or a thief, but a lowly historian.Indeed, it's in this protagonist that the book shows just how different Scriber is than most of the other fantasy out there. The hero, being a historian, is definitely not your typical bold and fearless protagonist found in most fantasy books, but rather a character who does a pretty good job at trying to run away from conflict.A cowardly librarian as the hero of a fantasy tale. Yes, this is that book. Yet even historians can be a hero and have an adventure. And that's exactly what this novel does -- pull you along with this unlikely of heroes into a grand adventure of mystery and magic. By the end of it, you see there are different kinds of heroes and different kinds of brave. It's a remarkably nuanced work that brings a lot to the fantasy genre. As self published fantasy goes, Ben S. Dobson's works stands a cut above the rest.  For a different sort of fantasy, one that's builds an immersive world, crafts strong characters, and ultimately delivers a satisfying and emotionally climatic ending, read it. It's a tale that will stick to you like glue and a poster boy for indie fantasy done right.