The Pariah by Anthony Ryan

 

Alwyn is born to a prostitute, his father unknown.  Cared for by no one, he runs away and joins a group of outlaws in the forest who teach him to fight and provide him with a sort of family.  He proves to have exceptional talent as a warrior.  But things rarely stay the same in a war torn country.  When his band of outlaws is betrayed and most killed, he ends up sent to the mines as a slave.

After working several years there, his intelligence is noted and he is brought into the house of the noble running the mines.  He is taught to read and write and is thereafter known as Alwyn Scribe.  He is given the task of writing the story and message of Lady Evadine Courtain, who believes that they are all cursed and will be facing the end of the world.  Alwyn and his friend escape and live on their own for a while but as the wars progress, they end up back in the king's army.  As he fights the battles, he wonders if this will forever be his lot.  When Courtain is in danger, he can leave her to die or risk everything trying to save her.  Which will he do?

Anthony Ryan is known as one of those in the top league of epic fantasy writers.  His career was in the British Civil Service which he gave up once his first novel in the series Raven's Shadow was published to great success.  This novel is the start of another series.  Ryan is adept at creating characters the reader cares about.  Alwyn Scribe is brusque and rude but contains a core of loyalty towards the few people he lets inside his circle.  I listened to this novel and the narrator was exceptional for this type of novel.  This book is recommended for epic fantasy readers.