**Vault Reviews were posted previously on the main MonsterLibrarian website and are transferred here in an effort to preserve our history. Efforts have been made to ensure the books are still available, but formats, covers, and other details may have changed.** 
Azimuth Books, 2013
ISBN: 978-0-615-79725-0
Available: Pre-order, hardcover
Steven Booth has delivered a fun, action-packed fantasy novel aimed at the young adult market, but more than suitable for an older audience that enjoys their fantasy aligned with role-playing games. That’s what you get here, a sort of video game in words, with a dark elf rogue named Alitra, who pilfers the wrong item from a Sultan’s treasure, leaving her hunted by all manner of would-be assassins. The review copy I was sent had a little more than three hundred pages, in somewhat large print, and Booth still managed to squeeze in nearly fifty unique characters of various genders, races, and classes. Admirable, to say the least, as each seemed well-serviced in the time we spend with them. Not an easy task, and its success owes much to the author’s firm grasp of where his story leads. Dark Talisman is well worth a look, especially if you enjoy a streamlined adventure without too much heavy lifting.
Reviewed by Bob Freeman