Recently, author Lindsay Schopfer was awarded first place in its category at the OZMA Awards at the Chanticleer International Book Awards for his novel “Into the North”. This second installment in the adventures of Keltin Moore certainly deserves the accolade. In honor of the achievement (and the forthcoming third installment), I’ve decided to make my next review for the month a look at the first two Keltin Moore Novels.
In this series we follow the professional beast hunter Keltin Moore, who follows in the footsteps of his father to earn his living slaying the great monsters that plague innocent folk across the land. With a wicked melee weapon known as a ripper and his trusty rifle packed with bizarre ammunition, Keltin is a force to be reckoned with.
Yet in the chest of this courageous hunter beats a troubled heart. A lonely life and haunted past leave him reluctant to move forward and accept new people
Accept them he must, though, for in the first book, “The Beast Hunter” a job takes him far from his home country of Riltvin into the neighboring land of Krendaria. A plague of beasts has overrun the farming province, and Keltin is hired to be part of a massive campaign of hunters to help stop the horde.
One of the best parts of this series is how real the characters are. The colorful personalities Keltin meets in Krendaria are ones that stick with you. Whether it’s the stoic resolve and kindness of Bor’ve’tai, a member of the ape-like Loopi (pronounced low-pie), or the upbeat positivity of Wayfarer Jaylocke, the Keltin Moore books are packed with characters you’ll want to hang around with.
But the action in the first book is quite compelling too. Keltin’s assortment of ammunition makes each encounter quite interesting, along with his rifle’s revolver capability, allowing him to choose which shot to use. Whether its the penetrating reltac spinners, the acid filled alpenion rounds, or the shotgun-esque capshire shatter rounds, Keltin is almost never without a tool for the job.
Until he isn’t. Because in this world, there are some beasts that can’t be hunted with powder and steel alone. In the world of Keltin Moore, there are creatures made of smoke, and beasts that are little more than a ripple in the fabric of reality. To banish these monsters, a bit of magic is in order. Magic plays a small role in the Keltin Moore adventures, but an important one.
After his harrowing adventures in Krendaria, the award winning “Into the North” takes Keltin Moore to Drutchland, where the discovery of gold has led to a good old fashioned gold rush, and a lot of miners in need of protection from the local beasts. Reunited with old allies, and discovering new, Keltin does his beast to protect the people of the mining town of Lost Trap and earn a tidy sum in the process.
But all is not as it seems in Lost Trap. For the locals tell of an ancient and powerful beast that only comes in times of great turmoil. A creature that cannot be seen, cannot be tracked, and cannot be killed. The Ghost of Lost Trap may well be the strongest creature Keltin has ever needed to face. But is he willing to make the sacrifices necessary to bring the beast down?
With a solid core of development in the main character, a cast of new characters and returning favorites, harrowing action and a colorful and vibrant setting, “Into the North” manages to out perform the first book in every measure (and the first book was pretty darn good, so that should tell you something).
Both books easily earned 5-Stars. While they aren’t perfect, I enjoyed them way too much to care about any minor flaws. I highly suggest you all treat yourselves to these titles before the third installment, “Dangerous Territory” comes out in June.
