A quick and easy read with some interesting fantasy concepts dotted here and there, but mostly it's only so-so, with frequent bouts of poor grammar, thin characterisation and culture-building, and a rushed ending. (*And* an unfortunately-named villain if you know any Japanese at all, and given the noticeable Asian flavour to parts of the story… oh, dear) ( )

Spirit City is the middle book of Spirit Shinto, a fantasy trilogy by Wellington writer Dale Elvy. In the first book, tribal hunter Tane, renegade Shinto mage Sajha, and their accomplices have defeated an invasion of the island of Maragon by the armies of the ruthless Lord Kuso, militaristic lord of the neighbouring continent.
Most of Spirit City follows separate journeys: Sajha the mage travels to ancient ruins to find the true nature of Shinto magic, while Tane takes a break from his life as unwilling de facto mayor of the liberated city Shevilian to travel to the Eastern Empire and petition the Grand Caliph for aid against the expansionist plans of Lord Kuso.
Neither Sajha nor Tane have it easy. Sajha is shocked by what she discovers; Tane has to deal with both human and natural opponents amid the sweltering deserts and political chicanery of the Eastern Empire. Then, to save Shevilian from another attack by Lord Kuso's forces, the talents of both will be needed — and they are both a long way from home.
Spirit City has all the strengths of First Hunter — pace, excitement, a lack of the padding which bedevils many fantasy novels — and less of the weaknesses. This second volume is better written — Elvy writes of a stern officer's moustache curling upwards "as though retreating from the sharp commands issuing from his mouth", and there are other nice touches — and it is much better proofread.
On the other hand, the characters — with the partial exception of Tane — have little depth, and are mainly there to move the plot along, and the settings remain generic — there doesn't seem to be any logical reason why the Eastern Empire's capital is located many days' ride from the coast, amid burning deserts, except to provide plenty of scope for desert bandits and ancient ruins half-buried by drifting sands.
But these are criticisms in retrospect. While I was reading the book, I just wanted to get to the bottom of each page to find out what would happen on the next. And that means Dale Elvy has done his job.

(Review written for the Evening Post newspaper, Wellington, New Zealand) ( )