"By Darkness Hid" by Jill Williamson

Is there ever enough fantasy writers in the world? No! How about christian fantasy writers? Not in my opinion anyway. And I just discovered a new one - at least new to me. Her name is Jill Williamson and she is writing a trilogy; "Blood of Kings." Book one is called, "By Darkness Hid."

Achan is a "stray." Poor guy is treated worse than a slave, but hey, he is a slave with spirit and spunk. I liked the guy immediately. "Achan" means "trouble" and trouble seems to be his life. Almost everyday of his 14/15 years of life, he has had to take a nasty potion that is suppose to keep him from getting ill. Of course there is more to it than that. The potion keeps him from being able to hear voices in his head - basically a telepath, with a very strong ability, only he doesn't know it.

Then a knight shows up and starts training Achan to be his squire, all while Achan does his duties as a stray. Hmm, something else is going on, but what?

Sir Gavin Lukos, the knight, trains Achan on how to use a sword. He stops Achan from drinking the potion. Enters him into a tournament a part of becoming a squire.

Lord Nathak, Achan's owner and all around convincing bad guy, gives Sir Gavin the boot.

Achan ends up as the next kings squire, too bad the guy is a jerk or is it?

From a slave to a squire to a...naw I won't say, you'll just have to read the book.

Lots of adventures, fighting and a girl pretending to be a boy, who just happens to be hiding from the future king. Did I say he was a jerk. Oh yeah. See he wants to marry her and she would rather die first. After getting to know Prince Gidon, the future king (gag) I understand why.

Luckily for Vrell she ends up with Achan and Sir Gavin, after some adventures of her own of course. She knows how to bloodvoice (mental telepathy), and she gives Achan some pointers.

Arman, the one God, has a job for Achan to do, but Achan doesn't know much about him. He's been raised to worship idol's. Vrell knows God and so does Sir Gavin. Arman talks to Achan in a cryptic sort of way - of course if Achan knew Him he would understand Him better, but that is all part of the journey Achan must take.

Lies, treason, hope and self-discovery; and of course a budding romance, though wait neither Achan or Vrell recognize it. But we the readers do. So much fun.

This is a book I will read again and again.  Check out the author's website:  http://jillwilliamson.wordpress.com/