Heart-stealing Spirit Thief: The legend of Eli Monpress

What woman can deny the charm of a gold-hearted larrikin? A thief who steals from the rich but looks after the spirits around him? A self-involved wizard who is also a loyal friend?

Put Harry Potter and Robin Hood together, and add to it a spice of Peter Pan - and you'll get (and be charmed) by Eli Monpress, the greatest thief in the spirit world.

The Spirit Thief tells a story of the Spiritualist Miranda Lyonette, who has been ordered by the Spirit Court to warn the King of Mellinor about Eli Monpress, who is rumoured to be stealing one of Mellinor's greatest treasure.

But Miranda was a little late to arrive in Mellinor, for Eli has already executed his idea. He had stolen the King of Mellinor.

Rachel Aaron's debut novel is a fun read and a novelty. She puts up an intriguing concept of a magical system where everything in the world - everything -  from wind, plants, water, even the door and its nutbolts, has spirits and thus, are capable to act at their own accord.

In the spirit world, human beings are given the power to control the lesser spirits, and thereby own them.

There are a lot of endearing characters in the Spirit Thief. Apart from the charming and beleaguered hero Eli Monpress, Miranda herself is a Spiritualist of principle who cannot help herself than be charmed by the thief. At a strange turn of event, the two enemies somehow struck a chord of friendship.

Similarly, in his renowned works Eli is helped by the swordsman Josef and a girl who is possessed by demon, Nico. A strange, but lovable pair. There is also Gin, Miranda's ghosthound who seems to have a wry sense of humour, and is very fond and protective of his Spiritualist master.

All in all, the story of Eli Monpress makes a nice alternative for us fans of magical characters and fairy stories. Although they could do with a better (and more imaginative) cover, I'm willing to bet my bottom dollar the next sequels of the Spirit Thief (Spirit Rebellion and Spirit Eater) are going to be as exhilirating journey as the first one!