Sorcerer's Son

The premise for this series – of a humanized demon and his struggle for freedom – isn't one you'll come across often. It's the kind of idea that could go horribly wrong, but Eisenstein is a talented writer, which is why this is a great read.Why it made the listIf you're looking for a well-defined magic system, you won't find it here. But it's not that much of a problem, because the best thing about The Sorcerer's Son - other than the unique (and wonderfully bizzare) plot – are the characters. The lead protagonist – Cray is easy to like and his quest to find his lost father is much more believable than, say, a quest for a magic sword. And that's the greatest strength of this book: The characters' personalities and motivations are very real and very human.If you examined the book a bit harder, you'll find some interesting ideas about love, gender and the path to adulthood, but they never overwhelm the story. And, while it's a coming of age story, there are enough twists that it doesn't feel stereotypical. After reading the first book, you'll want to find out more about where these character will go.