I must commend Austen Andrews for the excellent work he did in this novel. Richard Garriot would be pleased on how he shaped the "New Sosaria." The book starts action paced, as the brave knight Montenegro faces down a highly skilled Jukan female. Austen then manages to capture the Knights battle internally, as he goes through his trials of virtue, much like the avatar did in the games. He uses the feelings of each character to draw the reader in, enablling sympathy for the characters.This is a story i highly recommend. Want action? Plot development? Or character interaction? This book has it all, and uses the Ultima world to great effect.