The land of Nadae has been free from the clutches of Reknamarken, the necromancer, since he was incarcerated in a magically bound book by the Nomadin during the last war. At the time of his imprisonment he foretold that a child born of Nomadin stock would eventually free him and then would start the third and final war. Fearful of such bloody consequences, the Nomadin forbade a union between their kind and vowed that should the unfortunate happen, the resulting child would be slain.

As with most foolproof plans, this one failed. A son was born, to be squirreled away via magical means to be reborn to a peasant family, there to be raised as their own, unaware of his heritage. That is until Gallund the wizard decided to play a part in the child's education, although young Ilien turned out to be a pretty poor apprentice. Even the most basic spells proved almost too much, yet a spark within helped him to perform feats way beyond his capabilities without him realising how he had managed it. Could he be more than a wizard? Could he be Nomadin?

When news reaches Gallund of a Nidemon stalking the land, an indication that the power which holds the necromancer imprisoned is weakening, Gallund must set out to check the ward spells, Ilien in tow. And so starts a quest that will test the young man to his limits, and reveal Gallund to be more than he let on to be.

Nomadin is Mr Cormier's first published novel, which I could not quite believe when reading the book. The prose flows with an expert's hand and the pacing is excellent throughout. The characters are well rounded and not typical stereotypes of the genre, which would be an easy trap to fall into in a tome that sits comfortably with its peers in the YA market upwards. Mr Cormier scatters similes throughout his work to good effect, painting vivid pictures in the reader's mind, making the read thoroughly engrossing.

A liberal amount of humour is written into the book which serves to entertain the reader in this 'young boy coming to power' novel. It is this and the storytelling ability of the writer that keeps the reader wanting to read on. And, when the end is reached, wanting to read book two, which the author informs us is on its way.

The book ends with a few tangled webs still left to resolve. Usually, this would disappoint me, but Mr Cormier manages to end on a feel good note with all the major plot lines addressed while opening new ones for book two.

Nomadin is well worth a read and I would recommend it to all those that enjoy feel-good books. It is well written, holds a good plot and has enough hooks and twists to keep the most critical reader happy. Shawn Cormier is a welcome new talent in fantasy.

Synopsis
Young Ilien knows nothing of the dark tales told around late-night fires, or of the legendary Nomadin Wizards and the prophesy that haunts them. But all that is soon to change. For a shadow touches the peaceful land of Nadae. An ancient evil is stirring. Already a NiDemon has crossed from the land of the dead. And now Ilien must run - from a monster of unimaginable cunning and power, toward a fate more frightening than that which hunts him. But he cannot run forever. Eventually he will have to make a stand. Sooner or later he will have to face what even the legendary Nomadin cannot ... himself.