Kellen's father and mother are JanTep, great mages of their tribe who have been trained to do amazing things with magic. As Kellen approaches his sixteenth birthday however, it's pretty clear that he won't be following in their footsteps. Then Ferius Parfax arrives in town and everything Kellen thought he knew is suddenly turned upside down. Suddenly, not being a mage of the JanTep is the least of his concerns... 
 This was a very easy book to read and enjoy without being either too thought provoking or too lightweight. The "battle lines" of good and evil are very clearly drawn and the characters conform to their stereotypes brilliantly without being boring. Of course, Kellen and Ferius Parfax are the ones we hear most about and there is a great deal of detail about them. The many and varied supporting cast though are also a lot of fun; Reichis and his mother being hilarious and brilliantly sad all in the space of a few pages. 
 This is definitely not a book which will change the world or even really make you think. It's just one that you'll come away from with a bit more of a spring in your step.