Men think of prophecy as something intangible. Oh, we
believe in them well enough, but only in theory. We never
expect to be part of the generation actually effected by
mystical events predicted long ago.
When a red star falls in the east, there are some who know
a time of revelation is at hand, some who scoff, some who
are called to duty, some who will fulfill their destiny.
Konowa Swiftdragon, former commander of the Iron Elves, has
been ordered to resume his commission in the Imperial Army.
His destiny and his duty are on a collision course, and
despite the odds, Konowa is ready to face both head on.
A DARKNESS FORGED IN FIRE is the first novel in the new
Iron Elves series and the debut novel of Chris
Evans. There's quite a bit about the soldiers and life
in the army in this first book, and although I'm not a big
military fantasy fan, I enjoy them if they are well-done --
and Evans is right on target with his depiction of life in
the army. There is an R2D2/C3PO team who steal every scene
they are in. The very first page of the book, with the
wizard squirrel, grabs you right away and there are a lot
of scenes like that in the book, a lot of times where I
thought "this is great!" The fallen star was a real
emotional payoff for me, surprisingly so. There are some
really good characters and a number of them grew in
startling ways. There were a couple of cardboard villains,
as well, but as this is the first book, there's plenty of
time for the world and its characters to grow.
We do not fear the flame, though it
burns us, We do not fear the fire, though it consumes
us, And we do not fear its light, Though it
reveals the darkness of our souls, For therein lies
our power. -- Blood Oath of the Iron Elves
First
in a stunning debut series, A Darkness Forged in
Fire introduces an unforgiving world of musket and
cannon...bow and arrow...magic, diplomacy, and oaths --
each wielding terrible power in an Empire teetering on the
brink of war.
In this world, Konowa Swift Dragon, former
commander of the Empire's elite Iron Elves, is looked upon
as anything but ordinary. He's murdered a Viceroy, been
court-martialed, seen his beloved regiment disbanded, and
finally been banished in disgrace to the one place he
despises the most -- the forest.
Now, all he wants is to
be left alone with his misery...but for Konowa, nothing is
ever that simple. The mysterious and alluring Visyna
Tekoy, the highborn daughter of an elfkynan governor,
seeks him out in the dangerous wild with a royal decree
that he resume his commission as an officer in Her
Majesty's Imperial Army, effective immediately.
For in
the east, a falling Red Star heralds the return of a magic
long vanished from the earth. Rebellion grows within the
Empire as a frantic race to reach the Star unfolds. It is
a chance for Konowa to redeem himself -- even if the
entire affair appears doomed to be a suicide
mission...and that the soldiers recruited for the task
are not at all what he expects. And worse, his key
adversary in the perilous race for the Star is the dreaded
Shadow Monarch -- a legendary elf-witch whose machinations
for absolute domination spread deeper than Konowa could
ever imagine....
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