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Dark Solus: An Assassin's Tale
Dark Solus, An Assassin's Tale is a dark, science fiction fantasy novel about one of the deadliest assassins on the planet Eorth. The evil wizard Kalifen, along with the ruthless leaders of the Assassins, Thieves and Halflings guilds, murdered Dark Solus' parents when he was only a child. Haunted by their merciless execution, he now waits and prepares to exact his revenge on all those responsible for their demise. Dark is transformed and trained by the Styg, the warden of the Stygian depths, and his grandfather Mephistopheles, an ancient silver dragon. Twelve years later, Dark is now ready to travel to the City of Duergar, the home of his enemies. Trained in the skills of assassination, and armed with lethal devices and knowledge of the dark arts, he has set himself only one mission.....to kill them all! This action-packed book comes alive with ancient imagery, in a time before solid boundaries formed between the mystical kingdoms of Faërie and the mortal world of man. Author David Andrew Crawford grew up in Canada, and currently resides in the small hamlet of Innesville with his two dogs, Ares and Ariel. Publisher's
224 pages, Hardcover
First published January 27, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
June 2, 2014
Dark Solus: An Assassin’s tale is a fantasy tale that is truly filled with adventure, battles and some raw emotion. The start of the n but novel is intriguing and suitably suspenseful, it certainly sets the scene for the kind of world the reader is going to enter; at the same time it’s not overly detailed so the rest of the novel has plenty to offer.
Moving on as you read further you’ll find the novel has a good pace, with interesting characters being introduced all the time, consistently adding depth, intrigue and much appreciated context to the events of the main character’s (Dark Solus) journey. However during my reading I was not totally taken with the choice of names used. Whilst the names are somewhat unusual and therefore fitting with the fantasy genre, it found all but the name ‘Mephisto’ was somewhat lacking. In this I include Dark Solus. His name does fit the role he must take on during the novel and befits his history, but I felt it was somewhat out of line with my perception of the rest of his character.
Crawford has a good use of adjectives, his depiction of a hell-horse is not only unusual as I’m normally greeted by hell-hounds or the knights of hell and even the apocalypse horsemen, but it’s also an incredibly thoughtful quite frankly beautiful and depiction. Another impressive nod to this skill is the paragraph in which Mephisto transforms himself into an imaginatively detailed, well-timed and a plot twist which hints at other striking plot twist possibilities. In keeping with this level of detail is the magic lessons between Dark and Mephisto, which I found very interesting as this is an area of fantasy I find many authors skip over, or rely on the reader to assume the character’s level of skill.
By Chapter six the reader will have proof that Crawford is capable of producing believable, engaging and detailed battle scenes time and time again. Although violent in nature (as most epic battles are) and seemingly cruel, Crawford never lets the reader forget that all the violence and cruelty comes from a boy with a tragic past and a promise to fulfil- and perhaps readers will feel more sympathetic towards Dark for this. By chapter seven a story of love, loss, revenge, and magic has truly blossomed into a decent work of fiction.
At one point in chapter seven I found an amusing homage to what I could only recognise as Top Gear’s Jeremy Clarkson and ‘The Stigg’. Though amusing it was unnecessary and I felt it actually spoilt the atmosphere of the novel, by removing me as the reader from the world of magic I’d settled into, making it feel all the more out of place.
It’s clear there are a variety of literary and cultural influences within Dark Solus: An Assassin’s Tale from the Greek fates, harpies, Hades and Kraken like creature; to Viking Thor and Loki (Lore) right through to Tolkien’s dwarves with a lost home. Not forgetting the trials of Heracles (Hercules) which are clearly reflected in the quest Dark undertakes throughout his journey.
It’s a bit of a mish-mash but Crawford pulls apart each influence, using only what’s necessary and doesn’t let his inspirations digress from telling Dark’s story. As a reader picking out each influence as you read further is interesting and I found myself all the more engaged with the novel by being able to do so.
There are plenty of back stories Crawford could utilise and expand upon into short stories, which I would certainly be interested in reading. It has such a rich mythology and detailed sub-plots that there are plenty to choose from and fan fiction fantasy writers would also do well to give this novel a try.
Overall Dark Solus: An Assassin’s Tale is well worth the read for fantasy lovers, but also it’s got a bit of everything so it’s a good choice for introducing young or reluctant readers to not only the genre but reading in general which is always a plus.
© Gemma Feltham 2nd June 2014
Moving on as you read further you’ll find the novel has a good pace, with interesting characters being introduced all the time, consistently adding depth, intrigue and much appreciated context to the events of the main character’s (Dark Solus) journey. However during my reading I was not totally taken with the choice of names used. Whilst the names are somewhat unusual and therefore fitting with the fantasy genre, it found all but the name ‘Mephisto’ was somewhat lacking. In this I include Dark Solus. His name does fit the role he must take on during the novel and befits his history, but I felt it was somewhat out of line with my perception of the rest of his character.
Crawford has a good use of adjectives, his depiction of a hell-horse is not only unusual as I’m normally greeted by hell-hounds or the knights of hell and even the apocalypse horsemen, but it’s also an incredibly thoughtful quite frankly beautiful and depiction. Another impressive nod to this skill is the paragraph in which Mephisto transforms himself into an imaginatively detailed, well-timed and a plot twist which hints at other striking plot twist possibilities. In keeping with this level of detail is the magic lessons between Dark and Mephisto, which I found very interesting as this is an area of fantasy I find many authors skip over, or rely on the reader to assume the character’s level of skill.
By Chapter six the reader will have proof that Crawford is capable of producing believable, engaging and detailed battle scenes time and time again. Although violent in nature (as most epic battles are) and seemingly cruel, Crawford never lets the reader forget that all the violence and cruelty comes from a boy with a tragic past and a promise to fulfil- and perhaps readers will feel more sympathetic towards Dark for this. By chapter seven a story of love, loss, revenge, and magic has truly blossomed into a decent work of fiction.
At one point in chapter seven I found an amusing homage to what I could only recognise as Top Gear’s Jeremy Clarkson and ‘The Stigg’. Though amusing it was unnecessary and I felt it actually spoilt the atmosphere of the novel, by removing me as the reader from the world of magic I’d settled into, making it feel all the more out of place.
It’s clear there are a variety of literary and cultural influences within Dark Solus: An Assassin’s Tale from the Greek fates, harpies, Hades and Kraken like creature; to Viking Thor and Loki (Lore) right through to Tolkien’s dwarves with a lost home. Not forgetting the trials of Heracles (Hercules) which are clearly reflected in the quest Dark undertakes throughout his journey.
It’s a bit of a mish-mash but Crawford pulls apart each influence, using only what’s necessary and doesn’t let his inspirations digress from telling Dark’s story. As a reader picking out each influence as you read further is interesting and I found myself all the more engaged with the novel by being able to do so.
There are plenty of back stories Crawford could utilise and expand upon into short stories, which I would certainly be interested in reading. It has such a rich mythology and detailed sub-plots that there are plenty to choose from and fan fiction fantasy writers would also do well to give this novel a try.
Overall Dark Solus: An Assassin’s Tale is well worth the read for fantasy lovers, but also it’s got a bit of everything so it’s a good choice for introducing young or reluctant readers to not only the genre but reading in general which is always a plus.
© Gemma Feltham 2nd June 2014
August 26, 2014
This book was recently entered in The Wishing Shelf Book Awards. This is what our young readers thought:
Title
Dark Solus, An Assassin’s Tale
Author
David Andrew Crawford
FEEDBACK
Cover 8/10
Excellent cover. Very powerful, central image and easy to read fonts. The readers thought it represented the story and the genre well. One reader put in his feedback, ‘I thought it was a fantastic cover. A bit scary but it made me want to read the book.’ Another reader put, ‘It looks fantastic but I think this image might look better on a book for adults, not for kids.’
Editing 8/10
The readers discovered no problems with punctuation, grammar or spelling. They also felt the book was well paced. They did feel that it was a little confusing in parts and a few of the characters and sub plots needed fleshing out.
Theme 7/10
This book was very much enjoyed by our young readers. They loved all the magic and monsters, the exciting plot and sub-plots. They felt the characters were interesting and fun to follow, particularly Dark Solus. From the feedback, it seems the part of the book when he is being tutored in the art of magic was most enjoyed. The young readers also enjoyed how the hero discovered the different items he needed. One readers (girl, aged 12) put in her feedback, ‘This was a very exciting story. I liked all the magic and I liked the problems Dark had to overcome. The only problem for me was all the killing.’
Although the readers thought it was well written with interesting characters and plots, they thought the endless battling was a little too violent for younger readers.
Style 7/10
The readers though the author created a lot of suspense and intrigue in the story. They felt he was very descriptive and kept up the pace well throughout the book. One reader (boy, aged 12) put, ‘This author has tons of imagination and he puts everything across really well. I had to re-read the odd page when I got confused as to who was who and what was happening but, apart from that, it was great.’
STATS
Of the 17 readers:
11 thought the first page/chapter was gripping.
9 want to read the next book in the set.
10 thought the cover was excellent.
3 thought the cover was a bit too scary.
6 though the blurb was good.
8 thought the magic lessons were the best part of the book.
5 thought that the plot was the best part of the book.
4 thought your ability to describe action was your strongest writing skill.
9 (plus two teachers) thought the book’s vocab was age-appropriate but the violent content was not.
“A pulsating, fantasy-filled thriller. Perfect for young adults.” The Wishing Shelf Awards
Title
Dark Solus, An Assassin’s Tale
Author
David Andrew Crawford
FEEDBACK
Cover 8/10
Excellent cover. Very powerful, central image and easy to read fonts. The readers thought it represented the story and the genre well. One reader put in his feedback, ‘I thought it was a fantastic cover. A bit scary but it made me want to read the book.’ Another reader put, ‘It looks fantastic but I think this image might look better on a book for adults, not for kids.’
Editing 8/10
The readers discovered no problems with punctuation, grammar or spelling. They also felt the book was well paced. They did feel that it was a little confusing in parts and a few of the characters and sub plots needed fleshing out.
Theme 7/10
This book was very much enjoyed by our young readers. They loved all the magic and monsters, the exciting plot and sub-plots. They felt the characters were interesting and fun to follow, particularly Dark Solus. From the feedback, it seems the part of the book when he is being tutored in the art of magic was most enjoyed. The young readers also enjoyed how the hero discovered the different items he needed. One readers (girl, aged 12) put in her feedback, ‘This was a very exciting story. I liked all the magic and I liked the problems Dark had to overcome. The only problem for me was all the killing.’
Although the readers thought it was well written with interesting characters and plots, they thought the endless battling was a little too violent for younger readers.
Style 7/10
The readers though the author created a lot of suspense and intrigue in the story. They felt he was very descriptive and kept up the pace well throughout the book. One reader (boy, aged 12) put, ‘This author has tons of imagination and he puts everything across really well. I had to re-read the odd page when I got confused as to who was who and what was happening but, apart from that, it was great.’
STATS
Of the 17 readers:
11 thought the first page/chapter was gripping.
9 want to read the next book in the set.
10 thought the cover was excellent.
3 thought the cover was a bit too scary.
6 though the blurb was good.
8 thought the magic lessons were the best part of the book.
5 thought that the plot was the best part of the book.
4 thought your ability to describe action was your strongest writing skill.
9 (plus two teachers) thought the book’s vocab was age-appropriate but the violent content was not.
“A pulsating, fantasy-filled thriller. Perfect for young adults.” The Wishing Shelf Awards
April 27, 2011
My first thought on reading this book was: I wish I could park my car as easily as the main characters in the story "park" their rides, whether horse or flying ship. My second thought was: what an imagination this writer has.
In Dark Solus: An Assassin's Tale, David Andrew Crawford has crafted a story full of horror, tragedy, revenge, and magic. Or at least partially, but more on that later. Protagonist Dark Solus is the offspring of a demon father and an elf mother, and is being raised accordingly --in a magical environment with lessons in stealth and self-defense from his father, a skilled warrior, with summers spent at the home of his grandfather (and WHAT a grandfather), a deep cave in the land of fairies. Sadly for young Dark, this idyllic childhood is destroyed when his parents are killed by enemies that the boy never knew existed. At the age of thirteen, Dark vows to seek out and kill those who murdered his mother and father.
Thus, Dark begins a long and rigorous journey, first as a student learning the art of assassination using every weapon known to man, demon, and very dark magic. Then when his training is complete, he embarks on several quests to obtain a series of talismans necessary for him to fulfill his vow of revenge.
It is at this point that Crawford's imagination "makes the jump into hyperspace," to borrow a phrase. Paying homage to Tolkien and borrowing elements of more than one ancient mythology, from the Greeks to the Norse to the Celts, the author sends his characters on a whirlwind tour of ageless cautionary fables (read: horrific fairy tales) in a sort of video game smashes into Bulfinch, or perhaps a version of When Vengeful Heroes Go Completely DARK.
And then the book ends. No kidding. Crawford didn't partially craft a story as I had mentioned earlier, he actually only partially shared it. I realized as I was racing through the last 20 pages that the dwindling amount of book left did not bode well for my learning the outcome of the entire story. Maybe the author thought I needed a break to get my breath back? Perhaps he was being as devilish as his half-demon main character? Whatever the reason, anyone reading this book will be tempted to turn up on the author's doorstep and demand to know what happens next.
So, Mr. Crawford, to prevent uninvited visitors, I'll ask here and now: What DOES happen next? And how soon can we find out?
In Dark Solus: An Assassin's Tale, David Andrew Crawford has crafted a story full of horror, tragedy, revenge, and magic. Or at least partially, but more on that later. Protagonist Dark Solus is the offspring of a demon father and an elf mother, and is being raised accordingly --in a magical environment with lessons in stealth and self-defense from his father, a skilled warrior, with summers spent at the home of his grandfather (and WHAT a grandfather), a deep cave in the land of fairies. Sadly for young Dark, this idyllic childhood is destroyed when his parents are killed by enemies that the boy never knew existed. At the age of thirteen, Dark vows to seek out and kill those who murdered his mother and father.
Thus, Dark begins a long and rigorous journey, first as a student learning the art of assassination using every weapon known to man, demon, and very dark magic. Then when his training is complete, he embarks on several quests to obtain a series of talismans necessary for him to fulfill his vow of revenge.
It is at this point that Crawford's imagination "makes the jump into hyperspace," to borrow a phrase. Paying homage to Tolkien and borrowing elements of more than one ancient mythology, from the Greeks to the Norse to the Celts, the author sends his characters on a whirlwind tour of ageless cautionary fables (read: horrific fairy tales) in a sort of video game smashes into Bulfinch, or perhaps a version of When Vengeful Heroes Go Completely DARK.
And then the book ends. No kidding. Crawford didn't partially craft a story as I had mentioned earlier, he actually only partially shared it. I realized as I was racing through the last 20 pages that the dwindling amount of book left did not bode well for my learning the outcome of the entire story. Maybe the author thought I needed a break to get my breath back? Perhaps he was being as devilish as his half-demon main character? Whatever the reason, anyone reading this book will be tempted to turn up on the author's doorstep and demand to know what happens next.
So, Mr. Crawford, to prevent uninvited visitors, I'll ask here and now: What DOES happen next? And how soon can we find out?
April 6, 2013
Dark Solus is somewhat clunky, with that artless style endemic to first-time writers. The text is sprinkled with words that do not match the approachable tone of the writing, which does not do anything to 'raise' the tone, but rather makes even the advanced reader falter.
It seems that the author has neglected the most important part of fantasy writing, the setting is a busy and chaotic mish-mash of Greek, Nordic, Celtic, Mespotamian, and 'Dungeons & Dragons' mythology. A significant number of concepts are lifted from the Dungeons & Dragons Roleplaying Game, in some cases with no attempt to disguise or personalise the borrowed content - ranging from creatures, spells, items, and gods, to abstract ideas like alignment.
The novel fails to build tension, every obstacle is resolved within a few pages at the most, with very little effort on the part of any of the characters. Very early on, it is established that the incongruously named Dark and his grandfather are supremely powerful beings, pulling massively powerful spells from no established background in order to defeat their enemies before a fight can continue beyond the first or second volley. Even mental conundrums are immediately answered with a flash of insight.
There is, however, no end of obstacles for the leading character to face, at the end of each quest, the assassin is unfailingly provided with a new goal to pursue. This quickly grows tiresome when the reader realises halfway through that either the main plot will be wrapped up in an unsatisfying rush at the end, or will not be resolved with this book.
The pacing of the final third of the book suffers, as if the author was impatient to finish or bored with the work. In the words of the author, "leagues were covered in what seemed like only seconds", as events and actions are listed off without any attention to detail or elaboration.
The overall experience of Dark Solus is one of frustration. The main character is petulant, childish, & the dialogue is often awkward as characters expound aloud what the reader has already figured out for themselves. None of the characters have any depth, and the reader is given no reason to care about Dark or his goals. Rather than being encouraged to read the next book in the series, it is a relief to reach the end of this text.
**Disclaimer: this is a paid review**
It seems that the author has neglected the most important part of fantasy writing, the setting is a busy and chaotic mish-mash of Greek, Nordic, Celtic, Mespotamian, and 'Dungeons & Dragons' mythology. A significant number of concepts are lifted from the Dungeons & Dragons Roleplaying Game, in some cases with no attempt to disguise or personalise the borrowed content - ranging from creatures, spells, items, and gods, to abstract ideas like alignment.
The novel fails to build tension, every obstacle is resolved within a few pages at the most, with very little effort on the part of any of the characters. Very early on, it is established that the incongruously named Dark and his grandfather are supremely powerful beings, pulling massively powerful spells from no established background in order to defeat their enemies before a fight can continue beyond the first or second volley. Even mental conundrums are immediately answered with a flash of insight.
There is, however, no end of obstacles for the leading character to face, at the end of each quest, the assassin is unfailingly provided with a new goal to pursue. This quickly grows tiresome when the reader realises halfway through that either the main plot will be wrapped up in an unsatisfying rush at the end, or will not be resolved with this book.
The pacing of the final third of the book suffers, as if the author was impatient to finish or bored with the work. In the words of the author, "leagues were covered in what seemed like only seconds", as events and actions are listed off without any attention to detail or elaboration.
The overall experience of Dark Solus is one of frustration. The main character is petulant, childish, & the dialogue is often awkward as characters expound aloud what the reader has already figured out for themselves. None of the characters have any depth, and the reader is given no reason to care about Dark or his goals. Rather than being encouraged to read the next book in the series, it is a relief to reach the end of this text.
**Disclaimer: this is a paid review**
October 13, 2013
**I received this book free from the author in exchange for an honest review**
The vast realms and broad variety of creatures in Dark Solus - An Assassin's Tale kind of reminds me of Lord of the Rings meets Skyrim. However, that's where the comparisons stop.
Dark is a strong, but comical young man. The determination he has to avenge his family goes beyond all reason. He lets nothing get in his way as he pushes forward through one obstacle to the next, each bringing him closer to his goal…the deaths of all who betrayed his family.
This is a story about family, betrayal, mystical discoveries, and the vengeance. It is filled with many detailed creatures that are formed from a combination of mythologies, from elves to goddesses and everything in between.
This book starts with a bang, throwing you into the midst of action, which continues throughout its pages. It holds nothing back from the imagination. The details are exquisite, from smells to scenery to creatures, each pulling you directly into the story.
The storyline itself seems to be on a loop of need object, get object, repeat, but there is no lack of action. The only major downside I found was that it does end on a slight cliff hanger. But I'm looking forward to reading more about Dark and his quest for revenge.
My Favorite Interaction: I loved the verbal exchanges between him and his grandfather…especially the ones that included his pet.
My Tip to Fellow Readers: This is a wonderful book, but don't read a little and then try to come back to it days later. Several of the characters are referenced by more than one name and if they all aren't fresh in your mind it may be a little confusing. Personally I had to go back and reread the first chapter after I figured out who all the characters were, but it was worth it.
The vast realms and broad variety of creatures in Dark Solus - An Assassin's Tale kind of reminds me of Lord of the Rings meets Skyrim. However, that's where the comparisons stop.
Dark is a strong, but comical young man. The determination he has to avenge his family goes beyond all reason. He lets nothing get in his way as he pushes forward through one obstacle to the next, each bringing him closer to his goal…the deaths of all who betrayed his family.
This is a story about family, betrayal, mystical discoveries, and the vengeance. It is filled with many detailed creatures that are formed from a combination of mythologies, from elves to goddesses and everything in between.
This book starts with a bang, throwing you into the midst of action, which continues throughout its pages. It holds nothing back from the imagination. The details are exquisite, from smells to scenery to creatures, each pulling you directly into the story.
The storyline itself seems to be on a loop of need object, get object, repeat, but there is no lack of action. The only major downside I found was that it does end on a slight cliff hanger. But I'm looking forward to reading more about Dark and his quest for revenge.
My Favorite Interaction: I loved the verbal exchanges between him and his grandfather…especially the ones that included his pet.
My Tip to Fellow Readers: This is a wonderful book, but don't read a little and then try to come back to it days later. Several of the characters are referenced by more than one name and if they all aren't fresh in your mind it may be a little confusing. Personally I had to go back and reread the first chapter after I figured out who all the characters were, but it was worth it.
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