The Fenwold Riddle

by Dave Evardson

An impenetrable wall encloses the land of Fenwold, its origins shrouded in the mists of time. Those who live in its shadow sweat out a meagre living from the land, but marauding raiders attack their villages and steal their livelihood. Brave young Council Marshal Dominic Bradley comes into close contact with the mysterious Wall in his struggle to combat the outlaw bands. Bradley has been charged with the task of finding a way through the Wall to a new land that lies on its far side. He hopes not only to uncover his people's heritage, but also to deliver them to their destiny. How or where to begin, he has no idea - until he hears an old woman recite a strange and compelling riddle... "A fast, enthralling read with a mystery that keeps you guessing to the very end." - Jacey Bedford, Science Fiction Author "What does the future hold? What's beyond the technological end-game? Through vivid prose and imagination the author sets the hero on a search ... to give new hope to civilisation." - Paul Sutherland, Multi-Published Author and Editor

Genres: Fantasy

308 pages, Paperback

First published May 4, 2012

Reviews

[Jacey · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is debut novel by my friend Dave Evardson, songwriter and musician from Grimsby, North Lincolnshire, which is where the book is set, though it's a post-apoclyptic Lincolnshire/East Yorkshire around which has been built a massive, impenetrable wall. Is it to keep people in or something else out? That is essentially the question asked in this book and whether it gets an answer or not depends on your point of view.

I was initially thrown by the fact that the main character is a marshal and his mode of transport is equine. The opening scene the marshal's camp is attacked by arrows. My brain kept jumping to the wild west, and it took me a while to sort it out. Once I realised the location I had fun guessing exactly which bit of the area they were in.

The level of technology and society is faux-medieval with law abiding settlements set in wild tracts of land beset by outlaws. (We never see any large settlements or hear much about them.) The good guys keep slaves.

The marshal is a young lawman, Dominic Bradley.

There are one or two first novelish flaws. To be honest the first chapter is a little clumsy, but it picks up after that and rattles along at a good pace with Dominic finding clues which lead him towards a discovery that turns the pseudo-medieval setting on its head and leads him to discover something about the wall while thwarting a pretty nasty villain and finding true love.

Three stars may be a bit generous, but it's not possible to give two and threequarters. This is an ebook from Fireship Press with a print-on-demand facility. I originally read it pre-publication, but now have a shiny paper copy. Thanks, Dave.

[Moonyeen Blakey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dave Evardson transports us to a futuristic world, where the inhabitants of Fenwold live in the shadow of a huge Wall. Following some distant cataclysmic event, they have handed down a fear of what may lie beyond the Wall. So far it has defended them from plague, pestilence, and possible attack, but Dominic Bradley, a young Council Marshal, is curious...
When brigands threaten the livelihood of the villagers of Crowtree, Dominic is drawn into their struggles and meets the feisty Sylvia, who insists on joining him to explore what lies beyond that formidable Wall...
This is an intiguing and fast paced tale in the style of the traditional quest story. We follow Dominic's adventures with bated breath as he encounters unexpected obstacles and learns to unlock the secrets handed down by the Ancient Ones. Highly recommended

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyable , just the thing for a lazy bank holiday.