Only Mirek, a tired old guardsman in Suridruun, seems to be able to see the Tree and know what it portends. His only comfort is that the Tree always disappears after a few days, taking with it the murderous rage it instills in the hearts of men.
Only this time, the Dark Tree is not leaving without him.
Brandon M. Lindsay grew up in the Seattle area and lives in Tokyo, Japan. He now has a son, whom he is trying to teach how to slay dragons. It's a work in progress.
His fantasy stories have won awards from the Writers of the Future contest and are published in anthologies alongside stories by Brandon Sanderson, David Farland, and other fantasy greats.
In addition to writing books and short stories, Brandon also makes indie video games. Check out all his goings-on at his website: brandonmlindsay.com.
An engrossing page-turner! I was hooked from the first paragraph, immediately drawn into the characters, their world and the action-packed scenes in this book.
Dark Tree: A Tale of the Fourth World has everything I seek in fantasy fiction; original, diverse range of characters, interesting and unique world-building, and action packed fight scenes. Oh, and a fair bit of sword and sorcery!
The protagonist, Mirek, was well developed within the short framework of the novella. He is a brute with a contrasting sensitive side, making him easily likeable. I supported his cause early in the piece.
I love how the story finishes and the promises it makes for what is to follow.
The only down side is that this is a novella and not a 1000 page epic. I could read a lot more of this and certainly will be looking forward to The Clans.
An interesting if somewhat morbid cross between fantasy and serial killer suspense (dark fantasy?), this novella kept me turning pages. But I never felt a connection with the main character, although unlike some other reviewers, I believe strong friendships can be developed under intense, life-threatening circumstances. If the concept of the seven worlds had been better explained sooner, which would have made the dark tree in the story more understandable, then perhaps this would have rated an additional star.