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Annwyn's Blood
Amid the dying embers of a fallen Empire, a young knight embarks on a personal crusade to reclaim the soul ripped from him by a deceitful lover's bite, and to save his family and their world from the rage of the implacable god who sent her. Ancient magic awakens from centuries–old slumber as the dead no longer rest in peace, and long buried legends and secrets could be the world's only hope.
- GenresFantasyParanormal
236 pages, ebook
First published November 21, 2012
About the author
Michael Eging
7 books51 followersMike has wanted to write since he was very young. His earliest memories are of carrying a battered old notebook around full of illustrations and stories. He would often transpose those ideas on his grandmother's old typewriter.
While in college, he was inspired by professors and visiting writers to BYU. Literary classics such as Song of Roland and Inferno were often in his backpack, along with Russian textbooks. Chapter 3 of Annwyn's Blood was written during this time as a short story.
Mike works in Washington, DC since pursuing graduate studies in Russian History. He focuses in domestic policy issues.
Recently, Mike has pursued an interest in writing screenplays for feature films with his first option being a medieval epic, Song of Roland. He continues to focus on a variety of script/movie projects, most recently a horror thriller, Feast of Saint Nicholas, and a political thriller, The Prince. He is a partner at Filibuster Filmworks, LLC.
He lives in Northern Virginia with his wife, Lori and his wonderful children. He dreams of one day driving in his old Defender to Alaska with his kids and their dog, Marlin.
While in college, he was inspired by professors and visiting writers to BYU. Literary classics such as Song of Roland and Inferno were often in his backpack, along with Russian textbooks. Chapter 3 of Annwyn's Blood was written during this time as a short story.
Mike works in Washington, DC since pursuing graduate studies in Russian History. He focuses in domestic policy issues.
Recently, Mike has pursued an interest in writing screenplays for feature films with his first option being a medieval epic, Song of Roland. He continues to focus on a variety of script/movie projects, most recently a horror thriller, Feast of Saint Nicholas, and a political thriller, The Prince. He is a partner at Filibuster Filmworks, LLC.
He lives in Northern Virginia with his wife, Lori and his wonderful children. He dreams of one day driving in his old Defender to Alaska with his kids and their dog, Marlin.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
August 20, 2013
Swords, Sorcerers, and Saints
Annwyn’s Blood: Paladin of Shadow Chronicles Book One is Michael and Steve’s debut novel. Judging by their first effort, the Paladin of Shadow has a glowing future if the authors keep writing it.
Once upon a time Westerns offered Guns, Guts, and God. Under the heat of uncritical thinking, these tales morphed into action stories offering only Guns and Guts. A long trail of uninspiring anti-heroes wiped out the taste for Guts, and we eventually wound up with only Guns. Wolfenstein brought the best example of this genre to video games.
So too Fantasy has gone through a similar transformation. Swords, sorcery, and the supernatural slid into swords and sorcery, and then just sorcery and maybe one sword. Worse, many fantasy tales have become little more than dark polemics.
Annwyn’s Blood is an outstanding exception. The authors seamlessly weave a tale of supernatural and spiritual devilry into a more or less classic Swords-and-Sorcery genre story.
Those who have fallen away from Fantasy for lack of motivation, depth, characterization, and out-of-the-box thinking will find Annwyn’s Blood a refreshing treat.
Ranking:
Michael and Steve are excellent writers. As with many fantasies, they struggle with the difficult task of creating a new world out of nothing. For readers of fantasy, this should not be a problem: Fantasy readers understand the authors must create a new world to explore.
Steve and Michael handle this tricky problem with great skill. The authors cleverly combine a fantasy world seemingly borrowed out of Advanced Dungeons & Dragons and medieval Byzantium, our name for the eastern half of the Roman Empire. The combination not only works, but the historical aspects gives Annwyn’s Blood a layer lost in most Fantasy fiction. Rather than a plastic world created from the memes and tropes of the latest movies and pop fiction, Annwyn’s Blood has the depth of a historical novel.
As always my ranking takes the target audience into account. If Gentle Readers enjoy A. D. & D., Burroughs, Lovecraft, or Zelazny, they will enjoy Annwyn’s Blood.
Format and Writing:
The writing is solid with clear descriptions and a good pace. The authors divided the subplots by chapter, which causes one to wonder what the main plot is for the first few chapters. This might disconcert a non-fantasy fan, or anyone unfamiliar with the genre, but I would remind Fantasy readers that Tolkien began his masterpiece with a long, long exposition on the history of Hobbits. I doubt any eBook author today could get away with that: Not even Tolkien.
Faith-Based:
Oh, really? You have to have faith for this to work on me! Mr. Vincent! Jerry Dandrige, Fright Night, 1985.
Annwyn’s Blood is a sort of a Faith-based novel. Though the story incorporates Christ as a force of good, the Christian aspects of the story seem tangential. Almost any positive, decent “force of good” could have stepped in and taken over. And if the “force of good” was culturally and historically consistent, I doubt anyone would be offended other than those who are offended as an act of professional extortion.
Don’t believe me? Go back to your favorite horror flicks!
Faith in Annwyn’s Blood is a viewpoint decision. The Grey Lord of the Otherworld is the devil, and the devil is bad. The Son of Man is a good guy. Eric has a soul, which is a good thing. Help comes from above without any hand-wringing in a matter of fact manner. I found that aspect of Annwyn’s Blood refreshing.
These and other views may be too much for some, but it’s really not a big deal. Turning vampires into glittery objects of romance is much more disturbing than letting Christians just be. Annwyn’s Blood is more fun than Son, and hardly worth this long comment here – other than to alert younger readers to recall that Christianity was once a common thread in science fiction and fantasy. After all, Christians invented virtually every cultural property worth having.
Annwyn’s Blood features vampires, zombies, a serious succubus, and so forth. The real challenge may not be the Christian motif, but the number of A.D. & D. references. Today we have a number of Nervous Nellies and Prissy Prudes who fret about everything from A. D. & D. to Harry Potter. Meanwhile our science education scores are in the toilet. Go figure.
Overall, the Christian element in Annwyn’s Blood is consistent with a medieval setting, a vampire tale, or any story in which the devil is the villain. Annwyn’s Blood is all three, and no one should be surprised or troubled.
Recommendation:
If you are a Fantasy fan, I strongly recommend the book. Although I think you will discover Annwyn’s Blood is a great book, I’m certain the worst that can happen is a few hours of pleasant reading.
About the authors:
Michael has aspired to be a writer for a long time. Despite living in Northern Virginia and focusing on domestic policy, he can handle a plot uncontaminated by political hokum. I will say, if he wants to drive to Alaska, he needs to take a recreational vehicle allowing enough time to enjoy the sights. Hundreds of endless miles of National Geographic views can cause highway hypnosis. Watch out for Miles Canyon at Whitehorse. The sight of the mighty Yukon will have you wanting to read Robert Service out loud.
In real-time, Steve is a family physician and both an Army and Navy veteran. Steve’s favorite authors are a familiar set of odd fellows including Burroughs, Lovecraft, Tolkien, and Zelazny. Why am I not surprised. Dungeons & Dragons inspired his early writing and yet he managed to avoid drug addiction, trouble with the law, and Satan worship. *Cue eyeroll.*
Reviewed by:
This is a review of the Kindle version downloaded during a free promotion.
Dan Knight
Author of
Cretaceous Clay and the Black Dwarf and
Cretaceous Clay and the Ninth Ring
Annwyn’s Blood: Paladin of Shadow Chronicles Book One is Michael and Steve’s debut novel. Judging by their first effort, the Paladin of Shadow has a glowing future if the authors keep writing it.
Once upon a time Westerns offered Guns, Guts, and God. Under the heat of uncritical thinking, these tales morphed into action stories offering only Guns and Guts. A long trail of uninspiring anti-heroes wiped out the taste for Guts, and we eventually wound up with only Guns. Wolfenstein brought the best example of this genre to video games.
So too Fantasy has gone through a similar transformation. Swords, sorcery, and the supernatural slid into swords and sorcery, and then just sorcery and maybe one sword. Worse, many fantasy tales have become little more than dark polemics.
Annwyn’s Blood is an outstanding exception. The authors seamlessly weave a tale of supernatural and spiritual devilry into a more or less classic Swords-and-Sorcery genre story.
Those who have fallen away from Fantasy for lack of motivation, depth, characterization, and out-of-the-box thinking will find Annwyn’s Blood a refreshing treat.
Ranking:
Michael and Steve are excellent writers. As with many fantasies, they struggle with the difficult task of creating a new world out of nothing. For readers of fantasy, this should not be a problem: Fantasy readers understand the authors must create a new world to explore.
Steve and Michael handle this tricky problem with great skill. The authors cleverly combine a fantasy world seemingly borrowed out of Advanced Dungeons & Dragons and medieval Byzantium, our name for the eastern half of the Roman Empire. The combination not only works, but the historical aspects gives Annwyn’s Blood a layer lost in most Fantasy fiction. Rather than a plastic world created from the memes and tropes of the latest movies and pop fiction, Annwyn’s Blood has the depth of a historical novel.
As always my ranking takes the target audience into account. If Gentle Readers enjoy A. D. & D., Burroughs, Lovecraft, or Zelazny, they will enjoy Annwyn’s Blood.
Format and Writing:
The writing is solid with clear descriptions and a good pace. The authors divided the subplots by chapter, which causes one to wonder what the main plot is for the first few chapters. This might disconcert a non-fantasy fan, or anyone unfamiliar with the genre, but I would remind Fantasy readers that Tolkien began his masterpiece with a long, long exposition on the history of Hobbits. I doubt any eBook author today could get away with that: Not even Tolkien.
Faith-Based:
Oh, really? You have to have faith for this to work on me! Mr. Vincent! Jerry Dandrige, Fright Night, 1985.
Annwyn’s Blood is a sort of a Faith-based novel. Though the story incorporates Christ as a force of good, the Christian aspects of the story seem tangential. Almost any positive, decent “force of good” could have stepped in and taken over. And if the “force of good” was culturally and historically consistent, I doubt anyone would be offended other than those who are offended as an act of professional extortion.
Don’t believe me? Go back to your favorite horror flicks!
Faith in Annwyn’s Blood is a viewpoint decision. The Grey Lord of the Otherworld is the devil, and the devil is bad. The Son of Man is a good guy. Eric has a soul, which is a good thing. Help comes from above without any hand-wringing in a matter of fact manner. I found that aspect of Annwyn’s Blood refreshing.
These and other views may be too much for some, but it’s really not a big deal. Turning vampires into glittery objects of romance is much more disturbing than letting Christians just be. Annwyn’s Blood is more fun than Son, and hardly worth this long comment here – other than to alert younger readers to recall that Christianity was once a common thread in science fiction and fantasy. After all, Christians invented virtually every cultural property worth having.
Annwyn’s Blood features vampires, zombies, a serious succubus, and so forth. The real challenge may not be the Christian motif, but the number of A.D. & D. references. Today we have a number of Nervous Nellies and Prissy Prudes who fret about everything from A. D. & D. to Harry Potter. Meanwhile our science education scores are in the toilet. Go figure.
Overall, the Christian element in Annwyn’s Blood is consistent with a medieval setting, a vampire tale, or any story in which the devil is the villain. Annwyn’s Blood is all three, and no one should be surprised or troubled.
Recommendation:
If you are a Fantasy fan, I strongly recommend the book. Although I think you will discover Annwyn’s Blood is a great book, I’m certain the worst that can happen is a few hours of pleasant reading.
About the authors:
Michael has aspired to be a writer for a long time. Despite living in Northern Virginia and focusing on domestic policy, he can handle a plot uncontaminated by political hokum. I will say, if he wants to drive to Alaska, he needs to take a recreational vehicle allowing enough time to enjoy the sights. Hundreds of endless miles of National Geographic views can cause highway hypnosis. Watch out for Miles Canyon at Whitehorse. The sight of the mighty Yukon will have you wanting to read Robert Service out loud.
In real-time, Steve is a family physician and both an Army and Navy veteran. Steve’s favorite authors are a familiar set of odd fellows including Burroughs, Lovecraft, Tolkien, and Zelazny. Why am I not surprised. Dungeons & Dragons inspired his early writing and yet he managed to avoid drug addiction, trouble with the law, and Satan worship. *Cue eyeroll.*
Reviewed by:
This is a review of the Kindle version downloaded during a free promotion.
Dan Knight
Author of
Cretaceous Clay and the Black Dwarf and
Cretaceous Clay and the Ninth Ring
July 18, 2017
I usually prefer my fantasy books to be a bit on the lighter side, but occasionally I will delve into the darker side of the genre. Annwyn’s Blood (The Paladin of Shadows Chronicles, # 1) certainly fits the bill. Here are my thoughts!
Synopsis (from the author): When Marianna was spirited away by unknown raiders, everyone expected a ransom demand to soon follow. Such was the peril of everyday royal life in the chaotic times following abandonment of the misty isles of Albion by indifferent Rome. But when weeks went by without word her father, High King Mattheus, dispatched teams of trusted warriors to find her and bring her assailants to account.
Young Erik, Scion of the House of Birkenshire, was one of these. Separated from his comrades and alone in hostile territories, he plunged headlong into forgotten vales and desolate coasts in pursuit, driven onward by precious memories of stolen tender moments. Then he stood before the grim fortress – wherein he found, not the innocent damsel of his youthful desires, but a terrifying beauty borne of an ancient evil that bound his soul to an even more primal force bent on regaining its place in the halls of human exaltation.
Now caught between two worlds, he must resist the temptations of his beloved-turned-succubus while protecting his family, his people and his world from the encroaching grasp of Arawn, Lord of Annwyn, Ruler of the Dead, Elder God of the Mabinogion. In this journey to regain his soul, the knight must find a way to strike the fatal blow against a resurgent primal darkness.
What I liked: Annwyn’s Blood has all the elements I like in a fantasy book! Evil, good, magic, and a quest to restore a soul all combine to make the book a great read. Erik, our protagonist, searches for Marianna, the daughter of the King. Unaware of the evil lurking where he finds her, he battles an evil being and loses his soul. But, enough, I won’t do spoilers! Suffice it to say, if you like dark fantasy, try this one!
What I didn’t like: I only had a couple of small issues with Annwyn’s Blood. First, it was difficult to follow exactly who was who and I found myself having to reread some parts for clarity. Secondly, some of the interactions at the convent seemed out of sorts with the story.
Overall impression: Annwyn’s Blood is an excellent start to The Paladin of Shadows Chronicles. Definitely not for children, the book is dark fantasy well-suited for adults. If you are a fantasy fan, read this one!
My rating: 4.5 Stars (rounded to 5 Stars)
Synopsis (from the author): When Marianna was spirited away by unknown raiders, everyone expected a ransom demand to soon follow. Such was the peril of everyday royal life in the chaotic times following abandonment of the misty isles of Albion by indifferent Rome. But when weeks went by without word her father, High King Mattheus, dispatched teams of trusted warriors to find her and bring her assailants to account.
Young Erik, Scion of the House of Birkenshire, was one of these. Separated from his comrades and alone in hostile territories, he plunged headlong into forgotten vales and desolate coasts in pursuit, driven onward by precious memories of stolen tender moments. Then he stood before the grim fortress – wherein he found, not the innocent damsel of his youthful desires, but a terrifying beauty borne of an ancient evil that bound his soul to an even more primal force bent on regaining its place in the halls of human exaltation.
Now caught between two worlds, he must resist the temptations of his beloved-turned-succubus while protecting his family, his people and his world from the encroaching grasp of Arawn, Lord of Annwyn, Ruler of the Dead, Elder God of the Mabinogion. In this journey to regain his soul, the knight must find a way to strike the fatal blow against a resurgent primal darkness.
What I liked: Annwyn’s Blood has all the elements I like in a fantasy book! Evil, good, magic, and a quest to restore a soul all combine to make the book a great read. Erik, our protagonist, searches for Marianna, the daughter of the King. Unaware of the evil lurking where he finds her, he battles an evil being and loses his soul. But, enough, I won’t do spoilers! Suffice it to say, if you like dark fantasy, try this one!
What I didn’t like: I only had a couple of small issues with Annwyn’s Blood. First, it was difficult to follow exactly who was who and I found myself having to reread some parts for clarity. Secondly, some of the interactions at the convent seemed out of sorts with the story.
Overall impression: Annwyn’s Blood is an excellent start to The Paladin of Shadows Chronicles. Definitely not for children, the book is dark fantasy well-suited for adults. If you are a fantasy fan, read this one!
My rating: 4.5 Stars (rounded to 5 Stars)
February 11, 2018
I thoroughly enjoyed Michael Eging's unique spin on a well versed tale. Containing elements both familiar and new to the King Arthur legend, this story takes place long after the once and future king's tale has ended. This book contains a wealth of inspiration for readers or writers of fantasy. Masterfully done.
April 25, 2016
Annwyn's Blood (The Paladin of Shadows Chronicles, #1) by Michael Eging is a fantasy science fiction set in Sub-Roman Britain. King Mattheus' daughter Marianna has been abducted, but when no word of ransom comes the King is forced to take matters into his own hands, dispatching his warriors to scour the land in search of her. The book follows this adventure from alternate perspectives, from the group of warriors following heresy and hope, to young Erik who finds far more than he bargained for. There is more at risk than the fate of one princess, the Ruler of the Dead has his own plans, to which both Marianna and Erik are central. Forced into a world between life and death Erik seeks a way to rid himself of the curse forced upon him by Marianna, and attempts to save her in the process.
The first thing that struck me about this book it the beautifully descriptive style of writing. the author has a skill to take even the most simplest things as inject feeling and magic into the words. Remaining true to the era the author describes things that would be, whilst avoiding those which would not, this is not only limited to equipment and structure, but things such as the exclusion modern day colloquialisms to embrace phrases and words which would have been used. One thing I am always wary of when reading historical books is the dialogue, sometimes, in a bid to be genuine to the speech too many old words can hinder the experience, but here the author, much in the style of my favourite author Karen Gray, finds the perfect balance between use of old words and phrasing a sentence appropriate to the time and speech pattern.
The turmoil suffered adds depth to the characters and the plot itself is full of unexpected twists and revelations, as well as an amalgamation of different religions to produce a well-rounded story. The author's style is immerse and events drive the plot forward. As the first book in the series it provides a very good hook to see readers will be eagerly awaiting the next instalment.
The first thing that struck me about this book it the beautifully descriptive style of writing. the author has a skill to take even the most simplest things as inject feeling and magic into the words. Remaining true to the era the author describes things that would be, whilst avoiding those which would not, this is not only limited to equipment and structure, but things such as the exclusion modern day colloquialisms to embrace phrases and words which would have been used. One thing I am always wary of when reading historical books is the dialogue, sometimes, in a bid to be genuine to the speech too many old words can hinder the experience, but here the author, much in the style of my favourite author Karen Gray, finds the perfect balance between use of old words and phrasing a sentence appropriate to the time and speech pattern.
The turmoil suffered adds depth to the characters and the plot itself is full of unexpected twists and revelations, as well as an amalgamation of different religions to produce a well-rounded story. The author's style is immerse and events drive the plot forward. As the first book in the series it provides a very good hook to see readers will be eagerly awaiting the next instalment.
June 11, 2014
Annwyn's Blood: The Paladin of Shadows by Michael Eging and Steve Arnold is a fast-paced, dark fantasy, historical thriller that keeps the reader turning pages all the way up to the end. The prose is smooth with good use of imagery. The strength of the story is in the excellent descriptions of action in the scenes. Here is one excerpt as an example. The hero Erik is fighting (and losing) a joust to the death.
"Through the young warrior’s muddled senses the steed’s hooves rang off the stones like a
smithy’s anvils clanging, clanging as rider and mount bore down. The lance punched his shield , hurling him to the ground. Time seemed to swim around him as he struggled to his knees, raising the tattered remnant of the shield once more."
The dark creepy scenes dominate the book as they should in a thriller. Here's an excerpt with the undead prince and his servant.
"The prince settled into his throne, pulling shadows closely around him. Magwyn briskly retreated, his heart pounding in his ears when the door snapped closed behind him and he stood once more alone. Alone but for the reverberating of the god’s laugh through the thick door. He hurried on his way, the sound burning like a white-hot brand in his mind."
With several types of villians/monsters and lots of undead ones, the story keeps you on edge and it thrills to the end. In many ways it read like a hollywood movie. I recommend Annwyn's Blood: The Paladin of Shadows to all who enjoy dark fantasy.
"Through the young warrior’s muddled senses the steed’s hooves rang off the stones like a
smithy’s anvils clanging, clanging as rider and mount bore down. The lance punched his shield , hurling him to the ground. Time seemed to swim around him as he struggled to his knees, raising the tattered remnant of the shield once more."
The dark creepy scenes dominate the book as they should in a thriller. Here's an excerpt with the undead prince and his servant.
"The prince settled into his throne, pulling shadows closely around him. Magwyn briskly retreated, his heart pounding in his ears when the door snapped closed behind him and he stood once more alone. Alone but for the reverberating of the god’s laugh through the thick door. He hurried on his way, the sound burning like a white-hot brand in his mind."
With several types of villians/monsters and lots of undead ones, the story keeps you on edge and it thrills to the end. In many ways it read like a hollywood movie. I recommend Annwyn's Blood: The Paladin of Shadows to all who enjoy dark fantasy.
October 9, 2013
This is a well written and clearly well researched book set in Saxon England. The period is captured perfectly; this is produced not only by the use of language appropriate to the setting, but also by the behaviour of the characters. Then, when what seems to be a well written work of historical fiction is tied into the Arthurian legend, a darker fantastic element is introduced in the form of ancient beliefs overshadowed by Christianity.
A knight who is attacked and plagued with a terrible curse, refuses to submit to the will of the dark arts and fights for all he holds dear, assisted by one who has not forgotten how to combat these peculiar forces.
If you want the best in sword and sorcery, then this is the book for you and I suspect this is the first in a series of books, judging by the way the novel ends.
I salute the author and look forward to the next chapter of The Paladin Shadows Chronicles.
A knight who is attacked and plagued with a terrible curse, refuses to submit to the will of the dark arts and fights for all he holds dear, assisted by one who has not forgotten how to combat these peculiar forces.
If you want the best in sword and sorcery, then this is the book for you and I suspect this is the first in a series of books, judging by the way the novel ends.
I salute the author and look forward to the next chapter of The Paladin Shadows Chronicles.
November 22, 2012
This book is a wonderful combination of historical fiction, dark fantasy, and folk lore with vampires and knights in shining armor to boot. Kept me on the edge of my seat and the scenes are so vivid and graphic I felt like I was there. Can't wait for book 2!
December 19, 2013
This was a dark and unique story with very well-developed characters. I really liked the style of writing and the scene setting was unmatched. I highly recommend this one. Well done!!
April 28, 2016
A great mix of legend, history and fantasy. Cleverly woven in a complex tale filled to the brim with detail, lovers of epic dark fantasies will really appreciate this meticulously crafted story
October 17, 2023
"Annwyn's Blood" immerses readers in a captivating dark fantasy world, providing a brief respite from reality. Follow Erik, Scion of the House of Birkenshire, on his quest to locate King's daughter Marianna. During the search, Erik was paired with the warrior Merrovaine, but a confusing incident leads to their separation. Undaunted, Erik forges ahead in his mission to find the missing princess.
Erik's wildest dream came true when he encountered the enigmatic Black Knight, a figure whose fearsome reputation haunted Erik's childhood. Marianna informs Erik that the Black Knight is supposedly deceased, yet he stands before them, shrouded in mystery. How is this possible? Uncover the truth by delving into this enthralling narrative.
This tale maintains an engaging pace, skillfully crafted characters, and a seamless, powerful narration that lingers in the reader's memory. The vivid backdrop setting enhances the overall experience, making "Annwyn's Blood" a worthwhile read.
Anticipation builds for the second installment in The Paladin of Shadow Chronicles book series.
Erik's wildest dream came true when he encountered the enigmatic Black Knight, a figure whose fearsome reputation haunted Erik's childhood. Marianna informs Erik that the Black Knight is supposedly deceased, yet he stands before them, shrouded in mystery. How is this possible? Uncover the truth by delving into this enthralling narrative.
This tale maintains an engaging pace, skillfully crafted characters, and a seamless, powerful narration that lingers in the reader's memory. The vivid backdrop setting enhances the overall experience, making "Annwyn's Blood" a worthwhile read.
Anticipation builds for the second installment in The Paladin of Shadow Chronicles book series.
Want to Read
January 30, 2020🎁 FREE on Amazon today (1/30/2020)! 🎁
February 5, 2014
Wow, where do I start? Haha... Well, I will start out with the positives on this book (I wish the system would've allowed me to have given it a 4.5 start rating instead of a 4).
Positives:
+ I thoroughly enjoyed the book and it kept me up all night til the early early morning hours... Basically, kept me up until the time that I should have been waking up!
+ I never knew what was going to be awaiting me at each chapter, and each one definitely took me by surprise! I was always on the edge of my seat while reading this. There were endless twists and plots with each turn of the page, and it felt nearly impossible to predict what might happen!
+ Cover art was really good and to this day it still creeps me out.
+ Chapter 15: On the Wings of Angels, page 153 was a heart breaker. It got me all choked up inside, and I wanted to crawl to a corner, wrapped in blankets, and cry for an eternity (it brought out my sensitive girly emotions and flashbacks of my early childhood days of watching Atreyu's horse slowly dying in the "Never Ending Story" movie).
Now for the negatives...:
- Normally I love it when authors focus on multiple characters/groups (like Dungeon and Dragons books, etc) but I think too many characters were being focused on and there were too many paged gaps between them, along with "too little" pages about them, if that makes much sense. I had to backtrack to previous chapters multiple times to refresh my memory on them. Near the end of the book the authors did better with having more story/pages with the other characters and it made it much more bearable... so I can kind of let it slide.
- Chapter 9: Knightfall, page 108... That entire page should just be torn out... I'm sorry, but that little start of fan service thrown in there made no sense what-so-ever... It threw me off and was uncalled for and caused me to lose interest in the book. It was something that a 13 year old boy starting puberty would have written. I was questioning if the book was going to just be fan service from there on out... LUCKILY I kept reading, and by the end of the chapter I was back to being sucked into the book.
BOTTOM LINE: This book was over all AWESOME and... I "thirst" for more! >^.^<
Positives:
+ I thoroughly enjoyed the book and it kept me up all night til the early early morning hours... Basically, kept me up until the time that I should have been waking up!
+ I never knew what was going to be awaiting me at each chapter, and each one definitely took me by surprise! I was always on the edge of my seat while reading this. There were endless twists and plots with each turn of the page, and it felt nearly impossible to predict what might happen!
+ Cover art was really good and to this day it still creeps me out.
+ Chapter 15: On the Wings of Angels, page 153 was a heart breaker. It got me all choked up inside, and I wanted to crawl to a corner, wrapped in blankets, and cry for an eternity (it brought out my sensitive girly emotions and flashbacks of my early childhood days of watching Atreyu's horse slowly dying in the "Never Ending Story" movie).
Now for the negatives...:
- Normally I love it when authors focus on multiple characters/groups (like Dungeon and Dragons books, etc) but I think too many characters were being focused on and there were too many paged gaps between them, along with "too little" pages about them, if that makes much sense. I had to backtrack to previous chapters multiple times to refresh my memory on them. Near the end of the book the authors did better with having more story/pages with the other characters and it made it much more bearable... so I can kind of let it slide.
- Chapter 9: Knightfall, page 108... That entire page should just be torn out... I'm sorry, but that little start of fan service thrown in there made no sense what-so-ever... It threw me off and was uncalled for and caused me to lose interest in the book. It was something that a 13 year old boy starting puberty would have written. I was questioning if the book was going to just be fan service from there on out... LUCKILY I kept reading, and by the end of the chapter I was back to being sucked into the book.
BOTTOM LINE: This book was over all AWESOME and... I "thirst" for more! >^.^<
August 23, 2016
‘Annwyn’s Blood’ begins as another medieval tale of derring do. Marianna, the beautiful daughter of Mattheus, High King of all Gwent, has been abducted while returning from a pilgrimage. All her guards and retainers have been brutally slain, but five weeks have passed and there has been no ransom demand. The kingdom is being scoured to find her. Amongst those seeking is a noble youth from ‘Birkenshire’ named Erik, a young knight in training, eager to prove himself to his King while nursing a secret love for the princess who is ‘out of his star’.
Rapidly, however, we realise that another genre has a major hand in this. A dark force is at work, with vast numbers of zombies and vampires at its disposal. A pagan God commands armies of the undead: Arawn of the Otherworld and Grey Prince in Annwyn where the dead reside. He lures those with the disposition away from the Christian God who has supplanted him in so many lands. His plan to take his power back involves taking Marianna as his bride and pursuing the virtuous Christian Erik with temptation in the shape of Marianna in repeated attempts to get him to take his covenant. Taking the Grey God’s covenant grants eternal youth, but at a bloody price – which you will discover, if you read this book as I urge you to do. ‘Annwyn’s Blood’ gets the story underway. The full tale will unfold in further volume/s.
Although the authors do not share my personal dislike of subordinate clauses beginning with ‘as’, they write very well, with a penchant for alliteration and assonance. Just one example among many: Erik in a dream “swept the sword as a scythe, blood flowing is steaming streams from beneath his booted feet.” There is fine irony: “Dripping tallow candles flickered around the hole in the floor to prevent anyone seeking nocturnal devotion from falling into the pit and breaking their contrite necks.” The incidental detail needed to root the tale in its time and help their readers suspend their disbelief is there in abundance. Here medieval chivalry and true virtue are pitted against a Prince of Darkness with dreadful power over the undead and a force of voracious vampires at his disposal. The struggle and the sacrifice is profound.
Rapidly, however, we realise that another genre has a major hand in this. A dark force is at work, with vast numbers of zombies and vampires at its disposal. A pagan God commands armies of the undead: Arawn of the Otherworld and Grey Prince in Annwyn where the dead reside. He lures those with the disposition away from the Christian God who has supplanted him in so many lands. His plan to take his power back involves taking Marianna as his bride and pursuing the virtuous Christian Erik with temptation in the shape of Marianna in repeated attempts to get him to take his covenant. Taking the Grey God’s covenant grants eternal youth, but at a bloody price – which you will discover, if you read this book as I urge you to do. ‘Annwyn’s Blood’ gets the story underway. The full tale will unfold in further volume/s.
Although the authors do not share my personal dislike of subordinate clauses beginning with ‘as’, they write very well, with a penchant for alliteration and assonance. Just one example among many: Erik in a dream “swept the sword as a scythe, blood flowing is steaming streams from beneath his booted feet.” There is fine irony: “Dripping tallow candles flickered around the hole in the floor to prevent anyone seeking nocturnal devotion from falling into the pit and breaking their contrite necks.” The incidental detail needed to root the tale in its time and help their readers suspend their disbelief is there in abundance. Here medieval chivalry and true virtue are pitted against a Prince of Darkness with dreadful power over the undead and a force of voracious vampires at his disposal. The struggle and the sacrifice is profound.
January 20, 2014
I received "Annwyn's Blood" in return for an honest review from Goodreads First Reads giveaways.
To start things off, this book is a little outside of the normal faire I tend to get into, but I'm glad I received it for I was pleasantly surprised.
Where it began is with a boy by the name of Dylan wanting to become a part of the church because he wanted to read. This simple desire of course gets him into trouble years later when he accidently strengthened an death god alongside his room-mate before disappearing never to be seen again. They do not show up again later. His actions only ended up serving to set the stage for the rest of the book.
Marianna, a local princess, has gone missing, whisked away by unknown assailants. It was a common enough event back in those days for a royal. So her father expected ransom demands but there were none. Naturally he grew worried the more time past and then sent out his best men in order to find her and punish them.
Erik, our main character, is one of these men. He is young, brash and brave. Soon enough he is separated from the others only to find her, but not the her he had once known. She has been twisted by this death god into something else. He doesn't notice this until after she has him ensnared, changing his body into a being caught between life and death. The only thing he barely manages to cling to is his sense of self due to his refusing to take the last step and become the death god's servant.
The death god, Arawn, does not make this easy for he is challenged in many ways by his family as well as Marianna. All the while, he is searching for a way to save Marianna as well as his own soul.
The only thing that I think that I will have to complain about is that it was too short. I know that "Annwyn's Blood" is the start of a series but the pacing felt a little off towards the end. It felt like the ending of a regular chapter, not the ending of a book. Other than that, it was an great read and I am glad that the authors dug it out of the hard-drive that it had been sitting on and published it.
To start things off, this book is a little outside of the normal faire I tend to get into, but I'm glad I received it for I was pleasantly surprised.
Where it began is with a boy by the name of Dylan wanting to become a part of the church because he wanted to read. This simple desire of course gets him into trouble years later when he accidently strengthened an death god alongside his room-mate before disappearing never to be seen again. They do not show up again later. His actions only ended up serving to set the stage for the rest of the book.
Marianna, a local princess, has gone missing, whisked away by unknown assailants. It was a common enough event back in those days for a royal. So her father expected ransom demands but there were none. Naturally he grew worried the more time past and then sent out his best men in order to find her and punish them.
Erik, our main character, is one of these men. He is young, brash and brave. Soon enough he is separated from the others only to find her, but not the her he had once known. She has been twisted by this death god into something else. He doesn't notice this until after she has him ensnared, changing his body into a being caught between life and death. The only thing he barely manages to cling to is his sense of self due to his refusing to take the last step and become the death god's servant.
The death god, Arawn, does not make this easy for he is challenged in many ways by his family as well as Marianna. All the while, he is searching for a way to save Marianna as well as his own soul.
The only thing that I think that I will have to complain about is that it was too short. I know that "Annwyn's Blood" is the start of a series but the pacing felt a little off towards the end. It felt like the ending of a regular chapter, not the ending of a book. Other than that, it was an great read and I am glad that the authors dug it out of the hard-drive that it had been sitting on and published it.
October 24, 2015
Dark Fantasy Tale With Elements of the Undead
There’s nothing more enticing than reading about suspenseful battles between good and evil. Annwyn’s Blood is such a story. Dylan, a young Latin scribe, discovers a book written by a monk named Jonathan living on an isle off the sea of Albion’s coast. As the boy reads the chronicle of Arthur and Merlin Emrys, and the prophecy of the Graal, the medieval story unfolds, grabs you and doesn’t let go.
In the chronicles of Arthur in Celtic lands, the knight Eric of Birkenshire is sent by king Mattheus to find his daughter the princess Marianna. In his quest Eric vows to pursue the villains who kidnapped and hold the princess at his own peril. For Eric, a mere knight, is in love with the princess, but he consider himself too low in nobility stature to win her heart. Yet, when she is kidnapped, Eric swears to snatch her from the gray and evil men, led by the Black Knight some believed to be the un-dead and having the souls of the damned.
The co-authors, Michael Eging and Steve Arnold, give us a vivid dark fantasy tale of evil men and those who would not let them conquer the world of the living. The description of knights fighting evil is so realistic, you’ll find yourself among them going through a desolate countryside and forbidden woods and fighting their battles.
A highly recommended book!
There’s nothing more enticing than reading about suspenseful battles between good and evil. Annwyn’s Blood is such a story. Dylan, a young Latin scribe, discovers a book written by a monk named Jonathan living on an isle off the sea of Albion’s coast. As the boy reads the chronicle of Arthur and Merlin Emrys, and the prophecy of the Graal, the medieval story unfolds, grabs you and doesn’t let go.
In the chronicles of Arthur in Celtic lands, the knight Eric of Birkenshire is sent by king Mattheus to find his daughter the princess Marianna. In his quest Eric vows to pursue the villains who kidnapped and hold the princess at his own peril. For Eric, a mere knight, is in love with the princess, but he consider himself too low in nobility stature to win her heart. Yet, when she is kidnapped, Eric swears to snatch her from the gray and evil men, led by the Black Knight some believed to be the un-dead and having the souls of the damned.
The co-authors, Michael Eging and Steve Arnold, give us a vivid dark fantasy tale of evil men and those who would not let them conquer the world of the living. The description of knights fighting evil is so realistic, you’ll find yourself among them going through a desolate countryside and forbidden woods and fighting their battles.
A highly recommended book!
November 28, 2015
In the prologue of this book, one character reads the story of Sir Percival, a legendary knight who fought off warriors, monsters, and seductive women to bring the Holy Grail to King Arthur. This account is a good bit of foreshadowing for what’s to come in the epic of ‘Annwyn’s Blood.’
The story centers on another quest, not for the Holy Grail, but for the kidnapped Princess Marianna. The primary hero, Sir Erik, is a bit more flawed than the saintly Percival. Erik harbors secret desires for the missing princess, and he finds himself quickly dragged into the machinations and temptations of evil powers that may be beyond his power to defeat or resist. Erik’s ultimate foe is Arawn, the ancient Welsh god of the underworld. Arawn wants to induct Erik into his literally bloodthirsty army of the undead!
My favorite part of ‘Annwyn’s Blood,’ is the way it mixes vampire legends and Welsh mythology with the Christian tradition of high-fantasy British legend. The book establishes a world that feels well-grounded in history, but also has a unique, dark twist to it. I look forward to the surprises to come in Book 2!
The story centers on another quest, not for the Holy Grail, but for the kidnapped Princess Marianna. The primary hero, Sir Erik, is a bit more flawed than the saintly Percival. Erik harbors secret desires for the missing princess, and he finds himself quickly dragged into the machinations and temptations of evil powers that may be beyond his power to defeat or resist. Erik’s ultimate foe is Arawn, the ancient Welsh god of the underworld. Arawn wants to induct Erik into his literally bloodthirsty army of the undead!
My favorite part of ‘Annwyn’s Blood,’ is the way it mixes vampire legends and Welsh mythology with the Christian tradition of high-fantasy British legend. The book establishes a world that feels well-grounded in history, but also has a unique, dark twist to it. I look forward to the surprises to come in Book 2!
February 10, 2014
What I'm about to say is not a joke or a tongue in cheek statement to make you want to run out and buy the book right after you read my review. I'm saying it because I mean it! Before you read this book, fasten your seat belts. I know that sounds cheap but it's true. This book is not only entertaining and filled with action, it's a truly wild read. In other words, fasten your mental seat belts. Ok, that was cheap. The actual story line seems pretty basic; Princess Marianna is kidnapped and her father, the king sends his knights to go out and find her. One of them, Eric of Birkenshire finds his way into an environment that is occupied fully by evil and he might have to become evil in order to survive but does he? And does Princess Marianna ever get rescued? As I said before, the story line seems pretty simple but once you actually read the book, you'll find yourself being entertained more and more as you read further. Michael Eging did a great job at creating a well thought out story while never boring us with unnecessary material.
January 15, 2015
Annwyn's Blood is a fascinating tale written by Michael Eging and Steve Arnold. It reminded me of a thrilling blend of The Lord of the Rings and King Arthur with beautifully written prose and description that delights the senses.
It begins with a gripping prologue depicting two religious novices and great friends, Dylan and Cedric, who wish to serve the Lord, and seek a mysterious and prophetic holy graal. These prior scenes provide a captivating backdrop to the main story.
As the central protagonist, Sir Erik of Birkenshire, goes on a quest to seek Marianna, the missing king's daughter and Erik's youthful crush, he stumbles upon an overpowering and ancient evil. This takes Erik on a journey of passion and struggle to save his own soul and protect his people from Arawn of Annwyn, the Ruler of the Dead.
I think readers will relate to Erik's interior struggle to do what's right, while being entertained by a unique story filled with bright imagery that was hard for me to put down!
It begins with a gripping prologue depicting two religious novices and great friends, Dylan and Cedric, who wish to serve the Lord, and seek a mysterious and prophetic holy graal. These prior scenes provide a captivating backdrop to the main story.
As the central protagonist, Sir Erik of Birkenshire, goes on a quest to seek Marianna, the missing king's daughter and Erik's youthful crush, he stumbles upon an overpowering and ancient evil. This takes Erik on a journey of passion and struggle to save his own soul and protect his people from Arawn of Annwyn, the Ruler of the Dead.
I think readers will relate to Erik's interior struggle to do what's right, while being entertained by a unique story filled with bright imagery that was hard for me to put down!
November 8, 2013
When the princess Marianna is kidnapped by strangers and her entire guard is slaughtered, her father sets out with his best knights to find her. As hard as they search, the trails all disappear except for one in which the young knight Eric of Birkenshire finds a remote stronghold. After finding his way inside, he’s confronted by a force he never imagined possible as he is forced into becoming one of the undead.
Okay, first of all I have to admit I’ve extremely jealous I never thought of this. I mean, vampires, zombies, and knights? It’s such an awesome concept. Even better is the flow of the story as it takes you through the young knight’s adventures through both worlds as he continues his search for the princess and a way to end his curse.
This is one of the best fantasy stories I’ve read in a while and I can’t wait for the next book in the series to come out (No pressure. Honest. :) ).
Okay, first of all I have to admit I’ve extremely jealous I never thought of this. I mean, vampires, zombies, and knights? It’s such an awesome concept. Even better is the flow of the story as it takes you through the young knight’s adventures through both worlds as he continues his search for the princess and a way to end his curse.
This is one of the best fantasy stories I’ve read in a while and I can’t wait for the next book in the series to come out (No pressure. Honest. :) ).
March 2, 2015
This is a historical book of, out of this world, places and events; a very hard read indeed. The book was like a study in the history of this mythical place full of demons and half demons, where real humans played peripheral roles. The gods, both ancient and archaic ruled. Humans were just pawn in the hands of the gods.
I found reading this story difficult to follow, so much, that at times, I had to re-read a sentence, or whole paragraph to follow the narration. I like reading stories that will entertain me, that will give me pleasure, that will inspire me, and that will send me to the dream world. Not this story. It was hard and difficult to follow. Some of the names and places were like Latin to my ears.
The book is very well written, grammatically correct, so to say, but it left me feeling that the words were being translated into English from another language, just a feeling. I would have enjoyed this story better if the style of writing were more reader friendly.
I found reading this story difficult to follow, so much, that at times, I had to re-read a sentence, or whole paragraph to follow the narration. I like reading stories that will entertain me, that will give me pleasure, that will inspire me, and that will send me to the dream world. Not this story. It was hard and difficult to follow. Some of the names and places were like Latin to my ears.
The book is very well written, grammatically correct, so to say, but it left me feeling that the words were being translated into English from another language, just a feeling. I would have enjoyed this story better if the style of writing were more reader friendly.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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April 28, 2015This is a well written and researched book set in Saxon England. The period is captured perfectly; this is produced not only by the use of language appropriate to the setting, but also by the behaviour of the characters. Then, when what seems to be a well written work of historical fiction is tied into the Arthurian legend, a darker fantastic element is introduced in the form of ancient beliefs overshadowed by Christianity.
A knight who is attacked and plagued with a terrible curse, refuses to submit to the will of the dark arts and fights for all he holds dear, assisted by one who has not forgotten how to combat these peculiar forces.
If you want the best in sword and sorcery, then this is the book for you and I suspect this is the first in a series of books, judging by the way the novel ends.
I salute the author and look forward to the next chapter of The Paladin Shadows Chronicles.
A knight who is attacked and plagued with a terrible curse, refuses to submit to the will of the dark arts and fights for all he holds dear, assisted by one who has not forgotten how to combat these peculiar forces.
If you want the best in sword and sorcery, then this is the book for you and I suspect this is the first in a series of books, judging by the way the novel ends.
I salute the author and look forward to the next chapter of The Paladin Shadows Chronicles.
April 20, 2014
Warring forces of good and evil, the princess in peril, the brave knight who vows to rescue her – Annwyn’s Blood has all the magical components of a tale of yore - and so much more. The noble young knight Eric who sets out to rescue Princess Marianna discovers that the enemy he faces is not kidnappers as everyone assumed, but Arawn, ruler of the un-dead, and Marianna herself.
This was a well written book in every respect – plot, characters, the vivid descriptions, including the forbidding, mist-clad coast which smacked of lurking dangers and evil. Every scene, action-packed or not, had an ominous cloud hanging over it. If I have any complaint, it would be that when I got to the end, I was left wanting more. I hope there's a sequel in the works, Micheal Eging, because I can't wait to see what happens next.
Enjoy being swept away on the wings of fantasy? Read this book!
This was a well written book in every respect – plot, characters, the vivid descriptions, including the forbidding, mist-clad coast which smacked of lurking dangers and evil. Every scene, action-packed or not, had an ominous cloud hanging over it. If I have any complaint, it would be that when I got to the end, I was left wanting more. I hope there's a sequel in the works, Micheal Eging, because I can't wait to see what happens next.
Enjoy being swept away on the wings of fantasy? Read this book!
February 17, 2015
Annwyn’s Blood, the first in The Paladin Shadows Chronicles, is a surprisingly dark, unique book, based in ancient England. It is well researched, fast-paced and full of sorcery and sword battles. The many characters, including knights, damsels in distress, vampires, zombies and ‘the undead’ are drawn well and the authors weave a complicated plot, full of intrigue, with many imaginative twists. Eric of Birkenshire, the hero of the piece, battles the curse of the undead and gains the sympathy of the reader from the start. It is on one level a classic battle of good against evil, but the sum of the book is much more than just that. Does Eric succeed in his quest to defeat the evil force? You will have to read Annwyn’s Blood yourself to find out. An excellent book and a perfect read for lovers of the fantasy/horror genre.
June 11, 2015
Annwyn's Blood is a good start to a series that I look forward reading further. The authors have structured a solid plot that progresses through some interesting twists amid a progressively dark setting. I'm engrossed with the main character, Erik, and his struggles with his faith contrasted with his curse. But he's solidly focused on saving both himself and the woman he loves. It's a good read. My only complaint is that characterization seems a bit stilted by narrative distance but that's more my taste. Readers won't be disappointed with this tense adventure.
May 30, 2016
Set in one of the most interesting times in Britain's history, when the Romans have been called back to Rome and their descendants and the original British are facing new settlers and fierce competition. A Druid pagan in a now Christian land and a young man changed into something terrible and fighting for his soul, face evil so powerful we can't see how it may be stopped. An exciting read not easy to put down.
August 10, 2018
An exciting and dark read filled with evil creatures, battles, and intrigue. Erik is an interesting leading man--a sort of fallen angel struggling against the temptations of a darker destiny. There are lots of thrilling descriptions, historical, religious, and legendary parallels, and rich literary gems. This is a pretty fast read--it really draws you in--and I'd recommend it to any fantasy fan.
May 17, 2016
Really great fantasy!
There is some really great fantasy happening in this book, the tale of a Christian knight of the late Dark Ages cursed with vampirism (apparently vampirism stems from an ancient Celtic god of death), and beginning a quest in defiance of that death-god! Check it out!
There is some really great fantasy happening in this book, the tale of a Christian knight of the late Dark Ages cursed with vampirism (apparently vampirism stems from an ancient Celtic god of death), and beginning a quest in defiance of that death-god! Check it out!
January 17, 2014
I recieved this as a prize from Goodreads, and I haven't regretted it! Good characterisation, good scenic visualisation and plain old good sword and sorcery! Would recommend these authors if they keep up this standard!
October 16, 2023
I love reading dark fantasies. Recently I got my hands on Annwyn's Blood, Book one of 'The Paladin of Shadow Chronicles' series. The story features princess Marianna. She is the daughter of Mattheus, High King. When she was on her return journey to her home city, she was kidnapped. Being the eldest daughter of the royal family, Marianna had embarked on her annual pilgrimage north to lay flowers on the grave of Princess Tudful.
Nobody had any idea that the tragedy would happen on her return journey. It has been five weeks and there is no communication about her. The ransom demand that was expected also didn't come. Mattheus is worried for his daughter. Aldonzo, a Visigoth prince, was betrothed to Marianna by the princess' mother. The King didn't like Aldonzo much. When the search parties were selected, Aldonzo was absent.
Young Erik, Scion of the House of Birkenshire is one of the warriors who is genuinely concerned for the princess. He got separated from his comrades and began his search alone. Erik is in front of the fortress where one dark knight lives. Will Erik be successful in his mission?
This is a captivating story that hooked my attention from the first page itself. The pace of the story is fine and there weren't any dull moments in it. The characters are written well. Erik's character is my favorite from the book. Those who enjoy reading fantasy stories should definitely add this one to their tbr.
Nobody had any idea that the tragedy would happen on her return journey. It has been five weeks and there is no communication about her. The ransom demand that was expected also didn't come. Mattheus is worried for his daughter. Aldonzo, a Visigoth prince, was betrothed to Marianna by the princess' mother. The King didn't like Aldonzo much. When the search parties were selected, Aldonzo was absent.
Young Erik, Scion of the House of Birkenshire is one of the warriors who is genuinely concerned for the princess. He got separated from his comrades and began his search alone. Erik is in front of the fortress where one dark knight lives. Will Erik be successful in his mission?
This is a captivating story that hooked my attention from the first page itself. The pace of the story is fine and there weren't any dull moments in it. The characters are written well. Erik's character is my favorite from the book. Those who enjoy reading fantasy stories should definitely add this one to their tbr.
October 16, 2023
Annwyn's Blood written by the authors Michael Eging and Steve Arnold is the first book in "The Paladin of Shadow Chronicles" book series. Mattheus is a High King. Caerleon is his capital, his home and First City. When Mattheus' daughter was returning to Caerleon, she was abducted. All her guards and retainers had been brutally slain.
Mattheus waited for five weeks for a ransom demand but he received no communication. The trusted warriors he sent are returning. Only Merrovaine and Erik from Birkenshire are following a lead westward. As a child, Erik has heard stories of Black Knight. He has to discover whether he really exists. Read this story to know will any warrior be successful in finding the princess.
The storyline is interesting. This book is gripping and unputdownable. I appreciate the vivid imagination of the authors in creating this fantasy world. I enjoyed every bit of this book. The writing style of the authors is amazing. The cover photo is eye-catching. I strongly recommend this book to my fellow readers.
Mattheus waited for five weeks for a ransom demand but he received no communication. The trusted warriors he sent are returning. Only Merrovaine and Erik from Birkenshire are following a lead westward. As a child, Erik has heard stories of Black Knight. He has to discover whether he really exists. Read this story to know will any warrior be successful in finding the princess.
The storyline is interesting. This book is gripping and unputdownable. I appreciate the vivid imagination of the authors in creating this fantasy world. I enjoyed every bit of this book. The writing style of the authors is amazing. The cover photo is eye-catching. I strongly recommend this book to my fellow readers.
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