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A Dagger in the Dark
Twenty years before the events of The Look of a King, in a world on the cusp of change, a young man dreams of a life far from the one he has known.
Is he a captain in the making, or out of his depth?
The stakes are high, and only time will tell if the spoils are worth the gamble. . .
Is he a captain in the making, or out of his depth?
The stakes are high, and only time will tell if the spoils are worth the gamble. . .
- GenresFantasy
Published August 7, 2023
59 people want to read
About the author
Tom Dumbrell
7 books105 followersTom was born in 1987 in Chelmsford, Essex. As a boy, he fell in love with the fantasy worlds of video games and those written by the likes of J.R.R Tolkien and Philip Pullman.
Despite an early passion for storytelling, Tom obtained a BA in Tourism Management before a varied career in the travel industry, bringing to life another of his passions. When he is not working, Tom is an avid fan of his beloved Ipswich Town. He also writes and performs music and enjoys long walks with his wife and dogs.
Tom currently lives near Colchester, Essex, and The Pillars of Peace trilogy was written during the coronavirus pandemic with huge influence and editing support from his wife, Breana.
Contact Tom: tomdumbrell@aol.com
Despite an early passion for storytelling, Tom obtained a BA in Tourism Management before a varied career in the travel industry, bringing to life another of his passions. When he is not working, Tom is an avid fan of his beloved Ipswich Town. He also writes and performs music and enjoys long walks with his wife and dogs.
Tom currently lives near Colchester, Essex, and The Pillars of Peace trilogy was written during the coronavirus pandemic with huge influence and editing support from his wife, Breana.
Contact Tom: tomdumbrell@aol.com
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
August 18, 2023
Tom Dumbrell is back!
Let me clarify that I was ecstatic when I heard that Dumbrell would release a novella. Book 3 in The Pillars of Peace trilogy was Dumbrell’s finest work to date, and I was pleased to hear that he would continue writing! So, what did I think?
Overall, A Dagger in the Dark is a solid, short novella with some great twists (in typical Dumbrell fashion), excellent pacing and a satisfying conclusion. One of the highlights is that Garret also appears in this novella, one of my favourite characters from the original trilogy.
If you are a fan of The Pillars of Peace or want to check out Dumbrell’s writing, this is definitely worth reading. It is not a groundbreaking fantasy novella by any means, and the story is relatively simplistic, but overall, this story is a good time. Let’s hope this is not the last time we see a new story from Tom Dumbrell!
3.5 / 5 stars
Let me clarify that I was ecstatic when I heard that Dumbrell would release a novella. Book 3 in The Pillars of Peace trilogy was Dumbrell’s finest work to date, and I was pleased to hear that he would continue writing! So, what did I think?
Overall, A Dagger in the Dark is a solid, short novella with some great twists (in typical Dumbrell fashion), excellent pacing and a satisfying conclusion. One of the highlights is that Garret also appears in this novella, one of my favourite characters from the original trilogy.
If you are a fan of The Pillars of Peace or want to check out Dumbrell’s writing, this is definitely worth reading. It is not a groundbreaking fantasy novella by any means, and the story is relatively simplistic, but overall, this story is a good time. Let’s hope this is not the last time we see a new story from Tom Dumbrell!
3.5 / 5 stars
August 25, 2023
Like the original Pillars of Peace trilogy, A Dagger in the Dark is a fast, bingeable read that showcases Dumbrell's talent for storytelling. This novella came as a total surprise when it was first announced, and I was even more eager for the release upon hearing that it was a pirate focused story.
The final book of the original trilogy showcased Dumbrell's growth as a writer, and this novella was no different. The writing felt tighter, more sophisticated, but it still read as easily the main trilogy. I do wish it was longer, though it is just a minor complaint.
The pacing and the plot were exciting, comprising of a fun twist while providing great background on some characters from the main trilogy. One aspect that I loved about this novella is that it could be picked and enjoyed by anyone, whether you have read Pillars of Peace or not. I find myself frustrated when authors release prequel novellas that require tons of context and require the reader to have read the series prior, and that is not the case here.
It's a perfect novella for a reader who may be interested in the series, and it is also a fun read for those who have already made their way through the main series.
The final book of the original trilogy showcased Dumbrell's growth as a writer, and this novella was no different. The writing felt tighter, more sophisticated, but it still read as easily the main trilogy. I do wish it was longer, though it is just a minor complaint.
The pacing and the plot were exciting, comprising of a fun twist while providing great background on some characters from the main trilogy. One aspect that I loved about this novella is that it could be picked and enjoyed by anyone, whether you have read Pillars of Peace or not. I find myself frustrated when authors release prequel novellas that require tons of context and require the reader to have read the series prior, and that is not the case here.
It's a perfect novella for a reader who may be interested in the series, and it is also a fun read for those who have already made their way through the main series.
February 24, 2024
The author surprise attacked us with this novella’s release, but I ain’t mad at it.
This is a prequel novella that takes place 20 years before the events of The Look of a King. It follows a much younger Roscoe, and his journey to being the pirate/semi-King’s man that we know him as.
This novella is witty, well written, and filled with wise cracks. I will say that I do wish that we got a bit more of the gritty side, as they are pirates, but the story is just as enjoyable without it.
I would like to be reading side stories from this world for years to come. Let’s go to new places, see new faces, and find new favorites. Personally a 5/5* for me, I’m still longing for more.
https://fanfiaddict.com/review-a-dagg...
This is a prequel novella that takes place 20 years before the events of The Look of a King. It follows a much younger Roscoe, and his journey to being the pirate/semi-King’s man that we know him as.
This novella is witty, well written, and filled with wise cracks. I will say that I do wish that we got a bit more of the gritty side, as they are pirates, but the story is just as enjoyable without it.
I would like to be reading side stories from this world for years to come. Let’s go to new places, see new faces, and find new favorites. Personally a 5/5* for me, I’m still longing for more.
https://fanfiaddict.com/review-a-dagg...
August 15, 2023
I was beyond excited to see Dumbrell return to this world!
This fast paced, beautifully worded novella gives us a taste of what I hope is one of many backstories from his original trilogy.
Set 20 years prior to The Pillars of Peace, a man makes a choice. To change his fate, and throw everything he has to the seas. Will he sink or swim in his quest to become the next great captain?
This fast paced, beautifully worded novella gives us a taste of what I hope is one of many backstories from his original trilogy.
Set 20 years prior to The Pillars of Peace, a man makes a choice. To change his fate, and throw everything he has to the seas. Will he sink or swim in his quest to become the next great captain?
September 1, 2023
To pursue his dream it will take a dangerous gamble. For not all crewmen are welcoming to an aspiring pirate on the high seas.
An absolute joy! Loaded with tons of heart, humour & high stakes! An excellent novella addition to a fantastic series.
An absolute joy! Loaded with tons of heart, humour & high stakes! An excellent novella addition to a fantastic series.
December 23, 2023
""Lazy, undisciplined, smart-mouthed, and clumsy." The captain paced the deck as he spoke, and Roscoe began to wonder if the spirit of his disapproving father had possessed the man, so similar were their views."
I was delighted to get this book. I had previously said on bookstagram that I would love to see a prequel of Garrett, Anselm, or Roscoe. Now objectively Roscoe has only small parts in the Pillars of Peace series and there might be better characters in the series as a whole but I think subjectively, Roscoe is my most favorite character. So I'm happy we get more of his story.
While I am very happy it is more of Roscoe's story, my god does Tom put little Roscoe through some terrible stuff. More than once I had to flip back to the title page to check if it was Tom or Robin Hobb doing the writing the way the protagonist is tortured.
When I think of Tom Dumbrell, I think of fast-paced and twisty-plots. This story was no different. It was fast, bloody, dark and emotional and expanded the word wonderfully. The ending was heart-warming and satisfying. Even though it is the fourth book to be released in the series, this is actually a prequel novella and can be read before or after any of the books, it stands really well on its own.
In conclusion, I will simply say that Tom Dumbrell is an excellent writer and I sincerely hope that he writes more books whether in this or newer worlds.
I was delighted to get this book. I had previously said on bookstagram that I would love to see a prequel of Garrett, Anselm, or Roscoe. Now objectively Roscoe has only small parts in the Pillars of Peace series and there might be better characters in the series as a whole but I think subjectively, Roscoe is my most favorite character. So I'm happy we get more of his story.
While I am very happy it is more of Roscoe's story, my god does Tom put little Roscoe through some terrible stuff. More than once I had to flip back to the title page to check if it was Tom or Robin Hobb doing the writing the way the protagonist is tortured.
When I think of Tom Dumbrell, I think of fast-paced and twisty-plots. This story was no different. It was fast, bloody, dark and emotional and expanded the word wonderfully. The ending was heart-warming and satisfying. Even though it is the fourth book to be released in the series, this is actually a prequel novella and can be read before or after any of the books, it stands really well on its own.
In conclusion, I will simply say that Tom Dumbrell is an excellent writer and I sincerely hope that he writes more books whether in this or newer worlds.
September 2, 2023
4/5
Tom Dumbrell is back further expanding the world of the Pillars of Peace with this prequel novella showcasing one of his most enigmatic characters - the pirate captain Roscoe. I’ve been vocal with Tom before, hoping we’d get more from this world outside of the original trilogy; and now that we have, this prequel certainly doesn’t disappoint.
Dagger in the Dark hits many of the highs seen in the original trilogy in the classic Tom Dumbrell style. Wicked pacing, both loveable and detestable characters, strong world building and an exceptional narrative voice. Of course, I also can’t forget plenty of twists and turns which permeated the original trilogy as well. Tom’s writing is at his best here as well, along with Where Heroes We’re Born.
Roscoe in the original trilogy was a brilliantly fun character, with the prequel here adding some extra depth to the character. My only criticism is that Roscoe could have easily carried his own book, or even his own trilogy himself - this prequel is certainly indicative of that.
Tom initially said the finale of Pillars of Peace would be his last book, much to my dismay. Now he claims this to be his last book. I really hope he changes his mind again because his evolution as a writer is a joy to see and there is so much more to the world he’s penned in the Pillars of Peace. More stories involving Roscoe, or even a collection of short stories giving us further insight and depth into characters such as Broderick, Simeon and Thaddeus. Or, there’s a certain icy wilderness ripe for exploring - right Tom?
Dagger in the Dark is the perfect point for new readers of the series looking to dive in, or for already established fans looking to learn more about this brilliant world and its brilliant characters. With plenty of throwbacks to the original trilogy, as well as some added extra depth for characters that made their home there - this novella hit all the right spots for me.
Please continue, Tom.
Tom Dumbrell is back further expanding the world of the Pillars of Peace with this prequel novella showcasing one of his most enigmatic characters - the pirate captain Roscoe. I’ve been vocal with Tom before, hoping we’d get more from this world outside of the original trilogy; and now that we have, this prequel certainly doesn’t disappoint.
Dagger in the Dark hits many of the highs seen in the original trilogy in the classic Tom Dumbrell style. Wicked pacing, both loveable and detestable characters, strong world building and an exceptional narrative voice. Of course, I also can’t forget plenty of twists and turns which permeated the original trilogy as well. Tom’s writing is at his best here as well, along with Where Heroes We’re Born.
Roscoe in the original trilogy was a brilliantly fun character, with the prequel here adding some extra depth to the character. My only criticism is that Roscoe could have easily carried his own book, or even his own trilogy himself - this prequel is certainly indicative of that.
Tom initially said the finale of Pillars of Peace would be his last book, much to my dismay. Now he claims this to be his last book. I really hope he changes his mind again because his evolution as a writer is a joy to see and there is so much more to the world he’s penned in the Pillars of Peace. More stories involving Roscoe, or even a collection of short stories giving us further insight and depth into characters such as Broderick, Simeon and Thaddeus. Or, there’s a certain icy wilderness ripe for exploring - right Tom?
Dagger in the Dark is the perfect point for new readers of the series looking to dive in, or for already established fans looking to learn more about this brilliant world and its brilliant characters. With plenty of throwbacks to the original trilogy, as well as some added extra depth for characters that made their home there - this novella hit all the right spots for me.
Please continue, Tom.
August 12, 2023
The Dagger in the Dark
A novella that was never meant to be wrote, from the author that had told all of his stories, from the mind of the man who didn’t want to write anymore.
This prequel novella sets place back in the world I so love yet still cannot pronounce, Quadriparte. Exploring the world with one of the beloved smart arses from the original trilogy Tom jumps straight back with his incredible characters, giving you insight into how and why they became who they are.
Without spoiling the book I can’t go into much detail. All I can say is if you love Tom’s short sharp action packed pocket rocket fantasy series, well this fits perfectly in with the series. Being able to be read before or after the original it nicely enters you into the world or gives you that hit of heart warming joy after the ending rips it to shreds.
Another solid 5/5 for Tom who is getting better and better with each book.
When’s the next book that you won’t write being released?
A novella that was never meant to be wrote, from the author that had told all of his stories, from the mind of the man who didn’t want to write anymore.
This prequel novella sets place back in the world I so love yet still cannot pronounce, Quadriparte. Exploring the world with one of the beloved smart arses from the original trilogy Tom jumps straight back with his incredible characters, giving you insight into how and why they became who they are.
Without spoiling the book I can’t go into much detail. All I can say is if you love Tom’s short sharp action packed pocket rocket fantasy series, well this fits perfectly in with the series. Being able to be read before or after the original it nicely enters you into the world or gives you that hit of heart warming joy after the ending rips it to shreds.
Another solid 5/5 for Tom who is getting better and better with each book.
When’s the next book that you won’t write being released?
August 12, 2023
A lovely little novella addition to the Pillars of Peace trilogy. Following the backstory of one of the characters we experience the feelings of being alone, hope, and pushing on when everything feels like it’s against you.
I enjoyed this short seafaring adventure following a character I liked from the books. Some familiar faces show up which was fun and reminded me how good these books were.
The way the author turned a difficult beginning into a wonderful and heartwarming ending in less than 100 words and written beautifully at that was just great.
I could always use more of this story and world.
I enjoyed this short seafaring adventure following a character I liked from the books. Some familiar faces show up which was fun and reminded me how good these books were.
The way the author turned a difficult beginning into a wonderful and heartwarming ending in less than 100 words and written beautifully at that was just great.
I could always use more of this story and world.
August 28, 2023
Such a delight to be back in the world of The Pillars of Peace!! Roscoe was a favorite in the original trilogy so to get his backstory is wonderful. As with the series, Tom immediately makes you feel at home in the story and the quick pace of events makes this a terrific tale on the high seas. More please!!
September 17, 2023
An excellent addition to the Pillars of Peace story, adding colour to another key character from the main series. Despite being only 79 pages long, it tells a coherent story filled with intrigue, personal struggles and the usual high stakes Dumbrell is known for, with an excellent narrative voice throughout.
Top, top marks yet again 👏🏼
Top, top marks yet again 👏🏼
October 29, 2023
This is the prequel I wanted! Not only is it about one of my favourite characters from the series, it fills in so many gaps and explains the origin of Roscoe. I think this is Tom's best book so far, the story was intriguing and informative. The characters were rich and had a great arc to show where they came from. For 78 pages, it really packs a punch.
November 28, 2023
Well that was a fun ride! Pirates and shenanigans and other piratey stuff!
December 17, 2023
Tom Dumbrell is back with A Dagger in the Dark - a novella set before the events of book one in the Pillars of Peace - and if Tom doesn’t continue to write in this world then we riot!
Twenty years before the events of The Look of a King, in a world on the cusp of change, a young man dreams of a life far from the one he has known.
Is he a captain in the making, or out of his depth?
The stakes are high, and only time will tell if the spoils are worth the gamble. . .
This is a short story but that doesn’t take away from how impactful, interesting and lively this is. One of Tom’s mammoth skills is writing irrational and fanciful characters and this is no difference. As a matter of fact, Tom has actually grown as a writer which is evident in how fleeting this story is but how emotionally charged and fervent our own journey is as we sail the seas on this voyage.
The story itself might be typical of others in a similar environment but when you’re as engrossed as myself in Tom’s creation, you pick out everything that makes this a unique storytelling experience and pinpoint the parts that enhance the overarching media. Tom has taken the quintessential pirate story and flung it over to a high stake swashbuckling adventure that I’m almost gutted isn’t a full novel.
A Dagger in the Dark is Tom returning to a world that many are fond of. Full of his own experiences and merrymaking and you can tell that Tom has had an absurdly jolly time at writing this. I sense a re-read on the horizon and urge those who haven’t read the series to get these books or face walking the plank!
Twenty years before the events of The Look of a King, in a world on the cusp of change, a young man dreams of a life far from the one he has known.
Is he a captain in the making, or out of his depth?
The stakes are high, and only time will tell if the spoils are worth the gamble. . .
This is a short story but that doesn’t take away from how impactful, interesting and lively this is. One of Tom’s mammoth skills is writing irrational and fanciful characters and this is no difference. As a matter of fact, Tom has actually grown as a writer which is evident in how fleeting this story is but how emotionally charged and fervent our own journey is as we sail the seas on this voyage.
The story itself might be typical of others in a similar environment but when you’re as engrossed as myself in Tom’s creation, you pick out everything that makes this a unique storytelling experience and pinpoint the parts that enhance the overarching media. Tom has taken the quintessential pirate story and flung it over to a high stake swashbuckling adventure that I’m almost gutted isn’t a full novel.
A Dagger in the Dark is Tom returning to a world that many are fond of. Full of his own experiences and merrymaking and you can tell that Tom has had an absurdly jolly time at writing this. I sense a re-read on the horizon and urge those who haven’t read the series to get these books or face walking the plank!
August 7, 2023
A Dagger in the Dark is set 20 years before The Look of a King and fills in the back story for one of the secondary characters of the main story. It’s short at only 81 pages but in those 81 pages you get a funny, vibrant, interesting and quite frankly fantastic story that fans of the Pillars of Peace books will love. Although it could technically be read before the main story I’d advise people to read it after the original trilogy as it gives you the opportunity to fully understand the characters and their eventual endings.
As a reader I find that for me to enjoy a novella it has to be fantastic. The characters have to be superb or the story has to be gripping for me to fall in love with the book so quickly. For A Dagger in the Dark it is the characters that made me love this book. They are interesting, investible and in such a short page count I found myself feeling strong emotions towards them and their actions. That isn’t to say however that the story isn’t also fantastic.
As a writer, you can see that Tom has improved his craft while writing his original trilogy and I felt while reading A Dagger in the Dark that he was now having fun with his stories and his characters. This book is full of humour, puns and just generally funny scenes but it still manages to retain the high stakes of the original trilogy throughout. I really enjoyed learning more about some of the main characters from The Pillars of Peace and even ones that were only briefly referenced by name gave a greater depth to the world and helps you understand how we came to the point in the story at the beginning of The Look of a King.
I’m not sure if Tom will be writing more books in this world but I for one would definitely be interested in reading more and I loved being back in the world for a short amount of time.
An excellent book that I would recommend to any reader fantasy or otherwise.
As a reader I find that for me to enjoy a novella it has to be fantastic. The characters have to be superb or the story has to be gripping for me to fall in love with the book so quickly. For A Dagger in the Dark it is the characters that made me love this book. They are interesting, investible and in such a short page count I found myself feeling strong emotions towards them and their actions. That isn’t to say however that the story isn’t also fantastic.
As a writer, you can see that Tom has improved his craft while writing his original trilogy and I felt while reading A Dagger in the Dark that he was now having fun with his stories and his characters. This book is full of humour, puns and just generally funny scenes but it still manages to retain the high stakes of the original trilogy throughout. I really enjoyed learning more about some of the main characters from The Pillars of Peace and even ones that were only briefly referenced by name gave a greater depth to the world and helps you understand how we came to the point in the story at the beginning of The Look of a King.
I’m not sure if Tom will be writing more books in this world but I for one would definitely be interested in reading more and I loved being back in the world for a short amount of time.
An excellent book that I would recommend to any reader fantasy or otherwise.
August 18, 2023
Tom is going to make a great father, I know this for a fact as the ‘Dad jokes’ in this were 👌🏽😂
I recommended his three novels as fun summer reads and now he’s added some spice with this novella 🌶️ Set back in familiar lands with familiar characters… I applaud Toms consistency with pacing as even this little instalment lives up to the other three novels 👏🏽
A snack size account of a certain characters hardships from twenty years before the novels, it left me satisfied and I was SO happy one particular character returned to the pages! I really don’t want to go into more detail as if you’ve read the other three books then there are some pleasant surprises waiting for you…
Reading this got me thinking that if Dumbrell can explore storylines from before the novels began then maybe, possibly, ultimately… some post Pillars of Peace can also be ventured into? If Tom does see this then I hope he takes it as an un-subtle enough hint... I even added a dad joke for him with “hard ships” 🤷🏽♂️ no?
The semi-retired indie author always claims that he’s done with writing but I think we can harass him enough to release a few more novellas - I’m sure the Broken Binding would make a beautiful collection of these once penned 😛
I recommended his three novels as fun summer reads and now he’s added some spice with this novella 🌶️ Set back in familiar lands with familiar characters… I applaud Toms consistency with pacing as even this little instalment lives up to the other three novels 👏🏽
A snack size account of a certain characters hardships from twenty years before the novels, it left me satisfied and I was SO happy one particular character returned to the pages! I really don’t want to go into more detail as if you’ve read the other three books then there are some pleasant surprises waiting for you…
Reading this got me thinking that if Dumbrell can explore storylines from before the novels began then maybe, possibly, ultimately… some post Pillars of Peace can also be ventured into? If Tom does see this then I hope he takes it as an un-subtle enough hint... I even added a dad joke for him with “hard ships” 🤷🏽♂️ no?
The semi-retired indie author always claims that he’s done with writing but I think we can harass him enough to release a few more novellas - I’m sure the Broken Binding would make a beautiful collection of these once penned 😛
August 8, 2023
A Dagger in the Dark is a prequel novella that leads perfectly into The Look of a King the first book of the Pillars of Peace series. This is a hard one to review without spoiling who we follow and what happen all I will say is we follow a certain pirate and learn more about how he came to be.
This is a quick paced and fun novella that will be fun for fans of the original series and also new readers who would like a taste of Dumbrell’s writing without committing to a novel. But that being said you should just go and read them anyway because they are phenomenal.
It was great to see Tom explore a characters backstory and shed more light on why this character is the way they are. His character work has always been a highlight of his writing and it absolutely shines here.
This is a quick paced and fun novella that will be fun for fans of the original series and also new readers who would like a taste of Dumbrell’s writing without committing to a novel. But that being said you should just go and read them anyway because they are phenomenal.
It was great to see Tom explore a characters backstory and shed more light on why this character is the way they are. His character work has always been a highlight of his writing and it absolutely shines here.
February 25, 2024
I loved the Pillars of Peace trilogy so was very excited with the idea of this novella.
Set 20 years before the events of The Look of A King it can be enjoyed as a standalone adventure but you're going to get a lot more out of it if you've read the trilogy first.
As it's short it's fairly simplistic in plot but that doesn't stop it from being a lot of fun and from giving us an adventure with twists, surprises, humour, danger and pirates.
Concentrating on the life of a young Roscoe it's a fascinating character piece, showing us the journey that set him off to be the man we meet in Pillars of Peace.
There are surprise appearances from other characters and I thoroughly enjoyed being back in this world.
I hope more characters get the spotlight in their own adentures in future.
Set 20 years before the events of The Look of A King it can be enjoyed as a standalone adventure but you're going to get a lot more out of it if you've read the trilogy first.
As it's short it's fairly simplistic in plot but that doesn't stop it from being a lot of fun and from giving us an adventure with twists, surprises, humour, danger and pirates.
Concentrating on the life of a young Roscoe it's a fascinating character piece, showing us the journey that set him off to be the man we meet in Pillars of Peace.
There are surprise appearances from other characters and I thoroughly enjoyed being back in this world.
I hope more characters get the spotlight in their own adentures in future.
August 28, 2023
Another brilliant addition to the Pillars of Peace universe. A Dagger in the Dark is a fast paced novella set 20 years before the trilogy. The world is a little different yet fans will find themselves immediately at home, Dumbrell's writing is still charming and fun, lots of good jokes and puns we've come to love. Returning are some of our favourite characters (looking a little younger of course). Twists and turns ensue in a nice self contained story that I wholeheartedly recommended! Hope to see more!
August 20, 2023
I am a big fan of Tom Dumbrell's Pillars of Peace series, and it was a delight to return to his world in this prequel novella. Compared to the main series, this is a relatively more lighthearted tale featuring one of the major characters from that trilogy. However, Dumbrell's familiar and enjoyable ingredients of adventure, intrigue, plot twists and jokes feature, and I finished the novella in a single sitting. A very enjoyable read.
October 1, 2023
I loved The Pillars of Peace Series and was very excited to return to this world with this novella.
Even though it is set 2o years prior to the series, we get to find out about a few of my favorite characters and how their stories began.
As with the entire series, this is a cleverly plotted and superbly written story that takes you on an unexpected journey.
An adventure for those they enjoy fantasy at its very best.
Even though it is set 2o years prior to the series, we get to find out about a few of my favorite characters and how their stories began.
As with the entire series, this is a cleverly plotted and superbly written story that takes you on an unexpected journey.
An adventure for those they enjoy fantasy at its very best.
October 15, 2023
Another dive into the world of Pillars of Peace. Short, full of humor and action, it never disappoints. One sit read about one of my favorite characters from the Pillars trilogy, Captain Roscoe, and his beginnings as a young pirate. As before, Tom simply does not fail with his books.
August 17, 2023
This was funny, fast paced, adventurous. If only it was a little longer 😭 but still a brilliant companion novella and I loved every second!
February 9, 2024
I get the sneaking suspicion that Tom wrote this novella just for the puns in the epilogue. I hope he taps into this world more in the future.
This is a fun and quick seafaring adventure.
This is a fun and quick seafaring adventure.
February 25, 2024
3.5 stars!
Really good little novella!
Really good little novella!
September 2, 2023
A really sweet story that brings us back to before the events of the trilogy. We get to know more about the beloved Captain Roscoe and an unexpected (but also beloved) character even makes an appearance.
As usual, I enjoyed the author's writing and how a supposedly unimportant object becomes a real symbol through the book. We didn't have much information about the Captain's background but this novella helps us to appreciate even more the beautiful ending he had in Where Heroes Were Born. I, again, went through all of the emotions while reading these pages but closed the book feeling satisfied with the story and happy for its characters.
As usual, I enjoyed the author's writing and how a supposedly unimportant object becomes a real symbol through the book. We didn't have much information about the Captain's background but this novella helps us to appreciate even more the beautiful ending he had in Where Heroes Were Born. I, again, went through all of the emotions while reading these pages but closed the book feeling satisfied with the story and happy for its characters.
September 27, 2023
Rating: 4/5
A Dagger In The Dark is a prequel novella to The Pillars Of Peace trilogy, taking place 20 years before the start of The Look Of A King. The story follows a young Roscoe as he leaves his farm life in search of his dream of being a pirate captain.
Roscoe was a favourite character from the Pillars Of Peace, so it was great to get to read more of his story. As with the other books in the series, this novella is a fun and fast paced read with an easy and accessible writing style from Dumbrell.
A Dagger In The Dark can be read as an introduction to the Pillars Of Peace, or after having finished the series as a fond return to this world.
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