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Tenabran Trilogy #1
A Dark Winter
"We - the Tenabrans - we stood before the Dark. We were among the first. Tell your children that. And picture this: the castle of Ys, the outer faces of its walls washed with golden fire. Flame gushed out of the sluices to light and to burn the Dark, and the night was wicked with flying steel and thick with magic..."
A sword maiden, a small Tenebran force and a young man called Will de Parkin: together they must defeat the unnatural armies of the Dark, and save the castle of Ys.
A sword maiden, a small Tenebran force and a young man called Will de Parkin: together they must defeat the unnatural armies of the Dark, and save the castle of Ys.
- GenresFantasy
328 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1998
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
March 21, 2020
A traditional fantasy with the a young character on a quest with magic, the big bad. It is easy to follow and fun escapism
April 24, 2016
Dave Luckett has presented one of the most grounded, believable fantasy realms I have ever had the pleasure to be immersed it.
The novel presents an engaging narrative with a clutch of interesting characters in a world that is well-researched and beautifully realised.
The plot isn't particularly complex, focusing on the journey of a small and unarguably token force of Tenabran knights compelled to travel to the fortress of Ys, mother-house of the only true fighting-force in the land, the Sisters of the Order of the Lady of Victories, in order to fulfill and ancient vow and hold back the hordes of The Dark. Below this, there are the political machinations of the rulers of the country, which handily set up a sequel while also doing the nigh-impossible of keeping this novel a successful standalone and feeling like a realistic element of the fictional world.
The surface level stuff is classical fantasy beats, but these are given new life by Luckett, and the deeper elements, fantastic world-building and handful of twists you don't see coming serve to lend this novel and element of both individualism and charm.
It also features hands-down the best siege scene I have read, including those presented in Tolkien's works.
Overall, A Dark Winter presents a cracking fantasy novel that's immersive, engaging, and keeps you reading right to the end.
The novel presents an engaging narrative with a clutch of interesting characters in a world that is well-researched and beautifully realised.
The plot isn't particularly complex, focusing on the journey of a small and unarguably token force of Tenabran knights compelled to travel to the fortress of Ys, mother-house of the only true fighting-force in the land, the Sisters of the Order of the Lady of Victories, in order to fulfill and ancient vow and hold back the hordes of The Dark. Below this, there are the political machinations of the rulers of the country, which handily set up a sequel while also doing the nigh-impossible of keeping this novel a successful standalone and feeling like a realistic element of the fictional world.
The surface level stuff is classical fantasy beats, but these are given new life by Luckett, and the deeper elements, fantastic world-building and handful of twists you don't see coming serve to lend this novel and element of both individualism and charm.
It also features hands-down the best siege scene I have read, including those presented in Tolkien's works.
Overall, A Dark Winter presents a cracking fantasy novel that's immersive, engaging, and keeps you reading right to the end.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews