Dark Obligations

The Phantom Badgers #1

by R.W. Krpoun

"A compelling new series involving a band of unlikely heroes whose struggles within a fantastic and grim world are both dynamic and engrossing. These are not epic lords on world-saving quests, but rather are 'ordinary' folk trying to stay one step ahead of life's tribulations. A poor man's Game of Thrones." Reader's Vision. Dark Obligations is a comprehensive tale of deadly intrigue, graphic violence, and fragile courage set in a grim fantasy world that is both familiar and alien. The story takes the reader through the depths of an abandoned Dwarven city whose halls still ring with battle, and on into a sleepy countryside whose shadows are home to a more insidious danger. Set in a richly developed dark fantasy world, Dark Obligations is the tale of the Phantom Badgers, a pan-racial mercenary company determined to lift themselves from the mundane world of sell-swords into a better future. Caught between old enemies, allies of dubious intent, and unplanned complications the Badgers must face long odds, terrible foes, and cunning intrigue to establish a home for themselves. Facing obligations that range from recovering valuables in the depths below an abandoned Dwarven city haunted by minions of the Void to solving a murder that just won’t make sense, the Badgers take the reader through a dynamic slice of a world that comes alive with each page. With spells, steel, and simple courage the men and women, Dwarves and Threll of the Phantom Badgers face their obligations and enemies with equal amounts of audacity and bravado. From the diminutive Starr Brightgift, the spunky young Threll with little experience and a troubling secret, to Kroh Blackhand, the Dwarven Waybrother bound for wild death and glory, and on to Janna Maidenwalk, the scarred former Silver Eagle who simply cannot envision a life without war, the Phantom Badgers take the reader down a dark and bloody road to a destination that will only beckon them onwards. Dark Obligations is the first volume in the Phantom Badgers series. The Phantom Badgers Book Dark Obligations Book Dark Key Book Dark Path Book Dark Practices Book Dark Tide (October 2014) Book Dark Journeys (TBA)

Genres: Fantasy

302 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 27, 2014

About the author

Born and raised in the icy wastelands of North Dakota, RW Krpoun joined the US Army, serving two enlistments before being honorably discharged at Fort Hood, Texas. Delighted to discover a land where snow was a novelty, he settled in Texas and took up a career in law enforcement, serving thirty years before retiring. His service included a Sheriff's Office and two Municipal police agencies, as well as two enlistments in the Texas National Guard as a Criminal Investigator.

RW lives on lakeside acreage with his lovely and amazingly tolerant wife Ann, and a band of ill-mannered animals who are all highly photogenic. His hobbies include reading, history, various forms of shooting, collecting battle-ready examples of medieval weaponry, and learning to use such weapons.

Reviews

[Jen King · Rating 5 out of 5]

On to the next book in the series.

Solid adventure novel. Actually more like a novel plus a novella. Part 1 is a very well written dungeon crawl. Part two a detective mystery.

Likeable characters. Good world building. Fast paced action set pieces. Do yourself a favor and read it. I’m on to the sequel.

[Dee · Rating 4 out of 5]

You can't let an ugly cover stop you from reading a really good book.

[Andrew Doyle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent fantasy novel

I really enjoyed this book. The author has developed some world building skills and explains things that need explaining. The characters are introduced as gruff veterans who get the job done and there is no disneyfication here gore guts and death can find fighters at any time. The timelines are great in the book with the author skipping forward to important sections for example in one part raid is being planned then the next paragraph the raid is ten days in. No filling a 100 pages with a rambling trek through the countryside with no real purpose.
Overall a solid book and worth a read if you like the genre

[LJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a fan. Excellent writing, strong story, great adventure tale!

RW Krpoun continues to astound me. I wish I would have discovered this incredible author sooner! Interesting stories, vivid and realistic, that contain creative world building and imaginative, relatable, intelligent characters. An engrossing storyline, totally engaging and all encompassing, grabbing and holding my interest throughout every page. Again, I am a fan, cannot wait to read more about the phantom badgers, as well as all of the rest of this stellar writers, book offerings. Well done, well done.

[Brian Everson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heads will rollIs

What words an author writes tell you something of his character and his soul. In this book he lets us see a little of his sense of value and love of good things. We have seen in his other books his belief of right and wrong and does so here also. You will love his characters and how he brings them to life in your mind.

[Br1cht · Rating 5 out of 5]

A surprisingly good start for this Military Fantasy series, the author writes very "tight" but still produces depth in both characters and story.

It´s a shame that not more people discovered this hidden gem.

[Mark Beardsley · Rating 2 out of 5]

Formulaic.

I admit that I am tired of fantasy tales where a female is "easily the match of" the male character who is one of the toughest fighters in the company.
I get it, it is fantasy. But it is boring unrealistic fantasy.

[Sermokala · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really loved this. Takes the well trodden fantasy-realism vein and gives a vastly unique offering. My favorite hidden gem out of all books I've read in a decade.

[Nick Shins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nice beginning to a series

Great and detailed action sequences. Not afreaid to kill a protagonist. Character development, even a bit of detective work in the 2nd half.

[Philip R · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good, but needs an editor.

Decent read. Editing is terrible though.
Some things in the story are beyond the implied timeline too. Is this 11th century or 17th or 18th century?

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazingly detailed story with a very detailed and intricate world and lore

[Scott Norris · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to put in a review here, this book and series is too good to best left looking like it doesn't have fans. I read it almost four years ago, but would read it again. The author understands the grit of reality, even in a fantasy setting. This mercenary company suffers loss and feels it, like real people would. They fight realistically and suffer for it. It is a hard road, but one I enjoyed following through five books. The characters are real and fleshed out, the interaction honest, only the setting is fantasy. Choose this and be ready to stay on the path