Dredgemarsh : Fire and Water

by Dermot McCabe, Conall McCabe

The Brooderstalt army led by Albrecht Pentrojan is marching on the Medieval fortress city of Dredgemarsh. It outnumbers the defenders ten to one. Pentrojan is fanatically intent on the total annihilation of every living creature within the ancient walls. The defenders have little chance of surviving the onslaught. Their King, Cesare, is away fighting on another front and those left in charge are in turmoil after the revelation that Prince Fabian is not the legitimate heir to the throne. The real heir, Harry Fairgame, has been found. Raised in poverty and, enduring only hardship since his switch at birth, Harry’s only joy in life was his compulsory schooling where he displayed a rare intelligence. Despite his lowly status, Lia Celeste, the daughter of General Hawksfoot fell in love with this unique young man and he was smitten by her beauty on first seeing her. Could this once-pauper Prince somehow meet the impossible challenge facing Dredgemarsh and how would the love between him and Lia fare in the impending cataclysmic war with Albrecht Pentrojan?

257 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 22, 2025

Reviews

[Shane Harrison · Rating 4 out of 5]

The third installment in the Dredgemarsh series is an action packed conclusion to the saga. The Brooderstalt are on the march again and Dredgemarsh is ill equipped to deal with the threat. King Cesare is fighting far from home, still unaware of developments in his royal household. Harry is only coming to terms with his new identity as prince and heir, but needs to cop on quick. Firedrake, the secret weapon of the last installment, is unbuilt and untested. Can Harry bring it to life to save the day, and Dredgemarsh itself?
As usual, McCabe draws from a colourful cast of larger than life heroes and villains, grotesques, eccentrics and legends in the making. Harry is the tyro hero. Albrecht Pentrojan is the ogre villain, determined on revenge for previous humiliations. Erstwhile heir, Fabian, scurries ratlike through the scenario seeking purchase amongst Dredgemarsh’s foe. The lovable old characters of court age and endure. Hawksfoot, Grunkite, Leopold Ratchet, Bella Crumble and all. Dermot McCabe again takes us on a voyage into a parallel Middle Age evoking its own quaint mythology with a wonderful, convincing vocabulary. Ingredients include comedy, action, intrigue and vulgarity. What more could you want? Another tankard of braggot, please!