Dark Magic

The Godwars #2

by Angus Wells

Ages ago, when the First Gods ruled heaven and earth, they created two lesser deities to reign along with them. But these gods, Tharn and Balatur, were flawed. Their madness threatened creation itself — and thus they were condemned to an eternal sleep. Only an ancient book of spells holds the key to their release.

Now an evil necromancer has obtained the book and hastens to Tharn’s hidden resting place with a plan as deadly as the god himself. Ancient prophecy points to the exiled prince Calandryll as the only one who can defeat the wizard — aided by a beautiful warrior woman, a hard-bitten mercenary, and Calandryll’s own uncertain powers.

But first Calandryll and his companions must travel a kingdom racked by civil war, cross the rolling prairie of the fierce horse clans, and finally venture into the forbidden wastes and uncharted territories beyond. Enemies and foul treachery await, while the mighty Tharn, as if somehow aware of his imminent release, begins to stir…begins to dream…and all creation begins to quake.

Dark Magic is the masterful second chapter of The Godwars , a stirring chronicle of high adventure by one of the most exciting new writers of fantasy.


From the Trade Paperback edition.

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Science Fiction Fantasy, Sword and Sorcery

528 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1992

About the author

aka William S. Brady (with John Harvey), J.B. Dancer (with John Harvey), Ian Evans, Charles C Garrett (with Laurence James), Matthew Kirk, Richard Kirk (with Robert Holdstock), James A Muir, Charles R Pike (with Kenneth Bulmer and Terry Harknett), Andrew Quiller (with Kenneth Bulmer and Laurence James), J.D. Sandon (with John Harvey)

Angus Wells (1943 - 2006) was a British writer of genre fiction, including fantasy and westerns.

Reviews

[Noah L · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book a good bit better than the first in the series. Some twists I saw coming from miles away, others actually caught me by surprise. More character development and power progression were nice to see, too.

[Bradley · Rating 2 out of 5]

A fairly decent fantasy novel but drones on about the various terrain the heroes pass through. Not enough action my liking.

[James]

Ages ago, when the First Gods ruled heaven and earth, they created two lesser deities to reign along with them. But these gods, Tharn and Balatur, were flawed. Their madness threatened creation itself — and thus they were condemned to an eternal sleep. Only an ancient book of spells holds the key to their release. Now an evil necromancer has obtained the book and hastens to Tharn’s hidden resting place with a plan as deadly as the god himself. Ancient prophecy points to the exiled prince Calandryll as the only one who can defeat the wizard — aided by a beautiful warrior woman, a hard-bitten mercenary, and Calandryll’s own uncertain powers. But first Calandryll and his companions must travel a kingdom racked by civil war, cross the rolling prairie of the fierce horse clans, and finally venture into the forbidden wastes and uncharted territories beyond. Enemies and foul treachery await, while the mighty Tharn, as if somehow aware of his imminent release, begins to stir…begins to dream…and all creation begins to quake. Dark Magicis the masterful second chapter ofThe Godwars,a stirring chronicle of high adventure by one of the most exciting new writers of fantasy. From the Trade Paperback edition.

[Chad · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this one more than the first book, I don't know if it's because the first had set up the story or if this one had less of the magicians and more of the warriors.

[Max · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed it. Well written

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

I saw this book on Booksale hidden in the deepest corner of the stack. The title Godwars intrigued me and so I read the introduction and thought this is good. So I took the risk of reading a second part of a trilogy without knowledge of the first novel. Angus Wells' story telling is good and even more his vocabulary. He sounds like a pundit with his control of deep large and sometimes archaic words. I always had a dictionary at my side while reading it. I was not annoyed though because I simultaneously enjoyed the somewhat roller coaster ride like story and the ambigousity of his vocabulary. I learned so many words from his novel. What has disappointed me though was the fact that I was like left searching in the dark all because I haven't read the first book. All I had are context clues of the events that has transpired in the first novel. But it was okay, because it is a part of the risk I had to take when I decided to read it. Over all the story is long and yet gripping. Excitement is not sustained though because it comes in episodes sometimes between two chapters long. Wells is good in describing the environment and the movement of characters, proving his narrative prowess. I give this four stars out of five.

[Conan Tigard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dark Magic picks up right where Forbidden Magic ended. Like the first book in the trilogy, and it actually is a trilogy, it is a fast-paced fantasy adventure with magic and swordplay.

I liked this book almost as much as I did Forbidden Magic. The action was not quite as intense as it was in the first book, but still I found the book to be highly enjoyable and a blast to read.

I find that I am really comfortable with Angus Wells’ writing style and look forward to reading other books that he has written. And one thing I always enjoy finding in a Fantasy book is a map so I can follow the characters, and this map is top-notch.

Dark Magic is another excellent book by Angus Wells. How will this trilogy end in Wild Magic? I cannot wait to find out.

I rated this book a 9 out of 10.

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this second book much more than I enjoyed the first in the trilogy. Whether it was that I knew the characters better or that the world and characters were better fleshed out this time around, I am not sure. But at the end of the first book I was set to read the other two out of stubbornness. Now, having finished the second, I am looking forward to seeing how Wells finishes the story.

That said, there is still nothing fantastic going on here. It is pretty standard fantasy fare, and relatively unremarkable within the genre. However, I like the genre and the fact that there is nothing to make this trilogy stand out doesn't bother me.

[Michelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

more escape:)

[Jo · Rating 3 out of 5]

The chapters are still reliably twenty-five pages; Wells finally lets some chapters be longer or shorter, but I continue to wait until I have time to read 25 pages before picking it up.

[Ren · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty predictable. Way too descriptive, but a nice build up for the next book.