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Erik has killed men. Their deaths haunt his dreams. He sees visions of his tortured family every time he closes his eyes. His only hope now is to continue to push forward, pray for the souls of the men he has killed, pray that the dreams of the dead will one day stop, and pray that his family is all right, that he will one day see his mother and father and little sisters again, just as he left them.

He never wished for adventure, never wished for fame or fortune, but it seems they will come his way anyways. As he travels with men he doesn’t trust and dwarves who seemingly do not trust him, he tries to hold onto to who is, who he was, who he wants to be. The only people he might truly find solace in, Befel, his brother, and Bryon, his cousin, are so self-absorbed, they have no time for him.

Erik will travel into new lands and meet new people. His quest for the Lord of the East’s heirloom in some ancient, lost dwarvish city will shatter his world. He will have to rebuild that world, everything he knows, only to have it shattered again. He will not only fight men and monsters, but he must fight evil, death, hatred, and darkness. And as Erik continues to wonder how much more blood will stain his hands, dark clouds loom overhead, carried by dark winds.

476 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 11, 2016

185 people are currently reading
292 people want to read

About the author

Christopher Patterson

10 books76 followers
Christopher Patterson lives in Tucson, Arizona with his wife and three children. Christopher has a Masters in Education and is a teacher of many subjects, including English, History, Government, Economics, and Health. He is also a football and wrestling coach. Christopher fostered a love of the arts at a very young age, picking up the guitar at 7, the bass at 10, and dabbling in drawing and writing around the same time. His first major at the University of Arizona was, in fact, a BFA in Classical Guitar Performance, although he would eventually earn a BA in Literature and a BFA in Creative Writing.

Christopher Patterson grew up watching Star Wars, Dragon Slayer, and a cartoon version of The Hobbit. He started reading fantasy novels from a young age, took an early interest in early, Medieval Europe, and played Dungeons and Dragons. He has read The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and the Wizard of Earthsea many times and heralds Tolkien, Jordan, and Martin, among others, as major influences in his own writing.

Christopher is also very involved in church, especially music and youth ministries, and is very active, having been a competitive power lifter since high school.

He thanks his grandmother for letting him waste paper on her typewriter while trying to write the "Next Great American Novel" and his parents for always supporting his dreams.

You can follow his blog by visiting his website: www.christopher-patterson.com

You can also sign up for email updates by copying and pasting this url into your search engine: http://eepurl.com/b5AUa1

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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
Profile Image for Jen.
439 reviews
July 19, 2016
** I received a copy of this book for free through a Goodreads giveaway. **

As with the first book, the world and characters are very well developed and interesting but the language tends to be a bit florid much of the time. Still, an excellent continuation of the story started in the first book of the trilogy and a good read for anyone interested in fantasy, action or adventure.
Profile Image for Joe Crowe.
Author 6 books26 followers
June 7, 2019
This book starts off with my favorite thing in fantasy novels: A map of a fantasy realm. This shows that the author has thought way too hard about his world, his storylines, his continuity. All that leads to good things.

The hero here is Erik, a Robert E. Howard-style fightin' guy who feels like maybe being an awesome barbarian butt-kicking machine isn't all there is to life.

Outside of that, this is an old-school sword & sorcery adventure. Author Christopher Patterson clearly loves that stuff. I could almost feel the gleefulness coming off the pages full of dwarves, trolls, and and ladies and gentlemen, there's a war horse.

A war horse. "Those hooves could easily crush a man's skull" is my favorite sentence in any book that I've read in forever.

The whole book is just a joyful expression; I can't wait for more from Patterson. I can almost hear the d20s rolling now.



75 reviews
September 2, 2019
Must. Keep. Reading.

This an epic adventure! I’ve been trapped in my house for days enthralled by this story. Thank you for the excellent read!
Profile Image for Cheryl E..
Author 5 books3 followers
June 1, 2016
Christopher Patterson captures your imagination, holding you hostage in the fantasy world of Dark Winds. The quest continues for the treasure and prized heirloom lost in the dwarfish city of Orvencrest. The Shadow’s influence is growing stronger, war wages; the era of The Great Peace is coming to an end. For the adventurous trio of Erik, Befel and Bryon, the world has become much larger than it seemed on the farm. The further they travel from home; the longing for its comfort grows stronger. The cost of their adventure has come with an unforeseen high price to pay - Death. So much death, agonizing sorrow haunts their days and phantoms of morbid faces invade their sleep. Overwhelmed with guilt, the young warriors grieve over the men they have killed and their fallen comrades. Erik and his companions are in constant danger; many are on their trail, some seek to right a wrong, and others to kill them before they reach the treasure. Although fate has brought them together, tensions are rising within the company of mercenaries. The opposition and competition is great. However, for Erik, Befel and Bryon there is something more valuable than riches and an ancient heirloom, their manhood is at stake. Daily, they are being tested in faith, strength, will and purpose. As they travel closer to the mountains, there is a foreboding change in the winds; the “Dark Winds” are approaching. “Things are changing. The world is changing.” They are changing.

Dark Winds is the second book in The Shadow’s Fire Trilogy. The narrative poses two vital questions: What makes a savage? What makes a hero? Christopher Patterson is a creative and gifted storyteller. His love of fantasy, adventure, music and faith are relevant in his writing. He takes the elements of fantasy, covers them with flesh and blood, crafting an adventure that comes alive with unrestrained imagery. Vivid, brilliant and figurative language is used to paint graphic word pictures, especially regarding the barbaric battle scenes, and the fear drenched animations suffered during nightmares. The narrative begins with a band of tormented wounded warriors. Their battle fatigue and disgruntled moods are heightened by ominous weather, bizarre blood moons, and evil surroundings. As the plot progresses, the narrative goes deeper into its primitive world, depicting horrific mountain trolls, weapons with consciences, and a subterranean dwarf kingdom. The primary conflict of the story lies between the forces of good and evil, and it is through this divergence the aforementioned questions of savagery and heroism are answered. Man versus himself is the subordinate conflict. With his innocence warped, the protagonist experiences inner turmoil. Traumatized by the exploits of battle; he is wrecked by guilt.

Dark Winds is written in third person omniscient point of view, allowing for the soul and idiosyncrasies of the characters to be exposed. The cast of characters is extensive; it is a blend of young and old, dwarves and men, villains and heroes. However, the narrative focuses mainly on the lives of Erik, Befel and Bryon. Erik is the protagonist; through his character growth, the overall theme of the narrative is unveiled - As you overcome the challenges of life, you change. Patterson pens many memorable lines. My favorite is “Knowledge is the most powerful weapon the world has ever known.” During the rising action, Erik’s destiny compels him to face danger transforming him from a farm boy into a warrior. At the apex of the action, he discovers his life has purpose; this breakthrough releases the desire for increased knowledge. As the story closes, Erik’s maturity sets him apart from the others. Dark Winds concludes with a brave resolve. What lies ahead is yet to be seen.

Cheryl Rodriguez-What’s Your Story?
June 1, 2016
Profile Image for Laura Ruetz.
1,381 reviews74 followers
June 23, 2016
I love fantasy novels that involve a quest, when they are well done. And this second book in the Shadow's Fire Trilogy is just as well done as the first. There are enough elements to pull in the reader and engage them. Erik, Befel and Byron are continuing on their journey, traveling with other men and drawves, on a quest for a lost city, and for one of the dwarves, a chance to reclaim lost honor. Erik, his brother and their cousin continue to evolve and grow, being shaped in different ways, by the path and the events that they are traveling on and the things they encounter. Erik is a very likeable character, and to be part of his journey, while he slowly is forced to lose the innocence of his farm life, as he makes his journey. This isn't just a quest, it's a journey of discovery for him and readers will connect with him quickly.

The novel is well written and paced, so that the reader is never bored, nor overwhelmed with action. The balance of dialogue and action is perfect, and the result is a book that I didn't want to put down. There are a lot of elements and intertwining stories, but it is never confusing to follow or to track and it adds much to the core story, with all the additional elements.

The journey itself is also engaging, as they travel to new locations, all described with rich language and you get a sense of each place, not through narration, but through their interaction with the people. It's a great way to really capture reader's attention, because we are always part of the action, not just being told what the action is.

I am looking forward to the third novel in the trilogy.

I received a free copy in exchange for my honest review.
Profile Image for Book Wyvern.
558 reviews7 followers
October 10, 2016
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book

*Warning: Small spoilers*

That beginning got me again. I can still see that man in a tavern, in the corner, in the dark and this time he kind of slams his drink on the table when he says the first line, “They call this a victory,” and he scoffs before going on.

Usually, when it’s a journey, I get bored with it and everyone was on a journey here but the different POV’s kept it from getting boring until they finally made it into the mountains with the dwarves, though I feel like the author wanted the readers to feel like they were on a journey with the characters. To help the readers better understand how the characters were feeling.

Also, I think it helps that I’ve played Dungeons and Dragons (don’t judge) and this is pretty much what happens, though the journey’s aren’t as detailed. The battles and fights remind me heavily of D&D though.

All-in-all, I can’t say that I loved this book as much as I did A Chance Beginning but, some second books are just a build up for the third one, but I still think this is a great story and it really helps to further the plot.

The way that Erik seemed to change near the end seemed rather abrupt but I’ve been waiting for him to change and I still want to smack Bryon, he just seems to get worse along with Switch. That’s just my little side note on the characters, I can’t wait to see how these characters progress.

I can’t wait to see how this all turns out and how all the different groups will come together in the end.

Thank you for reading my review.

-Sam
Profile Image for Lyn.
517 reviews5 followers
August 7, 2019
Three or so years ago, I read book one of this series: what I remember from that is essentially that it was exactly the kind of fantasy series I would love if it was a little better organized, and better edited. Though I also had a copy of book two at the time, I didn't immediately read it for this reason. Instead, it got boxed up when I moved and has yet to be uncovered as my to be read pile is atrociously large, though there's been quite a few times that I've thought I really should get to reading it as book one stared at me from my shelf.
The perfect opportunity came to me earlier this summer, when Chris approached me offering me a Kindle copy of book two, which I read as soon as I had the chance... And essentially, I've got a similar basic opinion of this one as I did with the first one, but I do feel more strongly about this one; it's definitely the kind of fantasy story that I love the most, but I do think it could use a little bit more work (I'm not sure if the author put out an updated version of book two, or just book one).
Keeping in mind that I read A Chance Beginning three years ago and have done much since then, I think that Dark Winds got moving a good deal faster, which is a good thing. I appreciated that it had a little bit more of the fantasy feel than A Chance Beginning did, rather than just the idea that it would be there, later. But this one's definitely there; with the dwarves and trolls and all of that, and some more unique details such as the Dwarf's Iron (or, at least the way that it our characters here experienced it), I still like where this series is heading. Book two was better edited than book one, in my opinion (at least, the versions of each one that I read), so even if it doesn't sound like it, I really did enjoy reading this book. My only real complaint with it is that I would've liked some more background details at times, particularly in the beginning of the story. With a series, you've always got to keep in mind that not everyone's going to read the books all right after another, and this one didn't have the sort of recap at the beginning that many other series have to help you remember what occurred earlier.
Note: I received this book for free through Goodreads Giveaways.
Profile Image for Allen Werner.
Author 25 books21 followers
August 16, 2017
Once again, Christopher Patterson takes us on a fun, emotional and dangerous companions adventure quest with Erik, Befel and Bryon, dwarves and thieves, cutthroats and trolls, dark magic. The story picks up the quest of these unusual adventurers from Book One - A Chance Beginning, and doesn't miss a beat. The landscapes are rich, the histories and religious mysteries of the cultures explored. The characters are uniquely crafted. The author brings out the strengths and weaknesses in each of them as they band together for different reasons, wounded and tired, passing through varied locales and witnessing firsthand the horrors left behind by wars. Will Erik fulfill his quest? You watch this young man mature right before your eyes. Every day he is learning new things and discovering more about himself. I highly recommend this book, and the one before it, to anyone who loves good fantasy novels!
Profile Image for Jennie Rosenblum.
1,293 reviews44 followers
July 13, 2019
The book picks up almost immediately after where the author left us in Book 1. However, there is a slight change in that the main character Erik, is maturing. He has now been on his own, with his brother and cousin for a while and is reaching that age where guy’s bodies start to mature. At the same time, his conscience is haunting him in the form of nightmares that interrupt any chance of peaceful sleep. The journey, quest, underground cities, great characters, and even a treasure map are all there to engage the reader and keep the story moving along where I was constantly waiting for what was around the next corner or tunnel.

If you are looking for a fantasy world that you can relate to and immerse yourself in – this is it.
Profile Image for Brandi Reshetar.
42 reviews
July 4, 2020
I enjoyed reading this...

I know some may say that it was a "slog" to get through and I would disagree. Yes, the story is detailed and winding.... Reminding me of Tolkien, Jordan, Goodkind etc... Being able to read a book in two hours can be a fun distraction and yes some are good stories but I much prefer Christopher Patterson's approach. My only complaint is that spellchecker doesn't always work and it would have been a good idea for either a beta test reader or an editor that really reads before printing... There are several instances where this needed that level of attention ... example: Chapter 59 " ... a man armored in male, his throat slit. " The word male is a gender and it should have been mail since it is armor.
Profile Image for Marissa.
3,577 reviews47 followers
March 8, 2019
Kindle Copy Gifted for Review

Erik Eleodum story continues in part two of this trilogy. He is consume by the pain of killing as he feels alienate by the people he love and becomes the person he used to despise growing up. Most of all he misses his family and hopes for their safety.

He will find himself on many adventures as he seeks his quest to find a missing heirloom. Erik is not in it for the fame and fortune but it will find him. It will take him on a journey through many lands as blood will be spilled along the way.

A captivating journey of discovery.
Profile Image for Julia Walker.
662 reviews18 followers
July 12, 2019
The adventure continues in this excellent sequel from Christopher Patterson. The two brothers and a cousin are now traveling with some Dwarfs that are searching for a lost city. The travels are filled with danger and the fight for survival. Along the way Eric finds himself at odds with not just his family members but his traveling companions as well. Eric is struggling with having killed people and reconciling that with his faith. Patterson does a great job with handling Eric's very real struggle. Another terrific read.
Profile Image for Mark S..
20 reviews
January 26, 2020
Much improved from the first book

I liked the first book and was thrilled with this one. I agree with other reviews that this book kept me riveting and wanting more. Spoiler alert (sort of), Erik's growth as a person and a fighter was great to read. Byron is developed and "the company" grows thicker. It's a great bro good that consist of unlikely partners as they journey together to find a hidden treasure.

Great book.
127 reviews5 followers
March 10, 2020
Yup. Patterson is a keeper.

I sure hope book there is already out because I can't wait to finish this story. Erik is just coming into his own. Tall and blond and honourable, I can't help but wonder if Erik is also an easter egg. I know I picture the young Knight to be with a familiar face and a literary mind.
12 reviews
February 10, 2020
Great story

I like how this book uses many facets of fantasy novels. It’s not the standard script. Or the never ending battles that the hero miraculously wins due to some power. Great book.
Profile Image for C.M. Rutherford.
Author 3 books16 followers
May 31, 2021
Since leaving the Farm Eric has seen more than he bargained for, or could ever imagine. Traveling with dwarves and other mercenaries he has begun to change. Each step forward brings him closer to danger. Love the characters and highly recommend this series.
1 review
September 3, 2020
Great Fantasy Adventure

Do you like adventure? Fantasy? Coming of age? Then read this and enjoy the fast paced action and intrigue. I only hope my stories compare!
26 reviews1 follower
June 5, 2021
Book 2

A great continuation to book one. I couldn’t put it down. I love the characters in this series. Now to book 3!
Profile Image for Allen Werner.
Author 25 books21 followers
November 12, 2016
Once again, Christopher Patterson takes us on a fun, emotional and dangerous companions adventure quest with Erik, Befel and Bryon, dwarves and thieves, cutthroats and trolls, dark magic. The story picks up the quest of these unusual adventurers from Book One - A Chance Beginning, and doesn't miss a beat. The landscapes are rich, the histories and religious mysteries of the cultures explored. The characters are uniquely crafted. The author brings out the strengths and weaknesses in each of them as they band together for different reasons, wounded and tired, passing through varied locales and witnessing firsthand the horrors left behind by wars. Will Erik fulfill his quest? You watch this young man mature right before your eyes. Every day he is learning new things and discovering more about himself. I highly recommend this book, and the one before it, to anyone who loves good fantasy novels!
Profile Image for Jennie Rosenblum.
1,293 reviews44 followers
July 13, 2019
The book picks up almost immediately after where the author left us in Book 1. However, there is a slight change in that the main character Erik, is maturing. He has now been on his own, with his brother and cousin for a while and is reaching that age where guy’s bodies start to mature. At the same time, his conscience is haunting him in the form of nightmares that interrupt any chance of peaceful sleep. The journey, quest, underground cities, great characters, and even a treasure map are all there to engage the reader and keep the story moving along where I was constantly waiting for what was around the next corner or tunnel.

If you are looking for a fantasy world that you can relate to and immerse yourself in – this is it.
Profile Image for Maggies Daisy.
438 reviews29 followers
June 20, 2021
I finished the whole series and was excited the whole time. If you are a fan of Tolkien or just a fan of adventures with so many new wonders to astound you on every page, this is a series for you. Our main hero is a young man who leaves his farm with his cousin and brother to seek their fortunes in the world. But in this book, Erik is plagued by the lives he has taken to accomplish the quest the Lord of the East is required to locate and return to him. He will find his brotherhood in unlikely places and horrendous cruelty and death at every turn. They are tasked to find certain artifacts, which of course, others are also trying to obtain. In this one, the Dwarfs are helping, but who can he really trust?
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