What do you think?
Rate this book
Black River Academy #1
The Black River Chronicles: Level One
You know these characters: The ranger, the fighter, the wizard, the rogue. But haven't you ever wondered how they learned to be those things?
Three months into his studies at the Black River Academy of Swordcraft and Spellcraft, Durren Flintrand is shocked by the news that from now on he'll be assigned to a party, and that his only hope of progressing beyond the lowly rank of level one is to succeed with his new companions. However, Durren has a secret that may make that impossible, and his three partners have problems of their own. Wizard Areinelimus is terrified of her own magic. Rogue Tia has no patience at all with others. And warrior Hule is just an idiot. In fact, when a disembodied, floating eyeball is your most competent party member, you know you have serious problems.
To stand a chance of succeeding, they need to work together, and that means learning to tolerate each other, while surviving a world of angry rat people, murderous sorcerers and homicidal unicorns. But even if they can somehow find a way to get along, dark and ancient forces are stirring, ones no level one students should ever have to confront...
The Black River Chronicles is a new fantasy series from David Tallerman and Michael Wills. Set in an academy for young adventurers in training, the Black River Academy, our new dungeon crawlers set out to learn the ropes. Follow them in their adventures and misadventures and see if they save the day, or flunk out of school before earning their next level.
Thank you for your interest.
Three months into his studies at the Black River Academy of Swordcraft and Spellcraft, Durren Flintrand is shocked by the news that from now on he'll be assigned to a party, and that his only hope of progressing beyond the lowly rank of level one is to succeed with his new companions. However, Durren has a secret that may make that impossible, and his three partners have problems of their own. Wizard Areinelimus is terrified of her own magic. Rogue Tia has no patience at all with others. And warrior Hule is just an idiot. In fact, when a disembodied, floating eyeball is your most competent party member, you know you have serious problems.
To stand a chance of succeeding, they need to work together, and that means learning to tolerate each other, while surviving a world of angry rat people, murderous sorcerers and homicidal unicorns. But even if they can somehow find a way to get along, dark and ancient forces are stirring, ones no level one students should ever have to confront...
The Black River Chronicles is a new fantasy series from David Tallerman and Michael Wills. Set in an academy for young adventurers in training, the Black River Academy, our new dungeon crawlers set out to learn the ropes. Follow them in their adventures and misadventures and see if they save the day, or flunk out of school before earning their next level.
Thank you for your interest.
296 pages, ebook
First published October 12, 2016
417 people are currently reading
1104 people want to read
About the author
David Tallerman
111 books87 followersDavid Tallerman is the author of the comic fantasy novel The Black River Chronicles: Level One and its first sequel The Black River Chronicles: The Ursvaal Exchange, the Tales of Easie Damasco series (Giant Thief, Crown Thief and Prince Thief), and the Tor.com novella Patchwerk. His comics work includes the absurdist steampunk graphic novel Endangered Weapon B and the Lovecraftian horror miniseries C21st Gods.
David's short science fiction, fantasy and horror has appeared in over eighty markets, including Clarkesworld, Lightspeed, Nightmare and Beneath Ceaseless Skies. A number of his dark fantasy tales have been collected as The Sign in the Moonlight and Other Stories.
He can be found online at davidtallerman.co.uk.
David's short science fiction, fantasy and horror has appeared in over eighty markets, including Clarkesworld, Lightspeed, Nightmare and Beneath Ceaseless Skies. A number of his dark fantasy tales have been collected as The Sign in the Moonlight and Other Stories.
He can be found online at davidtallerman.co.uk.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
January 5, 2017
If, like me, you are a fan of Dungeons and Dragons style 'quest' novels you'll be used to the idea of the 'quest party'. You know the kind of thing I mean - a collection of heroes, each with their own individual skills, i.e. a Mage, a Healer, a Warrior, a Rogue, a Ranger. The thing is, each story seems to start with a fully formed party all ready for action. You may get a bit of origin story but, to be fair, nobody ever really asks the questions, how do you become a renowned Mage, Warrior or Ranger, how do you get yourself started on the path to becoming a questing hero.
Until now that is. The Black River Chronicles tells the story of four aspiring heroes, Areinelimus Ironheart Thundertree (Wizard), Hule Tremick (Fighter), Tia Locke (Rogue) and Durren Flintrand (Ranger) as they try to make their way through The Black River Academy for Swordcraft and Spellcraft (a Hogwarts for the Questing world is probably the best comparison),
At the Academy all pupils are split into one of four groups (Wizard, Fighter, Rogue or Ranger) where they learn the tricks of the trade for their particular skillset. After a while they are put into 'parties' (one from each group) where they will have to learn to work together and complete quests set by the Academy with the aim of raising their capabilities and 'levelling up'. As you would expect, our four heroes don't get on particularly well at the start and when their first quest mission ends in spectacular failure all does not look good for the future. Thankfully they are saved when Storesmaster Cullglass takes a chance on them, setting them other quest missions which are slightly more successful but........don't things seem a little bit 'off''? What does Cullglass want with the artifacts our heroes retrieve? Will they ever reach Level Two?
What we have with this book is a great fun read where the pages just fly by, plenty of questing, adventuring, Dungeons, magic, battles and traps. The characters are interesting, each with their own little secrets and the world, as it opens out, is an adventurers dream, For me the pages just flew by and I won't lie, I was disappointed when it was all over. Here's hoping for more adventures with Durren, Areine, Tia and Hule - and the sooner the better for me
Until now that is. The Black River Chronicles tells the story of four aspiring heroes, Areinelimus Ironheart Thundertree (Wizard), Hule Tremick (Fighter), Tia Locke (Rogue) and Durren Flintrand (Ranger) as they try to make their way through The Black River Academy for Swordcraft and Spellcraft (a Hogwarts for the Questing world is probably the best comparison),
At the Academy all pupils are split into one of four groups (Wizard, Fighter, Rogue or Ranger) where they learn the tricks of the trade for their particular skillset. After a while they are put into 'parties' (one from each group) where they will have to learn to work together and complete quests set by the Academy with the aim of raising their capabilities and 'levelling up'. As you would expect, our four heroes don't get on particularly well at the start and when their first quest mission ends in spectacular failure all does not look good for the future. Thankfully they are saved when Storesmaster Cullglass takes a chance on them, setting them other quest missions which are slightly more successful but........don't things seem a little bit 'off''? What does Cullglass want with the artifacts our heroes retrieve? Will they ever reach Level Two?
What we have with this book is a great fun read where the pages just fly by, plenty of questing, adventuring, Dungeons, magic, battles and traps. The characters are interesting, each with their own little secrets and the world, as it opens out, is an adventurers dream, For me the pages just flew by and I won't lie, I was disappointed when it was all over. Here's hoping for more adventures with Durren, Areine, Tia and Hule - and the sooner the better for me
September 1, 2017
Well (I believe I've said that before)...this is the second time I've tried to read this book. This time I finally skimmed my way to the end.
Look, this is a young book (the cover gives that away I suppose). It's another that takes place in a school. This is a school where people learn to become a part of of one of the "adventuring classes". Are you a fighter, a magic user, a ranger. etc....?
Should have been a good book It really isn't (in my opinion of course). The situations are not only weak and simplistic they are often flatly annoying...
So, I can't recommend this one. Try it for yourself. Not for me.
Look, this is a young book (the cover gives that away I suppose). It's another that takes place in a school. This is a school where people learn to become a part of of one of the "adventuring classes". Are you a fighter, a magic user, a ranger. etc....?
Should have been a good book It really isn't (in my opinion of course). The situations are not only weak and simplistic they are often flatly annoying...
So, I can't recommend this one. Try it for yourself. Not for me.
October 18, 2016
"The Black River Chronicles ," a new fantasy series from David Tallerman and Michael Wills is of an academy for young adventurers in training. The new dungeon crawlers set out to learn the ropes. It presents adventures and misadventures and depicts if they save the day, or flunk out of school before earning their next level. Excellent!! Really a great FANTASY!!
September 21, 2020
I don't think I've ever read a book with D&D in it before. I've seen Stranger Things.. and that's about it. That being said, I had no idea how to actually play this game and just went with what was happening.
The Black River Chronicles was pretty entertaining. Especially since I don't know the rules of the game. The one thing I do know? Books and Academy's. So at this school, students are split into four groups: Wizard, Fighter, Rogue, or Ranger. For me, Rogue sounded way more fun than the others.
After they train and learn more about their powers or skillset, they are put into groups/parties. Where one person from each group is now going on a journey/quest together. At this point, I'm pretty intrigued and I wanted to see how the characters were all going to grow throughout this journey.
Of course things are a bit predictable in the beginning for them. They don't work well or like one another that much - so they definitely fail their first test. Once they are given another chance, they start to try to work and understand one another. Eh, they didn't do that well but a win is a win - right?
In the end, it was a pretty fun read. A lot more entertaining than I expected.
The Black River Chronicles was pretty entertaining. Especially since I don't know the rules of the game. The one thing I do know? Books and Academy's. So at this school, students are split into four groups: Wizard, Fighter, Rogue, or Ranger. For me, Rogue sounded way more fun than the others.
After they train and learn more about their powers or skillset, they are put into groups/parties. Where one person from each group is now going on a journey/quest together. At this point, I'm pretty intrigued and I wanted to see how the characters were all going to grow throughout this journey.
Of course things are a bit predictable in the beginning for them. They don't work well or like one another that much - so they definitely fail their first test. Once they are given another chance, they start to try to work and understand one another. Eh, they didn't do that well but a win is a win - right?
In the end, it was a pretty fun read. A lot more entertaining than I expected.
August 16, 2017
If RA Salvatore wrote a novel set in Hogwarts, you would get this book. My daughter and I listened to this book together, and our largest disappointment is that there isn't a book two yet.
August 11, 2017
A Team of Misfits
A Team of Misfits found that, as individuals they might be able to make it on his or her own, but working together they found that each of their individual strengths were multiplied when they work together as a Team. A great plot, an unexpected adversary, and a few twists kept me enthralled.
A Team of Misfits found that, as individuals they might be able to make it on his or her own, but working together they found that each of their individual strengths were multiplied when they work together as a Team. A great plot, an unexpected adversary, and a few twists kept me enthralled.
December 3, 2016
This story was fun. It put me in mind of a D&D campaign where a bunch of novice players were given the Players Handbook and told to pick out their class. "Hey, this looks cool, I want to be a ranger, or a wizard, or a fighter."
The characters were students in training to be adventurers. Part of that training included being sent out on quests, in a party containing one each of the most common classes, and learning to work together. Except that, there was something off about some of the quests. Something that the party couldn't quite put it's finger on.
I would have liked a little more backstory on the rogue, but I guess she was meant to be mysterious. Perhaps her story will be fleshed out more fully in subsequent books. I won't give away any spoilers about the rest of the party. Suffice it to say that there is more to the fighter's story than there appears and a dwarven wizard is either a delight or an abomination depending on which edition is your favorite.
I would absolutely read further novels in this series.
The characters were students in training to be adventurers. Part of that training included being sent out on quests, in a party containing one each of the most common classes, and learning to work together. Except that, there was something off about some of the quests. Something that the party couldn't quite put it's finger on.
I would have liked a little more backstory on the rogue, but I guess she was meant to be mysterious. Perhaps her story will be fleshed out more fully in subsequent books. I won't give away any spoilers about the rest of the party. Suffice it to say that there is more to the fighter's story than there appears and a dwarven wizard is either a delight or an abomination depending on which edition is your favorite.
I would absolutely read further novels in this series.
January 3, 2020
Take a standard adventuring party of a rogue, warrior, mage and ranger. Then take a look at how they just happen to be travelling together and what led them to those career choices.
This book does just that - a school for adventurers, introducing the four character classes and the people who enter each academy. It concentrates on one group, all with their own secrets and reasons for joining.
As they are put together they need to work on becoming a team rather than four individuals hoping to make it to Level Two.
The characters are done well, and the story is told in an engaging manner. Slightly predictable in places, but that doesn't detract from a good read that moves along at a solid pace.
This book does just that - a school for adventurers, introducing the four character classes and the people who enter each academy. It concentrates on one group, all with their own secrets and reasons for joining.
As they are put together they need to work on becoming a team rather than four individuals hoping to make it to Level Two.
The characters are done well, and the story is told in an engaging manner. Slightly predictable in places, but that doesn't detract from a good read that moves along at a solid pace.
December 17, 2016
A great fantasy book, not quite the standard of Harry Potter, but a fun book none the less. Four members of the Black River Academy; a ranger, fighter, wizard and rogue, are brought together to complete quests that will enable them to elevate to level 2. They soon realise that the quests they are requested to complete are not all what they seem and as such, they set about finding out why. Young teenagers who like Harry Potter will probably enjoy this more than adults as the writing is definitely for the younger audience. Don't let this put you off as I am not a teenager and still found it an enjoyable and entertaining book.
April 11, 2017
Perfect D&D realized as fiction
Ever wondered what D&D would like look in book form, as a story? If so, then this is it. A sort of D&D plus Harry Potter with an adventurer's academy.
Good stuff, and I will be picking up the sequel!
Ever wondered what D&D would like look in book form, as a story? If so, then this is it. A sort of D&D plus Harry Potter with an adventurer's academy.
Good stuff, and I will be picking up the sequel!
January 2, 2017
Great story, quick and easy read!
Interesting story good character development, keeps you reading and at the end you want to know what's in store for these characters next.
Interesting story good character development, keeps you reading and at the end you want to know what's in store for these characters next.
January 10, 2017
I was fortunate enough to receive this as a Goodreads Giveaway winner, and was pleasantly surprised.
At first I was a little skeptical of a book that so candidly upfront about being modeled like a fantasy gaming campaign (literally the characters know they are level one in a class and are trying to get to level two), but through some solid character building and easy-reading adventure writing, the authors manage to pull it off quite nicely.
The book revolves around 4 characters (Ranger, Rogue, Wizard, Fighter) that are put together to create and adventure party by a training academy and assigned to a series of quests by their mentor. When their quests start to not make sense anymore, the party decides to take matters into their own hands to investigate and get to the bottom of it.
A fun read, particularly for those who have a gaming background. I'll definitely be keeping and eye out for "Level 2" to see what adventures lie in store for the party next.
At first I was a little skeptical of a book that so candidly upfront about being modeled like a fantasy gaming campaign (literally the characters know they are level one in a class and are trying to get to level two), but through some solid character building and easy-reading adventure writing, the authors manage to pull it off quite nicely.
The book revolves around 4 characters (Ranger, Rogue, Wizard, Fighter) that are put together to create and adventure party by a training academy and assigned to a series of quests by their mentor. When their quests start to not make sense anymore, the party decides to take matters into their own hands to investigate and get to the bottom of it.
A fun read, particularly for those who have a gaming background. I'll definitely be keeping and eye out for "Level 2" to see what adventures lie in store for the party next.
February 7, 2017
Man
I love frog's and other games and books but this... It just blew my mind. Once I started I couldn't stop reading. No really I didn't stop reading until I finished. In all honesty I was greatly surprised and would love to see more books from this series. David Tallerman if you are reading this please make more of these. Darren is just such an interesting character with a mysterious last until later in the book and Hule his personality at the beginning and of course the awkward and shy but courageous Arein and where do I even start with Tia oh wait I can't she's a mystery. I <3 this.
I love frog's and other games and books but this... It just blew my mind. Once I started I couldn't stop reading. No really I didn't stop reading until I finished. In all honesty I was greatly surprised and would love to see more books from this series. David Tallerman if you are reading this please make more of these. Darren is just such an interesting character with a mysterious last until later in the book and Hule his personality at the beginning and of course the awkward and shy but courageous Arein and where do I even start with Tia oh wait I can't she's a mystery. I <3 this.
December 15, 2016
A solid good read
I have been reading okay and sub par books for a while now and it feels amazing to pick one up and feel great as I'm smiling over how the character are interacting or how something finally comes together in the way everyone wanted it too in the end. If you got time and are even a little interested in picking this book up just do it.
I have been reading okay and sub par books for a while now and it feels amazing to pick one up and feel great as I'm smiling over how the character are interacting or how something finally comes together in the way everyone wanted it too in the end. If you got time and are even a little interested in picking this book up just do it.
February 14, 2017
Good twist towards the end and great battle.
The story was fun and enjoyable. The characters well developed and the fantasy world was consistent. It flowed well. The one draw back was the very lengthy descriptions throughout. These made the story drag a little for me. But all in all a good read.
The story was fun and enjoyable. The characters well developed and the fantasy world was consistent. It flowed well. The one draw back was the very lengthy descriptions throughout. These made the story drag a little for me. But all in all a good read.
December 15, 2016
A great fantasy book, not quite the standard of Harry Potter, but a fun book none the less. Four members of the Black River Academy; a ranger, fighter, wizard and rogue, are brought together to complete quests that will enable them to elevate to level 2. They soon realise that the quests they are requested to complete are not all what they seem and as such, they set about finding out why. Young teenagers who like Harry Potter will probably enjoy this more than adults as the writing is definitely for the younger audience. Don't let this put you off as I am not a teenager and still found it an enjoyable and entertaining book.
August 9, 2017
Prior to reading this, I glanced through some of the reviews on Goodreads and found that a recurring theme is a comparison to Harry Potter and Dungeons & Dragons.
Having now finished the book, the comparisons feel somewhat inevitable. The central focus of the story is a school/academy for various fantastical classes and the friendship that four students form in their first year. This did feel very much like the setup to a much broader story, setting up the four main characters and their various strengths and establishing the dynamic between them, which worked well. The four of them are pretty strong characters alone and I enjoyed watching them go from a fairly dysfunctional party of strangers to gradually learning how to work best as a group without falling into the clichéd traps of learning valuable lessons on teamwork. They do learn and develop, but it isn't thrust into the reader's face as many other similar stories have.
I liked the world of Black River, the magic has some interesting mythology behind it and I genuinely wanted to see where the story was going and what was in store for our intrepid heroes.
Plus there's a unicorn. Unicorns are cool!
Having now finished the book, the comparisons feel somewhat inevitable. The central focus of the story is a school/academy for various fantastical classes and the friendship that four students form in their first year. This did feel very much like the setup to a much broader story, setting up the four main characters and their various strengths and establishing the dynamic between them, which worked well. The four of them are pretty strong characters alone and I enjoyed watching them go from a fairly dysfunctional party of strangers to gradually learning how to work best as a group without falling into the clichéd traps of learning valuable lessons on teamwork. They do learn and develop, but it isn't thrust into the reader's face as many other similar stories have.
I liked the world of Black River, the magic has some interesting mythology behind it and I genuinely wanted to see where the story was going and what was in store for our intrepid heroes.
Plus there's a unicorn. Unicorns are cool!
October 31, 2016
The plot was a series of quests, like Guild Wars or other online RPG. Unlike the games, the characters were interesting and changing as the plot progressed. In most fantasy, I expect the main character to be overpowered in some way. Here, he is just a conflicted teen. The only member of his party with magic was a young dwarf girl, and hers is no magic to write home about. The plot is mostly driven by the evolving relationships among the members of the party.
This first installment of a series is good enough that I will want to read the sequels.
This first installment of a series is good enough that I will want to read the sequels.
October 30, 2019
This book is an easy read, not very complicated, and likely to appeal to teens and YA who enjoy simple gaming. My gaming experience spans about 30 years from the simple Might and Magic to WOW and Asheron's Call which are more sophisticated because they are interactive.
Despite my interest in more complicated interactive gaming, I found the characters both well-developed and surprising. The elements of simple gaming are all here and complicated by the mutual deception of the characters. Nicely written.
Despite my interest in more complicated interactive gaming, I found the characters both well-developed and surprising. The elements of simple gaming are all here and complicated by the mutual deception of the characters. Nicely written.
December 8, 2016
All in all, a good read
This book started out a bit slow for me and I almost didn't finish it. I decided to keep reading and found that it got better. Aside from a situation that reminded me of Harry Potter, the story was original. It seemed like a D&D campaign put to words, but that's not a bad thing. Despite having an editor and proofreader, I found several typos, though they didn't detract from the reading flow. If you like fantasy, you'll like this book.
This book started out a bit slow for me and I almost didn't finish it. I decided to keep reading and found that it got better. Aside from a situation that reminded me of Harry Potter, the story was original. It seemed like a D&D campaign put to words, but that's not a bad thing. Despite having an editor and proofreader, I found several typos, though they didn't detract from the reading flow. If you like fantasy, you'll like this book.
December 31, 2018
A quick read with some great characters that you can't help but relate to.
I think I found this book from a Google search on magic and fantasy books. It's a quick read with some fun characters. I'm sure I had a group of friends much like the kids in this book - it brought back somw great memories from my youth.
I think I found this book from a Google search on magic and fantasy books. It's a quick read with some fun characters. I'm sure I had a group of friends much like the kids in this book - it brought back somw great memories from my youth.
October 13, 2020
Reading anything after Wintersteel was going to be difficult. After a bit of struggle, I liked this book for the most part. The actual adventure stuff was good. I'd have liked if the rest of the time had some interesting events *shown* instead of just being *told* all the time. Some actual learning moments would have made the book so much better.
January 10, 2024
Youth oriented.
Typical. Young people sent off to school. Learning to be rangers, rogues, wizards and warriors. They have all the lack of confidence and sensitivity to young romance. They are teenagers. They go on quests where they both fail and succeed. A little weak, but readable.
Typical. Young people sent off to school. Learning to be rangers, rogues, wizards and warriors. They have all the lack of confidence and sensitivity to young romance. They are teenagers. They go on quests where they both fail and succeed. A little weak, but readable.
October 29, 2017
Great fun read
For fans of role play and fantasy tropes this is a wonderful whimsical take on the common tropes. I look forward to seeing the series grow and will be recommending this book to friends.
For fans of role play and fantasy tropes this is a wonderful whimsical take on the common tropes. I look forward to seeing the series grow and will be recommending this book to friends.
September 19, 2019
Well written but slow.
I enjoyed the book. It was slow going at first and the plot was straight forward in the sense their wasn’t much suspense. The main excitement was the details of how the protagonist got through.
A decent read.
I enjoyed the book. It was slow going at first and the plot was straight forward in the sense their wasn’t much suspense. The main excitement was the details of how the protagonist got through.
A decent read.
July 23, 2021
Slow and Predictable
The first 2/3 of this book is very slow. More than once I considered giving up on it, but I did want to see how it ended. It does pick up at the end, but by then the big reveal was already clear.
It isn’t bad, just very mediocre.
The first 2/3 of this book is very slow. More than once I considered giving up on it, but I did want to see how it ended. It does pick up at the end, but by then the big reveal was already clear.
It isn’t bad, just very mediocre.
August 16, 2017
I would have given this 4 stars, but the ending was far too abrupt.
November 17, 2017
Good read
Though similar to other schools for the adventuresome; it's a good read. Entertaining and enough action to keep hey interest of most. Thank you
Though similar to other schools for the adventuresome; it's a good read. Entertaining and enough action to keep hey interest of most. Thank you
April 17, 2018
A rather fun piece of LitRPG fiction, with some clever in-jokes about the equipment lists of first level adventurers.
July 12, 2019
Awesome adventure!
Great read
Halfway through the first book I ordered the second book from Amazon.
Don’t miss out on this series
Thanks for the great story .... can we have lots more please?!?
Great read
Halfway through the first book I ordered the second book from Amazon.
Don’t miss out on this series
Thanks for the great story .... can we have lots more please?!?
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews