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The Dark Apostle #5
Elisha Daemon
In this fifth and final installment of The Dark Apostle, barber-surgeon-turned-sorcerer Elisha must save plague-stricken England from its path of destruction--or risk succumbing to the very dark magic he is trying to eradicate.
Elisha was once a lowly barber-surgeon from the poorest streets of 14th-century London; now, he may be the most powerful magus alive. He faces the necromancers, a shadowy cult of magi who draw their power from fear and murder--and who have just unleashed the greatest plague the world has ever known upon a continent already destabilized by wars, assassinations, and religious conflict.
Empires and armies are helpless with no clear enemy to fight. The Church loses its hold upon the faithful as prayers go unanswered. Europe has become a bottomless well of terror and death, from which the necromancers drink deep as the citizens sink into despair. Elisha knows that if there is to be any chance of survival, he must root out the truth of the pestilence at its unexpected source: the great medical school at Salerno. There, Elisha might uncover the knowledge to heal his world.
But as he does, his former mentor, the beautiful witch Brigit, lays her own plans. For there may be one thing upon the face of the planet deadlier than the plague: the unfiltered power of Death within Elisha himself.
Elisha was once a lowly barber-surgeon from the poorest streets of 14th-century London; now, he may be the most powerful magus alive. He faces the necromancers, a shadowy cult of magi who draw their power from fear and murder--and who have just unleashed the greatest plague the world has ever known upon a continent already destabilized by wars, assassinations, and religious conflict.
Empires and armies are helpless with no clear enemy to fight. The Church loses its hold upon the faithful as prayers go unanswered. Europe has become a bottomless well of terror and death, from which the necromancers drink deep as the citizens sink into despair. Elisha knows that if there is to be any chance of survival, he must root out the truth of the pestilence at its unexpected source: the great medical school at Salerno. There, Elisha might uncover the knowledge to heal his world.
But as he does, his former mentor, the beautiful witch Brigit, lays her own plans. For there may be one thing upon the face of the planet deadlier than the plague: the unfiltered power of Death within Elisha himself.
- GenresFantasy
368 pages, Mass Market Paperback
Published February 6, 2018
1 person is currently reading
49 people want to read
About the author
E.C. Ambrose
13 books65 followersI passed a peripatetic childhood reading way too many books, and eventually writing my own little stories, either inspired by my life (such as it was) or by whatever I was reading at the time. I thought I would grow up to be an archaeologist which explains why I read The Last Days of Pompeii at the age of nine. I was fortunate to have a few teachers early on who encouraged my literary tendencies—including one who let me stay inside to read during recess.
When I discovered the Society for Creative Anachronism, a medieval recreation group, I delved more deeply into medieval history, becoming enthralled with the dark castles, bloodsports and social expectations of the period. I nearly went to Fordham University for Medieval Studies, but chose Stanford instead—then withdrew as soon as humanly possible (before I ever started, as a matter of fact).
By this time, my stories accumulated rejection slips faster than the DOW was rising, yet I continued to hope my writing would be the answer. I started work on a first novel during a summer writing workshop, and finally finished it some years later, while depending on the refuge of aspiring writers everywhere: working customer service and living with family.
A second novel, begun with a notebook full of world-building concepts and great ambitions, lies dormant in a file my computer can no longer read. But when I met Elisha Barber, I knew I was on to something. I have to thank a local workshop with Dan Brown (slightly before he became THE Dan Brown) for my approach to the new project.
Now I find that once I start reading history, science, sociology, I discover a dozen different stories hiding in the details. . .
I live quietly in New England with my family, where I have just found the right dog to defend the new apple trees from the local whitetail deer population.
When I discovered the Society for Creative Anachronism, a medieval recreation group, I delved more deeply into medieval history, becoming enthralled with the dark castles, bloodsports and social expectations of the period. I nearly went to Fordham University for Medieval Studies, but chose Stanford instead—then withdrew as soon as humanly possible (before I ever started, as a matter of fact).
By this time, my stories accumulated rejection slips faster than the DOW was rising, yet I continued to hope my writing would be the answer. I started work on a first novel during a summer writing workshop, and finally finished it some years later, while depending on the refuge of aspiring writers everywhere: working customer service and living with family.
A second novel, begun with a notebook full of world-building concepts and great ambitions, lies dormant in a file my computer can no longer read. But when I met Elisha Barber, I knew I was on to something. I have to thank a local workshop with Dan Brown (slightly before he became THE Dan Brown) for my approach to the new project.
Now I find that once I start reading history, science, sociology, I discover a dozen different stories hiding in the details. . .
I live quietly in New England with my family, where I have just found the right dog to defend the new apple trees from the local whitetail deer population.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
February 28, 2018
From start to finish I've loved this franchise. Ambrose is a fantastic writer, she creates such great characters, and stories. I'll not go into spoilers, but Elisha's final adventure was very well done. I would gladly recommend this series to any fantasy fan.
August 16, 2018
This review was first published on Kurt's Frontier.
Synopsis:
Elisha is coming to the end of his journey. He has faced down many necromancers (members of a powerful cabal of magi who draw power from fear and murder). Now they have let loose a devastating plague. Wars, assassinations, religious conflicts, and intrigues have left 14thCentury Europe destabilized. This just might tip it over the edge. The armies of Europe cannot fight this enemy with the weapons they have. The necromancers are drinking deep of this new well of death and despair.
Elisha must trace the plague to its ironic origin: the great medical school at Salerno. Here he hopes to untangle the plague and find a way to heal the world. However, the beautiful witch Brigit is laying her own plans. She knows of one thing deadlier than the plague: the concentrated power of death within Elisha himself.
Review:
This is the fifth and final installment of The Dark Apostle. Elisha, the barber-surgeon-turned-sorcerer, is continuing his quest to save Europe from the ravages of the necromancers. While not a necromancer, he has an affinity for death. Every time he uses his powers, he risks succumbing to the temptations.
E. C. Ambrose continues to draw from her knowledge of 14thCentury medical practices. E. C. weaves these into a tale of might and magic. Elisha is stronger now. He has survived what the mancers have thrown at him. The plague sweeping mainland Europe is his greatest test. Elisha must maneuver around powerful forces—political, magical, and religious—to save Europe and protect his homeland, England. E. C. handles the story’s pacing with her usual skill. The physical and magical battles are exciting. The story will keep the reader interested.
Synopsis:
Elisha is coming to the end of his journey. He has faced down many necromancers (members of a powerful cabal of magi who draw power from fear and murder). Now they have let loose a devastating plague. Wars, assassinations, religious conflicts, and intrigues have left 14thCentury Europe destabilized. This just might tip it over the edge. The armies of Europe cannot fight this enemy with the weapons they have. The necromancers are drinking deep of this new well of death and despair.
Elisha must trace the plague to its ironic origin: the great medical school at Salerno. Here he hopes to untangle the plague and find a way to heal the world. However, the beautiful witch Brigit is laying her own plans. She knows of one thing deadlier than the plague: the concentrated power of death within Elisha himself.
Review:
This is the fifth and final installment of The Dark Apostle. Elisha, the barber-surgeon-turned-sorcerer, is continuing his quest to save Europe from the ravages of the necromancers. While not a necromancer, he has an affinity for death. Every time he uses his powers, he risks succumbing to the temptations.
E. C. Ambrose continues to draw from her knowledge of 14thCentury medical practices. E. C. weaves these into a tale of might and magic. Elisha is stronger now. He has survived what the mancers have thrown at him. The plague sweeping mainland Europe is his greatest test. Elisha must maneuver around powerful forces—political, magical, and religious—to save Europe and protect his homeland, England. E. C. handles the story’s pacing with her usual skill. The physical and magical battles are exciting. The story will keep the reader interested.
February 8, 2018
Loved it and loved all of this series, every single book was absolutely wonderful! I'm a bit sad that this was the last one, I'd like to know how things will go on now...maybe in a short story? :3
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews