A Duel of Evils

Raven's Shadow #3.5

by Anthony Ryan

Legendary warrior King Tavurek marshals his mercenary army to combat a mighty Volarian host led by a man known to history as the Spear-point. In the blood-bath that follows, there can be only one victor. The final battle between the city state of Kethia and the Volarian Empire, as told by Imperial Chronicler Lord Verniers, is an event shrouded in many secrets and, some say, wrought by servants of the Dark.

Genres: Fantasy, Short Stories, Epic Fantasy, Fiction, High Fantasy, Dark Fantasy, Adult

28 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 30, 2015

About the author

Anthony Ryan was born in Scotland in 1970 but spent much of his adult life living and working in London. After a long career in the British Civil Service he took up writing full time after the success of his first novel Blood Song, Book One of the Raven’s Shadow trilogy. He has a degree in history, and his interests include art, science and the unending quest for the perfect pint of real ale.

For news and general wittering about stuff he likes, check out Anthony's blog at: http://anthonystuff.wordpress.com

Reviews

[Claudia · Rating 3 out of 5]

A historical chronicle told by Lord Verniers about the falling of Kethia in the hands of the Volarians. Interesting piece of history in this universe, sheds some light about those times, but being only tangential to the main series, is not a must read. Nonetheless, it was a good story.

[Alina · Rating 3 out of 5]

The form was more interesting than the content, being written as an account of the fall of Kethia put together from several historical sources.

[Ivy_Lost_inside_Pages · Rating 3 out of 5]

For the fact, that I accidentally borrowed this book in the online library it was a ok read. Three short stories in that world created by the author. You will find there as it said, characters which are also in the separated Story ...I did enjoy most the first and last story. Second was not so much my thing. It’s a good read for inbetweenie and if you like the historical touch.

[Karla Schneider]

Vernier's account of the events leading up to the final battle. There is a lot of babble, so I suggest skipping this book unless you have boundless patience and don't mind a recount.

[Stephen Richter · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a nice novella taking a GRRM method of a Historian taking a look at a past event. I like this style of writing for a short piece. Anthony Ryan has hit that level of a writer for me, if they write it, I will read it.

[Lisa | prettytigerbuch]

Drei Kurzgeschichten in einem Band, drei weitere Abenteuer aus der Welt der Rabenschatten-Trilogie von Anthony Ryan - und alle drei könnten unterschiedlicher nicht sein. „Das Duell der Bösen“ ist eine Art historischer Bericht in dem Lord Vernier vom Schicksal Kethias und dem Krieg mit dem volarianischen Imperium berichtet. Die zweite Kurzgeschichte, „"Die Herrin der Krähen“, beschert uns ein Wiedersehen mit Frentis und erinnert stilistisch wohl am ehesten an „Das Lied des Blutes“. In „Der Lord Collector“ hingegen spielt Bruder Sollis eine größere Rolle. Als Fan der Reihe habe ich diesen kleinen - und leider recht kurzen - Ausflug und die Einblicke in die Vergangenheit einiger Charaktere wirklich genossen. Eine schöne Sammlung, die auch ganz ohne Auftritt des eigentlichen Hauptcharakters Vaelin Al Sorna zu überzeugen weiß.

[Dainis Mazkaļķis · Rating 3 out of 5]

No surprise, that this is the lest liked AR work - Lord Verniers accounts are not my favorite parts of the books at all, and this is like a history conspect that he did.... Doesn't add a lot to the whole story / world building either. Not great, not terrible ...

[Abendstern · Rating 3 out of 5]

In dem Buch befinden sich drei Kurzgeschichten, wobei die Lesereihenfolge, eigentlich 2,3,1 sein sollte. Wobei man die original Trilogie vorher gelesen haben sollte. Die Geschichten erzählen einen die Vergangenheit von ein paar Charakteren z.B. Sollis. Also vor allem für Fans dieser Charaktere. Die zweite Geschichte fand ich sogar ganz spannend und hat mir auch am besten gefallen. Die erste Geschichte las sich wie ein Lexikonartikel über die Geschichte Kethias. Bei der dritten Geschichte muss ich sagen wusste ich leider nicht mehr welche Charaktere, außer Sollis das nochmal waren. Die Trilogie hat einfach zu viele Charaktere und nicht alle sind wirklich ausgearbeitet, sodass ich viele schnell wieder vergessen habe.

[Christine Ku · Rating 1 out of 5]

I actually have the Raven's shadow trilogy down on my reading list but I couldn’t find it on my local library’s catalogue so I read what’s available from the author. This is a short story and I anticipated that I wouldn’t like it as much as a novel but I had even more difficulty with this than usual when this was presented as the historical record of an event as written by one historian to his Emperor. Basically, the whole story was just written in too dry a tone for me and the quick unloading of big chunks of information necessitated by this chosen narrative voice basically dragged my attention towards logically processing these information as opposed to experiencing the story.

[Mark Redman · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Duel of Evils is a short story set in the Raven’s Shadow universe.

The story is told as a historical treaty by Imperial Chronicler Lord Verniers. It explains the battle between King Tavurek and a man known as Spear-point, a Volarian General. It goes on to explain the final battle between the city-state of Kethia and the Volarian empire.

I was very intrigued by this short story. I found it interesting and engaging, it adds richness, giving more depth to Raven’s Shadow. It definitely piqued my interesting and I hope we have more of these stories in the future.

[Cheruv · Rating 3 out of 5]

It didn't add anything significantly to the series, but it was interesting enough...
It is an historic account to the Alpiran Emperor by Lord Verniers about the fate of old Kethia and it's war with the Volarian empire.
It is also interesting to read between the lines of the historian and what we know of the one who waits (or waited). To pick up on the method of infiltration. Its hate for people...
Every time someone is close to death in this series, I prick my ears, as I now know that is how the Ally worked his "charm".

[Cynik · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was OK. But it was also of little value to the rest of the books in this series. It is simply a historian writing down what he believes to be the most likely version of events from an ancient battle noting how different accounts of the time have vastly different details.

[Alan Standsalone Bryant · Rating 5 out of 5]

As always, Anthony Ryan's attention to detailed storytelling is amazing even in his short stories. A Duel Of Evils takes place many, many years prior to his Raven series but adds that incredible detail of history to his books.

[Dave Snowdon · Rating 2 out of 5]

This novella is written as a historical account of a war between ancient Volaria and the city-state of Kethia. It's rather dry and I did not find it very enjoyable. One of the rulers clearly has power derived from "the dark" although maybe it would be better to say he is possessed.

[Jia Cherng · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very well written short story, that while does not contribute anything at all to the main storyline, is short enough to worth a read.

There is slightly too much babble here, but is an up to par interlude anyhow.

[Fatima · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Reading about the Volarian Empire is always interesting, especially when an Alpiran is writing about it. But I wish this was less a historical account and more a narrative. It would've been so epic — and a doorstopper, to think of it. Still, it was an interesting read.

[Lutz · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Fall of Kethia 4.0 Stars

The Lady of Crows 5.0 Stars

The Lord Collector 5.0 Stars

[C Phil · Rating 4 out of 5]

A interesting footnote to the history that unpins the main series. Well worth a read.

[Lloyd · Rating 2 out of 5]

Doesn't really add much to the Raven's Shadow series. It's no more than a short historical account that can easily be missed and not distract from the story narrative.

[Pamela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short, but love the background info. A Duel of Evils, sums up the story line. No good guys here.

[Filip Gecic · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short but sweet

Great intro for the familiar world of sword and magic. The writing is superb as always. Just be prepared to wish for more once done.

[Nyssy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty descriptive ... 🎭

[Alan Behan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rise of an Empire

Nice little background story to the Volarian Empire from the Raven's Shadow series, short and sweet, if you like the series you'll love this...😁

[Barefoot Gypsy Jimerson · Rating 3 out of 5]

???????????

Didn't help in the reading of A Ravens Shadow. Not sure what the point of the story was. Wished I hadn't read it.

[Thomas · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't care for the historical writing style of this short story.

[Baby Paul · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book describes Lord Verniers' account of the fall of Kethia.

[Todd · Rating 2 out of 5]

Pretty much just a dry history of the author's world, no story at all

[Docgastro · Rating 1 out of 5]

Geldmacherei….

[Denise Alcaraz · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little bit of Raven's Shadow lore. Good story.

[T Davidovsky · Rating 2 out of 5]

Kind of boring