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Descent: Journeys in the Dark
The Doom of Fallowhearth
Legendary heroes battle the undead and dark sorcery, in the first of a rip-roaring new series for the fan-favorite epic fantasy game, Descent.
When the Baroness of Forthyn’s daughter disappears, she calls on the legendary orc hero, Durik, to find her. Durik enlists his old questing partners – the dwarf alchemist, Ulma Grimstone, and roguish Logan Lashley – in the hopes of reliving their glory days. Together they journey to fearstruck Fallowhearth. There, instead of clues, they uncover necromancy: graveyards emptied of corpses, with trails of footprints leading into sinister Blind Muir Forest… But the forest holds more than just the walking dead: between its boughs lurk treachery, a sorcerous ally turned to darkness, and a shocking infestation of giant, murderous monsters.
When the Baroness of Forthyn’s daughter disappears, she calls on the legendary orc hero, Durik, to find her. Durik enlists his old questing partners – the dwarf alchemist, Ulma Grimstone, and roguish Logan Lashley – in the hopes of reliving their glory days. Together they journey to fearstruck Fallowhearth. There, instead of clues, they uncover necromancy: graveyards emptied of corpses, with trails of footprints leading into sinister Blind Muir Forest… But the forest holds more than just the walking dead: between its boughs lurk treachery, a sorcerous ally turned to darkness, and a shocking infestation of giant, murderous monsters.
368 pages, Paperback
First published October 6, 2020
10 people are currently reading
114 people want to read
About the author
Robbie MacNiven
121 books114 followersRobbie MacNiven is a Scottish author and historian. His published fiction includes over a dozen novels, many fantasy or sci-fi works for IPs such as Warhammer 40,000 and Marvel's X-Men. He has also written two novellas, numerous short stories and audio dramas, has worked on narrative and character dialogue for multiple digital games (SMITE: Blitz and Age of Sigmar: Storm Ground), has written the colour text for multiple RPG rulebooks and has penned the scripts for two graphic novels and three comics, for Osprey Publishing and Commando Comics respectively. In 2022 his X-Men novel "First Team" won a Scribe Award.
On the non-fiction front, Robbie specialises in Early Modern military history, particularly focussing on the 18th century. He has a PhD in American Revolutionary War massacres from the University of Edinburgh - where he won the Compton Prize for American History - and an MLitt in War Studies from the University of Glasgow. Along with numerous articles for military history magazines he has written six books on different aspects of the American Revolutionary War, five for Osprey Publishing and one for Helion Books. He has also written the scripts for ten episodes of the hit YouTube educational channel Extra Credits.
Outside of work and writing, his passions include re-enacting, gaming, and football.
On the non-fiction front, Robbie specialises in Early Modern military history, particularly focussing on the 18th century. He has a PhD in American Revolutionary War massacres from the University of Edinburgh - where he won the Compton Prize for American History - and an MLitt in War Studies from the University of Glasgow. Along with numerous articles for military history magazines he has written six books on different aspects of the American Revolutionary War, five for Osprey Publishing and one for Helion Books. He has also written the scripts for ten episodes of the hit YouTube educational channel Extra Credits.
Outside of work and writing, his passions include re-enacting, gaming, and football.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
June 20, 2022
Iniziò a parlare, a voce bassa, scandendo con attenzione ogni sillaba.
Le parole sembravano fremere e avvolgere le pagine. Una brezza leggera si insinuò fra le lapidi, gemendo nella piccola cripta. Il potere di Mortos, la morte elementale, venuto a salutarla. Ma c'era qualcosa che non andava. Le ci vollero solo un paio di frasi per rendersene conto. Esitò. Un'unica parola, pronunciata male. Il suo volto s'incupì.
Era da un po’ di tempo che vedevo proliferare nelle librerie romane i libri della Aconyte Books, distribuiti qui nel belpaese da Asmodee Italia, basati sui giochi da tavolo della Fantasy Flight come Arkham Horror, ed altre licenze come quella dei Marvel: Untold, dedicata a romanzi aventi per protagonisti eroi e criminali della Casa delle Idee.
«Oh, non vedo l'ora di iniziare la nostra piccola avventura, di unirmi ai Quattro delle Terre di Confine. O tre, se le voci che ho sentito sono vere. Dov'è la vostra ultima compagna? La strega che celebrano i racconti? Dezra la Spregevole?»
Logan sentì la poderosa mano di Durik stringergli la spalla. Si sforzò di fare un respiro profondo, e poi fece la cosa più cattiva a cui riuscì a pensare: sorrise.
Non avevo mai giocato a Descent: Viaggi nelle tenebre, un dungeon crawler fantasy da tavolo che quando uscì all’epoca reputai semplicemente un versione scopiazzata e più costosa dello storico e più popolare Heroquest, ma avevo già letto ed apprezzato alcuni racconti brevi dell’autore Robbie MacNiven ambientati negli universi fantastici di Warhammer 40000 e Blood Bowl così, quando mi è capitato tra le mani quasi per caso questo libro, dopo averne dato una rapida letta alla sinossi ed averla ritenuta nelle mie corde, la splendida copertina illustrata dall’artista Jeff Chen, che già seguivo da tempo su Facebook ed altri social network, ha fatto scattare in me l’acquisto immediato e compulsivo.
L'inquietudine che la tempesta aveva fatto nascere dentro di lui esplose di colpo in un autentico terrore.
In quella frazione di secondo, Logan vide la pioggia scorrere sulla carne pallida e putrescente, sulle ossa esposte, negli occhi bianchi e sui corpi laceri e incrostati di fango. Un centinaio di cadaveri, forse di più, si trascinava con l'andatura lenta e decrepita dei corpi appena resuscitati.
Logan urlò.
L’ambientazione del mondo di Terrinoth non é delle più originali, già dalla seconda di copertina dove si parla eserciti di non morti ed eserciti posseduti dai demoni sembra quasi di trovarsi ad Azeroth, il pianeta principale dell'ambientazione di Warcraft, ed i barbari del nord alle prese con un necromante ricordano non poco i Bruti oltre la Barriera de Il Trono di Spade, ma la vera forza di questo romanzo sta, secondo me, nel suo gruppetto di protagonisti e nelle loro, tutt'altro che prevedibili, traversie.
«Sfodera la spada, piccolo furfante» lo esortò Durik, torreggiando sopra di lui, lancia in resta. «E preparati a vincere la tua paura.»
Logan piagnucolò ed estrasse la spada dai resti laceri del mantello: l'elsa ingioiellata luccicò al bagliore del fuoco astrale. Ulma appoggiò
la schiena contro quella di Durik e cominciò a pronunciare un voto dunwarriano.
Quando la baronessa di Forthyn chiede l’aiuto dell’orco Durik per ritrovare la figlia scomparsa, l’eroe riunisce i suoi vecchi compagni d’avventure, i leggendari Quattro, forse rimasti in tre, delle Terre di Confine, ed insieme alla nana alchimista Ulma Grimstone ed all’attempato Logan Lashley, furfante dalla lingua lunga e con la fobia dei ragni, gli eroi si ritrovano ancora una volta per affrontare una nuova avventura e rivivere, forse per l’ultima volta, i loro passati giorni di gloria.
«Molto bene, allora. Aspetteremo per tre giorni il tuo ritorno, e, nel frattempo, cercheremo di convincere Lady Damhàn. Se per allora non sarai arrivato, io andrò a sud con o senza il resto di voi, Ho già avuto abbastanza avventure per questa vita.»
Abbiamo quindi un gran bel party di avventurieri attempati giunti ormai alla fine del Viaggio dell’Eroe, quasi una sorta di rifacimento fantasy dello splendido film western Gli spietati (Unforgiven) del 1992, un meraviglioso easter-egg iniziale che farà la gioia di ogni cinefilo che si rispetti e che ha catturato subito l’attenzione di questo lettore fin dalle prime pagine, ed una lunga serie di eventi e sorprese che mi hanno fatto ritornare con la mente a quei cari vecchi tempi in cui mi ritrovavo puntualmente a giocare il venerdì sera con gli amici a Dungeons & Dragons e ad ogni altro genere di gioco di ruolo e da tavolo esistente ed immaginabile.
«Immagino tu abbia qualche pozione che bruci il legno. O una che si solidifichi quando la versi in una serratura, formando una chiave?
Sarebbe incredibile.»
Ulma lo fissò impassibile per un secondo, prima di fare un passo indietro e assestare un potente calcio proprio al centro del telaio. Il legno cedette con uno schianto sotto il peso dello stivale ferrato.
«O potresti anche fare così» concluse lui, [...]
Sarà stata la nostalgia di quei tempi, ma mi sono goduto questo gran bel libro dalla prima all’ultima pagina, Dezra la Spregevole, la necromante che spicca sulla meravigliosa illustrazione di copertina, è una splendida e tormentata antieroina queer, ed il finale, uno dei migliori che abbia mai letto in vita mia, ha decisamente consegnato i Quattro delle Terre di Confine all’olimpo dei miei gruppi di avventurieri preferiti, al fianco di Compagnie dell’Anello, Compagni della Lancia e della Hall, ed altri meno blasonati ma non per questo meno apprezzati.
Si era alzata una tempesta durante la notte, ed era impossibile vedere qualcosa dietro il velo di pioggia che oscurava la finestra. Fallowhearth era avvolta dalle tenebre.
«C'è qualcosa là fuori» disse, percependo l'oscura presenza che l'aveva svegliato. Sapeva di dolore e rimorso, intrisi di una determinazione che Durik trovò glaciale nella sua intensità. «E sta venendo da questa parte.»
Così alla fine questo si è inaspettatamente rivelato essere uno dei più bei romanzi di Dungeons & Dragons che abbia mai letto, pur non essendo ufficialmente uno di essi, ma per me quelle Terre di Confine da cui sono venuti Durik lo Scovasentieri, Ulma Grimstone, Logan Lashley e Dezra la Spregevole, saranno sempre quelle descritte nello storico modulo d’avventura B2 pubblicato dall’Editrice Giochi nell’ormai remoto 1985 e che diede inizio alla oltre ventennale carriera di giocatore e Dungeon Master intrapresa dal vecchio nerd che sta scrivendo questa recensione.
Una gran bel romanzo high fantasy, che sconfina spesso e volentieri nel dark più tetro, dando vita ad una lettura avvincente, divertente, emozionante e crepuscolare.
E prima o poi mi toccherà davvero fare almeno una partita al gioco da tavolo che la ha ispirata, se non altro per farmi perdonare dall'averlo snobbato e bistrattato all'epoca in cui ne sentii parlare per la prima volta.
April 14, 2021
Ich muss gestehen, wir haben das Spiel "Descent" schon seit einer Weile bei uns, hatten jedoch noch keine Gelegenheit, es zu spielen (das wird aber auf jeden Fall nachgeholt!). Zusätzlich als PC Rollenspielerin und als Leseratte komme ich natürlich immer wieder in den Genuss, auch mal Bücher zu den Spielen zu lesen und so wurde ich auf "Die Verdammung von Falbhain" sehr neugierig.
Vorab kann ich sagen: Das Buch macht auf jeden Fall Lust, das Spiel auszupacken und baldmöglichst mit dem Spielen anzufangen. Es ist alles drin, was in ein abenteuerliches und spannendes Fantasy Spiel/Buch rein gehört. Eine bunt gewürfelte Truppe bestehend aus einem Ork, einer Zwergin und einem älteren Dieb, der eigentlich seinen Ruhestand genießen wollte.
Wie der Klappentext schon verrät, machen sie sich im Auftrag der Baronin auf die Suche nach ihrer verschwundenen Tochter. Natürlich ist alles nicht so, wie es scheint. Das Buch fängt zwar interessant, aber doch ganz gemütlich an, was einen peu à peu die Charaktere kennenlernen lässt - samt ihrer Eigenschaften bzw. Fähigkeiten und auch kleine Einblicke auf ihre gemeinsame Vergangenheit. Trotzdem empfand ich es nicht langweilig oder langatmig, denn das Tempo zieht mit der Zeit kontinuierlich an.
Natürlich sind nicht alle (unfreiwillig) Verbündete der Truppe wohlgesonnen, sodass man es gleich mit mehreren Seiten und Problemchen zu tun bekommt. Das Macht die Geschichte lebhafter und glaubwürdiger und es dauert schließlich nicht lange, bis die Spannung immer weiter aufgebaut wird. Es gibt ein paar Wendungen und Überraschungen, die ich nicht unbedingt vermutete und ich muss gestehen, dass ich mit so einem Ende in keinster Weise rechnete.
Mir machte das Buch jedenfalls Spaß und ich könnte mir absolut vorstellen, dass es nicht nur etwas für Rollenspieler ist. Wie gesagt ist es ein spannendes Heldenabenteuer, das mit positiv überrascht hat.
Das Rezensionsexemplar wurde mir vom Verlag und #NetGalleyDE zur Verfügung gestellt. Vielen Dank dafür. Die Rezension spiegelt meine persönliche Meinung wieder.
Vorab kann ich sagen: Das Buch macht auf jeden Fall Lust, das Spiel auszupacken und baldmöglichst mit dem Spielen anzufangen. Es ist alles drin, was in ein abenteuerliches und spannendes Fantasy Spiel/Buch rein gehört. Eine bunt gewürfelte Truppe bestehend aus einem Ork, einer Zwergin und einem älteren Dieb, der eigentlich seinen Ruhestand genießen wollte.
Wie der Klappentext schon verrät, machen sie sich im Auftrag der Baronin auf die Suche nach ihrer verschwundenen Tochter. Natürlich ist alles nicht so, wie es scheint. Das Buch fängt zwar interessant, aber doch ganz gemütlich an, was einen peu à peu die Charaktere kennenlernen lässt - samt ihrer Eigenschaften bzw. Fähigkeiten und auch kleine Einblicke auf ihre gemeinsame Vergangenheit. Trotzdem empfand ich es nicht langweilig oder langatmig, denn das Tempo zieht mit der Zeit kontinuierlich an.
Natürlich sind nicht alle (unfreiwillig) Verbündete der Truppe wohlgesonnen, sodass man es gleich mit mehreren Seiten und Problemchen zu tun bekommt. Das Macht die Geschichte lebhafter und glaubwürdiger und es dauert schließlich nicht lange, bis die Spannung immer weiter aufgebaut wird. Es gibt ein paar Wendungen und Überraschungen, die ich nicht unbedingt vermutete und ich muss gestehen, dass ich mit so einem Ende in keinster Weise rechnete.
Mir machte das Buch jedenfalls Spaß und ich könnte mir absolut vorstellen, dass es nicht nur etwas für Rollenspieler ist. Wie gesagt ist es ein spannendes Heldenabenteuer, das mit positiv überrascht hat.
Das Rezensionsexemplar wurde mir vom Verlag und #NetGalleyDE zur Verfügung gestellt. Vielen Dank dafür. Die Rezension spiegelt meine persönliche Meinung wieder.
July 15, 2023
I stumbled across this author when I was doing a book search. I haven't played Descent, so I don't know much about the game. The book is a proper high fantasy romp with a great band of characters - Ulma the Alchemist Dwarf, Durik the Orc tracker, Logan, the rogue who would rather be at home than on a quest, and provides most of the humour in the story.
Think swords and sorcery with zombies.
I need to read some more from this author.
Think swords and sorcery with zombies.
I need to read some more from this author.
January 26, 2021
Great story, great characters.
I was really surprised with this book, bought it just because I’m a huge fan of Descent 2nd Ed. But instead of a book taking advantage from a brand, I found a truly great story. A band of heroes reunited, awesome characters with great personalities and suspense, action and plot twist that really honor the original game which is based on. References are made to some expansions from the game, which is a nice touch. The setting, Terrynoth, is nicely introduce and describe for newcomers and those who has played it either through Descent or Genesys. After reading this book, couldn’t resist the urge to play Labyrinth of Ruin expansion and Genesys RPG. Highly recommended for any fan.
I was really surprised with this book, bought it just because I’m a huge fan of Descent 2nd Ed. But instead of a book taking advantage from a brand, I found a truly great story. A band of heroes reunited, awesome characters with great personalities and suspense, action and plot twist that really honor the original game which is based on. References are made to some expansions from the game, which is a nice touch. The setting, Terrynoth, is nicely introduce and describe for newcomers and those who has played it either through Descent or Genesys. After reading this book, couldn’t resist the urge to play Labyrinth of Ruin expansion and Genesys RPG. Highly recommended for any fan.
January 1, 2021
This is the first of a novel series based on the Fantasy Flight board game Descent: Journeys in the Dark.
It's really good, and feels like author Robbie MacNiven scribbled down notes while running these characters in a role-playing game.
Here are two reasons to pick up this book: 1) a dwarf alchemist 2) that dwarf alchemist's name is ULMA GRIMSTONE.
The book is absolutely fun and it makes me want to play more Descent, play more role playing games in general, and read more from Robbie MacNiven.
All that aside, however, please remember ULMA GRIMSTONE.
It's really good, and feels like author Robbie MacNiven scribbled down notes while running these characters in a role-playing game.
Here are two reasons to pick up this book: 1) a dwarf alchemist 2) that dwarf alchemist's name is ULMA GRIMSTONE.
The book is absolutely fun and it makes me want to play more Descent, play more role playing games in general, and read more from Robbie MacNiven.
All that aside, however, please remember ULMA GRIMSTONE.
October 12, 2020
I have been provided with an advance copy of the new Descent: Journeys in the Dark book The Doom of Fallowhearth, published by Aconyte Books, so here is the honest review I promised in exchange for the book.
So here is an important disclaimer which is always important to put out there first. I have a casual work contact with Asmodee to demonstrate board games for them in stores and at conventions. Asmodee being the parent company of Aconyte the publisher.
Secondly I am a friend of Robbie’s on Facebook, and whilst we aren’t best buds, we do interact with each other on occasion and I consider him a class person.
I am going to try my best to not let these things cloud my judgement in this review, but I accept that subconsciously it might.
What’s is Descent: Journeys in the Dark
Simply put Descent: Journeys in the Dark is good old fashioned dungeon crawler whose linage goes all the way back to Heroquest.
Based very much on the Doom board game published by Fantasy Flight Games, you can see influences from across the gaming hobby, with bits from Space Hulk and Lord of the Rings being identifiable.
It’s set in the world of Terrinoth, a setting shared with Runewars, Runeage and a few other games and RPGs published by Fantasty Flight Games.
It’s a high fantasy universe and you will recognise many of the tropes and races seen in other similar fantasy style settings. It’s not particularly unique, but it is fairly well developed and interesting.
Descent is the dungeon crawler game in that universe, with one player being the evil overlord of the dungeon and the others taking in the tiles of the hero’s.
For a dungeon crawler, let’s be honest it’s one of the best out there, and the only reason it’s not in my collection is that Lindsay and Megan aren’t as enthusiastic about high fantasy as I am!
The Story
I am gonna be upfront about this, the book is at the same time, familiar and comfortable whilst still being new and innovative. It’s contradictory but it works.
The basic plot is that a band of adventurers are reunited to try and find Lady Katheryn the daughter of the rulers of one of Terrinoths baronies. She had been sent to the northern frontier town of Fallowhearth to learn how to rule, and prepare her to take up her mother’s position.
The adventurers are three of the Borderlands Four, characters who fit common tropes, yet subvert them in very interesting ways. There is the human rogue, who just wants to go back home and sit down, the dwarven alchemist who is mainly interested in blowing stuff up and the orc pathfinder who is the levelheaded leader of the pack and probably the most sensible of them.
The tone of the story is gritty and dark, it’s a very modern take on the old sword and sorcery story from my youth. There is certainly a shared history between the characters, and some bitterness, weariness and regrets too, and whilst we don’t exactly get a full and complete backstory, we don’t need it because it feels so natural.
This story is a tale of revenge and love, and asks the question, how far would you go for someone you love, how deep would you go?
Conclusion
This is a surprisingly emotional story and parts of it literally had my heart crushed, and I was moved to tears as well.
This is generally a very by the numbers story and you pick it up and start it thinking it’s gonna be just a pulpy fantasy adventure. But it’s not, it’s deeply emotional and shows that a good writer and make a familiar and well trod genre, fresh and invigorating.
I’d also loved that we had some really good normalised LGBT representation in there, which felt very natural, very right and fitted so well with the story.
Solid 5 out of 5 stars.
The book is released out now in North America and available in the U.K. on the 26th November.
So here is an important disclaimer which is always important to put out there first. I have a casual work contact with Asmodee to demonstrate board games for them in stores and at conventions. Asmodee being the parent company of Aconyte the publisher.
Secondly I am a friend of Robbie’s on Facebook, and whilst we aren’t best buds, we do interact with each other on occasion and I consider him a class person.
I am going to try my best to not let these things cloud my judgement in this review, but I accept that subconsciously it might.
What’s is Descent: Journeys in the Dark
Simply put Descent: Journeys in the Dark is good old fashioned dungeon crawler whose linage goes all the way back to Heroquest.
Based very much on the Doom board game published by Fantasy Flight Games, you can see influences from across the gaming hobby, with bits from Space Hulk and Lord of the Rings being identifiable.
It’s set in the world of Terrinoth, a setting shared with Runewars, Runeage and a few other games and RPGs published by Fantasty Flight Games.
It’s a high fantasy universe and you will recognise many of the tropes and races seen in other similar fantasy style settings. It’s not particularly unique, but it is fairly well developed and interesting.
Descent is the dungeon crawler game in that universe, with one player being the evil overlord of the dungeon and the others taking in the tiles of the hero’s.
For a dungeon crawler, let’s be honest it’s one of the best out there, and the only reason it’s not in my collection is that Lindsay and Megan aren’t as enthusiastic about high fantasy as I am!
The Story
I am gonna be upfront about this, the book is at the same time, familiar and comfortable whilst still being new and innovative. It’s contradictory but it works.
The basic plot is that a band of adventurers are reunited to try and find Lady Katheryn the daughter of the rulers of one of Terrinoths baronies. She had been sent to the northern frontier town of Fallowhearth to learn how to rule, and prepare her to take up her mother’s position.
The adventurers are three of the Borderlands Four, characters who fit common tropes, yet subvert them in very interesting ways. There is the human rogue, who just wants to go back home and sit down, the dwarven alchemist who is mainly interested in blowing stuff up and the orc pathfinder who is the levelheaded leader of the pack and probably the most sensible of them.
The tone of the story is gritty and dark, it’s a very modern take on the old sword and sorcery story from my youth. There is certainly a shared history between the characters, and some bitterness, weariness and regrets too, and whilst we don’t exactly get a full and complete backstory, we don’t need it because it feels so natural.
This story is a tale of revenge and love, and asks the question, how far would you go for someone you love, how deep would you go?
Conclusion
This is a surprisingly emotional story and parts of it literally had my heart crushed, and I was moved to tears as well.
This is generally a very by the numbers story and you pick it up and start it thinking it’s gonna be just a pulpy fantasy adventure. But it’s not, it’s deeply emotional and shows that a good writer and make a familiar and well trod genre, fresh and invigorating.
I’d also loved that we had some really good normalised LGBT representation in there, which felt very natural, very right and fitted so well with the story.
Solid 5 out of 5 stars.
The book is released out now in North America and available in the U.K. on the 26th November.
October 4, 2020
When Lady Kathryn, the Baroness of Forthyn’s daughter, disappears under strange circumstances, three of the legendary Borderlands Four reunite to search for the missing noblewoman. While their best years might be behind them, these most famous of adventurers bravely (or rather reluctantly, in the case of ageing rogue Logan Lashley) head north to the town of Fallowhearth to search for signs of what caused Lady Kathryn’s disappearance.
This is very much a high fantasy setting, but a story which leans into the cold, gritty and muddy nature of adventuring. It’s a natural fit, and MacNiven’s choice of older characters gives the familiar tropes a nicely dark and modern feel. Not only is there an interesting sense of shared history, but the archetypes are cleverly switched up, with a human rogue cosseted and spoiled by retirement, a dwarf obsessed with dangerous alchemy, and a pragmatic and level-headed orc. These older, wiser, wearier characters prove to be remarkably relatable; there’s a tangible depth to their backstory, with old squabbles and easy familiarity helping to bring them to life and lending proceedings an unexpected weight of emotion that this sort of story doesn’t always possess.
As much as anything this is a story about a shared history coming back to both haunt and reward these characters, and the lengths that people will go to in the name of love. It’s quite dark and surprisingly powerful, and a far more emotional story (no spoilers) than you might expect.
Read the full review at https://www.trackofwords.com/2020/10/...
This is very much a high fantasy setting, but a story which leans into the cold, gritty and muddy nature of adventuring. It’s a natural fit, and MacNiven’s choice of older characters gives the familiar tropes a nicely dark and modern feel. Not only is there an interesting sense of shared history, but the archetypes are cleverly switched up, with a human rogue cosseted and spoiled by retirement, a dwarf obsessed with dangerous alchemy, and a pragmatic and level-headed orc. These older, wiser, wearier characters prove to be remarkably relatable; there’s a tangible depth to their backstory, with old squabbles and easy familiarity helping to bring them to life and lending proceedings an unexpected weight of emotion that this sort of story doesn’t always possess.
As much as anything this is a story about a shared history coming back to both haunt and reward these characters, and the lengths that people will go to in the name of love. It’s quite dark and surprisingly powerful, and a far more emotional story (no spoilers) than you might expect.
Read the full review at https://www.trackofwords.com/2020/10/...
October 3, 2020
Reading a novel based on a game was a new experience for me (I think!) and one that I'm glad to have had. The story is pure fantasy and a wonderful read. The writing is brilliant. The characters are solid and likeable/hateable (delete as appropriate). The ending took me completely by surprise... though maybe it shouldn't have! This is one to buy, keep on a very easy to reach shelf, and read again and again.
My thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an advance copy to review. This review is entirely my own, unbiased, opinion.
My thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an advance copy to review. This review is entirely my own, unbiased, opinion.
August 31, 2021
Found this book out of the blue at a bookstore one day and liked the cover. Frankly, I hadn't put it to a Boardgame tie in until I got home. I read it and very much enjoyed it, not knowing any previous lore or the game. (I know of the game, but haven't played). I didn't see anything that was gamey about it. It did leave me to wonder if there was a book I hadn't read, because the characters obviously knew one another and referenced past exploits, but not in a way where I felt lost. Overall, its a good novel, well crafted....I wasn't a fan of the wrap up...
March 19, 2024
This book exudes a distinct D&D ambiance, surpassing any other D&D book I’ve encountered thus far. A 5-star rating doesn’t imply absolute perfection; rather, it reflects how thoroughly I relished reading it. Not a single page left me bored. The prose remained robust and engaging, the characters were superbly crafted, representation was fitting, and the suspenseful storyline held me captivated from start to finish.
August 8, 2021
This is a book of adventures like in D&D. In the beginning, it started as an adventure, detective story.
The only the thing I didn't like at first was love story in the middle of the book. It seemed as pasted on. But as I progressed with reading, it didn't seem bad anymore.
The only the thing I didn't like at first was love story in the middle of the book. It seemed as pasted on. But as I progressed with reading, it didn't seem bad anymore.
August 11, 2020
In the grim dark future there is only war! Oops wrong books, yet another excellent book from Robbie MacNiven, if I have a complaint it’s only that there were no space marines (so far...,) 😉
November 2, 2020
Excellent fantasy story not only for those who played the game, but also for those into the genre. Love the ending.
June 26, 2023
Absolutely incredible! One of the best fantasy novels I’ve ever read, period! The characters are so well written you truly fall for them. I’m just so pleasantly surprised how good this is!
April 7, 2022
A good old get the band together to solve a mystery book.
Really enjoyed it as a filler, not as good as the Drizzt or Gotrek books...but close.
Really enjoyed it as a filler, not as good as the Drizzt or Gotrek books...but close.
April 15, 2021
Aufregende Suche mit alten Gefährten
Das Buch baut thematisch auf dem Fantasy-Brettspiel Descent – Die Reise ins Dunkel auf. Man kann das Buch jedoch auch gut ohne Vorwissen lesen.
Auf der Suche nach der Tochter der Baronin von Forthyn macht sich der legendäre Orkheld Durik auf den Weg. Dafür versammelt er alte treue Kampfgefährten um sich, um gemeinsam nach Felbhain zu reisen. Statt der Gesuchten finden sie jedoch Furcht und Anzeichen von Nekromantie, denn Tote verschwinden von den Friedhöfen. Die Spur scheint in den gefährlichen Trübwasserwald zu führen, in dem sie sich nicht nur großen gefährlichen Ungeheuern stellen müssen.
Eine gruselig-spannende Geschichte erwartet den Leser in diesem Buch, wenn alte Gefährten wieder aufeinandertreffen und sich neuen Abenteuern stellen. Man braucht ohne das Vorwissen aus dem Spiel etwas, bis man in der Welt angekommen ist, die Geschichte ist aber spannend und aufregend, sodass man gut unterhalten wird. Geheimnisse, die es zu klären gibt und aufregende Kämpfe; dazu eine unterhaltsame Interaktion zwischen den einzelnen Mitgliedern der Gruppe sowie mit einer großen Portion Humor geben der Geschichte eine weitere tolle Dynamik. Dabei besticht das Buch vor allem durch die tolle Zusammenstellung der Gruppe – ein Mensch, ein Org und eine Zwergin, die zudem Alchemistin ist. Eine spannende und sehr unterhaltsame Mischung, die durch die Gefahr der Nekromantie und schwarzer Magie ihre ganze Stärke ausspielen kann.
Eine unterhaltsame Geschichte, welche durch die tollen Charaktere begeistern kann und eine aufregende Geschichte bietet. Fans des Spiels kommen hier sicherlich ganz auf ihre Kosten. Ohne Vorwissen fehlt hier und da etwas, um sie ganz rund zu machen, trotzdem sollte man sich davon auch als Neuling in der Welt von Descent nicht abschrecken lassen.
Das Buch baut thematisch auf dem Fantasy-Brettspiel Descent – Die Reise ins Dunkel auf. Man kann das Buch jedoch auch gut ohne Vorwissen lesen.
Auf der Suche nach der Tochter der Baronin von Forthyn macht sich der legendäre Orkheld Durik auf den Weg. Dafür versammelt er alte treue Kampfgefährten um sich, um gemeinsam nach Felbhain zu reisen. Statt der Gesuchten finden sie jedoch Furcht und Anzeichen von Nekromantie, denn Tote verschwinden von den Friedhöfen. Die Spur scheint in den gefährlichen Trübwasserwald zu führen, in dem sie sich nicht nur großen gefährlichen Ungeheuern stellen müssen.
Eine gruselig-spannende Geschichte erwartet den Leser in diesem Buch, wenn alte Gefährten wieder aufeinandertreffen und sich neuen Abenteuern stellen. Man braucht ohne das Vorwissen aus dem Spiel etwas, bis man in der Welt angekommen ist, die Geschichte ist aber spannend und aufregend, sodass man gut unterhalten wird. Geheimnisse, die es zu klären gibt und aufregende Kämpfe; dazu eine unterhaltsame Interaktion zwischen den einzelnen Mitgliedern der Gruppe sowie mit einer großen Portion Humor geben der Geschichte eine weitere tolle Dynamik. Dabei besticht das Buch vor allem durch die tolle Zusammenstellung der Gruppe – ein Mensch, ein Org und eine Zwergin, die zudem Alchemistin ist. Eine spannende und sehr unterhaltsame Mischung, die durch die Gefahr der Nekromantie und schwarzer Magie ihre ganze Stärke ausspielen kann.
Eine unterhaltsame Geschichte, welche durch die tollen Charaktere begeistern kann und eine aufregende Geschichte bietet. Fans des Spiels kommen hier sicherlich ganz auf ihre Kosten. Ohne Vorwissen fehlt hier und da etwas, um sie ganz rund zu machen, trotzdem sollte man sich davon auch als Neuling in der Welt von Descent nicht abschrecken lassen.
October 8, 2021
First off: I know nothing about the material this is based on. I was hungering for some simple High Fantasy without pretensions and the author, who I follow on social media for memes about the American Revolution and the Napoleonic Wars, suggested I try this. This didn't scratch the itch for me entirely, but I enjoyed myself well enough reading it.
So while I know nothing about the source material, I still didn't have any problems following the plot or enjoying the setting. The writing was descriptive enough for me to have no trouble imagining the places and creatures featuring in this self-contained story about a former party of adventurers, now growing old, their big adventure decades in the past, who are hired by a client to solve a missing person case.
That set-up already is one thing I really enjoyed about the book. You get the classic group of adventurers, but by having the group reform as a group of retirees whose lives have moved on from their days of derring-do you also get to have that more analytical, self-aware angle of an adult looking back on the fantasy adventures you enjoyed as a child or teen.
However, despite the premise, this is not a particularly ambitious book. I would have enjoyed a more in-depth reading of heroes grown old, but in the end, this is still a fairly straight-forward fantasy adventure. You will see a lot of the twists coming, but there's also a handful of surprises. The characters aren't particularly deep, nothing you haven't seen before, but they are likeable and while I didn't grow particularly attached to any of them, I liked being in their heads for this adventure.
There is one particular character and her arc that I want to mention in particular, that I hoped would go in a certain direction and which me very happy when it did (me being #teamWizard/Witch/Sorcerer/Whatever you want to call your magic-users in fantasy settings)
I also enjoyed that, despite this being a very classic high-fantasy set-up, the story didn't devolve into one of those saving-the-world-plots. I prefer stories on a smaller, more personal scale, and while this book features a demi-god whose ultimate goal is to kill the sun, they have set this goal aside in this story for a more personal goal, for which I thank them.
While there is a touch of romance in this novel (which is not something I'm keen on in short, admittedly kinda shallow fantasy adventures like this, because in these types of books, romances are barely ever well-developed and tend to bring the plot to a halt) at least it's a side-plot, only comes into play halfway through the book, serves to flesh out both characters involved, and it's wlw, which elevates it over so many other half-hearted romance subplots I've had to suffer through in all kinds of genres. The romance isn't particularly fleshed out, we only glimpses of it, but at least I can actually accept two ladies as a basis for a relationship. Shared interests and all that.
The ending felt a bit abrupt after all the build-up of the mystery. You're hardly given time to process . I would also have loved to read how explained that to their client.
The writing is fine. It's suitable to the story that's being told, but there's the odd moment of not showing enough and telling too much, such as the narration over-explaining a character's motivations, thoughts and feelings, which ripped me out of the story a couple of times.
I also wasn't a fan of the way the story jumps back in time to events from before the main action. I would have been more forgiving if this hadn't happend so close to the ending of the book. This is the finale! There has to be a better way to relate these events to the reader without tearing us out of the action for backstory-time.
In summary, this is not a book I expect to think on for long or to re-read soon, but I enjoyed the journey while it lasted.
So while I know nothing about the source material, I still didn't have any problems following the plot or enjoying the setting. The writing was descriptive enough for me to have no trouble imagining the places and creatures featuring in this self-contained story about a former party of adventurers, now growing old, their big adventure decades in the past, who are hired by a client to solve a missing person case.
That set-up already is one thing I really enjoyed about the book. You get the classic group of adventurers, but by having the group reform as a group of retirees whose lives have moved on from their days of derring-do you also get to have that more analytical, self-aware angle of an adult looking back on the fantasy adventures you enjoyed as a child or teen.
However, despite the premise, this is not a particularly ambitious book. I would have enjoyed a more in-depth reading of heroes grown old, but in the end, this is still a fairly straight-forward fantasy adventure. You will see a lot of the twists coming, but there's also a handful of surprises. The characters aren't particularly deep, nothing you haven't seen before, but they are likeable and while I didn't grow particularly attached to any of them, I liked being in their heads for this adventure.
There is one particular character and her arc that I want to mention in particular, that I hoped would go in a certain direction and which me very happy when it did (me being #teamWizard/Witch/Sorcerer/Whatever you want to call your magic-users in fantasy settings)
I also enjoyed that, despite this being a very classic high-fantasy set-up, the story didn't devolve into one of those saving-the-world-plots. I prefer stories on a smaller, more personal scale, and while this book features a demi-god whose ultimate goal is to kill the sun, they have set this goal aside in this story for a more personal goal, for which I thank them.
While there is a touch of romance in this novel (which is not something I'm keen on in short, admittedly kinda shallow fantasy adventures like this, because in these types of books, romances are barely ever well-developed and tend to bring the plot to a halt) at least it's a side-plot, only comes into play halfway through the book, serves to flesh out both characters involved, and it's wlw, which elevates it over so many other half-hearted romance subplots I've had to suffer through in all kinds of genres. The romance isn't particularly fleshed out, we only glimpses of it, but at least I can actually accept two ladies as a basis for a relationship. Shared interests and all that.
The ending felt a bit abrupt after all the build-up of the mystery. You're hardly given time to process . I would also have loved to read how explained that to their client.
The writing is fine. It's suitable to the story that's being told, but there's the odd moment of not showing enough and telling too much, such as the narration over-explaining a character's motivations, thoughts and feelings, which ripped me out of the story a couple of times.
I also wasn't a fan of the way the story jumps back in time to events from before the main action. I would have been more forgiving if this hadn't happend so close to the ending of the book. This is the finale! There has to be a better way to relate these events to the reader without tearing us out of the action for backstory-time.
In summary, this is not a book I expect to think on for long or to re-read soon, but I enjoyed the journey while it lasted.
June 20, 2021
Sehr starke Geschichte
Ich kenne das Spiel nicht und bin in eine vollkommen Neue Welt gestartet. Die Geschichte um unsere Helden liest sich sehr stark, ich wollte das Buch nicht aus der Hand legen. Man kann sich fantastisch in die Welt hineinversetzen. Ich denke auch, wenn man das Spiel kennt, dann ist man vielleicht mehr mit den Charakteren und der Welt / Umgebung vertraut.
In diesem Band gab es einige Wendungen die mich sehr überrascht haben und mit den man auch nicht gerechnet hat.
Ich kenne das Spiel nicht und bin in eine vollkommen Neue Welt gestartet. Die Geschichte um unsere Helden liest sich sehr stark, ich wollte das Buch nicht aus der Hand legen. Man kann sich fantastisch in die Welt hineinversetzen. Ich denke auch, wenn man das Spiel kennt, dann ist man vielleicht mehr mit den Charakteren und der Welt / Umgebung vertraut.
In diesem Band gab es einige Wendungen die mich sehr überrascht haben und mit den man auch nicht gerechnet hat.
October 9, 2023
So good, it made me cry at the end 😭❤️
January 6, 2023
Over all a very enjoyable read! The characters are interesting enough, pulling on the archetypes of heroic high fantasy enough to be clearly set in that style and genre but jot so much so as to be cliché.
April 8, 2022
Ein interessantes Fantasy-Abenteuer mit RPG-Feeling, dessen Ende mich kalt erwischt hat.
Vorneweg: ich finde es richtig cool, dass dieses Buch Jahre NACH den großen Heldentaten der Hauptfiguren spielt und da anfängt, wo sie schon "alt" sind. Es war sehr erfrischend, mal keine jugendlichen, dauerfitten Erzähler zu haben die fröhlich durch kalte finstere Wälder laufen. Besonders ein Charakter war eigentlich durchgehend am Jammern, dass er zu alt für ein weiteres Abenteuer ist.
Was mich zum nächsten Punkt bringt, nämlich der Figurenkonstellation: wir haben die schlagfertige, experimentierfreudige Alchemistin, den charmanten, leicht selbstverliebten Dieb, den kampferprobten, loyalen/ehrlichen Kundschafter und die mysteriöse, entschlossene Zauberin. Die Chemie zwischen den Vieren fand ich klasse, man kann sich gut vorstellen wie großartig sie als Team funktioniert haben und wieder tun, merkt jedoch auch gleichzeitig die Entfremdung durch die Jahre, die nach ihren gemeinsamen Abenteuern vergangen sind. Besonders die Magierin hat ziemlich interessante Dinge erlebt;
SPOILER:
an ihrem Charakter fand ich besonders interessant dass sie tatsächlich "verbotene" Magie wie Nekromantie anwendet und sich nicht mit "bah ne das ist moralisch verwerflich und gesellschaftlich nicht anerkannt" aufhält. Klar ist es nicht unbedingt immer eine gute Idee mit solchen Mächten zu spielen, aber sie tut was nötig ist selbst wenn es ihr gesellschaftliche Ächtung einbringt.
MAJOR SPOILER:
Was ich auch sehr mochte war ihre Romanze mit der Adelstochter. Verbotene Liebe ist für mich fast immer ein guter Romanzenansatz und die beiden fand ich wirklich sehr süß. Vor allem aus der Sicht der Zauberin, welche Ablehnung gewöhnt ist und dann plötzlich vor der Tochter der Herrscherin steht, die sie sofort enthaupten würde. Besagte Tochter jedoch will -Überraschung- unbedingt selbst Magierin werden und bittet darum, bei ihr in die Lehre zu gehen etc. What can i say, i am a sucker for forbidden love ~
An dieser Stelle möchte ich auch erwähnen dass es sehr viele sehr große Spinnenmonster gibt, die mehr als nur einmal plötzlich aus irgendwelchen Ecken gekrochen kommen....ich fands ok da sie meist nicht so ausführlich beschrieben wurden aber wer Angst vor Spinnen hat könnte evtl. Ein ganz klein wenig Angst bekommen.
Aber jetzt noch einmal zum Ende, wie bereits erwähnt hat es mich emotional voll erwischt. Ich werde jetzt nicht spoilern was genau passiert aber es war definitiv ein intensives Ende und ich fand es nach dem ersten Schock durchaus auch gelungen und passend zur Geschichte.
An manchen Stellen merkt man, dass die Welt dieses Buches größer ist, schließlich gibt es auch ein Spiel dazu. Dieses muss man jedoch nicht unbedingt kennen, das was man für die Story wissen muss wird im Buch erklärt.
Danke an Netgalley, den Verlag und den Autor für das Rezensionsexemplar!
Vorneweg: ich finde es richtig cool, dass dieses Buch Jahre NACH den großen Heldentaten der Hauptfiguren spielt und da anfängt, wo sie schon "alt" sind. Es war sehr erfrischend, mal keine jugendlichen, dauerfitten Erzähler zu haben die fröhlich durch kalte finstere Wälder laufen. Besonders ein Charakter war eigentlich durchgehend am Jammern, dass er zu alt für ein weiteres Abenteuer ist.
Was mich zum nächsten Punkt bringt, nämlich der Figurenkonstellation: wir haben die schlagfertige, experimentierfreudige Alchemistin, den charmanten, leicht selbstverliebten Dieb, den kampferprobten, loyalen/ehrlichen Kundschafter und die mysteriöse, entschlossene Zauberin. Die Chemie zwischen den Vieren fand ich klasse, man kann sich gut vorstellen wie großartig sie als Team funktioniert haben und wieder tun, merkt jedoch auch gleichzeitig die Entfremdung durch die Jahre, die nach ihren gemeinsamen Abenteuern vergangen sind. Besonders die Magierin hat ziemlich interessante Dinge erlebt;
SPOILER:
an ihrem Charakter fand ich besonders interessant dass sie tatsächlich "verbotene" Magie wie Nekromantie anwendet und sich nicht mit "bah ne das ist moralisch verwerflich und gesellschaftlich nicht anerkannt" aufhält. Klar ist es nicht unbedingt immer eine gute Idee mit solchen Mächten zu spielen, aber sie tut was nötig ist selbst wenn es ihr gesellschaftliche Ächtung einbringt.
MAJOR SPOILER:
Was ich auch sehr mochte war ihre Romanze mit der Adelstochter. Verbotene Liebe ist für mich fast immer ein guter Romanzenansatz und die beiden fand ich wirklich sehr süß. Vor allem aus der Sicht der Zauberin, welche Ablehnung gewöhnt ist und dann plötzlich vor der Tochter der Herrscherin steht, die sie sofort enthaupten würde. Besagte Tochter jedoch will -Überraschung- unbedingt selbst Magierin werden und bittet darum, bei ihr in die Lehre zu gehen etc. What can i say, i am a sucker for forbidden love ~
An dieser Stelle möchte ich auch erwähnen dass es sehr viele sehr große Spinnenmonster gibt, die mehr als nur einmal plötzlich aus irgendwelchen Ecken gekrochen kommen....ich fands ok da sie meist nicht so ausführlich beschrieben wurden aber wer Angst vor Spinnen hat könnte evtl. Ein ganz klein wenig Angst bekommen.
Aber jetzt noch einmal zum Ende, wie bereits erwähnt hat es mich emotional voll erwischt. Ich werde jetzt nicht spoilern was genau passiert aber es war definitiv ein intensives Ende und ich fand es nach dem ersten Schock durchaus auch gelungen und passend zur Geschichte.
An manchen Stellen merkt man, dass die Welt dieses Buches größer ist, schließlich gibt es auch ein Spiel dazu. Dieses muss man jedoch nicht unbedingt kennen, das was man für die Story wissen muss wird im Buch erklärt.
Danke an Netgalley, den Verlag und den Autor für das Rezensionsexemplar!
October 27, 2022
Eroi leggendari combattono contro i non morti e la magia oscura, nel primo di un’entusiasmante serie di romanzi basati sul gioco fantasy e di avventura Descent: Journeys in the Dark.
Scritto da Robbie MacNiven, il Destino di Fallowheart racconta l'avventura di quattro coraggiosi avventurieri.
Quando sua figlia Kathryn scompare, la Baronessa Adellyn incarica l’orco Durik, detto lo Scovasentieri, di ritrovarla. Per adempiere all'impresa, l’orco chiede man forte a dei suoi vecchi compagni: il ladro Logan Lashley, la nana alchimista Ulma Grimstone e la maga incantatrice Dezra.
Quando vengono ufficialmente investiti della missione, la Baronessa mette a loro disposizione una piccola guarnigione di guardie e la sua consigliera, la misteriosa Lady Damhàn.
Ma quando entrato nel vivo della faccenda, i nostri eroi capiscono subito che non si tratta di un semplice rapimento o di una fuga, ma di molto di più qualcosa di molto più oscuro.
Anche stavolta ci tengo a precisare che non è importante conoscere il gioco da cui è tratto il romanzo, per leggerlo. Io, difatti, non ci ho mai giocato (ma recupererò) e ho compreso e apprezzato la storia allo stesso modo.
Seppur in alcuni punti e capitoli ci siano mancanze e alti e bassi, secondo me, questo è un romanzo che vale la pena leggere e che mi ha fatta sentire nel vivo si un RPG.
I personaggi poi, sono meravigliosi e tra tutti ho apprezzato particolarmente Ulma.
Davvero un romanzo consigliato.
Scritto da Robbie MacNiven, il Destino di Fallowheart racconta l'avventura di quattro coraggiosi avventurieri.
Quando sua figlia Kathryn scompare, la Baronessa Adellyn incarica l’orco Durik, detto lo Scovasentieri, di ritrovarla. Per adempiere all'impresa, l’orco chiede man forte a dei suoi vecchi compagni: il ladro Logan Lashley, la nana alchimista Ulma Grimstone e la maga incantatrice Dezra.
Quando vengono ufficialmente investiti della missione, la Baronessa mette a loro disposizione una piccola guarnigione di guardie e la sua consigliera, la misteriosa Lady Damhàn.
Ma quando entrato nel vivo della faccenda, i nostri eroi capiscono subito che non si tratta di un semplice rapimento o di una fuga, ma di molto di più qualcosa di molto più oscuro.
Anche stavolta ci tengo a precisare che non è importante conoscere il gioco da cui è tratto il romanzo, per leggerlo. Io, difatti, non ci ho mai giocato (ma recupererò) e ho compreso e apprezzato la storia allo stesso modo.
Seppur in alcuni punti e capitoli ci siano mancanze e alti e bassi, secondo me, questo è un romanzo che vale la pena leggere e che mi ha fatta sentire nel vivo si un RPG.
I personaggi poi, sono meravigliosi e tra tutti ho apprezzato particolarmente Ulma.
Davvero un romanzo consigliato.
April 15, 2022
Une agréable découverte
May 17, 2022
A fun fantasy adventure romp
January 9, 2025
Very good read. Very emotional.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews