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The Darkest Hand Trilogy #2
The Fallen
1915. Demonic possessions are sweeping across Rome.
War is raging on the Italian Austro-Hungarian border and bodies are piling up in the streets. But it isn't the ravages of war that is causing such mass destruction, something evil and unnatural force is roaming the land and the Vatican's Eagle Fountain is running red with blood.
Only Poldek Tacit, the church's brilliant but flawed Inquisitor can hope to hold back the malevolent power, but as he immerses himself in this dangerous investigation he discovers that the path he is treading has already been prophesied and that where it is leading is threatening the very future of a world already teetering on the brink of the abyss.
War is raging on the Italian Austro-Hungarian border and bodies are piling up in the streets. But it isn't the ravages of war that is causing such mass destruction, something evil and unnatural force is roaming the land and the Vatican's Eagle Fountain is running red with blood.
Only Poldek Tacit, the church's brilliant but flawed Inquisitor can hope to hold back the malevolent power, but as he immerses himself in this dangerous investigation he discovers that the path he is treading has already been prophesied and that where it is leading is threatening the very future of a world already teetering on the brink of the abyss.
475 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 5, 2016
10 people are currently reading
180 people want to read
About the author
Tarn Richardson
12 books60 followersTarn Richardson is the author of The Darkest Hand trilogy, published by Duckworth Overlook in Europe and Australia, and Overlook Press in the US and Canada.
Consisting of THE HUNTED (free prequel novella), THE DAMNED (2015), THE FALLEN (2016) and THE RISEN (2017), The Darkest Hand trilogy unleashes the flawed but brilliant Inquisitor Poldek Tacit upon a Europe engulfed by the First World War. The Damned was one of the Book Depository's 'Books of 2015'.
Having grown up in Somerset, he now lives in Salisbury with his wife, the portraiture artist Caroline Richardson.
Consisting of THE HUNTED (free prequel novella), THE DAMNED (2015), THE FALLEN (2016) and THE RISEN (2017), The Darkest Hand trilogy unleashes the flawed but brilliant Inquisitor Poldek Tacit upon a Europe engulfed by the First World War. The Damned was one of the Book Depository's 'Books of 2015'.
Having grown up in Somerset, he now lives in Salisbury with his wife, the portraiture artist Caroline Richardson.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
February 10, 2017
I thoroughly enjoyed this complex and detailed mystery/action/horror story. I hadn't read the first volume (will try and pick that up from the bookshop) but that didn't really matter. Not a book to read in bits and pieces otherwise you lose track of who and where everyone is. Even the smallest players became characters - something I really approve of in an author - given names and voices, rather than just anonymous bit-players with walk-on, walk-off parts. Descriptive from the start, you are there as a reader, you feel the horror, and you wonder who will survive.
Would I read this again - certainly!
Would I read this again - certainly!
May 29, 2016
Well paced action adventure of demons versus priests versus werewolves. GeekPlanetOnline review to follow soon
August 10, 2017
Originally published at Risingshadow.
Because Tarn Richardson's The Damned was a pleasant surprise for me, I was eager to read The Fallen. I'm pleased to say that The Fallen is just as impressive, complex and well-researched historical horror-fantasy novel as The Damned. I was thoroughly impressed by its dark and thrilling story.
The Fallen is an excellent and satisfying addition to the Darkest Hand Trilogy, because it's a direct sequel to The Damned and continues the complex story arc in a compelling way. It's one of the best new speculative fiction novels for adult readers, because it has everything one could ever hope to find in a historical horror-fantasy novel: it's gory, fast-paced, complex, gritty and satisfyingly dark.
Just like The Damned, I consider this novel to be a rare treasure that is mandatory reading material to everyone who loves well written speculative fiction with horror and dark fantasy elements. It's an entertaining and highly enjoyable novel that should not be missed by those who enjoy dark fiction.
Although this novel contains many familiar and well-known elements, Tarn Richardson's way of writing about them feels wonderfully fresh. The author masterfully combines action, horror, fantasy and historical fiction elements and blurs the lines between them to create a memorable reading experience. There's an irresistibly wild and furious feel to the story that forces readers to devour the whole novel as quickly as possible.
In the previous novel, the author established a good foundation for his story arc and now he concentrates on delivering more action and makes the story more intriguing and suspenseful (this novel has more of everything that made the first novel excellent). Everyone who has read The Damned will be pleased with this development in the storytelling, because it feels natural and immerses the readers immediately into the happenings.
Here's a bit of information about the story:
- The events take place in various places around Europe during the early 20th century at the time of the First World War.
- In the prologue, the events take place in Bulgaria in 1877. A party of Catholic priests gazes at a nightmarish and gory sight before them. They perform a dark ritual and make a human sacrifice to summon evil forces to this world... Elsewhere, Eryk helps his wife, Zofia, to give birth to their son. Eryk decides to name his son Poldek Tacit.
- In Rome in 1915, Inquisitor Cincenzo knows that he is going to die soon. He has been looking for information and what he has found, terrifies him. He knows that he has to get a word to those who have sensed the darkness and banded together in secret to face it and warn them that about The Darkest Hand and their death grip upon the world. Soon he is shot by one of his chasers.
- Sister Isabella witnesses how Inquisitor Cincenzo dies and hears him mouth the word Tacit. She flees from the scene and is pursued by the Inquisitors.
- Tacit has been imprisoned and tortured for nine months in Toulouse Inquisitional Prison. He thinks about what led him to the prison cell and hears demonic voices that are compelling him to rise and act.
- Cardinal Bishop Adansoni is determined to get Tacit freed from the prison, because he thinks that Tacit saved many lives by killing a Cardinal Bishop who was about to commit a horrible mass murder and unleash carnage at the Mass for Peace.
- Possessions are occurring everywhere...
I'd love to write more about the happenings in this novel, but - in fear of writing severe spoilers - I'll only mention that various plot threads lead towards an excellent ending, because everything culminates in the amazing finale on the Italian Front. I can assure that the ending is worth waiting for and the journey towards the ending is rewarding.
Just like in The Damned, the characterisation is excellent and engaging. I like the author's way of creating characters who have their own characteristics, feelings and flaws, because he makes his characters and their motives believable. He expertly uses his cast of characters to tell the story and leaves no characters as by-standers; every character has a role to play in this story.
Here are a few words about some of the characters:
- Poldek Tacit is a complex, interesting and well-created character, because he is anything but perfect. He's a determined, experienced and disturbed inquisitor who has seen all kinds of horrors and doesn't shy away from using violence as a tool to solve problems. His actions have led him to prison where is being tortured and experimented upon by his torturers. The prophecy involving Poldek Tacit adds fascination to the storyline, because he clearly has a role to play in the terrifying events. He's the kind of anti-hero that many readers will root for, because he's something different.
- Sister Isabella is an interesting nun, because she works for the Chaste and tests the faith of wayward Priests or Priests who are suspected of failing their vows in chastity. She has not forgotten what happened when she met Tacit, and she has a lot to think about when she finds out what is going on.
- Sandrine Prideux is not happy about what happened at the Mass for Peace, because her plans were ruined. Her plans might have changed everything, but they failed. She tries to stop a dangerous enemy - The Darkest Hand - that is very powerful and has polluted many men with its influence. Henry Frost helps her.
- Salamanca is a well-created torturer, because he tortures Tacit in the prison and enjoys it immensely. He revels at seeing how Tacit suffers and he tries to break his victim by doing extremely nasty things to him. He has orders from the Vatican to perform trials on Tacit and he gladly follows the orders.
I was deeply impressed by the author's writing skills and engaging writing style, because he writes fluent and descriptive prose that is a pleasure to read. He weaves elements of the First World War into his story with precision and pays attention to many details. He also easily creates a dark atmosphere and leads his readers into a slightly alternate world where the supernatural powerfully clashes with terrifying wartime horrors.
This novel is wonderfully gory and has many gruesome scenes that will satisfy the appetites of those who want blood and gore from their speculative fiction stories. I found these scenes fascinatingly explicit and unsettling, because the author doesn't shy away gory and violent elements. It's great that the author does not use them merely as decoration like many other authors do, but incorporates them powerfully into his story.
The dark rituals are simply amazing, because the author does his best to create a dark atmosphere that almost oozes out of the pages. Because I've always loved reading about dark rituals and human sacrifices in dark fantasy and horror novels, I was thrilled to read about them. I also enjoyed reading about the demonic possessions, blood-running fountains and monstrous children, because they heralded the coming of evil and added creepiness to the story.
This novel has many excellent scenes. One of them is Tacit's escape from the Toulouse Inquisitional Prison, because the author has come up with an impressive way to get him out of there.
The scenes in which Tacit is tortured are powerful and repulsive. They reveal how the Inquisitors torture their prisoners and try to break them. I think it's good to mention that if you're easily shocked, these brutal and ghastly scenes may cause you discomfort.
The strikingly hellish and nightmarish sights on the battlefields are filled with blood, gore and slaughter. I find these scenes Gothic in their grandness and explicitness. The author's perception of what is needed to write these scenes is impeccable, because he has a sense of harsh realism and - what's best - he avoids glorification of violence.
I love the author's vision of Hombre Lobo, the werewolves, and the mythology surrounding them, because Catholic Church is to blame for their existence. They're the Church's darkest secret, because they've been excommunicated for daring to defy the Church and cursed to walk as men during the day while transforming into wolves at night.
I enjoy the author's way of writing about religious elements, because they're intriguing and thought-provoking. He never preaches about anything, which is great, because I detest novels in which authors end up preaching about religious elements and church issues. As I mentioned in my review of The Damned, the author's way of writing about religious elements is similar to Teresa Frochok's way of examining them in her Miserere: An Autumn Tale.
The machinations of the Catholic Church are brought to life in a vivid way in this novel. I enjoyed reading about how the leading figures of the Church were not afraid of manipulating events and people, but ruthlessly did their deeds. I think that many readers will find what the corrupted Priests do very intriguing, because they're orchestrating conflicts to further their own dark goals and prepare the way for the coming of great evil. They don't hesitate to do brutal deeds and kill people.
One of the best things about this novel is that it contains many surprises. The author delivers twists and turns in a fascinating way and makes sure that his readers find the story compelling. It was intriguing for me to read about how old and bitter enemies joined forces in order to fight against a common threat, because everything had changed.
When you begin to read this novel, you'll immediately get a feeling that Tarn Richardson has spent a lot of time on researching many things and historical details. It's great that the author concentrates on getting all the details right, because it truly makes a difference in this kind of fiction.
Tarn Richardon's evocative writing style is one of the main reasons why this novel is such an outstanding achievement in dark fiction and why I love it so much. It's amazing how effortlessly the author keeps up tension, intensifies the atmosphere and writes about the many happenings in a descriptive way. He's a first-rate storyteller who evokes a distinct sense of time and place with his prose.
It's a bit difficult to compare this novel to other novels, but the closest resemblances are Teresa Frochok's Miserere: An Autumn Tale, Mark A. Latham's Apollonian Casefiles novels and Stephanie Burgis' historical fantasy novels. If you've read any of these novels, you'll love this novel. I'm sure that horror readers will especially love this novel, because it's various elements will please readers who enjoy dark and gritty stories.
I have yet to read the final novel in this trilogy, but based on The Damned and The Fallen, I can say that The Darkest Hand Trilogy is clearly one of the best achievements in modern speculative fiction. It's head and shoulders above most novels that have been published during the recent years, because it's fresh, exciting and incredibly well written. It combines elements ranging from history and religion to horror and fantasy in a highly enjoyable way.
If you're looking for a good, addictive and well written horror-fantasy novel, I advise you to take a look at Tarn Richardson's The Fallen, because it's a fully satisfying reading experience. It's one of the utmost best historical horror-fantasy novels I've ever had the pleasure of reading. Please, do yourself a big favour and read this amazing novel (and its predecessor too) - believe me when I say that you don't want to miss this story.
Highly recommended!
Because Tarn Richardson's The Damned was a pleasant surprise for me, I was eager to read The Fallen. I'm pleased to say that The Fallen is just as impressive, complex and well-researched historical horror-fantasy novel as The Damned. I was thoroughly impressed by its dark and thrilling story.
The Fallen is an excellent and satisfying addition to the Darkest Hand Trilogy, because it's a direct sequel to The Damned and continues the complex story arc in a compelling way. It's one of the best new speculative fiction novels for adult readers, because it has everything one could ever hope to find in a historical horror-fantasy novel: it's gory, fast-paced, complex, gritty and satisfyingly dark.
Just like The Damned, I consider this novel to be a rare treasure that is mandatory reading material to everyone who loves well written speculative fiction with horror and dark fantasy elements. It's an entertaining and highly enjoyable novel that should not be missed by those who enjoy dark fiction.
Although this novel contains many familiar and well-known elements, Tarn Richardson's way of writing about them feels wonderfully fresh. The author masterfully combines action, horror, fantasy and historical fiction elements and blurs the lines between them to create a memorable reading experience. There's an irresistibly wild and furious feel to the story that forces readers to devour the whole novel as quickly as possible.
In the previous novel, the author established a good foundation for his story arc and now he concentrates on delivering more action and makes the story more intriguing and suspenseful (this novel has more of everything that made the first novel excellent). Everyone who has read The Damned will be pleased with this development in the storytelling, because it feels natural and immerses the readers immediately into the happenings.
Here's a bit of information about the story:
- The events take place in various places around Europe during the early 20th century at the time of the First World War.
- In the prologue, the events take place in Bulgaria in 1877. A party of Catholic priests gazes at a nightmarish and gory sight before them. They perform a dark ritual and make a human sacrifice to summon evil forces to this world... Elsewhere, Eryk helps his wife, Zofia, to give birth to their son. Eryk decides to name his son Poldek Tacit.
- In Rome in 1915, Inquisitor Cincenzo knows that he is going to die soon. He has been looking for information and what he has found, terrifies him. He knows that he has to get a word to those who have sensed the darkness and banded together in secret to face it and warn them that about The Darkest Hand and their death grip upon the world. Soon he is shot by one of his chasers.
- Sister Isabella witnesses how Inquisitor Cincenzo dies and hears him mouth the word Tacit. She flees from the scene and is pursued by the Inquisitors.
- Tacit has been imprisoned and tortured for nine months in Toulouse Inquisitional Prison. He thinks about what led him to the prison cell and hears demonic voices that are compelling him to rise and act.
- Cardinal Bishop Adansoni is determined to get Tacit freed from the prison, because he thinks that Tacit saved many lives by killing a Cardinal Bishop who was about to commit a horrible mass murder and unleash carnage at the Mass for Peace.
- Possessions are occurring everywhere...
I'd love to write more about the happenings in this novel, but - in fear of writing severe spoilers - I'll only mention that various plot threads lead towards an excellent ending, because everything culminates in the amazing finale on the Italian Front. I can assure that the ending is worth waiting for and the journey towards the ending is rewarding.
Just like in The Damned, the characterisation is excellent and engaging. I like the author's way of creating characters who have their own characteristics, feelings and flaws, because he makes his characters and their motives believable. He expertly uses his cast of characters to tell the story and leaves no characters as by-standers; every character has a role to play in this story.
Here are a few words about some of the characters:
- Poldek Tacit is a complex, interesting and well-created character, because he is anything but perfect. He's a determined, experienced and disturbed inquisitor who has seen all kinds of horrors and doesn't shy away from using violence as a tool to solve problems. His actions have led him to prison where is being tortured and experimented upon by his torturers. The prophecy involving Poldek Tacit adds fascination to the storyline, because he clearly has a role to play in the terrifying events. He's the kind of anti-hero that many readers will root for, because he's something different.
- Sister Isabella is an interesting nun, because she works for the Chaste and tests the faith of wayward Priests or Priests who are suspected of failing their vows in chastity. She has not forgotten what happened when she met Tacit, and she has a lot to think about when she finds out what is going on.
- Sandrine Prideux is not happy about what happened at the Mass for Peace, because her plans were ruined. Her plans might have changed everything, but they failed. She tries to stop a dangerous enemy - The Darkest Hand - that is very powerful and has polluted many men with its influence. Henry Frost helps her.
- Salamanca is a well-created torturer, because he tortures Tacit in the prison and enjoys it immensely. He revels at seeing how Tacit suffers and he tries to break his victim by doing extremely nasty things to him. He has orders from the Vatican to perform trials on Tacit and he gladly follows the orders.
I was deeply impressed by the author's writing skills and engaging writing style, because he writes fluent and descriptive prose that is a pleasure to read. He weaves elements of the First World War into his story with precision and pays attention to many details. He also easily creates a dark atmosphere and leads his readers into a slightly alternate world where the supernatural powerfully clashes with terrifying wartime horrors.
This novel is wonderfully gory and has many gruesome scenes that will satisfy the appetites of those who want blood and gore from their speculative fiction stories. I found these scenes fascinatingly explicit and unsettling, because the author doesn't shy away gory and violent elements. It's great that the author does not use them merely as decoration like many other authors do, but incorporates them powerfully into his story.
The dark rituals are simply amazing, because the author does his best to create a dark atmosphere that almost oozes out of the pages. Because I've always loved reading about dark rituals and human sacrifices in dark fantasy and horror novels, I was thrilled to read about them. I also enjoyed reading about the demonic possessions, blood-running fountains and monstrous children, because they heralded the coming of evil and added creepiness to the story.
This novel has many excellent scenes. One of them is Tacit's escape from the Toulouse Inquisitional Prison, because the author has come up with an impressive way to get him out of there.
The scenes in which Tacit is tortured are powerful and repulsive. They reveal how the Inquisitors torture their prisoners and try to break them. I think it's good to mention that if you're easily shocked, these brutal and ghastly scenes may cause you discomfort.
The strikingly hellish and nightmarish sights on the battlefields are filled with blood, gore and slaughter. I find these scenes Gothic in their grandness and explicitness. The author's perception of what is needed to write these scenes is impeccable, because he has a sense of harsh realism and - what's best - he avoids glorification of violence.
I love the author's vision of Hombre Lobo, the werewolves, and the mythology surrounding them, because Catholic Church is to blame for their existence. They're the Church's darkest secret, because they've been excommunicated for daring to defy the Church and cursed to walk as men during the day while transforming into wolves at night.
I enjoy the author's way of writing about religious elements, because they're intriguing and thought-provoking. He never preaches about anything, which is great, because I detest novels in which authors end up preaching about religious elements and church issues. As I mentioned in my review of The Damned, the author's way of writing about religious elements is similar to Teresa Frochok's way of examining them in her Miserere: An Autumn Tale.
The machinations of the Catholic Church are brought to life in a vivid way in this novel. I enjoyed reading about how the leading figures of the Church were not afraid of manipulating events and people, but ruthlessly did their deeds. I think that many readers will find what the corrupted Priests do very intriguing, because they're orchestrating conflicts to further their own dark goals and prepare the way for the coming of great evil. They don't hesitate to do brutal deeds and kill people.
One of the best things about this novel is that it contains many surprises. The author delivers twists and turns in a fascinating way and makes sure that his readers find the story compelling. It was intriguing for me to read about how old and bitter enemies joined forces in order to fight against a common threat, because everything had changed.
When you begin to read this novel, you'll immediately get a feeling that Tarn Richardson has spent a lot of time on researching many things and historical details. It's great that the author concentrates on getting all the details right, because it truly makes a difference in this kind of fiction.
Tarn Richardon's evocative writing style is one of the main reasons why this novel is such an outstanding achievement in dark fiction and why I love it so much. It's amazing how effortlessly the author keeps up tension, intensifies the atmosphere and writes about the many happenings in a descriptive way. He's a first-rate storyteller who evokes a distinct sense of time and place with his prose.
It's a bit difficult to compare this novel to other novels, but the closest resemblances are Teresa Frochok's Miserere: An Autumn Tale, Mark A. Latham's Apollonian Casefiles novels and Stephanie Burgis' historical fantasy novels. If you've read any of these novels, you'll love this novel. I'm sure that horror readers will especially love this novel, because it's various elements will please readers who enjoy dark and gritty stories.
I have yet to read the final novel in this trilogy, but based on The Damned and The Fallen, I can say that The Darkest Hand Trilogy is clearly one of the best achievements in modern speculative fiction. It's head and shoulders above most novels that have been published during the recent years, because it's fresh, exciting and incredibly well written. It combines elements ranging from history and religion to horror and fantasy in a highly enjoyable way.
If you're looking for a good, addictive and well written horror-fantasy novel, I advise you to take a look at Tarn Richardson's The Fallen, because it's a fully satisfying reading experience. It's one of the utmost best historical horror-fantasy novels I've ever had the pleasure of reading. Please, do yourself a big favour and read this amazing novel (and its predecessor too) - believe me when I say that you don't want to miss this story.
Highly recommended!
September 4, 2017
Loads of fun reading about Tacit, the wolves and the dealings of the Church/Vatican. Great to see that the characters are not perfect and have very human flaws. Can't wait to read the next chapter of the story.
September 20, 2017
If you enjoyed The Damned you'll love this fast-paced, action-packed sequel. The stakes are raised for the main characters who must come together to fight an even bigger battle than the horrific warfare going on around them. A must-read for lovers of fantasy/horror fiction with a heart
September 17, 2017
This is a spoiler-free review
Read on In The Sheets
The Fallen is the the 2nd book in The Darkest Hand Trilogy by Tarn Richardson.
While the first book was phenomenal, it mainly serves as an introduction to the series and characters. There's a lot of development and flashbacks, which in no way takes away from the story. You can read my full review of The Damned here, I loved every single minute of it.
The Fallen however, is where the story really kicks off. You already know the universe and the cast of characters, now they've to come together for a battle not even Tacit could have been fully prepared for.
Given how much I thoroughly enjoyed The Damned, I was afraid the series would suffer in a way many trilogies do - middle book syndrome. More often than not, the second book in a trilogy feels like a lot of filler. Just a bridge to the next book. That's definitely not the case here. The Fallen feels like The Damned woke up, had it's morning coffee (read "bourbon"), and is more ready to kick ass than it already was.
Werewolves? Check.
Scary Demon Babies with Hooves? Check
I'm gonna have to stop it there because if I don't I know I'll ramble and spoil something, but if you loved The Damned, I promise that you'll love The Fallen even more.
Read on In The Sheets
The Fallen is the the 2nd book in The Darkest Hand Trilogy by Tarn Richardson.
While the first book was phenomenal, it mainly serves as an introduction to the series and characters. There's a lot of development and flashbacks, which in no way takes away from the story. You can read my full review of The Damned here, I loved every single minute of it.
The Fallen however, is where the story really kicks off. You already know the universe and the cast of characters, now they've to come together for a battle not even Tacit could have been fully prepared for.
Given how much I thoroughly enjoyed The Damned, I was afraid the series would suffer in a way many trilogies do - middle book syndrome. More often than not, the second book in a trilogy feels like a lot of filler. Just a bridge to the next book. That's definitely not the case here. The Fallen feels like The Damned woke up, had it's morning coffee (read "bourbon"), and is more ready to kick ass than it already was.
Werewolves? Check.
Scary Demon Babies with Hooves? Check
I'm gonna have to stop it there because if I don't I know I'll ramble and spoil something, but if you loved The Damned, I promise that you'll love The Fallen even more.
September 29, 2019
I quite simply loved this book. Tacit is such a magnificent character, my favourite kind of anti-hero. Aged and scarred, rough around the edges and utterly remorseless in his pursuit for justice. But, as I think it is with all great characters, it's his mental scars that bring him to life.
The story itself is a great continuation from The Damned, a wide ranging arc with charcaters spread all over war torn Europe. The battle between the Church and the Werewolves continues, the violence pulsating, gritty and superbly written.
I'm already looking forward to getting stuck into book three in the series, as I just know Tacit isn't quite done yet!
The story itself is a great continuation from The Damned, a wide ranging arc with charcaters spread all over war torn Europe. The battle between the Church and the Werewolves continues, the violence pulsating, gritty and superbly written.
I'm already looking forward to getting stuck into book three in the series, as I just know Tacit isn't quite done yet!
June 6, 2016
Considering the range of ground this book covers it's still surprisingly easy to read. Got it as a goodreads giveaway and have enjoyed it. It's an original idea, and an unusual setting, WWI Italy is clearly a world away from the trenches, but still horrific - even before the werewolves and demons turn up. I may even have to go back and read the first one.
May 26, 2016
Goodreads win.
A brilliantly well written and captivating book! would recommend.
A brilliantly well written and captivating book! would recommend.
September 18, 2022
I did it again, I read the second book in a series without reading the first. This book is extremely well written and very enjoyable.
May 12, 2017
Book 2 of The Darkest Hand Trilogy
MY REVIEW: 5*
Set in 1915 on the Italian Austro-Hungarian border during the 1st World War. The war between armies are ferocious, battles are bloody. The focus is on the Italian front, the Soco River in Northwest Slovenia. With Poldek Tacit incarcerated after the killing of a cardinal in the first book, the Inquisitors are torturing him. The Vatican is rife with conspiracy, no-one is to be trusted. Many secret meetings are happening, rumours are rife and trouble is brewing. The Darkest Hand has their own agenda, and their own plans. Demonic possession has increased, exorcism is getting more common, crows are massing in Vatican City, fountains flow with blood and a general feeling of wickedness and evil is creeping its way across Rome and beyond.
This story throws a lot of curve balls, and unexpected turns of events. Old friends and allies still remain, new allegiances are forged. Ancient rituals are once again being prepared for and performed. Races that have fought as enemies for centuries find themselves up against a common enemy.
This is the 2nd in the trilogy, I was concerned as to how this book would live up to the first, The Damned. There was no need for concern. It went straight into the fast paced action where the first book left off. There was no lull, no hanging around and at times no pause for breath.
This book is a slightly different beast to the first, it has less of its main character Poldek Tacit, he has his own battle to deal with. But you can feel his presence simmering away in the background as you read. It is a chance to get more acquainted with the characters that still have a story to tell. Again there are several stories twisting their way through the pages that culminate in a huge and explosive finale.
I love the fact that every character has a reason for being in this story, each person mentioned has a name. No-one is a bystander or an extra. This book puts you right in the midst of things, as I was reading, there were times I actually saw the fights and the chases. Being able to create a world out of words, so that I can actually see as i read is outstanding.
It is obvious that a lot of research has been done, as was in the first book. The descriptions of battles fought in the trenches, battlefields and mountainsides, shows great care and attention to historical detail, it is a credit to the author.
This is another I would recommend if you love fantasy, horror, historical, thriller and mystery. A mashup of Dark Fiction at it's finest.
How am I going to be able to survive until the 18th May 2017 for the 3rd book The Risen. (Only 6 days at the time of writting this, but it feels longer.) I would like to thank Tarn Richardson for my copy of this book, I was lucky enough to win it in a competition.
MY REVIEW: 5*
Set in 1915 on the Italian Austro-Hungarian border during the 1st World War. The war between armies are ferocious, battles are bloody. The focus is on the Italian front, the Soco River in Northwest Slovenia. With Poldek Tacit incarcerated after the killing of a cardinal in the first book, the Inquisitors are torturing him. The Vatican is rife with conspiracy, no-one is to be trusted. Many secret meetings are happening, rumours are rife and trouble is brewing. The Darkest Hand has their own agenda, and their own plans. Demonic possession has increased, exorcism is getting more common, crows are massing in Vatican City, fountains flow with blood and a general feeling of wickedness and evil is creeping its way across Rome and beyond.
This story throws a lot of curve balls, and unexpected turns of events. Old friends and allies still remain, new allegiances are forged. Ancient rituals are once again being prepared for and performed. Races that have fought as enemies for centuries find themselves up against a common enemy.
This is the 2nd in the trilogy, I was concerned as to how this book would live up to the first, The Damned. There was no need for concern. It went straight into the fast paced action where the first book left off. There was no lull, no hanging around and at times no pause for breath.
This book is a slightly different beast to the first, it has less of its main character Poldek Tacit, he has his own battle to deal with. But you can feel his presence simmering away in the background as you read. It is a chance to get more acquainted with the characters that still have a story to tell. Again there are several stories twisting their way through the pages that culminate in a huge and explosive finale.
I love the fact that every character has a reason for being in this story, each person mentioned has a name. No-one is a bystander or an extra. This book puts you right in the midst of things, as I was reading, there were times I actually saw the fights and the chases. Being able to create a world out of words, so that I can actually see as i read is outstanding.
It is obvious that a lot of research has been done, as was in the first book. The descriptions of battles fought in the trenches, battlefields and mountainsides, shows great care and attention to historical detail, it is a credit to the author.
This is another I would recommend if you love fantasy, horror, historical, thriller and mystery. A mashup of Dark Fiction at it's finest.
How am I going to be able to survive until the 18th May 2017 for the 3rd book The Risen. (Only 6 days at the time of writting this, but it feels longer.) I would like to thank Tarn Richardson for my copy of this book, I was lucky enough to win it in a competition.
February 15, 2017
The Fallen, 2nd book in The Trilogy, The Darkest Hand moves to Italy during the Autumn of 1915, culminating in a horrendous battle fought on the Carso mountains, the Italian front line in Northern Italy. But another war is happening in the labyrinthine underbelly of the Vatican. A war between good and evil. Omens abound: vandalised statues weep bloody tears; fountains gush blood stained water; hideous ritualistic killings of martyrs leave symbols that can only be interpreted by those instructed in the dark arts. Screeching crows compete with the baying of slavering wolves and werewolves in the hunt for human flesh on the streets of the capital.
In this unholy maelstrom, Poldek Tacit and his small group of friends fight the many demons and with every hour of darkest day and blackest night move closer to defeating this alternative enemy. But at what cost to their own lives?
A compulsive page turner. Historically correct re. The Carso mountain battles.
But the vivid descriptions are not for the faint hearted! Visually a potential blockbuster of a film!
In this unholy maelstrom, Poldek Tacit and his small group of friends fight the many demons and with every hour of darkest day and blackest night move closer to defeating this alternative enemy. But at what cost to their own lives?
A compulsive page turner. Historically correct re. The Carso mountain battles.
But the vivid descriptions are not for the faint hearted! Visually a potential blockbuster of a film!
May 15, 2017
Well written historical fantasy in the action scenes, drags in the dialog. And I simply cannot go with a a member of the Inquisition as a good witch-hunter. It feels like justifying anti-semitism by saying "No, in the world of the story the Elders of Zion are real!"
July 23, 2017
who knew I would want a historical thriller besides some problems I had with the book it was just pure hellish fun tacit is such a fun charater to be around I can't wait to read the conclusion also the wolf's take a back seat mostly in this entry.
February 1, 2018
Another superb read from Tarn Richardson. Highly recommended. Review to follow.
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