Systems fall, planets die—darkness dawns on us all. When a god known simply as the Dark Creator enters our universe, the concord of the world inhabited by the spirits of men and their kings, the gods' chosen few, fades. As this being and his overwhelming force of corrupted horrors and children eclipse Afterworld and its territories, the kingdoms of men must put aside their differences and band together.
After millennia of fighting, the final blockade separating man from those sinister entities has collapsed. With so much at stake, and with the Dark Creator approaching the Divine Mountains, will our protectors' sacrifices ensure Afterworld's survival? Or will this encroaching darkness consume it all?
I do enjoy a good fantasy story. I like them fast-paced with EVERYTHING to play for. And that's what you get with Robertson's Dawning of Darkness, The Fall of Gods and Kings. In this compelling novella, the author works hard to keep things moving all the way to the exciting cliffhanger ending. In many ways, it's a classic story of power struggle, of dark struggling to put out the light, as the Dark Creator gets closer and the final battle for the Afterworld is at hand. I must say, it's all very gritty, very dark, and wonderfully fun.
In terms of writing style, the author's very talented. He's particularly good with speech, and he knows when to keep a sentence short; this is not an author who's fallen into the
trap of purple prose. The plot is also cleverly constructed, the setting is splendidly
described, and the pacing is, for the most part, spot on.
If you happen to be looking for a dark, fantasy horror, this short novel might be for you. And, as it happens to be the start of a set of books, there's plenty of opportunity for the
author to further develop the characters, particularly the Dark Creator who's, not surprisingly, a nasty fellow - but fun to get to know.
All in all, a bit of a gem!
A 'Wishing Shelf' Book Review
