Changes

The gods are dead. The Magelords murdered them and hurled their bodies from heaven and are also slowly dominating the world below. Dorminia is already in their iron grasp, policed by the feared Crimson Watch and the terrorising Augmentors. It's not even safe to think as Mind Hawks monitor and punish with pain and suffering. However , there is a resistance, albeit fragmented and comparatively impotent but the situation is worsening so they must make a stand or lose everything (and everyone) they love. Is the evil magic stronger than the heroes' own resources? They're dying to find out.

Grim's Jerek the Wolf and Brodar Kayne aren't just wonderful names, they're heroes with pasts, problems and uncertainties. On the other side of the judgemental divide, the Supreme Augmentor Barandas hopes that the dark brand of justice he dispenses will one day give way to a kinder society. He's not comfortable with the means but gets through by focusing on the end of his rainbow: a peaceful, repaired world. We , therefore , have a dichotomy which adds a layer of humanity; these are people who aren't wholly good or wholly bad. Then in the middle , there's Davarus Cole, a callow youth who's a hero in his own teatime, making you wish you could have a wet slapping haddock on hand if you ever meet him. Although if I had to pick a favourite at this stage of the series, it would be Eremul, the wheelchair-bound ex-Magelord. He's very much in the mould of my Abercrombie pin-up, Glokta with his sarcasm and wry, embittered humour. Eremul also proves that Luke Scull understands disability. I was recounting Eremul's rant when asked where his legs are to a wheely friend. It seems he's also wanted to shout the same retort at various inopportune moments.

There will always be the shells of central casting characters in fantasy… the sword buckling hero, the tomboy feisty young woman, the evil power -hungry mage/wizard/witch… The sign of a good author is what he fills these shells with and how he builds around them. Based on the fact that he doesn't spend a lot of time talking about clothing, that we're jettisoned into one precarious situation after another and that we're left with enough questions and loose ends to happily knit an enthralling series, Luke Scull is more than good. He's the sort of author you buy on publishing date and read on the way home.

If you do enjoy your fantasy full-on, we also heartily recommend [[Seven Kings: Books of the Shaper: Volume 2 by John R Fultz|Seven Kings by John R Fultz]]. We also have a review of [[Dead Man's Steel (Grim Company) by Luke Scull]].