This was my first Philip Quantrell Book but it did impress me beyond all expectations and sets the stage for the remaining of the saga. I gave this book an easy 4 out of 5. Despite the fact that he is self published, the writing is in no way lacking. I was immediately invested in his character and the political intrigue of the story.
**Alert Spoilers Below**
In this epic story line we have some of the typical players. A powerful race of elves, hell bent on destroying the human race that is wholly unsuspecting and unprepared for the coming invasion. An unseeingly group of wayward travelers that begin the book off by hating their differences. Even with these elements. The book was a masterful read in now way detracted from Phillips great storytelling. I stayed up late finishing this.
Asher is an assassin trained by the mysterious Arakesh, world’s best assassins, though he turned form this path to forge his own way 14 years ago. He is also an outlander and a ranger who assists cities and towns by killing monsters for pay. Nathaniel is an mid aged man employed by the Graycoats of the realm. Here they are a group of highly trained peace keepers that are not allowed to marry or have families.
Asher and Nathaniel’s paths diverge after King Rengar requests an audience with Asher. Nathaniel is sent to retrieve Asher with a Graycoat trainee in tow, Elaith. When they all return to Verda, Asher’s services are requested by the King. An Elf envoy with their Princess is due to land soon and he and the Graycoats are tasked with returning them to the keep in one piece.
Once the Elves enter Verda, their posse is attacked by a large party of Arakesh assassins. With Asher’s help, they dispatch them and eventually return to Rengar with no casualties. The Elf Princess, Reyna, along with Faylen and Mörygan present themselves as ambassadors to their nation, to create an alliance. Their true task is to spy for her father so they can coordinate the Elf invasion.
In the back ground, Rayna’s betrothed, Elf match, is in charge of the other half of the invasion, which includes aligning themselves with a dragon. His team advances on the mage school of Korkanath. Galanor’s team walks through the school leaving behind death and destruction. Eventually, they recover a grimoire that releases Malliath, a huge black dragon, from his enslavement. As Malliath tries to flee, Galanor and Gideon, one of the last surviving mages, secure a ride along his scale system.
Malliath flies them to a prison of both dragons and the elf Queen, Adilandra. The dragons escape and fly away leaving the trio to fight their way free of complex. In the huge Darkakin city, Malaysai, they discover an enormous army that is set to invade their neighbors, Illidan. Adilandra decides to follow the dragons the way they excited the city, in the hopes they can meet the dragons and fight with them against Valanis. She also hopes that by having their help, she can talk her husband out of his stubborn war that he has slated for men. Before they can depart, she is taken prisoner and this forces Gideon and Galanor to search for the dragons on their own. Dragon’s Bravog and IIlargo save them from their desert ascent and they discover Dragon’s Reach and the last Dragon Rider. Adriel.
Back in Illidan, Reyna and Faylan’s company take refuge at West Fallon, a Graycoat stronghold fortress. Asher is forced to be kept in a cell as the natural enemy to the Graycoats. Meanwhile, Alidyr,Valanis’ general, marches 500 Arakesh to West Fallon in the bid to retrieve Pandora’s Gem, which Asher was gifted in his childhood. Asher, Reyna, Nathanial and Faylen make a last stand with the Graycoats. After victory they decide to attempt to kill Valais while he sleeps under the amber enchantment with Asher’s gem portion.
They make it to where Valanis’ body should have been to find it except they find Alidyr alive and well, instead. It is here that Asher finally remember his childhood and he was gifted the gem before the Amber Spell was cast but he was inside it for a thousand years, before the gem cracked it open. A battle ensues, but Alidyr is too strong for them and takes Asher’s ring.
The ending fits nicely into the beginning of the next book which I will be reading soon.
