Category: Fantasy ISBN-10: 1466325348
Type: Fiction
Pages: 219
Copyright: July 1, 2011
ISBN-13: 9781466325340
Dark, epic fantasy.
For hundreds of years, the bestial Grol have clawed at the walls of Lathah without success. Now armed with O'hra, mystical weapons of great power, they have returned, to conquer.
Witness to the Grol advance, Arrin can abide his exile no longer. He returns to Lathah, in defiance of death, with hopes to save his beloved princess and the child born of their illicit affair. He finds her unwilling to abandon her people. At her behest, Arrin searches for a sanctuary for them only to be confronted by the Sha'ree, a powerful race long thought gone from the world. Through them, he learns it is not just the Grol that threaten the land.
Empowered by a magic never before seen, the savage nations spread chaos and ruin across the realm. With Lathah under siege, and the world on the brink of cataclysmic war, Arrin must strike a deal with the Sha'ree to take the fight to the Grol, or forever lose his one true love: his family.
Excerpt
Though the Grol outnumbered him easily, they had never faced anyone like Arrin.
Furious at their destruction of Fhenahr, and what he imagined would come next, Arrin felt caution slip to the wayside. He eyed the hunched back of the closest Grol that sat on the stump of a fallen oak. He leapt at the creature before he could rein himself in.
The Grol heard him at the last moment, jumping to its feet as it fumbled for its weapon still in its sheath. Arrin's blade was a silvered blur, almost invisible in its quickness. He slipped sideways and stepped over the log, past the Grol, heading for the next as the first creature's neck exploded in a geyser of blackened claret.
He heard the first's throat sucking air as he buried his blade in the belly of its shrieking compatriot. A twist of his wrist and a sideways tug tore the blade from the second Grol's gut. Its intestines unraveled with a hissing sigh and put an end to its pitiful screams. Arrin, once again on the move, heard the two Grol crumple to the ground behind him.
Professional Reviews
Beautifully Brutal Epic Fantasy
I have read quite a few works by Tim Marquitz and Dawn of War certainly reaches that high standard that I have seen in his other books. This is Marquitz's first attempt at Epic Fantasy and it's a very good one, the writing is of the highest standard, the characters are interesting and relatable, and the story is deep and complex.
I had a few issues with the continual rotation of viewpoints, and I think there were too many viewpoint characters introduced at the start of the book, but once you get through the first third of the book, Dawn of War settles into a more natural rhythm and really becomes a joy to read. If you like epic fantasy then you will like this.
Epic excellent fantasy
The first book of the Blood War Trilogy, The Dawn of War, is an epic fantasy tale. It combines its own land with its own people. Not the usual dwarfs and elves, but new races. Races that are well written and lively.
I realy could not put this book down, after the initial difficulty with new names and characters it all fell into place. I found myself enthralled by the pace and the story, every bit as exciting as any fantasy book I've read ,and that's a lot. Put this excellent read on your wish list.
Can't wait for part two.
First Read!
Outstanding! This was my first experience with this author and his world of interesting characters. Bring on Book 2 Tim! Get Busy!
Danielle and Nina are rescued from their wicked step-mother by Emma the Yellow Dream Train who takes them on adventures. When Nina learns she has the ability to speak to animals, Emma and the other trains teach her how to use it.
