Living with his parents, Baard and Diara, in the peaceful village of New Thorstorm, eighteen-year-old Derrik Thon is tired of being treated like a child and dreams of becoming a warrior.
When he has a chance to prove himself, together with friends Glen and Broose, at the village’s perilous coming-of-age task, known as the “Passage”, he grabs it despite his parents’ fears. But the danger posed by the Passage pales into insignificance as the Darkside rises once again to exact deadly revenge, and Derrik is firmly in their sights…
Of Ashes and Blood opens Darkcliff’s new epic fantasy series, Shattered Empire, and begins eighteen years after the action concluded in his Magic Circle series. Although there are familiar faces, landscapes, contextual continuations, and legacy grievances filtering in from the earlier books, readers do not need to have read the Magic Circle collection to embark on Of Ashes and Blood (although it’s highly recommended as it’s excellent).
The reader is introduced to Derrik, the son of Baard and Diara, his friend Glen, the son of the New Thorstorm blacksmith, as well as Broose, Eriana, and Leya, the offspring of Ufi and Mardok. For readers unacquainted with the previous characters, Darkcliff effortlessly introduces them and seamlessly weaves in pertinent backstory.
Following a short yet powerful Prologue involving High Mage Torsum, who is integral to this novel, Darkcliff transports the reader to the wondrously rustic New Thorstorm. It’s a brief prelude of absorbingly quaint, pastoral tranquility.
He peppers this charming New Thorstorm tableau with subtle indicators of tension while presenting the main protagonists, who are nicely individual with convincing quirks and respective strengths. Darkcliff utilizes these traits to propel aspects of the plot, and not always in a positive manner for those involved.
It would have been easy to depict the teenagers as either copies of, or complete contrasts to, their parents, especially Derrik, but they each have a distinctive originality, and the reader suspects hidden capabilities and unexpected ambitions.
Their character development, emotional and physical, from sheltered teenagers to nascent warriors, is beautifully handled, full of nuance and credibility. Darkcliff hints at a level of emotional angst within headstrong Eriana, and the reader senses that Broose may take a different trajectory at some stage.
The entire cast, which is substantial and diverse, is portrayed with depth and creativity. There are some captivating character vignettes and sly comic cameos, such as Old Megg. Al’Anark, the Elven Chieftain, seems to step from the page with every entrance.
Those at the forefront of the Darkside, such as the fantastically monikered Wrathlord Corpsegrinder and human Mage Lanfareth, are given complex malignancy, and, in Lanfareth’s case, curious moments of internal conflict and compassion that will doubtless be further explored. Another immensely intriguing character is Zór’al, the Elven druidess, whose behavior appears disingenuous, and her motivations unclear.
Within a few chapters, pockets of drama and conflict are opening up. Several quests and side-missions unfurl in numerous directions involving various characters and locations, before finally coalescing. Darkcliff controls the plot with its action-packed, nerve-shredding tangents superbly, ensuring it never becomes dense.
Fight scenes are numerous, gory, and amazingly choreographed, especially the aerial ones, which are thrillingly unpredictable. Indeed, throughout, Darkcliff’s prose is sparkling, his world-building is lavishly detailed without excess, and stunningly imaginative. Notwithstanding, there is a focused, polished intensity to his writing that drives momentum and keeps the pages turning.
Of Ashes and Blood is exhilarating next-generation material. A brilliantly fresh, deeply immersive, and wonderfully entertaining opening series novel full of vivid fantasy, spellbinding magic, and wonderfully controlled chaos, driven by emotionally rich, engaging characters. Highly recommended.
