Niles, Douglas
DARKENHEIGHT
Douglas Niles
ACE Books 1996
Pb 466 pages
ISBN#
0-441-004566-3
Darkenheight is second in Niles' WATERSHED TRILOGY (the first
being BREACH IN THE WATERSHED), and continues where the first
left off--so this book is only recommended for those who have
read the first book. Darkenheight is a place, a mountain pass
between Duloth-Trol and Faerine where, long ago there was
another battle between the forces of good and evil, a battle so
explosive that the mountains themselves were blown flat.
Members of Faerine have kept guard on this mountain pass for
generations but now a minon of Duloth-Trol and his servants pour
through in an attempt at conquering Faerine.
The evil god Dassadec has three black Lord Minions at his beck:
Reaper--the Talon of Dassadec, a great snake with wings;
Nicodareus--the Eye of Dassadec who is a dragon; and Phalthak--the
Fang of Dassadec whose huge bulbous body sports numerous
long-necked heads. These minions travel now out of Duloth-Trol
to serve their god's will in conquering the other land of their
world.
Over in Dalethica, our human friends Rudy and Raine and their
comrades are trying to convince their leaders that another war
is upon them. Many are as yet unconvinced . . . it has been so
long since the last Sleepstealer War that many believe the lands
of Duloth-Trol and Faerine only myth. It is Rudy's gift of aura
to the king that finally convinces the people, for when the king
drinks this magical liquid from Faerine he sees in his mind the
coming horror and acts quickly.
Meanwhile, one of the Lord Minions breaks through the badlands
between Duloth-Trol and Dalethica, invading a harbor-town there
before they can even receive warning of what is coming. A sea
captain leads several water-craft in retreat, saving as many as
he can and escaping to the city of Lanbrij that is on the
causeway between mainland Dalethica and its peninsula of Corsari.
In fact, Rudy and an army are headed for Lanbrij too, as is
Nicodareus. All know the humans will find a measure of safety
on the peninsula, for to the servants of Dassadec, water is
poison and Corsari is surrounded by the sea.
After an explosive confrontation with Nicodareus, Rudy and the
others travel to Faerine where Rudy's magic grows, and just in
time, for Faerine is now invaded and they need all the help they
can get. There is good action and world-building in
DARKENHEIGHT. This reader enjoyed the story but does not feel
inclined to continue on to the third book in the series only
because of a personal preference that tires easily when too much
"good verses bad" is so blatant. Nothing in life is completely
good or completely bad and this kind of story can draw on one's
patience after awhile. But for those who don't mind such
cut-and-dried characterization and plotting this series is
recommended as a fun read full of magic. Book three looks to be
a direct confrontation between Rudy and the evil god Dassadec--sounds
interesting for those who go in for that kind of thing.
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