Short Fiction Friday: The Demon by Douglas Nicholas

I did warn y'all that I would be binging on this series this week! Overkill or not, I also read this little e short this week. It's fun - doesn't add much to the series as a whole, but it is a nice bonus. Plus, it's free and includes a sample of The Wicked to give you a further taste of Nicholas's work.

The knights of Castle Blanchefontaine have been tasked with a possibly deadly mission: a merchant passing through the area reported that he and his guards were set upon by a great demon and his minions. They ran, leaving behind their wagon, and sought shelter at Blanchefontaine. Now, the castellan and his man must confront this evil head on if their lands are ever to be safe again. 

Again, this one serves as just a freebie bonus. It's super short on its own - even with The Wicked sample it's only around 40 pages in length. It was nice to see the men-at-arms of Blanchefontaine and Sir Balthasar in action.

I really wanted to include it this week for those of you that might be on the fence and curious about the series - it's a no risk sample :)

You can download "The Demon" from any e book retailer here.

Throne of Darkness by Douglas Nicholas + a Giveaway

Hi, all! It's been a fabulous reading week chez moi. I'm hoping it continues beyond this week, but I am ending on a high note with the third title in Douglas Nicholas's excellent dark fantasy series, Throne of Darkness. And thanks to the publisher I'm able to offer up a copy of this latest release to one of you lucky readers. (If you haven't read Something Red or The Wicked just yet, I am giving away a copy of Red here.)

Molly and her troupe find themselves in an odd situation, conscripted by none other than the Roman Catholic Church to deal with issues involving King John. Seems the nation's ruler has enlisted the help of a sorcerer who leads a group of shapeshifters intent on ridding the country of John Lackland's northern enemies. These shapeshifters, two hundred in number, would decimate the northern lords, including Sir Jehan and Sir Odinell. Having heard of their past deeds involving issues of a more otherworldly and evil nature, the Church hopes that Molly, Nemain, Jack, and Hob can rid the country of these monstrous beings and the magus who controls them. In exchange for their help, the Church's representative promises their support for Molly and also swears forgiveness of her heathen ways. 

So Molly and all are blackmailed into service, so to speak. If they are successful in their task, Molly won't burn at the stake (according to the Pope's man) and if they aren't, they'll most certainly be dead anyway. But how can Molly and team refuse when to do so would greatly impact their friends and supporters in the north?

While Nicholas doesn't delve too deeply into the history of the time, Throne of Darkness is woven around the unease and restlessness of England in 1215 and the signing of the Magna Carta. King John (for those of us who can't keep the monarchies straight) is the very same of Robin Hood fame. He's also the king who lost Normandy to France causing all sorts of upheaval. And he did indeed war with Pope Innocent III but no mention of attempted alliances with Muslim nations.

There's quite a bit of folklore in Throne of Darkness, indeed in the series as a whole. The bouda, magical white cows, and of course the Irish mythology with Molly at it's center. For a book I'd been so greatly anticipating, Throne did not disappoint. I had hoped, though, that we would finally get Molly's story in Ireland. I don't know if that's in future plans at all but I do know that I for one would welcome another installment!

Rating: 4/5

And now for the giveaway: to enter, simply fill out the Rafflecopter below before Monday, April 20. US only and no PO boxes please.

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The Wicked by Douglas Nicholas

It's been a little over a year since Hob, Molly, Nemain, and Jack helped free Castle Blanchefontaine from the wrath of a murderous beast. Their efforts have earned them friends and patrons in the lord and knights of Blanchefontaine, and notoriety for being the only ones able to fight the evil that plagued those parts. And so, on one of their returns to the castle, they are informed that an acquaintance of Sir Jehan's, one Sir Odinell, now has a problem that Molly and her caravan might be able to help with. 

It seems Sir Odinell has a new neighbor, a lord whose lands have been appointed by the king himself. The neighbor is odd and his arrival has brought much trouble to the area, leaving Sir Odinell certain that the cause lies at the feet of said lord. But dealing with the issue is problematic for two reasons: first, the lord's connection to both the king and the pope makes him virtually - and officially - untouchable; second, Sir Odinell believes this lord's power to be most unnatural and evil. Sir Odinell once fought alongside Sir Jehan and trusts him when he says that Molly is his best chance. In return for her help, he promises he will also become a patron and ally when Molly returns to her native land to claim her place as queen of her clan. Though the task set forth is a difficult one, Molly is certain it is the fate of her family to intervene. But what she discovers when they arrive is an evil worse than any she's encountered. 

If you read my review of Something Red last week, then you know that I was quite anxious to return to these characters. And what a rewarding return it was! While The Wicked is equal in atmosphere and detail to Something Red, the pacing on this second book in the series is much faster. Within just a few pages, Molly and her group are on their way to Sir Odinell's stumbling upon dead bodies and fighting off minions sent by the wicked Sir Tarquin.

Nicholas seems to really have found his groove with this one! Don't get me wrong, I did enjoy Something Red quite a bit. But where I enjoyed that one, I loved this one! I don't know that I can honestly say that I've ever read a thirteenth-century dark fantasy based book in one sitting, until now. And as with Something Red I turned the final page on The Wicked desperate to get to the next installment, Throne of Darkness, an undeniable indication of just how well this author has hooked me.

The Wicked is dark and suspense driven. It also clues us in further on Molly and Nemain's powers and history. Nemain and Hob's relationship really blossoms in this second title as well, which is nice since they're betrothed at the beginning. Hob's come into his manhood quite nicely and proves to be even more of an asset to the group as well, something Molly apparently foretold when they enlisted him into their family in the first place.

You can absolutely read The Wicked without having read Something Red first, but if I've piqued your interest at all (and you haven't read the Something Red review) you can hit the link above and throw your name in the hat to win a copy of Nicholas's first outing. Be sure to check back tomorrow as well for my review of Throne of Darkness and a chance to win that one as well!

Rating: 5/5

Something Red by Douglas Nicholas + a Giveaway

Hob has only been traveling with Molly and her caravan for a short time now, so many of the stops on their regular trek through England are new to him: the St. Germaine Monastery, for example, where the monks have made it their business to protect travelers, and Osbert's Inn, a welcome respite for weary pilgrims. Bandits target the road beyond and Molly has trained her people well in the event of an attack, but something worse than bandits is on their trail this time.

Hob felt it on the road outside the monastery. He felt it again before they were safely behind the walls at Osbert's Inn. It's an evil that thirsts for blood. A presence that weighs heavy on those sensitive enough to feel it coming. And it's hunting Hob and his new family.

Something Red is a deliciously atmospheric debut. It's quite dense, packed with detail and imagery, and much of the dialog works best sounded out as the author employs an almost old English approach (NOT Old English, but as if it's meant to be and still readily readable). But in spite of that, it does read rather more quickly than I'd expected, in part because of my own anticipation about what was coming and in part because it's the kind of tale that does grab hold and drag you along as Hob's group progress in their travels.

The story is set in a bone-chilling winter during the thirteenth century. Molly, or Queen Maeve, is an Irish exile who makes her way through England trading in remedies and music. Hob, an orphan, was discovered at priest house, having been taken in by an aging man of the cloth. Though Molly has yet to explain why she convinced the priest to relinquish the boy into her care, Hob is grateful and has learned much in the year and a half he's traveled with them. At just thirteen years of age, he's proven himself to be a good addition to their group. Also traveling with Molly are Jack Brown, a former crusader and her sometime lover, and her niece, Nemain.

Do be warned, it does take a while for something beyond looks and feelings to happen but the ride along the way is quite fun. This is the first in a trilogy, with the third installment due out Tuesday (March 31). There's a lot of character development but the reader is still left with questions about Molly/Maeve, Nemain, and Hob, particularly with respect to Molly's exile and her powers.

Something Red stands on its own - there's no crazy cliffhanger, but these characters are the kind you won't want to leave for long.

Rating: 4/5

And now for the giveaway! With the trilogy rounding out so soon, I'll be binging on the series myself. I though I would share the love and give away a copy of this first book to one of you lucky readers. To enter simply fill out the Rafflecopter below before Monday, April 13. US only please.

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