Genre : Fantasy Format : Paperback Pages : 668 Published : 2002

“The charges include inciting civil war , revolution , murder , the rape and torture of both sexes , and systematic pogroms of military and civilian citizens alike .”

Summary : 327 years after the Sorceress War in the Kingdom of Eutracia there are signs that their peace may be coming to an end . A Bloodstalker suddenly appears which hasn’t been seen since the war , the Prince Tristan stumbles upon a magical cave , and some wizards have disappeared . The Head Wizard Wigg fears that somehow the evil sorceress’s of the past may still be alive . He is soon enough proven right as one of the sorceress’s leads a surprise attack on the Kingdom killing the queen , the king , most of the other wizards , and abducts the princess . Only Wigg and Tristan escape , now they must find a way to rescue the princess , destroy the Coven , and fulfill an ancient prophecy .

“The delicacy of revenge is a feast that must be served at the proper moment ; neither too soon , nor too late , for it’s preparation must be perfect . In this matter , timing is everything .”

Review : First off , I’m going to say this book isn’t going to be for every one . It is a dark epic fantasy novel that has a lot of blood , rape , and torture . With that being said … I dig it . The history , the magic system , and the action are done incredibly well . Wigg is a well written character and the villains are unapologetically evil which is refreshing . The one weakness is Prince Tristan himself for me as he’s just a tad too whiny for me . If you’re looking for some good old edge Lord fantasy give it a look .

“Perhaps if you do indeed kill the wizard first , you may get your chance to taste the pleasures of the Prince after all . Before you kill him of course . “

Book Recommendations

1. Conjure Wife by Fritz Lieber
2. Ben-Hur by Lew Wallace
3. Irsud by Jo Clayton
4. Best Served Cold by Joe Abercrombie
5. Splinter of the Eye’s Mind by Alan Dean Foster
6. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum
7. Burn , Witch , Burn ! by Abraham Merritt
8. Babel-17 by Samuel R. Delany
9. Disclosure by Michael Crichton
10. The Religion by Nicholas Conde

Song recommendations

1. Seek and Destroy – Metallica
2. Punish and Enslave – Hammerfall
3. Witchy Woman – The Eagles
4. Devil Woman – Cliff Richards
5. Never Surrendor – Corey Hart
6. The wanderer – Dion
7. Short Change Hero – The Heavy
8. Alive and Kicking – Nonpoint
9. Venus – Bananarama
10. Forsaken – KORN

Movie Recommendations

1. The Coven (1997)
2. Army of Darkness (1992)
3. Revenge of the Sith (2005)
4. Gor (1987)
5. Battlefield Earth (2000)
6. Hellraiser (1987)
7. The Wizard of Oz (1939)
8. Wonder Woman 1984 (2020)
9. The Blair Witch Project (1999)
10. Queen of the Damned (2002)

Lesson : Kill the enemy immediately if they know magic … duh !