The Calahrian Empire's Iron Elves Commander Konowa Swift Dragon felt he deserved a hero's welcome, but instead received exile as politics has its privilege. Acrimonious, angry, and cynical he wanders in self pity feeling he got the shaft. The military brass broke up his unit sending them from rebellious Hyntaland to the south and sent Konowa off by himself with no rank. His crime was killing the vicious bloody viceroy of Elfkyna, a political appointee who secretly served the evil witch the Shadow Monarch.
With a new even nastier viceroy in place having locals killed on a whim, the Shadow Monarch grows stronger threatening the empire. Desperate for sound military leadership, Konowa is asked to return to duty to lead the fabled Iron Elves. However, he finds his unit is not the same as these are simple men not elven warriors and their commander is an idiot who is heir to the empire. His mission is to retrieve the Red Star that has allegedly fallen somewhere to the east and heralds a special magic that has returned. His allies are elfkynan witch Visyna Tekoy who like her brethren hate elves and empires, and the most untrustworthy profession of them all a reporter Rallie Synjyn. Revolt is in the air fostered by the Shadow Monarch who also goes after the Red Star.
Though somewhat by the writer's 101 standardized book for high fantasy quest, Chris Evans uses contradictory traits to make his key cast members seem fresh and different; for instance the disgraced Konowa wanders forests, but unlike the stereotypical elven he loathes woodlands, etc. The story line is fun to follow even when the hero grumbles every step of the way. With the premise that my enemy's enemies are my allies but still my enemies, A DARKNESS FORGED IN FIRE is an engaging saga.
Harriet Klausner A Darkness Forged in Fire: Book One of the Iron Elves
I've been a little bored with recent fantasy lately, so I was really excited to pick up a copy of A DARKNESS FORGED IN FIRE and see that it wasn't more of the same old same old. I bought it and read it right away--and I wasn't disappointed. I love how the characters come alive so colorfully--and the way the down-to-earth action of the individuals is set against the backdrop of a larger, magical, yet still-believable world. I liked that it uses different tropes than the ordinary epic fantasy--more Napoleonic in feel than medieval, the iron elves are an entirely different kind of elf from the Legolas variety, etc. But I also liked that the story and world had sufficient familiarity to make me feel immediately at home, while still being refreshingly different. Three cheers for this new author, and I can't wait to read the next book in the Iron Elves series!
I received an advance reader's copy of this title, and if you enjoy fantasy and you enjoy military history, this is probably the book for you. Like many of the other reviewers here have pointed out, "A Darkness Forged in Fire" steps nicely around some of the typical fantasy cliches-- there's an elf protagonist who hates forests (he's more of a Henry V or Fortinbras of Norway type), a rather crude dwarf who likely wouldn't know what to do with the secret wisdom of his dwarven forefathers if it hit him over the head, and the technology includes muskets. The writing is fairly strong for a first-effort fantasy and Evans introduces an entire stable of supporting characters with distinct personalities, including a minor comic plotline (again: see Henry V), this involving the aforementioned dwarf.
Evans' worldbuilding has a lot of potential, but unfortunately, this book falls down on the plot. After a series of increasingly confusing viewpoint chapters (a squirrel who isn't, an Viceroy who is official...maybe, a zombie who really wants to bum a smoke), the story settles down and introduces us to the protagonist Konowa, who has been summoned from the woods he hates to rebuild the regiment he abandoned to kill the Viceroy...the old one, whom he already killed. But he needs his unit now because evil trees and a witch are involved.
And then...the book spends the rest of its time detailing Konowa's efforts to build up his old gang of Iron Elves. There's a battle, but it's really more of a distraction than an ending. Please notice how the very title here says: BOOK ONE. Evans means it; you're not going to get any sort of satisfying conclusion in this book, this is more the equivalent of an individual TV episode rather than a fully formed story. Even if you think this might be your pot of tea, I would recommend waiting until the next one or more in the series comes along before buying.
I do like good old fantasy, rich worlds with complex histories, that is what world building is about. This was good fantasy.
The book begins and we learn that the former Governoner of Elfkyna was murdered, but a decorated officer named Konowa. But the governor was working for the dreaded Shadow Monarch, still there was a price to be paid. The Iron Elves were sent away and he was sent to the forest. He is not a normal elf, he was born with the dark mark and he does not care for trees. That is what the Iron Elves are, outcasts.
But something is happening and the Iron Elves stand again and he is called out from the forest. He is to lead them and find the red star, perhaps with that they can gain some power to fight the wicked witch of the North.
Konowa, well he angry, bit of a bastard sometimes, hates those trees and not a nice guy really. You would think, he would do anything for his Iron elves and he hates the Shadow Monarch and what she has done to him. You grow to like him, and bit by bit there are other sides of him. He is more than he seem to be. This is also shown when he meets Visyna. A tiny bit of romance that is not shown but that I want.
Some called this military fantasy, and that fits. The author know about military history and he uses that knowledge. He knows what he is writing about, and makes it enjoyable.
There is a great deal of fighting, and talking. A strange book that I well was rather neutral about at first. Then suddenly I was at page 150 and I could not stop reading. It had grabbed me and I had not known when and where. I wanted more so I finished it quickly without too many breaks in between. Good fantasy can do that.
This is a book that I would recommend to fantasy fans, for others, well I fear the military aspects could be a bit dry. I enjoyed it but perhaps this sort of fantasy is not for everyone.
But he has created a great world where the Human empire has spread out by the means of imperial forces and they have conquered the elves, orcs, the elfkynan and the dwarves. The world is ruled by men, and they see the rest of the races as a bit lesser. There are rebellions of course, and the elves, they only cares for their trees. I am happy that I have the next book so that i can see what will happen, The Shadow Monarch is out to rule the world, and the rest of the world really need to put their differences aside to win this fight. - Dark Fantasy - Epic Fantasy - Sword And Sorcery - Magic'
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