Ed Greenwood, Dark Warrior Rising

Dark Warrior Rising

Ed Greenwood

Tor, Sept 2007, $24.95, 304 pp.

ISBN 9780765317650

When Orivon Firefist was six years old the Niflghar (dark elves) abducted humans as slaves from his village Ashenuld. He was taken through tunnels leading to the vast caves where their castles lie. At that time he was unaware that there are two rival groups of dark elves. One worships the Ever Ice which gives them mastery over magic, treats their slaves reasonably well; the other revere the goddess Oline who tortures their slaves in order to insure their master or mistress remains perfectly beautiful.

Orivon had the misfortune to become the slave of cruel Taerune of the powerful house of Everdoom. She tortured him until she thought she broke him. Instead he knows he will only have one chance to escape so he patiently waits for the proper moment. That occurs when the rival House of Ouhlor breeches the magical wards and fierce fighting ignites. While in battle Taerune loses with her only chance for redemption being suicide. However the freed Orivon has other plans for his former mistress; as he needs her to guide him to the surface in return he will let her seek protection from other Nameless deities.

In this exciting stand alone fantasy, Ed Greenwood explores the culture, social mores and customs and strengths and weakness of the Dark Elves in their life underground. The dark elves believe the humans are unintelligent animals with a primitive culture that fails to neither appreciate beauty nor understand magic. Orivon and Taerune are diametric opposites who believe the other's civilization is totally barbaric. He has loathed her for a long time for hurting him, but needs her as they share the same enemies. They reach a truce and he comes to see she is not evil by nature but a product of her environment. DARK WARRIOR RISING is a magical treat that will please fantasy purists.

Harriet Klausner