Tim Lebbon, Dusk

Dusk

Tim Lebbon

Bantam, Feb 2006, $12.00

ISBN: 0553383647

The Cataclysmic War ended the reign of magic with mages fleeing for their lives. Over the next three centuries, in spite of the demise of magic as a combat tool, and the thought that the Cataclysmic War was the war to end all wars, battles continue using savage mundane methods to kill or maim your adversary.

In 2208, the Year of the Black, Kosar the Thief watches the rider in red serendipitously come to the village Trengborne. He is stunned as the stranger begins a slaughter, killing the young and anyone else offering resistance, even the militia, while taking blows that should have left him dead. Kosar notices one teenage boy escapes up the dark hillside. That lad, Rafe Baburn, saw his parents and others murdered by what had to be a demon. Evidence has surfaced that magic has been re-birthed in the young; the Red Monk and his minion plan to eradicate it before the one soul possessing the skill can mature enough to use it against them. Kosar meets and teams up with A'Meer, the Shantasi warrior in a search to find and protect Rafe from the Red Monk, but first must expedite him from Hope the witch.

This epic coming of age fantasy grips the audience from the moment the Thief fearfully observes the red-robed killing machine, and never slows down as Kosar finds allies to protect the dying world's perhaps last hope Rafe. The exhilarating storyline paints a dark gloomy Poe like atmosphere throughout, especially when the adversaries take center stage. The key characters, in particular the teen and his champions, are unique individuals that make their realm seem even more nightmarishly real. Tim Lebbon paints the darkest DUSK that will have readers keeping the lights on until dawn breaks.