When ancient magic suddenly returns to his land, a warrior priest must answer the call and protect his world from monsters that were once only legend in the first book of USA Today bestseller David Dalglish's epic fantasy trilogy.
A nearly perfect representation of a game of Dungeons and Dragons come to life. A fighter, wizard, cleric and a rogue encounter dragons, magic and much more within the pages of Dalglish’s delightful romp. Tension and action set in right from the beginning of Devin the Soulkeeper’s journey, and the overall sense of unease permeates the book throughout ... Every classic fantasy trope can be found in Soulkeeper’s world, called the Cradle, each with its own twist ... an excellent companion to rainy March days, despite the fact that Dalglish does not shy away from vividly described gore and violence. In the span of twenty pages, Dalglish allows his characters to enjoy days of uninterrupted, wholesome fun and incredible bouts of depression and anxiety. One might think that such quick swings would cause emotional whiplash, but Dalglish handles the pacing well, creating genuine characters with realistic emotional depth. Each protagonist is goodhearted and caring in a way that is increasingly rare in the era of Game of Thrones and The Walking Dead, and I often found myself chuckling or snickering at Dalglish’s lowbrow humor ... brought me back to the nostalgia I had during that first game of Dungeons and Dragons: a sense of wonder, exploration and camaraderie difficult to find anywhere else.
A dark and lush epic fantasy brimming with magical creatures and terrifying evil ... Dalglish’s world building is subtle and fluid, and he weaves the history, magical workings, and governance of his world within the conversations and camaraderie of his characters. Readers of George R. R. Martin and Patrick Rothfuss will find much to enjoy here.
The story is slow to start as Devin journeys through the ravaged land alone, but it picks up steam as Devin accumulates companions, among them his eccentric and suddenly magical brother-in-law, his devout sister, a talkative faery, and the inevitable fierce-but-vulnerable dagger-wielding love interest. Together they uncover ways in which scripture they’ve accepted as fact is false and attempt to survive their new reality. Dalglish manages to combine familiar elements in exciting ways in a slightly overlong fantasy epic that’s sure to keep readers turning pages.
