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Dragons in fantasy books
| Dragons in fantasy books |
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On this page you will find a documented list of fantasy books in which dragons play important parts. First the book's title is mentioned, followed by the backcover text (between the "...."). Golder, who made the list, gives his comment at the end of each paragraph.
Do you want to give comment on these books? Start a discussion! We will be happy to reply to you.
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"Dragonsbane" by Barbara Hambly
"The man who slew a dragon. When the Black Dragon seized thye Deep of Ylferdun, young Gareth braved the far Winterlands to find John Aversin, Dragonsbane -The only living man ever to slay a dragon. In return for the promise to the King to send help to the Winterlands, Aversin agreed to attept the nearly impossible feat again.
With them, to guard them on the haunted trip south, went Jenny Waynest, a half-taught sorceress and morther of Aversin's sons. But at the decandent court, nothing was as expected. Rebellion threatened the land. Zyerne, a sorceress of seemingly unlimited power, held the king under an evil spell, and he refused to see them. Meantime, the dragon fed well on the knights who had challenged him. In the end, Aversin, Jenny and Gareth had to steal away at night to challenge Morkeleb, largest and wisest of dragons. But that was only the beginning of the perils they must face." (Editor : Del Rey Fantasy)
Golder's comment: A really good book where the ennemies aren't what they seem to be.
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"Dragonshadow" by Barbara Hambly |
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"Lord John Aversin -with the help of his mageborn wife, Jenny Waynest- has fought and defeated two dragons, earning the title of Dragonsbane. But there are creatures more terrifying than dragons. Demonsspawn from a dark dimension have learned to drink the magic -and the souls- of mages and dragons alike, turning their victims into empty vessels. And now, they've stolen John and Jenny 's mageborn son, twelve-year-old Ian. In desperation, John seeks the help of the eldest and strongest dragon : Morkeleb the Black. But the demons have allies too : a vast army poised to plunge the Realm into civil war. In the coming struggle, Morkeleb will sacrifice what he values most. Jenny will question everything she trusts and believes in. And John will embark on a perilous quest for the only things capable of defeating such powerful demons -even more powerful demons…" (Editor : Del Rey Fantasy)
Golder's comment: The long awaiting sequel to Dragonsbane, really good and captivating.
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"Song in the silence" by Elisabeth Kerner
Lanen Kaelar has spent her life being told just how wrong headed and foolish she is by her entire family. When Lanen's father dies, she choose to leave her abusive realtives and search out the great dragons she has always dreamed of, though she knows what she seeks may not be real.
But those who hold the true power know that prophecies have been told of Lanen Kaelar since before her birth. They fear the destiny she may fulfill, the misteires she may unravel and the strange and terrifying love she may find on the legendary Dragon Isle. (Editor : Tor Fantasy)
Golder's comment: For those who are really fond of dragons. Read it if you're romantist.
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"The lesser kindred" by Elisabeth Kerner
"The Lesser kindred is the stunning sequel to Elisabeth Kerner 's haunting first novel Song in the silence, continuing the story of Lanen Kaelar, a young woman who fearlessly embarked on a search for the great dragons of legend and in her travels discovered not only the reality of the myth but her own true love. Shortly after returning home with a husband who is more than he seems, Lanen's chance at happiness is threatened by the demon-master Berys, who is determined to capture Lanen, believing she is the key to his once and future domination of all of her homeland. Young lovers are supposed to have happy endings -but those tales are not match for a mage's wiles and so Lanen and her man must flee. On their journey, they will discover new friends and old enemies, make some startling discoveries…and stumble upon a truth that will change the world." (Editor : Tor Fantasy)
Golder's comment: The sequel to "Song in the silence". As good as the last but no real ending. You have to read the sequel.
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"Guards! Guards!" by Terry Pratchett |
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"Here there be dragons…and the denizens of Ankh-Morpork wish one huge firebreather would return from whence it came. Long believed extinct, a superb specimen of Draco Nobilis ("Noble dragon" for those who don't understand italics) had appeared in Discworld's greatest city.
Not only rhis unwelcome visitor have a nasty habit of charbroiling everything in its path, in rather short order, it is crowned king (it's a noble dragon after all)
Meanwhile, back at Unseen University, an ancien and long-forgotten volume -The Summoning if dragons- is missing from the library's shelves. To the rescue come Captain Vimes, constable Carrot, and the rest of the Night Watch who, along with other brave citizens, risks everything, including a good roasting, to dethrone the flying monarch and restore order to Ankh-Morpork (before it's burned to a crisp) A rare tale, well done as only Terry Pratchett can." (Editor : Harper Torch Fiction)
Golder's comment: A strange story, really funny (for those who understand, I don't understand all, I'm French).
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"A diversity of dragons" by Richard Woods & Anne McCaffrey
"Who better to ask about dragons than Anne McCaffrey, whose million-copy bestsellers about the dragonriders of Pern appear regularly on the New York Times list, and her academician friend, Richard Woods, the dragon taxonomist par excellence. Hence, A Diversity of dragons - a fascinating exploration of dracomachy, dracocides and dragonsbanes through the ages, with magical illustration by John Howe (of Tolkien fame) Soar on imagination's wings and see them all : from the ancient legends to the modern creations; from the firebreather that battled Beowulf to the delightful beasts of Jane Yolen and Terry Pratchett. Everything you ever wanted to know about the most fabulous creatures ever to inhabit our collective memory, is here, and more, snorting fire and phosphine gas and ploughing the water of primordial chaos. The Babylonians knew him, the Sumerians, the ancient Egyptians. He is found not only in the Bible but in China, in the Norse sagas and the lost myths of the americas. But Anne McCaffrey is a storyteller, not an encyclopedist; and dragons are wary of dry and dusty places, like lecture rooms and libraries. So this book begins (as must all good tales) with a mysterious visitor and ends (as do all true dragon encounters) with an adventure almost too wondrous for words to tell." (Illustrated by John Howe. Editor : Harper Prism)
Golder's comment: A VERY beautiful book with beautiful pictures and a lot of books at the end. The story is captivating too.
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"Skies of Pern" by Anne McCaffrey
"It's a time of hope and regret, of endingd and beginnings. The Red Star, that celestial curse whose eccentric orbit was responsible for Thread, has been shifted to a harmless orbit, and the current Threadfall will be the last.
Technological marvels are changing the face of life on Pern, and the dragonriders, led by F'lessan, son of F'lar and Lessa and rider if bronze Golanth, and Tai, rider of green Zaranth, must forge a new place for themselves in a world that may no longer need them.
But change is not easy for everyone. There are those who will stop at nothing to keep Pern and its people pure.
And now a brand-new danger looms from the skies and threatenes a catastrophe of unimaginable proportions.
Once again, the world looks to the dragons and their riders to save the world. But now, as the friendship of F'lessan and Tia begins to bloom into something more, unforeseen tragedy strikes: a tragedy destined to forever change the future -not just of the two young lovers, but of every human and dragon on Pern…" (Editor : Del Rey Science fiction).
Golder's comment:
The last Pern novel with some new things to consider for the dragonriders, is this the end of the Thread, well, you'll see it in this book…
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"Dragondawn" by Anne McCaffrey
The dragonmakers. The beautiful planet Pern seemed a paradise to its new colonists - until unimaginable terror turned it into hell.
Suddenly deadly spores were falling like silver threads from the sky, devouring everything - and everyone - in their path. It began to looks as if the colony, cut off from Earth and lacking the resources to combat the menace, was doomed. Then some of the colonists noticed that the small, dragonlike lizards that inhabited their new world were joining the fight against Thread, breathing fire on it and teleporting to safety. If only, they thought, the dragonest were big enough for a human to ride and intelligent enough to work as a team with a rider…
And so they set their nost talented geneticist to work to create the creatures Pern so desperately needed - Dragons! (Editor: J'ai Lu)
Golder's comment:
All the dragon fans can't get away from it, fabulous !!
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"The first fall" by Anne McCaffrey
Travel back to the earliest days of Pernese history in this first-ever Dragonriders of Pern short-story collection! Join the original survey team as they explore Pern and decide to recommend it for colonization.
Share the terror of the evacuation from the Southern Continent as a flotilla of ships, aided by intelligent, talking dolphins, braves the dreadful currents of the Pernese ocean.
Learn how the famous Ruatha Hold was founded, and thrill with the dragonriders as they expand into a second, they a third Weyr.
And discover a secret lost in time: the rescue of some of the original colonists before the planet was cut of forever!
Building a new life on a distant world, braving the dreaded Thread that falls like silver rain from the sky only to destroy every livig thing it touches, flying heroically on the wondrous dragons: The Dragonriders of Pern! (Editor: J'ai Lu)
Golder's comment:
A compilation of short stories, giving some information on some points of the first novel.
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"Dragonseye" by Anne McCaffrey
In Anne McCacffrey New York Times bestselling DRAGONSEYE, join Weyrleaders, Holders and Craftmasters in the creation of the legendary Star Stones and the teaching ballads of Pern!
It's been two hundred years since the deadly Thread fell like rain upon Pern, devouring everything in its path. No one alive remembers that first horrific onslaught and no one believes in its return -except for the dragonriders. For two centuries they have been practicing and training, passing down from generation the formidable Threadfighting techniques.
Now the ominous signs are appearing: the violent winter storms and volcanics eruptions that are said to herald the approach of the Red Star and tis lethal spawn.
But one stubborn Lord Holder, Chalkin of Bitra, refuses to believe - and that disbelief could spell disaster. So as the dragonriders desperatly train to face a terrifying enemy, they and the other Holders must find a way to deal with Chalkin - before history repeats itself and unleashes its virulence on all of Pern
(Editor: J'ai Lu)
Golder's comment: Story of the beginning of the second pass, good to read.
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"Moreta: dragonlady of Pern" by Anne McCaffrey
Panic on Pern. An air of pleasant anticipation hung so thickly over the Halls, Holds and Weyrs of Pern that it had affected even the busineslike ways of Moreta, the Weyrwoman of Fort Weyr, where her dragon, Queen Orlith, would soon clutch.
Then without warning, a runnerbeast fell ill. Soon myriads of holders, craftsmen, and dragonriders were dying; and the mysterious ailment had spread to all but the most inaccessible holds. Pern was in mortal danger. For, if dragonriders did not rise to char Thread, the parasite would devour any and all organic life it encountered.
The future of the planet rested in the hands of Moreta and the other dedicated, selfless Pernese leaders.
But of all their problems, the most difficult to overcome was time…
(Editor: J'ai Lu)
Golder's comment: Story of the Great Plague of the third pass, tender soul, abstain you.
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"Dealing with dragons" by Patricia C. Wrede |
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"I want to do things…" "Take one bored pricess. Make her the seventh daughter in a very proper royal family. Have her run away. Add one powerful, fascinating, dangerous dragon. Princess Cimorene has never met anyone (or anything) like the dragon Kazul. But then, she's never met a witch, a jinn, a death-dealing talking bird, or a stone prince either. Princess Cimorene ran away to find some excitement. She's found plenty." (Editor : Point Fantasy)
Golder's comment: A funny book, really funny and really entertaining.
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"A dragon-lover's treasury of the fantastic", edited by Margaret Weis
"Giants of flight and fire. Dragons are monsters, mages, heroes, horrors. Dragons thrill our dreams and haunt our legends. Now Margaret Weis, coauthor of the New York Times bestselling Dragonlance™ and Death Gates series, author of the Star of the Guardians series, and one of the world's leading dragonists and dracophiles, gathers the greatest classic dragon stories of our time, written by the winners of every awards in the fields if fantasy and science fiction. Wise, wicked, fearsome, friendly, holy, hellish, ancient, ageless… HERE THERE BE DRAGONS!"
Golder's comment: Lots of captivating short stories, including "Weyr Search" : THE short story who gave birth to the marvellous "Dragonriders of Pern".
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"Sunrunner's fire" by Melanie Rawn
"Somewhere in the deep past, at the far edge of Sunrunner memory, lay an invisible, sinister force that once came close to obliterating the Sunrunner race. Now it is gaining power again. The Sunrunners put their faith in Andry, their new Lord and Sioned, the High Princess. And as they ride in the sunlight and dare the shadows, they begin to realise… …The time has come to call down a fire that even the oldest enemy will fear." (Editor : Pan Books)
Golder's comment: For those who have read the two books before, this is the third of the Dragon Prince serie and it's really…captivating, entertaining… what else…? well, that's good.
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"Nerilka's story" by Anne McCaffrey
A deadly epidemic was sweeping across Pern!
Everyone, holder and dragonrider alike, pitched in to help -except Nerilka's father, who refused to share Fort Hold's bounty with the other Holds. So, ashamed of her family and determined to do her part, Nerilka packed up medicines and supplies and sneaked off to aid her people.
Her quest to help wherever she was most needed led her finally to Ruatha Hold, where Lord Alessan was frantically preparing the precious serum needed for mass inoculations against the dread plague.
Nerilka had long ago abandoned the hope of marriage a,d a home of her own. Now whe found happiness in being useful and apreciated - first the Healers and then Alessan made very clear that they were grateful for her help.
She had no idea that her new path would change the course of her life forever! (Editor: J'ai Lu)
Golder's comment: The Great Plague seen from another point of view (worse), to give you other information.
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"Dragonflight" by Anne McCaffrey
Lessa's last chance. After ten long Turns, Lessa is ready to come out of hiding, to reclaim her birthright…and to Impress the young dragon queen and become Weyrwoman of Benden.
Suddenly the deadly silver Thread once again threatens all Pern with destruction. But the mighty telepathic dragons that had defended Pern for centuries are now few in number, not nearly enough to protect the planet in its hour of greatest peril.
So Lessa hatches a daring and dangerous scheme: rally support from people who long ago ceased to exist… (Editor: J'ai Lu)
Golder's comment: THE book which gave origin to this tremendeous serie, excellent.
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"Dragonlover's guide to Pern" by Jody Lynn Nye & Anne McCaffrey |
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"An indispensable guide to the wonderful world of Anne McCaffrey and her dragons. Guaranteed to enrich every armchair traveler's journey into Anne McCaffrey's legendary world, this illuminating guide leaves no stone in pern unturned! Both faithful fans and newcomers will relish the fascinating history and lore of… The dragons. How they developed from little fire-lizards into the huge telepathic creatures that carry humans riders and fight Thread. The people. How they live, the clothes they wear, the food they eat The places What to see and do in individual Holds and Weyrs. Thread. Its appearance and behavior, the threat it poses, and ways to combat it."
Golder's comment: For those who wants to know all about Pern, this book is for YOU, some mistakes nevertheless.
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"The white dragon" by Anne McCaffreyA fantasy of a time when… Never had there been as close a bonding as the one that existed between the daring and adventurous young Lord Jaxom and his extraordinary white dragon, Ruth. Pure white and incredibly agile, Ruth was a dragon of many talents, though almost everyone on Pern thought he was a runt that would never amount to anything.
But Jaxom knew better, knew he could teach his dragon to fly and to destroy the deadly silver Threads that fell from the sky. Disobeying all rules, Jaxom and Ruth trained in secret. Their illicit flights seemed but a minor disobedience -until they found themselves in the path of danger and in a position to prevent the biggest disaster of all!
(Editor: J'ai Lu)
Golder's comment: The story of the little white dragon, Ruth. Very cute.
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"All the Weyrs of Pern" by Anne McCaffreyFor generations, the dragonriders had dedicated their lives to fighting Thread, the dreaded spores that periodically rained from the sky to ravage the land. On the backs of their magnificent telepathic dragons they flew to flame the deadly stuff out of the air before it could reach the planet's surface. But the greatest dream of the dragonriders was to find a way to eradicate Thread completely, so never again would their beloved Pern be threatened with destruction.
Now, for the first time, it looked as if that dream could come true. For when the people of Pern, led by Masterharper Robinton and F'lar and Lessa, Weyrleader and Weyrwoman of Benden Weyr, excavated the ancient remains of the planet's original settlement, they uncovered the colonists's voice-activated artificial intelligence system-which still functioned! A,d the computer had incredible news for them: There was a chance-a good chance- that they could at long last, annihilate Thread once and for all!
(Editor: J'ai Lu)
Golder's comment: The end of the Thread? You'll see that in this book. The apotheosis!
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"Dragons of autumn twilight" by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman
Life-long friends, they went their separate ways. Now they are together again, though each holds secrets from the others in his heart. They speak of a world shadowed with rumors of war. They speak of tales of strange monsters, creatures of myth, creatures of legend. They do not speak of their secrets. Not then. Not until a chance encounter with a beautiful, sorrowful woman, who bears a magical crystal staff, draws the companions deeper into the shadows, forever changing their lives and shaping the fate of the world.
No one expected them to be heroes. Least of all, themselves.
(Editor: Fleuve Noir)
Golder's comment: First book of the serie, fabulous, read it!!
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"Dragons of a winter night" by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman
Now the people know that the dragon minions of Takhisis, Queen of Darkness, have returned. The people of all nations prepare to fight to save their homes, their lives, and their freedom. But the races have long been divided by hatred and prejudice. Elven warriors and human knights fight among themselves. It seems the battle has been lost before it begins.
The companions are separated, torn appart by war. A full season will pass before they meet again - if they meet again. As the darkness deepens, a disgraced knigt, a pampered elfmaiden, and a rattlebrained kender stand alone in the pale winter sunlight.
Not much in the way of heroes. Continue the epic saga that has swept up millions of readers and carried them on a journey of imagination!
(Editor: Fleuve Noir)
Golder's comment: Book number two, entertaining as usual.
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"Dragon Prince" by Mélanie Rawn
The dragon lord. When Rohan became the new prince of the desert, ruler of the kingdom granted his family for as long as the Long Sands spewed fire, he took the crown with two goals in mind. First and foremost, he sought to bring permanent peace to his world of divided princedoms, realms hovering always on the brink of war. And, in a land where dragon-slaying was a proof of manhood, Rohan was the sole champion of the dragons, fighting desperately to preserve the last reamining lords of the sky and with them a secret which might be the salvation of his people… And his Sunrunner witch.
Sioned, who was fated by Fire to be Rohan's bride, had mastered the magic of sunlight and moonglow, catching hints of a yet to be formed pattern which could irrevocaly affect the destinies of Sunrunnersand ordinary mortals alike. Yet caught in the machinations of the Lady of Goddess Keep, and of Prince Rohan and his sworn enemy, the treacherously cunning High Prince, could Sioned alter this crucial pattern to protect her lord from the menace of a war that threatened to set the land ablaze?
Golder's comment: Very interesting and captivating story.
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"The Star Scroll" by Mélanie Rawn
The spell of war. When Rohan was crowned High Prince and his Sunrunner wife Sioned became High Princess, they swore to keep the peace of the lands and preserve the secret of the dragons, an inheritance they would one day pass on to their only child, Pol, heir to both princely and Sunrunner powers.
But the evil influence of the former High Prince Roelstra had not ended with his death at Rohan's hands. And even as Pol grew to manhood, other youngmen were being trained in the ways of war, younths descended from Roelstra and claimed by Rohan's enemies as willing pawns in what could become a bloody battle for succession.
Yet not all players in these games of power fought merely with words or swords. For now a foe vanquished dy the Sunrunners ages ago was once again growing in strength, an enemy determined to destrooy Sunrunners and High Prince alike. And the only hope of defeating these masters of dark sorcery lay in reclaiming the knowledge so carefully concealed in the long-lost Star Scroll…
(Editor : Reine noire)
Golder's comment: Very good too, we take a lot of pleasure to read it.
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"Magic kingdom for sale" by Terry Brooks
Landover was a genuine magic kingdom, with fairy folk and wizardry, just as the avertissement had promised. But after he purchased it, Ben Holiday learned that there were a few details the ad had failed to mention.
The kingdom was in ruin. The Barons refused to recognize a king, and the peasants were without hope. A dragon was laying waste the countryside, while an evil witch plotted to destriy everything.
Ben's only followers were the incompetent Court Magician; Abernathy, the talking dog who served as Court Scribe; and the lovely Willow - but she hada habit of putting down roots in the moonlight and turning into a tree. The Paladin, legendary champion of the Kings of Landover, seemed to be only a myth and an empty suit of armor.
To put the final on the whole affair, Ben soon learned that the Iron mark, terrible lord of the demons, had challenged all prospective Kings of Landover to a duel to the death - a duel which no human could hope to win.
The task of proving his right to be King seemed hopeless. But Ben Holiday was stuborn…
Golder's comment: Interesting novel, little like a fairy tale.
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"The black unicorn" by Terry Brooks
The outcast king. A year had passed since Ben Holiday bought the Magin Kingdom from the wizard Meeks, who had set a series of pitfalls against him. Ben survived, by the aid of three loyal friends: Questor Thews, an ill-trained wizard; Abernathy, a talking dog, the Court Scribe; and the lovely Willow, who sometimes had to be a tree.
But Ben had been troubled by dreams of disaster to his former partner, Miles Bennett. Yet when he returned to Earth, Ben found Miles doing splendidly.
Unknow to Ben, the dreams had been a trap by Meeks, who had returned to the Magic Kingdom as a tiny insect hidden in Ben's clothing. That first night back ib Landover, Ben awoke to see Meeks gloating over him, claiming to have the medallion that could summon the mysterious knight-protector, the Paladin, and that he had cast a spell to switch appearances with Ben.
Ben found himself outcast, no longer recognized by any friend, though all his powerful enemies seemed to know him. Without the medallion, he couldn't seek the help of the Paladin against Meeks. There was only the prism cat - whatever that might be!
And there was Willow - and the mysterious black unicorn she'd set out to find? (Editor : J'ai lu)
Golder's comment: The sequel of "Magic kingdom for sale" like a fairy tale as the former
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"Elric of Melniboné" by Michael Morcook
Melniboné, the dragon's island, was leading the world in formerly times. Nowadays the dragons are sleeping and Melniboné is dying. On the rubis' throne is Elric, the albino prince, last of his race, feeding with drugs and elixir that hold him in life. The threat hang, then he meet the Lord of the Hell, Arioch and make a pact with him. He get involved on the road of the eternal adventure : The Ship of Land and Sea bring him to the stinking city of Dhozkam, and his fate press him to cross the Gate of the Darkness; faraway, two swords are waiting for their masters and their victims…Great ambitions, monstrous passions. Ideals and betrayals. Atrocious pains and cynical happiness. Torture of love and sweetness of hate. An ancient past, who will reborn in his most vile nightmares.
(Editor : Pocket)
Golder's comment: Interesting book, odd main character.
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