- Paperback: 367 pages
- Publisher: Zondervan Publishing House; New Ed edition (2 Feb 1996)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0310205026
- ISBN-13: 978-0310205029
- Product Dimensions: 21.7 x 14.1 x 2.5 cm
- Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 5,677,764 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
In the Hall of the Dragon King
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'This is fantasy with thunder and chase, with peril and breathtaking escapes.' Fantasy Newsletter
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Product Description
In the dead of night, Quentin, a young acolyte, is unexpectedly summoned when a mortally wounded knight stumbles into the temple of Ariel. Determined to save the realm of the Dragon King, the dying knight makes a desperate plea for someone to continue his quest. Now Quentin must choose--a life of ease or a dangerous, unknown path.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
If you are expecting something like Lawhead's profound and satisfying "Pendragon Cycle" when reading these books, prepare to be disappointed. This isn't typical Lawhead, it's the Lawhead "lite" version, because it lacks the depth of description, character and emotion present in many of Lawhead's other works. Undoubtedly, this is more entertainment than the literary fiction of those offerings. But it would be unfair to criticize Lawhead too harshly for this, because this series was born in the infancy of his career as a writer. Readers familiar with the more polished and developed Lawhead as evident in his later work would do the man an injustice by measuring his first work by the incredibly high standard of his more mature efforts.
As a series geared towards the level of teens rather than adults, and where the reader is not under the false expectation that it contains the majesty and depth of the "Pendragon Cycle", this is still a great read. This first volume in the series of three (The "Dragon King" Trilogy) introduces us to young Quentin, an assistant in the temple of Ariel, who forsakes aspirations of priesthood in order to undertake an important mission for the King. This quickly leads to a quest to save King Eskevar from the hands of his evil brother Prince Jaspin who harbours selfish ambitions to take over the crown. Quentin and his great war horse Balder are soon joined in this quest by the religious hermit Durwin, the renowned outlaw Theido, and later by the prison warder Trenn, the good Queen Alinea, the mysterious nomad Toli, and the brave knight Ronsard. But Jaspin proves to be a mere pawn in the hands of the evil necromancer Nimrood, and it is from the clutches of this corrupt wizard that the King must be rescued. Quentin and company face perils of many kinds, including a long journey through the lands of Mensandor and Elsendor to the dreaded Karsh, the desolate home of Nimrood. They encounter the dreaded Harriers, and a multitude of other dangers. The action rarely lets up, as the friends flee from one danger into the next.
The battle lines between good and evil are clearly marked out, as a conflict ensues between the powers of light and darkness, good and evil. Lawhead plainly intends this conflict to portray spiritual warfare. On one side is Nimrood, with his powers of sorcery, occultic skills and dabbling with the dark arts. On the other side is young Quentin and his band of fellow fighters for freedom, justice and righteousness. Pagan religions worshipping "the old gods" are present - in fact Quentin serves such a god during his days at the temple. But these gods are presented as "shadows, faint mists tossed on the breeze and dispersed." (p.174). A key turning point comes when Quentin meets "the Maker, the One, Most High God", and receives His blessing (p.173-7). The Christian symbolism being very clear, it is ultimately the Most High God who makes victory over against the forces of darkness possible.
In the end, the struggle between good and evil is somewhat simplistic, the victories a little too easily accomplished (the rescue from Nimrood's island a case in point), the Christian imagery rather thinly veiled, the characters rather two-dimensional, and fantasy world of Mensandor not breathtakingly vivid in description. But that's OK. If you like to read about medieval type settings with knights in shining armour, evil wizards, and heroic quests, you'll love this book. The action is fast and furious, the story line enjoyable, the message clear and positive. It's not deep, it's not profound, but Lawhead "Lite" is still an enjoyable read.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Although I quite enjoyed this book, I have read things that are a lot better. The writing style was excellent, and I enjoyed it at least, but I felt there were perhaps just a few too many characters. I like to have a few, really individual and deep characters that I can get to know and love, but because there were so many in this story, I found it very hard to get to know them.
Another thing I found rather irritating was the fact that the evil Necromancer, Nimrood, had this annoying tendancy to laugh. I don't mind this much when the author puts 'he laughed' or 'he laughed maniacally' after the characters speech, but instead the laughing was part of his speaking lines, and this just looked rather odd in text.
I did enjoy this book though, but not enough to want to read the other two in the series, as the storyline and characters just weren't interesting enough to make me want to read on. But I may try some of Lawhead's other work in the future, as I haven't been completely put off.
Another thing I found rather irritating was the fact that the evil Necromancer, Nimrood, had this annoying tendancy to laugh. I don't mind this much when the author puts 'he laughed' or 'he laughed maniacally' after the characters speech, but instead the laughing was part of his speaking lines, and this just looked rather odd in text.
I did enjoy this book though, but not enough to want to read the other two in the series, as the storyline and characters just weren't interesting enough to make me want to read on. But I may try some of Lawhead's other work in the future, as I haven't been completely put off.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is an early Lawhead book - I think maybe only his second ever. My feeling is that he las learned a great deal since writing this one. These days his descriptions are so much more vivid, his characterisation so much deeper, and he really understands how to put a story together. Another big difference is that these books are fantasy, whereas these days Lawhead writes mostly historical fiction.
The story in this book is not bad. Quentin, an acolyte of the god Ariel, leaves service at his monastry to take a vitally important and urgent message to the queen. This leads him into an adventure to seek out a lost king, and he finds out a good deal more on the way.
Even though the story is not bad, it is not brilliant either. As a story it does not compel you to keep reading, and the characters are just a little too wooden to really care about. Whereas much modern fantasy has its genesis in Middle Earth, this book seems to have had its genesis in Narnia. Not that this fnatasy world is at all like Narnia - but you can see the same story ideas in places.
A book for Stephen Lawhead completists only.
The story in this book is not bad. Quentin, an acolyte of the god Ariel, leaves service at his monastry to take a vitally important and urgent message to the queen. This leads him into an adventure to seek out a lost king, and he finds out a good deal more on the way.
Even though the story is not bad, it is not brilliant either. As a story it does not compel you to keep reading, and the characters are just a little too wooden to really care about. Whereas much modern fantasy has its genesis in Middle Earth, this book seems to have had its genesis in Narnia. Not that this fnatasy world is at all like Narnia - but you can see the same story ideas in places.
A book for Stephen Lawhead completists only.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Hey 1980, Someone Wants their Fantasy Novel Back
To the layman, fantasy fiction looks pretty much the same no matter who wrote it or when. Elves, Orcs, dragons, and perhaps a fiddle or two. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Sam
None too epic.
THE STORY:
A young religous acolyte is given an urgent quest by a dying knight. The acolyte, Quentin, will join forces with outlaws, wildmen and a queen in the fight against... Read more
A young religous acolyte is given an urgent quest by a dying knight. The acolyte, Quentin, will join forces with outlaws, wildmen and a queen in the fight against... Read more
Published on 9 Nov 2003 by Ian Tapley
A a tale of adventure, knights and magic.
One of Lawhead's olde worlde books set in the dark ages of Sorcerers and nepotistic princes. The narrative flows eloquently around an unfamiliar world. Read more
Published on 16 Mar 2001
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