Noonshade (Chronicles of the Raven) [Paperback]

In a market already overcrowded with heroic action fantasy, it is always refreshing to discover an author who does more than tread out the usual sword-and-sorcery tale in three huge doorstopper-sized volumes. James Barclay is just such an author as he more than adequately proved with his scorching debut Dawnthief. Now, his band of slightly ageing past-their-prime mercenaries, The Raven, are back and attempting to right the wrongs from the previous story. The Dawnthief spell has been cast but it has ripped apart a hole between dimensions that will allow an invasion of dragons into Balia and signal the land's destruction. The Raven are forced into an alliance with Sha-Kaan, a dragon whose brood are fighting a desperate war in the dragon dimension. With Balia having to defend itself against armies of Wesmen, The Raven are the only ones able to help the Kaan defeat their enemies and save Balia.

What follows is, quite simply, spectacular storytelling. Barclay reads like a seasoned fantasy veteran, not a writer on only his second novel, and his plotting, characterisation and dialogue are all perfectly honed. Where he excels most though is in the action scenes and Noonshade contains some of the best sword and magic battles ever written. You can feel the air burn with the crackle of spells, almost cry out in pain yourself as a sword cuts through flesh and mourn for a slaughtered character as you would a loved one.

The plot twists and turns with energy and pace but it is the characters that make this such a real treat, especially the Raven who deserve the same cult status as Gemmell's Waylander. Each member of the Raven is a fully realised character, with plausible motivations and plenty of emotional conflict. And it's good to see the female characters getting a bit more page-time too.

The third volume of this trilogy, Nightchild, is out in 2001 and Barclay leaves us hanging wickedly on a thread with just enough questions and unresolved conflicts to be tied up in book three. The Chronicles of the Raven is one the most exciting and exhilarating series in a long time and on this showing James Barclay is a writer with a fantastic future ahead of him. Stunning stuff. --Jonathan Weir

"Multiple plots are detailed and woven together in an incredible fashion. The story yanked us along and we loved every minute of it--all the way up to, and including, the satisfying conclusion. At this time we would like to remind you all that this is, in fact, the second book of a trilogy. So let us repeat this. There is a satisfying conclusion. Let there be much rejoicing in the land!...In Noonshade, we are given everything that made Dawnthief incredible, with added layers of detail of the world and its characters. We are positively thrilled that we finally have these novels here in the US! Seriously, if Barclay's next novels continue to be this enjoyable, we may have found the guy that tops our Heroic Fantasy list of favorite authors. Noonshade bears a cover-quote from the late and great David Gemmell. It is one of the few novels that actually deserves those words of praise from the Legend." -- Elitist Book Review, November 6, 2009 --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

The spell DAWNTHIEF has been cast and the Wytch lords have been banished. Hawk Denser's skill and dedication have ensured that the spell has been cast correctly and Balaia can now face the teeming hordes of Wesmen and hope for a hard fought victory. Denser's prowess has also earned him the acceptance of the bloodied remaining members of The Raven and the love of Erienne. But something has grown wrong. In the skies above where Denser cast the spell a rift has formed, a dirty brown gap in the blue that throws a shadow at noon. It is a door into another dimension. And it is getting bigger. Sha Kaan and the other dragons of brood Kaan have long used Balaia as their secret refuge from the ceaseless fight for supremacy between the teeming broods of the dragon dimension, but now their secret is lost. The rift has torn a path between the dimensions, open for all to see and it is a path that is getting wider by the day. Soon it will be so big that brood Kaan cannot hope to stop the other broods pouring through to devastate Balaia. Kaan calls on The Raven to help and leaving a Balaia still riven by war they find themselves fighting an extraordinary battle in defence of the awesome dragons of the brood Kaan. How on earth can their code help them against the fires of countless immense dragons? Is Sha Kaan keeping something from them?

Review from SFsite.com
Review from SFsite

"Truly excellent fantasy is rare. Truly excellent heroic fantasy is rarer still. Discovering a new author who writes truly excellent heroic fantasy is perhaps the rarest gem of all...For Noonshade, the Raven discover that the Dawnthief spell contains its own deceit and was, perhaps, not entirely understood before it was cast. The casting of Dawnthief has ripped a hole between dimensions and, instead of saving Balia, has sown the seeds of certain doom. The rip has drawn the attention of dragon broods who would destroy Balia. The Raven must work with the Kaan brood, protectors of the Balia dimension, to repair the damage done and save Balaia. Dragons, barbarian hordes, sorcerers, demonic summonings, shape-shifters, and the threat of worldwide devastation are all tossed into the mix as the tale unfolds.

It is an epic tale and Barclay tells it with a mastery that is astonishing for only a second novel. The dialogue is fast-paced and well-written. The plot has multiple layers and multiple story lines. The characterization is rich and detailed. Individual characters have their own lives and struggles beyond the central story. Yet, at no time does the tale bog down under the weight of the details."

Chronicles of the Raven: Two

AN ANCIENT EVIL HAS BEEN BANISHED - NOW THE PRICE MUST BE PAID . . .

Balaia is torn by war, and now suffering the consequences of an apocalyptic spell too. The Dawnthief - designed to destroy the world, but cast in desperation to save it - has ripped a hole in the sky . . .

. . . which becomes a pathway to a dragon dimension, through which unfriendly eyes are already turning to Balaia. But with war already sweeping the land, there are no armies to send against the dragons. Only a band of tiny, but legendary, mercenaries: The Raven.

'Truly excellent fantasy is rare. Truly excellent heroic fantasy is rarer still. Discovering a new author who writes truly excellent heroic fantasy is perhaps the rarest gem of all. James Barclay is such a find' SFSITE.COM

'Quite simply, spectacular storytelling. One of the most exciting and exhilarating series in a long time' AMAZON.CO.UK

www.jamesbarclay.com

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

James Barclay was born in 1965. He works as an advertising and promotions manager for an Investment house in the City.