Saturday, April 18, 2020

Scott's Take: The Conqueror’s Shadow by Ari Marmell


The Conqueror’s Shadow by Ari Marmell is a fantasy novel that is vastly different than your typical sword and sorcery fantasy hero style story. Corvis Rebaine was the most feared conqueror in the land until 17 years ago when he vanished as his mighty army collapsed. Just before he disappeared, Corvis took a young woman hostage. What most people of this world do not know is that Corvis and this young woman eventually fell in love. Corvis retired and decided to raise a family in the middle of nowhere.

He is content to live a life of peace and seclusion until his daughter is attacked by the army of the latest evil conqueror seeking to rule the land. Corvis must gather his former allies that he abandoned to rally to his banner again against this new evil. He must face a conqueror that is younger than him and reminiscent to the violent and cruel man he was many years ago. Can he stay true to the man he is now, or will he revert to his old ways? Is his darkness gone or has it been asleep this whole time?

The book is told in a strange way that may annoy you or you might find intriguing. Most of the chapters start with a flashback 17 years ago before resuming to the present-day storyline. The theme of change, that the past is prologue, that the government is so divided it is to the point of being ineffective, that the rich do not care about the poor, and more are discussed. Despite the fact the book was written ten years ago and set in a fantasy world, the book resonates for readers of this time who are going through much because of the incompetence of our own pollical leadership.

If one is looking for a fantasy book from an anti-hero perspective this is the perfect book for that. If one is looking for a main character who does horrible things, but for good reasons, this is a good choice.  Full of mystery, action, and adult content, The Conqueror’s Shadow by Ari Marmell is the first installment of a fantasy series that is original to this author. Instead of the previous collaborations he has done in various ways with other authors, this is his own solo project and very good with complicated characters, imaginative world building and plenty of action and adventure. I highly recommend this book.



My print copy came by way of the Downtown Branch of the Dallas Public Library before the system was closed due to virus concerns. Book two in the series, Warlord’s Legacy, was publishing in January 2011 and is in my holds list at the library for when they finally can reopen.

Scott A. Tipple ©2020

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