Friday means Friday’s Forgotten Books hosted by Patti Abbott here. Unlike my son, Karl, who is
majorly into the whole Halloween thing and just loves it, I don’t care for any
of the Halloween thing. In thinking about what to do for this week and the
season I thought of FLANK
HAWK: A First Civilization’s Legacy Novel by Terry W. Ervin II. Not
only is it one heck of a good read it features, among other things, souled
zombies. That seems to meet the criteria for the season…..
Zombies are never a good thing. Souled
zombies, ones that can independently think and act, are even worse. Then there
are the goblins, ogres, seers, wizards, and more in this time nearly 3000 years
in the future where magic is prevalent, dragons fly, and the evil necromancer
king seeks to rule the world. The good people and creatures are far
outnumbered by those bent on war and conquest. Those that can harness the most
magic can turn the tide of battle –at least for now.
For Krish
and his cousin, Guzzy, the recent battles outside of their small village have
been more then the annual minor attacks designed to disrupt the yearly harvest.
The young men fight to defend their village, Pine Ridge, and to protect all
they hold dear. With swords and spears protected by magic and salt, they fight
on as the enemy in many different forms continues to press the attack and
people they know die around them. Back up is on the way as kingdoms make
alliances in order to slow the advance of those loyal to the evil necromancer
king. One such alliance allows Prince Reveron of Kreese to eventually take over
and lead the small group Krish is part of into battle. Krish becomes noticed
not only by the Prince but by others and gradually works his way deeper and
deeper into the circle of those that Prince Reveron trusts. While Krish may not
have had formal military training, he acquires battle skills at a rapid rate
and has certain other skills that he continues to try to keep hidden from those
around him.
Nearly any
fantasy story has to have an epic quest. The one Krish is sent on is huge and
could mean the fate of the world as well as what is left of humanity, forever
changed in our times, could massively change again. That is assuming he can
survive and complete a quest that is nearly impossible from the start. The good
thing is he will get some help. The bad thing is that the little help he gets
most likely will not nearly be enough.
Blending a
fantasy line set nearly 3000 years in the future heavily reliant on magic with
a modern day cold and dispassionate tale of technology mercilessly doing
exactly what it was designed to do resulting in horrific results, is not easy.
Author Terry Ervin makes it look easy as he captivates readers for 288 pages in
this very complex book.
Filled
with interesting characters, this fully formed world is strangely different and
yet at times very relevant to our modern day world of today. Krish is a man who
develops throughout the book while never losing his awe at what forces are
arrayed against him. Nor does he lose his own sense of purpose and place
despite realistic periods of self-doubt and contemplation. The same core values
that come across in the first few pages are still there at the end in a smarter
more seasoned character.
In a world
where nightmares and worse of a child are very much real and life does not last
long, Krish battles and delights readers. It is a world that could happen. May
even happen as technology spreads and is always vulnerable to use by those bent
on power and greed.
The book is highly recommended as FLANK HAWK: A First Civilization’s Legacy Novel is a mighty good read.
FLANK HAWK: A First Civilization’s
Legacy Novel
Terry W. Ervin II
Gryphonwood Press
July 2009
ISBN# 978-0-9825087-0-1
Paperback (also available in e-book
and audio formats)
290 Pages
$12.99
Material provided by the author in exchange for my objective review.
Kevin R. Tipple © 2011, 2013
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