Disciple of a Dark God

Edmund Glasby

Average Rating 8/10 (1 Review)

Assassin, cultist, zealot; his sole aim in life is to serve the evil god who enabled him to exact his revenge. Satiated by this act, but forever bitter and cynical, Everus does whatever is required by the cult, and more importantly by Xethorn, who contacts him directly. As far as Everus is aware, he has already killed those responsible for his downfall and asks only to repay his deity. To this end, and with assistance from a grave-robbing thief with his own agenda, he seeks the wards which will allow Xethorn to gain supremacy over the world. Arrogant, charismatic and cold-hearted, Everus begins to realise that even his cynical view of people is not dark enough, as he eventually discovers the true extent to which he has been manipulated.

Driven by the desire for vengeance, Everus stalks through his treacherous, unsavoury but sometimes blackly comical world in pursuit of the means to free his imprisoned god. Disciple of a Dark God is a dark fantasy novel that does not pit good against evil, love does not triumph and loyalty is not rewarded.

About the Author:
As penance for past deeds, Edmund Glasby grew up in Morecambe and studied at Oxford - Morecambe provided him with a better education. Life has made him a misanthrope, but a loyal and dedicated one who embraces the awfulness of mankind. He spends a lot of time planning unsavoury ways to dispatch people who have annoyed him but finds it more socially acceptable to write rather than do. He is married with a five year old son who bears an uncanny resemblance to Damien Thorn from the 1976 film The Omen.

Review by Nigel (300911) Rating (8/10)

Review by Nigel
Rating 8/10
Welcome to the darker side of Fantasy and Everus Dragonbanner, a main character that would sooner kill you than interact with you... it's easier in the long run.

Disciple of a Dark God is really two books in one. In the first half we meet Everus and Creeps living in Wyrm's Port, an unlikely partnership of a deadly assassin and a thief. Together they undertake a number of tasks at the behest of their apparent masters, Everus from the high priest of the cult he follows and Creeps from Everus. However, all is not what it seems and as the death toll mounts the unquestioning Everus seems the perfect pawn in the games of others… or is he?

In the second half Everus and Creeps have escaped from the destruction of Wyrm's Port by crossing The Dark Sea to the desert city of Ummm-Dabba. Here they sell their unique talents in the hope of returning and defeating Xethorn - the god of murder and revenge they unwittingly released.

Disciple of a Dark God is indeed a darker look at the fantasy story with a central character verging on the sociopathic, to whom nothing is important, especially other people, and the only way the past can be expunged is by death and destruction. As always though, there is more, and although the mask is firmly in place deeper feelings are present and these occasionally surface with glimpses into Everus Dragonbanner's wealthy and scholarly past.

I enjoyed Disciple of a Dark God but then I liked Richard Morgan's The Steel Remains which is also a departure from the 'traditional' fantasy story. The book is well written and the characters entertaining if somewhat morally questionable... which I suppose is de rigueur for an assassin and his 'assistant'.

In truth this has been a difficult review to write. The Author has clearly got great skill at constructing and writing a story but the harsh reality is it is difficult to see who the readers will be other than a small cult niche at the edge of the Fantasy Genre. If, like me, you are hooked by the blurb on the back cover you will enjoy this book, however, I can see many being put off which unfortunately means it is never going to be big... of course if a cult following is what the author is after then fine but it does seem a waste of an obvious talent for writing.
Nigel (30th September 2011)