Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #34275 in Books
• Published on: 2009-01-05
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 416 pages

Customer Reviews

There's something rotten in the state of Ulthuan
Malekith is the novel you hoped Gav Thorpe would write. No one else would have been remotely qualified. This isn't because he also authored the Dwarf and Dark Elf army books, though it undoubtedly helped. As Angels of Darkness, 13th Legion and the early short story 'The Faithful Servant' all attest, Thorpe, more than any other Black Library author, can bring layers of flesh and blood, hope and despair to the bones of Warhammer characters. Psychological realism, deftly analysed, crisply reported, is his strength. Here, it is equal to its subject.

Many will perceive the novel as a tragedy, an epic, or both. So it is. But it's also a character study, as the best GW fiction (Fulgrim, Flight of the Eisenstein, Angels of Darkness, the short story 'The Last Church') tend to be. Most readers already know how things happened; what they want to know is why. That makes all the difference, and demands more than simply one fight scene after another. The author has to break through the realism barrier and plunge into inner space. In chronicling the rise and fall of Malekith, Thorpe finds the perfect trajectory.

We first meet Malekith a year after the death of his father, Aenarion the Defender, tragic hero and saviour of the Elves. Chaos has been routed; Ulthuan is in ruins. But it has a future. A new king needs to be crowned. Malekith is presented as the heir apparent. The other nobles have their doubts. You can see why. Morathi, Malekith's mother, makes Ann Widdecombe look normal. An enlightened path and 'debate with the peons' is no good - to her mind, only iron rule, 'the right to decide for all', will secure Ulthuan's future. Embarrassed, Malekith offers a calmer petition on his behalf, but swears to abide by the council's decision. Another noble, Bel Shanaar of Tiranoc, is chosen and crowned instead.

The decision, of course, gnaws at Malekith, but not just for the reasons you suspect. Honour and glory are stepping stones, but the loss of his father, the feeling of someway failing his legacy to protect the Elves, grip him as tightly as a hand around his throat. He feels even Asuryan himself is dwarfed by the newly-risen gods of Chaos. Something needs to be done.

Hardly a barrel of laughs, you might think. But in fact, thanks to Thorpe's playful wit, comedy thrives amid the tragedy. The chapters focusing on the culture clash with the Dwarfs (I like to think of these parts as 'the kitchen debates', and Malekith's speech to them are all very funny, as well as invigoratingly realistic.

This is Thorpe's best work to date--which is saying a lot. It exhibits all his favourite themes - fascism, metaphysics, faith - and with them covers a wider canvas than any he has attempted to date. Not to be missed.

Very good story.
Aenarion the Defender was the first of the Phoenix Kings. After dying for his elven people most believed his son, Malekith, would take up the crown. Aenarion had raised his son with that assumption and trained Malekith in warcraft and ruling. Malekith also inherited his mother's gift for magic. Morathi, the Seeress, taught Malekith how to harness and use the power of Chaos for the good of Ulthuan's people. However, the First Council passed over Malekith and decreed Bel Shanaar to be the new Phoenix King.

Morathi, the queen-regent, is furious that her son has been overthrown. For the sake of peace, Malekith abides by the First Council's decision. Malekith gives the stewardship of Nagarythe to Morathi and sets off on an expedition to the lands of the east. Malekith's actions and battles make him legendary. Not only does he discover and fight beasts unknown to the elven people before, but he also meets the short and fearsome dwarfish people. Prince Malekith and the High King Snorri Whitebeard spend decades fighting at each other's side against trolls, giants, beastmen, and more. They even swear an oath of brotherhood. All is well while Bel Shanaar cared not for the colonies and stayed in Ulthuan. But after one thousand two hundred years, Bel Shanaar comes to meet the dwarfs' ruler, Snorri. With only a few sentences, Bel Shanaar takes credit for all Malekith's actions and negotiations. Bel Shanaar declares to Snorri that Malekith is only the Phoenix King's "embassy". The slight does not go unnoticed by Prince Malekith or his mother, Morathi. She has never stopped telling Malekith that he should return to Ulthuan and claim his birthright as Phoenix King. Malekith's bitterness begins to grow ...

**** FOUR STARS! My synopsis must stop there. To tell more would be to give major spoilers. Much more is going on than I reveal. There are more beasts, battles, magic, dark cults, back stabbing and ancient artifacts than I even hint at. The story is written in two parts. Most of the writing is narration style. The ending feels rushed to me and Malekith's actions unwise. I, as the reader, feel that the ending should have been crafted better. Yet as a whole, this "Time of Legends" story is full of action and adventure. A very good read indeed. ****

Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

A lot of telling
In many ways a difficult review to write because I need to be critical of the writing. There is absolutely no doubt the author has created a rich and character filled world but I felt none of it. It was difficult to understand the character Malekith at all. I had no sense of his motivations, his interests his hopes - *why* he was angry.

I realize some degree of understanding the Dark Elves should be understood but I - unlike the other reviewer - got no sense of fascism, anger or resentment. I couldn't care about the characters because aside from hearing that something angered them or something else made them happy I didn't feel I knew them.

The writer obviously knows his genre and loves the characters. This shows through with lavish descriptions and sincere passion for the history and background. It is both difficult and unfair to critique someone else's efforts without understanding their motivations, editorial intentions, page limits or other pressures but the story suffers from telling, not showing.

I am certainly not saying I regret buying the book, but I do feel the same disappointment towards Heldenhammer by a different author. It is extremely difficult to write fast moving showy text, but this is what makes you hear, feel and care about the characters.