Shadow All Night Fall

The first Dream Empire books focuses heavily on Nepanthe and The Mocker - or whatever he wanted to call himself at the time - and their relationship. Also the wizard Varthlokkur and his desire for the same woman. One odd trickster-thief character, one noble, one wizard. Then the conflict that swirls around them with figures like Haroun and Ragnarson and others being introduced - and the strange, like the Star Rider. It culminates in a different sort of bloody ending. 3.5 out of 5

Note that this is now back in print as part of the omnibus edition A Cruel Wind, covering the first Dread Empire trilogy. Having just reread this novel, I am inclined to find it very enjoyable but puzzling in the lack of a central protagonist. Major focus of the story is on varthlokkur, nepanthe and mocker, with secondary interest in the storm kings, the old man, haroun, ragnarson, and ragnarson's associates. Ragnarson's future prominance is not visible here. While I am unsympathetic to varthlokkur's prolonged magically-certified obsession with nepanthe, he is a sympathetic character. The old man and the star rider both bring more questions than answers, a few of which might be answered later. I think there is some dilution of impact of the story with so little time being given to any major character... This story is the first in 7 published novels in the dread empire series, and here you can already see cook's gritty, realistic depiction of human conversation, motivation, and failibility. The only quibble may be the almost transparent reconciliation of the storm kings and haroun and co. It is a very enjoyable read, well worth ordering used or buying as the omnibus book 'a cruel wind.' Glen cook can present a tale in this form so brutally realistic and pragmatic that you may find other contemporary fantasy seeming rather superficial or artificial.

This starts the Dread Empire series simply, introducing the characters who will grow and change in the following books. It is enjoyable, but the rest are more so. Still, it is necessary to read it, to make sense of the whole.