Customer Reviews

Dark Warrior Rising: A Novel of Niflheim (Niflheim 1)

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When Orivon Firefist was six years old the Niflghar (dark elves) abducted humans as slaves from his village Ashenuld. He was taken through tunnels leading to the vast caves where their castles lie. At that time he was unaware that there are two rival groups of dark elves. One worships the Ever Ice which gives them mastery over magic, treats their slaves reasonably well; the other revere the goddess Oline who tortures their slaves in order to insure their master or mistress remains perfectly beautiful.

Orivon had the misfortune to become the slave of cruel Taerune of the powerful house of Everdoom. She tortured him until she thought she broke him. Instead he knows he will only have one chance to escape so he patiently waits for the proper moment. That occurs when the rival House of Ouhlor breeches the magical wards and fierce fighting ignites. While in battle Taerune loses with her only chance for redemption being suicide. However the freed Orivon has other plans for his former mistress; as he needs her to guide him to the surface in return he will let her seek protection from other Nameless deities.

In this exciting stand alone fantasy, Ed Greenwood explores the culture, social mores and customs and strengths and weakness of the Dark Elves in their life underground. The dark elves believe the humans are unintelligent animals with a primitive culture that fails to neither appreciate beauty nor understand magic. Orivon and Taerune are diametric opposites who believe the other's civilization is totally barbaric. He has loathed her for a long time for hurting him, but needs her as they share the same enemies. They reach a truce and he comes to see she is not evil by nature but a product of her environment. DARK WARRIOR RISING is a magical treat that will please fantasy purists.

Harriet Klausner

Orivon Ralla's son grew up in a world where it was well known that the dark elves of Niflheim would periodically come up to steal humans away, but he never dreamed that it would happen to him. When he's ripped away from everything he's ever known or loved, he finds himself in a world where beauty and cruelty are valued above all other virtues, and where is used as either a tool or a plaything ofhe Nifl. But, there are schemes beyond number in this dark world, and soon Orivon will have his time for revenge.

But, this is also the story of Taerune of House Everdoom, a Nifl-she who has dreams of rising to the very pinnacle of power within her house. And if she will have to scheme and plot and murder to gain her power, so much the better. But, among her slaves is the smith Orivon Firefist, a "hairy one" or human, who strangely attracts her. It is fun to grind him under her boot, but there is more there, something forbidden.

This is a very good story, the story I have come to expect from Mr. Greenwood. I really liked his take on the "dark elves," incorporating the AD&D dark elves, but expanding them and making them so much more interesting. The book is filled with non-stop action, and has lot of interesting monsters and magic. So, if you like good fantasy literature, then you will like this book, and if you are interested in dark elves, then you will positively love his book. Get a copy today!

Product arrived on-time. It was packaged correctly and there was no damage to the product. No complaints here.

I'm only a couple of chapters in but it smacks of being a pale reflection of the Drizzt books by Salvatore. Hard to keep from comparing them given the subject matter of the dark elves, drow or as called here Nifleim. I usually consider the first few chapters of a fantasy book as the "world building" chapters where the setting is created as a backdrop for the meat of the story. Nice cover art on the book. Too early to tell but I have high hopes it'll pick up.