Customer Reviews

Darkest Hour (Age of Misrule, Book 2)

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The Eternal Conflict cold war turns hot when The Brothers and Sisters of Dragons successfully engage the Tuatha De Danann ancient Gods to return to save humanity from the onslaught of the evil Fomorii demons. However, mortals should have known by now that Gods even those golden angelic ones do not think the way humans do. Instead, the Tuatha De Danann plan to rule as they did eons ago with an iron fist.

Stunned by what they perceive as a betrayal and caught between two superpowers battling over whose future will prevail for humanity, the Brothers and Sisters of Dragons struggle to save mankind. Advanced weapon systems have proven futile and feeling like expendable pawns and out maneuvered by the side they thought they could trust, the Brothers and Sisters of Dragons turn in their DARKEST HOUR within as they decide to take the hostility to the Fomorii without the help of the ancient Gods. Although victory is improbable, if somehow they succeed, they know next comes ridding the devastated planet of the ancient Celtic Gods who demand obsequiousness.

The second Age of Misrule urban fantasy (see WORLD'S END) is a great middle book as the action never slows down while also setting up one hell of a finish. The story line focuses on the revelation by the dragon warriors that they succeeded in their endeavor to bring allies on a power par with their enemies; only these allies think differently as they are used to mankind bowing to them in deference. Readers will appreciate Mark Chadbourn's fine thriller as the lights are gone in planet earth with the last glimmer of hope being Dragons like Church, Ruth, Ryan, Laura and Shavi, and the enigmatic time traveler Tom.

Harriet Klausner

As the Brothers and Sisters of Dragons make their way through the changed world, they continue to face many trying hardships and few times of peace. But as we have been told a million times throughout our lives, you can't have the sweet without the sour. They continue to grow together through their difficulties with love, loss, and just living day to day.

I am thoroughly enjoying these books. They are not the easy reads that I am accustomed to lately, but I can't seem to put them down. The mix of new and old ideals is intriguing and piques the imagination.

A multi-sided political struggle develops. Humans, the Tuatha De Danaan, and the Fomorii. These are all basically opposed to each other, but the Dragon sibling group seeks an alliance with sympathetic Tuatha to help them do something about the problems that beset them.

The problem they have is that some of the others are quite nihilistic, or don't really want to do anything. God psychology can be tricky.

Having really enjoyed Worlds End, the first in this trilogy, I was hoping not to be disappointed with the second - and I wasn't.
Mark Chadbourn has managed what few writers do, the sequel was better than the original.
The conflict continues but it's a very different world and our 5 main characters (Brothers & Sisters of Dragons) grow and develop during their fight for survival. Tom returns to advise, while more hints to his own origins and myth are discovered.
There are twists and turns, belief and confidence are battered and bruised.
The Tuartha de Danaan battling the ferocious Fomorii have little sympathy for humanity being trampled in the middle.
Our band of heros suffer physically, psychologically and there are losses. (Won't give any spoilers)
Just be reassured that if you enjoyed Worlds End, you're going to love Darkest Hour.

This is a great book. It had me hooked by page 30. I really love the Urban Fantasy genre and this is a great representative of it.

The plot is great, the main characters are believable and interesting, and the Celtic mythology is fascinating. This is the first book I have read by this author, but it won't be the last.

Chadbourn's second in the `Age of Misrule' is kind enough to open with a synposis of the previous novel, `World's End'. The story picks up promptly as our famous five learn that the essence of Balor is about to be given a physical host in the vast caverns under Edinburgh and only they can prevent it. With the vainglorious Tuatha de'Danaan ever present Church, Ruth, Veitch, Shavi and Laura (whose cynicism and self pity has becoming thoroughly grating) set off with their mentor Tom to stop the Fomorri from releasing their leader into the world.
However, upon arrival in the Scottish capital we find a particularly nasty element of Celtic folklore made incarnate - the Calliach Bheur, pretty much undefeatable and bringer of winter to the land. As this hag moves through the city killing at will to protect the essence of Balor in time for the August 1 ritual, Shavi and Laura manage to defy the Bone Inspector and release the gloriously insane Maponus to do battle with her. Meanwhile, the now lupercini Callow kidnaps Ruth and she ends up in the clutches of Calatin who promptly forces the essence of Balor into her in the form of a Black Pearl. Now pregnant with the dark one, weeks remain until his rebirth, alien-style.
What follows is a race north and south, Veitch and Tom to plead assistance from Tom's once-captor, the Queen of the Danaan, Ruth and Church head to Otherworld to Dian Cecht, Shavi attempts to join with the Bone Inspector to reimprison Maponus and in the interim Church has to deal with the emotional wrangling of Ruth, Laura and Niamh. Eventually, the second denouement occurs with a moment of great sacrifice, two characters die (though you suspect the Pendragon spirit will ensure a resurrection), Balor gets reborn and a host of assorted characters get removed and replaced with new ones.
My only concern with this novel, is the author's continued use of drugs to achieve connection to the spiritual side of the new world. Its over-emphasis is disconcerting at times and I wonder if it is truly necessary. This aside, whilst not as good as the opener, it serves up enough thrills and spills in an England turned back to magic to ensure the third and final novel is read.