The Devil in the Dust (Outremer, Book 1) [Mass Market Paperback]

Chaz Brenchley (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 27, 2003

The desert kingdom of Outremer is ruled by a harsh king whose will is enforced by warrior-priests called Ransomers. But when a young Ransomer in training meets the daughter of the King's Shadow, the reign of blood and magic will be changed forever.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Brenchley's striking new epic fantasy series [is] a revelation. (Starburst)

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 261 pages
• Publisher: Ace (May 27, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0441010717
• ISBN-13: 978-0441010714
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.3 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,478,124 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Devil in the Dust, December 7, 2003

By 

K. Freeman (Apple Valley, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Devil in the Dust (Outremer, Book 1) (Mass Market Paperback)

An intriguing alternate-Crusades novel, start of a series. Marron, a young member of an authoritarian Templar-like order, and Julianne and Elisande, two young noblewomen, must face conflicting loyalties and dark magic in a world on the brink of holy war.

Brenchley writes beautifully on a sentence level and incorporates some nice elements of darkness. Marron and his master/lover Sieur Anton are intriguing characters; I found both young women a bit too perky, but not irretrievable. The plot is fast-paced and high in tension, though here and there the author leaves a thread unresolved (and apparently not to be resolved in sequels). The worldbuilding is reasonably interesting, though not highly detailed on a material level--I kept wanting to know more about the tactics, the weapons, the material culture, the economy, but Brenchley doesn't develop his world deeply. On the other hand, I didn't find anything silly or out of place, and the slim length of the book makes a refreshing contrast to some of the fantasy doorstops currently in vogue.

This will probably please readers of GG Kay, George Martin, Judith Tarr (it has some definite romance elements) and perhaps Katherine Kurtz.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding, July 14, 2003

By 

Brian R. (Colorado Springs, CO United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Devil in the Dust (Outremer, Book 1) (Mass Market Paperback)

This is an excellent beginning to a fantasy series. I was browsing looking for an alternative to all the multi-thousand page fantasy epics. Although part of a larger series, this release manages in under 300 pages more depth of characterization, richness of atmosphere, and worldbuilding detail than many novels twice (or three times) its length.

Especially noteworthy is the author's prose. I usually steer clear of books whose reviews extoll the virtues of the book's prose. Such reviews almost invariably mean the author is so enamored of his turn of phrase and too self-important to get to the business of telling the story. In this book, however, the hype is actually warranted. Brenchley's prose is a bit more stylized than the average fantasy thriller, perhaps, but the narrative still moves along at a brisk pace.

Overall, highly recommended. I ran out and bought the second book as soon as I finished this one. I look forward to all the rest in this series.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Devil in the Dust, June 1, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: The Devil in the Dust (Outremer, Book 1) (Mass Market Paperback)

This is an engrossing Fantasy novel that slips close to horror on a few occasions.
Being about a young man that is raised to become a knight and has very little exposure to the outside world, only knowing the limited existence that he was raised in. He gets inroduced to life as the rest of the world knows it by becoming entwined with numerous other characters and setting out on an adventure in what turns out to be an effort to save the "humane" form of life that the people in his part of the world have become acustomed to. He learns of the horror that is an everyday occurence in the outside world and of love and its many complexities, and also the struggle involved in life outside the limited existence he was raised in while he tries to stay alive and protect those closest to him...... at most times having only his own wits to get by on.
Chaz Brenchley weaves an excellent story that is long overdue in being released in the USA. This writer walks the same path as many other excellent story tellers and it is time to give him his due. If you let this collection slip by without partaking in its excellence then you will have missed out on an excellent set of books and story.