Warlock (Darkwar Trilogy) [Paperback]

Glen Cook (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: Popular Library (October 1985)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0445200499
• ISBN-13: 978-0445200494
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,900,271 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not just a bridge between the first and last, April 1, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Warlock (Darkwar Trilogy) (Paperback)

The second in the Darkwar trilogy, Warlock shows Merika's maturation into a deadly force fighting for the survival of her community. As the first book introduced us to a primitive society on the edge of extinction, Warlock exposes us to the larger world, technologically advanced and decadent, living off rich resources with no thought to the future. Merika is forced to do despicable things, but still we sympathize for her because she bled first. Cook weaves a tapestry of treachery, intrigue and deceit and Merika is our brutal sword slashing through it all and making her own path while we follow helplessly. In this book we also get even more savage descriptions of battle carnage, culminating in the introduction to the world of human history's most devastating weapon.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Marilka Gains Power, October 5, 2011

By 

Arthur W. Jordin (Smyrna, GA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Warlock (Darkwar Trilogy) (Paperback)

Warlock (1985) is the second Fantasy novel in the Darkwar trilogy, following Doomstalker. In the previous volume, Marilka spent four years in the Akard packfast. Each year, the winters got colder and colder.

Old Gorry taught her much about silth techniques while trying to kill her. The elder sisters had always feared Marilka and now they were terrified of her. Then the nomads attacked Akard.

In this novel, Marilka is a fourteen year old silth. She is the only surviving sister in Akard. She is called Jiana, the Doomstalker.

Grauel and Barlog are meth huntresses of the Degnan pack who survived the destruction of the packstead. They followed Marilka to Akard and guard her like the pack heir.

Braydic is a meth worker who maintains the communications gear. She survived the fall of Akard.

Bagnel is a meth tradermale. He and two other males defended Akard from the nomads. He also survived the fall of the packfast.

Gradwohl is a silth sister. She is the Most Senior of the Reugge Community. She comes from a rural background.

Moragan is a silth sister. She is very old and had a distinguished career in the Reugge Community.

Zertan is a silth sister. She is the Senior at the Maksche cloister.

Dorteka is a silth sister. She is a member of Gradwohl's staff.

In this story, the Reugge sisters save Marilka and a few others from Akard. Their darkships drive away the nomad attackers. They take the Akard survivors to Maksche.

Marilka keeps Grauel and Barlog with her at Maksche. She also insists that Grauel keep the rifle that she used at Akard. Marilka is ignored for a week, but learns some things about the cloister through Grauel and Barlog. She also rides ghosts around the compound and observes the activities.

Then Moragan appears and announces that she will be teaching Marilka. She spends more time questioning Marilka than instructing. Moragan also sleeps a lot and snores.

Sometime later, Gradwohl comes to Maksche. She calls a meeting of the senior sisters as well as Marilka. Moragan sits between Gradwohl and Zertan.

They discuss Marilka as if she was not there. Zertan disparages her, so Moragan draws a long, wicked knife and gives it her. Gradwohl tells Zertan to carry out her instructions.

Zertan attacks Marilka. Marilka captures a ghost and throws it at the Senior. Barlog shoots at the Most Senior and Grauel comes to the rescue. Braydic holds off the guards with a sword.

The Most Senior is pleased at Marilka's responsiveness and the loyalty of her meth. She is displeased with herself for overlooking the rifle. She has a healer see to the still unconscious Zertan.

Gradwohl states that the Maksche cloister has mishandled Marilka. She dismisses the assembly, but asks Marilka to stay behind. She talks to Marilka about her goals and assigns Dorteka as her instructor.

This tale has Marilka working hard on her studies. She returns to the Ponath during the following summers to search out and destroy the nomads. The nomads learn to avoid her blockhouse.

Marilka gradually grows stronger in her powers. The next installment in this series is Ceremony.

Highly recommended for Cook fans and for anyone who enjoys tales of alien cultures, strange powers, and headstrong heroines. Read and enjoy!

-Arthur W. Jordin

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The first and best SF tragedy I've ever read., October 4, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Warlock (Darkwar Trilogy) (Paperback)

The series seems to continue with small tragedies happening to the main character. Every time, she overcomes the setback and comes out stronger, until the last tragedy which simply brings all of the others to the forefront and depresses her more than anything before. While I am not one for tragedies, it is a tale well told which will have you walking around numb for days afterward.