Well of Darkness: Volume One of the Sovereign Stone Trilogy [Hardcover]

Margaret Weis (Author), Tracy Hickman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 22, 2000

Out of the rich material of the popular roleplaying game The Sovereign Stone, New York Times bestselling fantasists Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman have fashioned something miraculous: a masterful epic of magic and adventure, filled with unforgettable, Tolkienesque characters and plot twists as harrowing and unpredictable as a roll of the dice.

When still a child, Gareth was chosen to serve as whipping boy for the willful, yet devilishly charismatic young Prince Dagnarus, second in line for succession to the throne. It was Gareth's innocent body that bore the brutal blows that could not lawfully be inflicted on the royal person that earned them. And as Dagnarus grew to manhood, ruthlessly determined to rule at any cost, loyal Gareth remained at his side, suffering as always for the prince's sake and in his stead-even now, when misguided devotion is leading the much-bruised servant down a path of outlawed sorcery . . . and into the terrible darkness.

Yet cruel, stubborn, and prideful as Prince Dagnarus has become, he still possesses a heart like any man -- one that he has hopelessly lost to the married elfin beauty, Lady Valura Mabreton. She is a prize he is determined to win, despite her longlived, honor-obsessed race's legendary vendettas, some of which have endured for thousands of years, growing ever-stronger beneath an icy surface of impenetrable artifice.

But let the elves plot their plots! Let the dwarves and orken rise up against him! Let the Dominion Lords, led by his hated half-brother, Prince Helmos, dare to oppose him! Dagnarus will have his crown . . . and his queen! For one of the elves' own, Silwyth -- a wily traitor playing a dangerous double game -- is the prince's creature. And dutiful lackey Gareths blood-chilling excursions into the Void are about to bear dark, rich fruit. For the Dagger of the Vrykyl -- the malevolent counterpart to the Sovereign Stone itself and the most potent talisman in the realm will soon be in Dagnarus's hand. And then no power will be able to deter his Destiny.

The first book in the exhilarating new Sovereign  Stone trilogy, Well of Darkness is Weis and Hickman's most dazzling work to date -- a classic-in-the-making that will quicken the pulse of every true fantasy fan; a chilling, boldly imaginative, utterly addictive tale of the bloody rebirth of a much feared and denied ancient evil... and the unspeakable consequences of an unholy passion that is stronger than death.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The founding parents of the game-tie-in fantasy novel here launch a role-playing-game-related high fantasy trilogy in which game knowledge is irrelevant to reader enjoyment. This is a classic tale of the rivalry of two half-brothers, the sons of King Tamaros of Vinnengael: the virtuous elder Helmos and the frustrated and ambitious young Dagnarus. Along the way, Dagnarus wins the friendship and loyalty of his whipping boy, Gareth, who in due course trains as a mage and adept in forbidden Void magic, dangerous to the user but deadly to the user's enemies. Shortly after King Tamaros believes that he has made peace among the four races (human, dwarves, elves and orken), Dagnarus and Gareth together begin to undo all the king's work, unleashing a war of all against all made even worse by the lethal Void magic and the rivalries of potentates, particularly human and elven. This is a story assembled from archetypical elements, all at least slightly touched with originality. Dagnarus is a thug but also a heroic soldier, and his elven lover prefers to become one of the Void-spawned undead Vrykyl rather than be parted from him. Elven political institutions irresistibly recall the Tokugawa era of Japan.The dwarves are not metal-working troglodytes but horse archers, living light and traveling fast. Weis and Hickman (Dragons of a Fallen Son, etc.) are still not much more than good plain cooks as stylists, but here they are writing at an entirely respectable level. (Sept.)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

Chosen to serve as the whipping boy of the young Prince Dagnarus, Gareth becomes his master's friend and confidant as they grow to manhood and become embroiled in the affairs of the land. Tempted by dark powers, Gareth seeks to assist the prince in his search for love and glory, unaware of the greater paths each must follow to fulfill his destiny. The best-selling combination of Hickman and Weis have once again joined forces to create a rich and vibrant fantasy world populated with varied races and complex, believable characters. Based on the "Sovereign Stone" role-playing game, this epic series opener belongs in most fantasy collections.
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 450 pages
• Publisher: Harper Voyager; 1st edition (August 22, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061051802
• ISBN-13: 978-0061051807
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.6 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (68 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,445,306 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Slow to start, but a strong finish., September 19, 2000

By 

Rick Douglas Janssen (Lake Zurich, IL USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Well of Darkness: Volume One of the Sovereign Stone Trilogy (Hardcover)

Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman are by far two of the most well known, beloved fantasy writers of our time. Which is why it is no surprise that The Sovereign Stone Game System elected to jump-start the system with a trilogy written by Margaret and Tracy. I also suspect that Margaret Weis being one of the creators had something to do with this decision as well. Also, looking at the past success of the Dragonlance novels and what overwhelming interest those novels sparked in the Dungeons and Dragons gaming system it seems like the best move to make.

The first half of the book was relatively slow. It concentrated mainly on character and world building. While being interesting it's not overly exciting, so the book doesn't have the typical Weis and Hickman alure that their other series seem to have. However, once the reader is familar with the world and the characters the action and intensity magnify until you can't put the book down! The same phenomenon happened to me when undertaking the Death Gate Cycle. The first book was so new and different it took some time to get into the story.

I realize I haven't mentioned much about the content of the book, but the other reviews cover much of that. This book finishes strong and even though it cuts all of the loose ends by the last page there is still a hook that leaves the reader longing for more. The second book can't come out soon enough in my opinion. I highly recommend this book and I wish The Sovereign Stone Game System much success.

16 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Well of Darkness is a Work of Art, August 22, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Well of Darkness: Volume One of the Sovereign Stone Trilogy (Hardcover)

Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman's new novel, Well of Darkness, is a wonderful departure from what we are used to seeing from the duo by way of their fantasy novels. Famous for their DragonLance books, Weis and Hickman explore the dark underside of court intrigue and politics in Well of Darkness.

Well of Darkness tells the story of how a young prince, Dagnarus, lets jealousy and hate rule his life, eventually turning him into the bane of his family, friends and country. Weis and Hickman skillfully relate a story that is both compelling and frustrating at the same time.

The story begins with Dagnarus as a young boy, who wishes to one day become king. He knows that it isn't possible since he is the younger son of a second marriage and that his half-brother is in line for the throne. His whipping boy, Gareth, is the young prince's only companion and friend, and with his help, Dagnarus begins to learn of the terrible and forbidden secrets of Void magic.

As they grow into men, Dagnarus becomes a mighty warrior while Gareth delves deeper into the arcane Void lore at the behest of his Prince. Dagnarus' ambitions to become king come to full blossom and he determines that the best course of action is to first become a Dominion Lord, a paladin of light, like his brother. His reasoning is that a king must be a strong warrior so that he can protect his people. Helmos, Dagnarus' elder brother and the Crown Prince of Vinnengael, in Dagnarus' eyes, is weak, with his nose always pressed firmly into a book. The young prince believes that if he can become a Dominion Lord, that he will have more than enough credentials to usurp his brother and become king.

During this whole time, momentous events are happening around the world, and the Kingdom of Vinnengael is at the center. King Tamaros, the father of Helmos and Dagnarus, is trying to forge a lasting peace and understanding between the Elves, Orks, Humans and Dwarves. Each have their own personal agendas, and distrust among them runs high. Assassination, missed opportunities, and intrigue all plague the king's attempts, and that's not counting the rivalry between his sons at home.

How does all of this end up? Does Dagnarus become a Dominion Lord, and then King of Vinnengael? Does Helmos retain his position as rightful heir? And what about Gareth and his dark discoveries? In all honesty, I don't want to give away the ending. I can say though that the finale to Well of Darkness is absolutely earth shattering!

18 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of their best yet..., August 25, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Well of Darkness: Volume One of the Sovereign Stone Trilogy (Hardcover)

Once in a great while, you find a book that turns conventionsal fantasy on its ear. Well of Darkness does just that, but to explain how would be a grave injustice to the reader. The World of Loerem is one that must be explored. What it borrows from the traditions of Tolkien and classic fantasy it quickly makes its own. Not since Death Gate, have Weis and Hickman produced such an ambitious tale, full of evocative imagery, strange and alluring races, and powerful characters.

As the title implies, there is a dark quality we do not often see in their work. Weis and Hickman have proven that they aren't afraid to take heroic fantasy out of its pristine, plastic packaging. They succeed in showing us the dark side of the human soul, without preaching and without the needless and overbearing sex and violence that so many fantasy authors fall prey to. What remains is a dynamic story of human nature, where no soul is purely good nor evil.

If you've ever been a Weis & Hickman fan, take the opportunity to read this book. If you've never read Weis & Hickman, this is a wonderful place to begin.