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What follows is, quite simply, spectacular storytelling. Barclay reads like a seasoned fantasy veteran, not a writer on only his second novel, and his plotting, characterisation and dialogue are all perfectly honed. Where he excels most though is in the action scenes and Noonshade contains some of the best sword and magic battles ever written. You can feel the air burn with the crackle of spells, almost cry out in pain yourself as a sword cuts through flesh and mourn for a slaughtered character as you would a loved one.
The plot twists and turns with energy and pace but it is the characters that make this such a real treat, especially the Raven who deserve the same cult status as Gemmell's Waylander. Each member of the Raven is a fully realised character, with plausible motivations and plenty of emotional conflict. And it's good to see the female characters getting a bit more page-time too.
The third volume of this trilogy, Nightchild, is out in 2001 and Barclay leaves us hanging wickedly on a thread with just enough questions and unresolved conflicts to be tied up in book three. The Chronicles of the Raven is one the most exciting and exhilarating series in a long time and on this showing James Barclay is a writer with a fantastic future ahead of him. Stunning stuff. --Jonathan Weir
"Truly excellent fantasy is rare. Truly excellent heroic fantasy is rarer still. Discovering a new author who writes truly excellent heroic fantasy is perhaps the rarest gem of all...For Noonshade, the Raven discover that the Dawnthief spell contains its own deceit and was, perhaps, not entirely understood before it was cast. The casting of Dawnthief has ripped a hole between dimensions and, instead of saving Balia, has sown the seeds of certain doom. The rip has drawn the attention of dragon broods who would destroy Balia. The Raven must work with the Kaan brood, protectors of the Balia dimension, to repair the damage done and save Balaia. Dragons, barbarian hordes, sorcerers, demonic summonings, shape-shifters, and the threat of worldwide devastation are all tossed into the mix as the tale unfolds.
It is an epic tale and Barclay tells it with a mastery that is astonishing for only a second novel. The dialogue is fast-paced and well-written. The plot has multiple layers and multiple story lines. The characterization is rich and detailed. Individual characters have their own lives and struggles beyond the central story. Yet, at no time does the tale bog down under the weight of the details."
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