A Darkness Forged in Fire

Book One of the Iron Elves

By: Chris Evans

Narrated by: Michael Kramer

Length: 15 hrs and 17 mins

Publisher's summary

Konowa Swift Dragon, former commander of the Empire's elite Iron Elves, is looked upon as anything but ordinary. He has murdered a Viceroy, been court-martialed, seen his beloved regiment disbanded, and been banished in disgrace to the one place he despises the most---the forest.

Now all Konowa wants is to be left alone with his misery. But for him, nothing is ever that simple. The mysterious and alluring Visyna Tekoy, the highborn daughter of an elfkynan governor, seeks him out in the dangerous wild with a royal decree that he resume his commission as an officer in Her Majesty's Imperial Army, effective immediately. For in the east, a falling Red Star heralds the return of a magic long vanished from the earth. Rebellion grows within the Empire as a frantic race to reach the Star unfolds. It is a chance for Konowa to redeem himself---even if the entire affair appears doomed to be a suicide mission. And the soldiers recruited for the task are not at all what he expects. Worse, his key adversary in the perilous race for the Star is the dreaded Shadow Monarch---a legendary elf-witch whose machinations for absolute domination spread deeper than Konowa could ever imagine.

©2008 Chris Evans (P)2008 Tantor

It is a solid piece of writing

It is a solid piece of writing. It is a world that combines magic and musket technology. It is compelling but doesn’t make me want to read the rest of the books in the series.

Will buy books 2 and 3 when they come out

As one other reviewer said, it is a little slow to get started, but the character development and plot pick up quite nicely after the first chapter or two. At first, it seems like another standard D&D/fantasy book with the good guy finding incredibly awesome powers to defeat the ancient evil, but it turns into a book with characters that you start to care about what happens to them. I listen to books during the commute to work, and it's been hard to wait until I get back in the car to find out what happens next.

Michael Kramer does a good job on this book. He is easy to listen to, and his different character voices are distinctive enough that you have no problem knowing who's talking.

Enjoyed it more than I thought

The story was pretty entertaining. While it leaves a ton open for the second book, it does a fairly good job of creating a full story in book one.

I would have liked more background into the characters and a deeper love story, but maybe book two.

The action if fast moving and the mix between muskets and swords is different and works well.

The narrator is very hit or miss. At times specifically in the beginning I wondered if I would be able to keep listening. He kinda starts out reading almost like a robot which really hurts the book but at points later in the story he warms up. Overall he does ok.

In the end I would recomend the book.

could have been more detailed

i may be spoiled by jordan and sanderson, but this story could have been more detailed. while with either author, jordan and especially sanderson, a world starts blooming in my mind, with this book it didn't. there were colored spots surrounded by nothingness, that could easily have been filled. no world was created.
the whole books seems like a shortened version of a real good, long fantasy story.
i like the idea, i like the story, but it is not nearly as good as it could have been.

A Book Forged in Skill

There is no doubt that Chris Evans is not only a masterful storyteller, but also a really good writer; one who is able to weave magic with his words.
It is also very clear that upon starting A Darkness Forged in Fire the reader is making a commitment to what I believe will be one of the greatest fantasy sagas ever written. This first book of the Iron Elves fulfills its role of introducing us beautifully to the premise, the characters, the setting and the exposition of what will be an intricate storyline, while leaving us with a hankering for more.
I cannot wait for the second book, promised, I believe, for July of 2009. In itself, this first book is entertaining and moving, the language filled with moments of poetry, humour and raw emotion.
Do yourself a favour, read this A Darkness Forged in Fire and embark upon a magical adventure.

Engaging

I am a Tower and the Hive, Dragonriders of Pern, The Vor Game, and Eve Dallas(J.D.Robb) Patricia Cornwell Fan. This was a refreshing change for me. Keep my attention and even has we wanting more.

Narrator got me through

I could never have finished thus with another narrator. Story was mostly tedious and uninspiring.

The pen is minster then the sword.

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a light fantasy

It's pretty middle of the road. Elves, Dragons, and Various other monsters. If you are a fantasy addict you'll probably get some enjoyment. If you looking for "something different" - I'd try somewhere else.

interactive

I really enjoyed this book of the series, and I am looking forward to the next one. The characters were lifelike, and there were times when I had to stop reading because I was laughing so hard. I highly recommend it.