Between the Rock and Cloud

A Grimdark Fantasy Novella

The strength of a tenuous coalition is tested, once bitter rivals now prepare to rid the Green Sea of slavery. A small island provides an opportunity to solidify their alliance.

Opposing them, the Shades await. The monstrous beasts hide their faces behind helmets with evil smiles, though they seem more alike than humans would believe.

Beliefs and prejudices are challenged when new, gruesome weapons hit both sides of the battlefield. They must fight against the elements and incompetent leadership on a mission between the rock and cloud.

©2020 Pete Draper (P)2021 Pete Draper

Great grimdark story

I truly enjoyed this story. Even though it’s fantasy, it has a gritty realism to it, the characters are complex and believable and the situations they find themselves in are dark and grim. There are no good heroes, no evil villains, just people disembarking from their ship to fight in the muddy banks of a river while getting shot at with arrows, trying to reach their objective, only to realize their enemy is not much different from them.

If you are looking for realistic fantasy that avoids clichés and tropes, and steers clear of idealism, this is for you.