Dusk

December 12, 2005
Well-drawn characters and a literate way with the grisly distinguish this first of a new fantasy series from Stoker-winner Lebbon (Desolation
). Long after the Cataclysmic War that devastated the world and banished magic, the Mages are trying to ensure that the magic, if it returns, is under their control. When farm boy Rafe Baburn shows signs of magical gifts, the Mages send their relentless minions, the Red Monks, in pursuit. Rafe must flee for his life, but fortunately he finds allies in a thief, a woman warrior and a scholarly witch. Many of the well-handled action scenes are from the bad guys' point-of-view, an unusual perspective that helps round out the author's fantasy world. The climactic battle, a variation on the classic raising of the dead, offers an ambiguous outcome that presumably will be resolved in the sequel.

January 15, 2006
Three centuries after the death of magic and mages in the Cataclysmic War, the world has returned to an earlier, simpler form of civilization. When the wanton destruction of villages and repositories of knowledge at the hands of sinister Red Monks begins, only a few understand that magic has returned and that a young man, Rafe Baburn, needs protection in order to prevent that magic from destroying the world. Bram Stoker Award -winning Lebbon (Mesmer; The Nature of Balance) begins a new series with a coming-of-age tale featuring a sharp-witted, youthful hero and a group of unlikely allies that include a thief, a warrior, and a witch. Engaging storytelling and a solid backstory make this a good choice for most fantasy collections.

Copyright 2006 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.