It is an absolutely brilliant book, which brings out the best parts of fantasy-dragons, power crazes and reluctant heroes. It is maybe not one of the best written books, but it is intriguing, and you find that the characters are subtly evil. The mysteries in the book reveal their answers as the book goes on and there are a number of interesting turns. The powers that the Drakhoul bring are quite different from the usual, as they can be used in human form or in the form of the Drakhoul. It is not a book to be missed.

Finally. I have been waiting for a book like this since forever. It is not the perfect character development which I so craved, it is not the world building that I wanted, it is finally a book where the hero is not a noble lord, but what could be considered a "baddie."

A fearsome dragon/vampire as the hero - this is somthing truly revolusionary. SOmeone who has to drink human blood to live. Someone who can decimate a whole army in seconds with a fearsome flame? Brilliant.

The book, although not as broad and clean sweeping as others (Eddings, Jordan etc) gives the reader a totally new insight to a fantasy novel. It is the sort of book which is an unsung hero. Not brilliantly written, though very well, little dry humour - unlike the masters like Eddings - but a generally and honestly superb story line.

This is one that no fantasy lover should miss.

I was in awe of the story-telling ability of Sarah Ash! She has transported me to a icy realm of intrigue, war-dark passion and even darker magic!

Set in a land that bares a eerie resemblance to 19th century Czarist Russia, she tells the epic tale of reluctant hero, Gavril Andar, a young and poor painter, who finds himself the ruler of a distant and barbaric Land of Azhkendir, after the murder of his father!

Gavril also discovers his terrible legacy: a curse/blessing, where the blood of a dragon-warrior known as Drakhaoul which gives him supernatural powers of a dragon but also give him lust for human blood as well!

Gavril will need these powers, as he must avenge his father's murder and stop the possible invasion of his land by the power-hungry Prince Eugene of Tielen!

Ash's epic novel of fantasy is a stark departure from most fantasies written today. Her world is more like 19th century Eastern Europe than Medieval era, where armies do not fight with knights, but with gunpower.

I also love the sinister atmosphere of this world and her use of Eastern European legends with the aspect of vampirism, combined with the high fantasy of dragons was brilliant.

Her characters come alive in this book:

There is reluctant ruler Gavril, who must battle enemies who seek him and his country harm, and also battle his own lust for blood and death!

Kiukiu, a young servant girl who has the power to communicate with spirits and who becomes Gavril's ally.

Jaromir, the blood enemy to Gavril's family and Gavril's unexpected friend as well, and

Elysia-Gavril's mother who seeks to save her son, only to become a pawn of political intrigue among the ruling nations!

I can't wait to read the sequel of this book.