Paperback, 292 pages
Expected publication: March 28th 2014 by Perfect Edge
Twilight of the Wolves is an epic fantasy following a man cursed by a dying god’s blessing, a mute eunuch carrying the dead to the Goddess of Death, and a young girl saved from a burning metropolis only to be raised by the cursed man and two wolf gods. These three lives intersect and become bound together as they walk with gods, watch them die, and hide from the terror that is humanity’s lust for violence and destruction. Wandering across countries and cultures, the characters discover the cacophony and contradiction of visions and values that define humanity. They see the collision of cultures highlighting the definitions of civilization and try to find their place within and without them. The past, present, and future haunt the people of this world as they wander on, hoping to find an answer to the questions buried deepest.
A dark and rich story that continually dishes up more details to a world that readers will end up loving to loathe. A dark, grim and bloody world, where you may wish death to be your closest friend, rather than your enemy. Edward has crafted a rich story that follows the lives of a slew of characters each battling there own problems, or should I say their own demons.
Each character represents an event in Sao’s life, whether it is his upbringing at the temple, his imprisonment or the relationships he eventually makes. No matter Sao’s personal situation, the events of the world remain the same.
Sao is caught amid a war, a war that doesn’t look like stopping anytime soon. It rages on, leaving only death behind. It’s vile trail of destruction leaves the world in ruins, men, women and children are causalities of war. And they were not even the soldiers, they were the innocent casualties. A mysterious disease appears to be precursor of the coming war. The end is nigh. Before the disease takes your life it makes sure to suck out every part of your soul first. A slow and painful death awaits. For those lucky enough to have remained unblemished it is perhaps a curse in disguise, your time is coming.
Sao didn’t ask for this, it came through sheer luck either good or bad, depending on how you look at it. But now that he is more than human, he has a choice. But first he must convince those around him that he is there to help.
“Humans call everything inhuman a demon or god, a tenuous barrier by their definition”
To some he is a demon, to some he is a god, but this journey of self-discovery will give him the tools to fulfil his destiny. Most humans may despise his kind whilst some are more forgiving, either way Sao is no longer human, he is now a wolf. A demon.
Twilight of the Wolves reminded me somewhat of Ian Irvine’s complex storytelling with Terry Goodkind’s dark characters. Edward has taken some common fantasy themes and blended them to create an original story that will keep readers absorbed. Demons, wolves, Greek mythology and religion, it’s all in Twilight of the Wolves.
An absorbing read that offers readers a grim, bleak and dark tale. It paints a word in flames, dying from within. Imagine a dark night sky, with a sole star. You know something’s there but you can barely make it out. Well that star will grow and become a brighter star and perhaps light up the night sky until it is day. Well, that star is Sao.
4/5 stars
