Heirs of the Demon King: Uprising

Heirs of The Demon King Uprising Ever since Sarah Cawkwell’s Warhammer Fantasy tie-in novel Valkia The Bloody we’ve been keen to see what she can create freed from the constraints of franchise fiction. Heirs of The Demon King Uprising is a rather fine example of the author unleashed. It’s an exciting blend of fantasy and alternate history. In this world, Richard The Lionheart brought magic to England following the Crusades. Initially this transformed and improved lives but by the time history gets round to Richard the Third and the Battle of Bosworth, things take a darker turn. This is thanks to an unwise pact that allows the Plantagenet line to rule the land, but taints their bloodline in a way that threatens the whole world. By the time we get to 1590, magic users are being hunted down and exterminated by a rather nasty cadre of Inquistors, who carry all sorts of horrid toys made by the kingdom’s finest scientists.

The bulk of the tale focuses on two young lovers, Mathis and Tagan. Both are skilled in magic and are lucky enough to live in a secluded Welsh village that encourages the use of the art. Inevitably the Inquistion turn up and events thrust the two heroes into a high speed tour of the more mystical parts of Europe. This also gives the Plantagenet king the excuse he needs to declare war on France and things get rapidly more exciting from that point on.

Cawkwell has constructed a neat and engaging fantasy world; we have a nice blend of strange technologies and stranger magics. They are no sub-plots here; each element of the tale is as vital and important as each other, from the relationship between Mathis and Tagan to the growing desperation of the High Inquisitor. This is a fast-paced and cinematic adventure tale; though there is plenty of characterisation, the main character here is the action. Heirs of The Demon King Uprising is a strong start to what we hope will be an ongoing series. The book does an excellent job of painting a rich and entertaining fantasy world and we look forward to seeing more. 9 out of 10 Reviewer: Ed Fortune Heirs of The Demon King Uprising/ Author: Sarah Cawkwell / Publisher: Abaddon/ Release Date: June 5th

Heirs of the Demon King : Uprising by Sarah Cawkwell. Published by Rebellion Posted on April 8, 2014 by cayocosta72

After the Crusades, Richard the Lionheart brought back the Eastern Promise to the people of Britain, a magic that would help the land and the people prosper if used properly. At first, all goes well. Magic becomes accepted, witches and healers are not only accepted, they are revered, but as time passes, a shadow is cast of the land. By 1590 Richard V has brought England to it’s knees, the people are starving and war is ravaging the land, revolution is coming. Matthias Enyon has been living a quiet life in Wales, practicing magic and lying low – his own father was executed for his magical abilities and Matthias has no intention of drawing attention to himself. But now there are whispers that the entire royal line must die and Matthias finds himself an unlikely symbol of the uprising. With the witch hunters hot on his trail, Matthias must find the masters of the four magic arts if he is to defeat the evil festering in his land and save all he knows and loves.

Cawkwell is one of the most gifted authors I have read in some time. She truly has a gift - the ability to transport readers to another place and time, a magical realm that seems so real that reality pales in comparison