Seven Forges by James A. Moore

SEVEN FORGES, James A. Moore, Angry Robot, forthcoming in October 2013, reviewed by Barry Hunter.

When I first heard James A. Moore was writing his first fantasy novel, there were three things I knew to expect. One – his characters would not be cookie cutter copies of Robert E. Howard’s Conan or Michael Moorcock’s Elric. Two – his characters would be interesting and different. Three – I was going to be in for a hell of a read. I was right on all three counts and I’m sure that everyone who picks up this title will agree.

Merros Dulver, a former captain in the emperor’s army, is leading an expedition to the Seven Forges – a group of mountains on the other side of the Blasted Lands. He was hired by the wizard, Desh Krohan, to visit and map the area of the Seven Forges. Along with his mercenary forces are his friend Hollis and three servants of the wizard – a beautiful trio of women, a blonde, a brunette and a redhead. For over a thousand years, since the First Kingdom, nothing has come out of the Blasted Lands except the Plague Winds, the Pra-Moresh and dust. No one who has gone to explore the Blasted Lands has ever returned.

The group is attacked by a herd of Pra-Moresh, an extremely large carnivore, and is joined in the battle by Drask Silver Hand of the Sa’ba Taaler, who has been sent by his god to find Merros.

Merros and his expedition are taken to the Seven Forges and treated as honored guests and given maps and information to return to Desh Krohan and the emperor. A group of the Sa’ba Taalor joins Merros on his return trip to prepare for the king’s visit to Fellein.

Add in some deadly palace intrigue, ten Sa’ba Taalor warriors taking on a thousand man invading force, how Drask received his silver hand, and why Merros Dulver is so important are some of the other events that transpire in this first volume of the Seven Forges Trilogy.

When I began the book, I did not know it was going to be a trilogy, but I am anxiously awaiting the release of THE CRUCIBLES OF THE SOUL and the concluding volume of this magnificent new creation from the very fertile mind of James A. Moore.

James A. Moore is well known for his horror works and has many readers waiting for his novels featuring Jonathan Crowley. I am positively sure those readers and some new ones as well will be looking forward to his fantasy novels as well.