The Dark Defiles

By: Richard Morgan

Narrated by: Simon Vance

Compared to Michael Moorcock and Joe Abercrombie alike, Richard Morgan's fast moving and brutal science fantasy reaches its final volume as Ringil comes to his final reckoning and sees the world tipping into another war with the dragon folk. And, most terrifying of all, the prophecy of a dark lord come to rule may be coming true very close to home...

THE DARK DEFILES is a supremely fast moving 240,000 word epic. A massive yet tight story that both shines a light on some mysteries from earlier volumes and reveals deeper mysteries yet. We encounter the artifacts of an ancient race, learn the true story of the ghostly Dwenda and follow three old friends as they face their greatest test yet.

Read by Simon Vance

(p) 2015 Tantor, Inc©2014 Richard Morgan

Critic reviews

The Dark Defiles is best of the series. Morgan built a fascinating world, dirt and all, and populated it will heroes that were also real people. Morgan dissects the idea of hero and looks at it from every angle. Our three protagonists aren't anti-heroes they are just flawed. While they deal with their flaws they realize that in the end heroes don't get to live happily ever after.

No holding back

Grim, gritty, well above adult fantasy having no intent to hide away from the ugliest things in humanity. Not for the prudish or faint hearted. Great characters that's not just morally grey. Rather soaked in whatever moral color you can picture. Sometimes it feels a bit too much, but when it works it's a blast. Overaching story might feel a bit overcomplicated but you don't bother when you are transported between so many well authored action scenes.

a book with balls

I loved the whole series and the final book was no exception. The whole series is written with such a great combination of wonderful language and the grinding reality of warriors' life. The narrator, Simon Vance, is a virtuoso who switches tones to depict the different chatacters with such ease it seems there is a whole cast of actors playing the different parts. In a final book, there's always the worry that the way the author solves the mysteries and ties the loose ends would ruin the experience. In the Dark Defiles, however, Morgan does not disappoint. It is maybe a bit complicated, and I confess I didn't understand everything, but overall it wasn't a shit ending.

Morgan writes great action

I love how Morgan writes action. The stakes are real. Interesting world building. Messy politics.

Solid 10/10

The whole trilogy is severely underrated. The plot, the relevant social themes, worldbuilding. VISUALLY vibrant descriptions and stellar action scenes. Narration. Going to be one of my top fantasy series of all time

Garbage

Terrible end to a sub-par series. I really struggled to get through this pile of dung.