REVIEWS/INTO NARSINDAL

Book four of the Chronicles of Hawklan.

For publication information and a synopsis, please see the corresponding pages.

Reviewed by Reinhold Michalak (Note: Originally written in German)

The battle and destruction of Oklar (Dan Tor), Creost and Dar Hustin in this last book is a splendid culmination of the chronicles of Hawklan. Although longest of all stories The Waking of Orthlund is a true page turner. Taylor reaches his absolute maximum so far and a maximum compared with other bestsellers. I understand that many readers of this last book of the chronicles wish some kind of extension. The world building is beautiful but still there are some open questions concerning the first burning and the time before the first burning.

One point at last. I do not know if it was Taylor's intention or not, Hawklan's figure and his suffering keeps all the way some distance from the reader. All figures stay in some kind equal in this chronicle. There is no binding with the reader like with the figure Thomas Convenant (from Stephen Donaldson).

Final resume is that I recommend the Chronicle of Hawklan as solid epic fantasy. Neither the reader is dragged all the way through the story nor is he sitting always on the edge of his armchair.