Roy C. Booth

Let's start with full disclosure: the authors sent me a pre-release copy of this novella to review specifically so I could write an encouraging blurb for the back cover. That didn't guarantee I would like it (I'm a bad liar, so you can't really expect me to give a glowing review unless I am actually glowing), but the flattery of being asked did cause me to strut and preen. Now back to the book: Humans and dwarfs have been at odds for generations. When human blacksmith Davi is sent to the Dwarven King to reopen the local trade routes, he finds himself more at home with his enemies than he ever did with his own kind. My biggest complaint is actually kind of a compliment: I wanted more. I wanted to see more of Davi as the loner, of Asul's distrust slowly fading into fondness, of Reyal's rise to power. That said, it's still a fun little tale, and a tantalizing introduction to this new fantasy world. I look forward to more tales of Suruale.… (mehr)

When I was first asked to read and review a fantasy novella about humans and dwarves I was a little hesitant, namely because I wasn't sure I would like it. Imagine my surprise when I read Davi - Tales of Suruale and found that I liked it (kind of...sort of liked it). Yes this is a fantasy novella and yes it includes humans, dwarves (or dwarfs), elves (mentioned only), gargoyles and nocturnes (one presumes this refers to vampires because we don't really meet any), but it isn't in your face with these aspects. The dwarves aren't magical or mystical creatures, they are simply presented as being dwarves - similar to humans but different.

The main character is Davi, a human blacksmith that specializes in weaponry. He has lived all of his live as an outsider on the outskirts of a human village. He is forced to accept an impossible task - re-open trade with the dwarves - by the elders of his village. Needless to say the villager leaders are astounded when he returns successful in his quest. Trade is reopened but not they way they wanted or expected. Throughout this tale Davi learns of acceptance and inclusion when he is accepted by the dwarves. He is even adopted by a dwarf blacksmith and befriended by numerous others. Later Davi is sent on what appears to be an impossible task by the dwarf king, and again he is successful.

In many ways this is appears to be a book about racism, prejudice and bigotry. It is also about learning to accept who and what we are no matter what and being comfortable with where we are. This isn't a great book or a bad book. What is it? It's a quick and decent read for those interested in the fantasy genre - light on the fantasy.… (mehr)